Friday, December 30, 2011

2011

1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Sold a house! In this crappy market, can you believe it? It wasn't even on the market three full months!
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I kept a few of them. I spent way more time with Samuel this year, which was an exhausting pleasure. I've been cooking WAY more. I think I definitely found more joy in the little things this year.
Most of my resolutions for 2012 will remain the same. A do-over of sorts, since I had a baby and my plans changed.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Do I count? Because I had a lovely, lovely little girl. And so did A'Dell. And Maggie. And my friend Crystal. And Maureen. And my midwife. And...
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My last grandparent passed away-- my paternal grandmother. But I haven't been close to her in years, due to a multitude of things, all complicated.
5. What countries did you visit?
No foreign countries this year. Unless you count Alabama. Which I almost do, having lived here for several months now.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you didn't have in 2011?
Financial security. Married, adult friends. A Kindle Fire.
7. What dates from 2011 will be etched upon your memory, and why?
October 3- my due date... when I learned that Rebekkah was breech.
October 6- the day Rebekkah was born.
July 15- the last Harry Potter movie came out.
8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?
Having a baby, sans meds! after an external cephalic version. Moving while pregnant-- again. Living peacefully with my parents.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not resting properly after Rebekkah was born. No, really. After Samuel, I sprang back up with no problem. This time around, I didn't take advantage of everybody's efforts to help me rest.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Only my standard bouts of Strep. And shoving out a baby.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Health insurance? Beer? I feel like I really didn't buy a lot this year.

Oh wait!

Yesterday, I paid my registration fee for The Blathering.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My entire family through the move-in together transition. No, really. My parents have been lovely, Jeremy has been great, Samuel has been adorable, and I have been pretty decent.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
An unnamed individual who,
on top of treating one of my best friends like trash,
constantly makes poor life choices,
puts herself in constant danger,
and is rarely, if ever, faithful in her relationships
got pregnant.,
She is now constantly harping on about how she expects the father to take care of her so she can stay home. She refuses to stop smoking, drinking, or indulging in recreational drugs.
After losing a baby in September 2010, her behavior gives me total rage. There are families all over the world who would change everything about their lives if they could get pregnant.
I hate her.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Bills. Food. More bills.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Finding out that I was pregnant again! The last Harry Potter movie! My sister visiting from California! Realizing that I was doing a great job of controlling my weight gain through my pregnancy!
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Since every moment of every day makes me think of a song... I HAVE NO IDEA. Maybe Moving Right Along from the Muppets Green Album.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
WAY happier! About the same weight as last year, just slightly more fluffy, since I had a baby. We're poorer right now, but we're in the process of turning that around via credit card debt consolidation, selling our house, and living with my parents.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I wish I could have had the time and money to take a trip with my husband. I wish I could have done more traveling. More staying in touch with friends.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Eating. Whining.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Went to a candlelight midnight service Christmas Eve (honestly? one of the most boring, annoying, not-Christmassy services EVER). Got up and had breakfast with the family (before letting Samuel rip into gifts, oh the wisdom!), did gifts, and went to church AGAIN. Came home and had a delicious Korean meal. Went to Starbucks with my beloved sister. Had more Korean food. Started watching Cars when... the power went out! We spent the rest of the evening sitting around the living room, in candlelight.
21. Did you fall in love in 2011?
Fell in love with my life all over again-- with my job, my husband, my son, my friends. Found new love, in the eyes of my little Droid.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Uh... uh... Firefly. I mean, it wasn't actually running, but it's what I watched. On iTunes.
Basically, anything that I happened to catch that wasn't playing on Sprout, Disney, or PBS Kids.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nope. I think I even managed to let go of some hate. Because I realized that I just don't have the time or energy to waste.
24. What was the best book you read?
Pilllars of the Earth, by Ken Follett.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
See #16 above.
26. What did you want and get?
A healthy baby. Long boots. Time with friends. Great memories.
27. What did you want and not get?
A shopping spree. Techno gadgets that I don't actually need. Like a Kindle Fire. Or an iPhone. To go to The Blathering. Beer.
28. What was your favorite film of 2011?
Hop. Ha. Not really. I didn't manage to see many new movies in 2011. I think I saw four, in order from best to worst: Cars 2, Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean, Hop.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 28! I was probably working. I rock it like that. Plus we were getting ready to move. And most of my festivities got postponed to the following weeks, when friends took me out for multiple meals, gave me gifts, and managed my Harry Potter obsession with more grace than I can imagine. Also, they helped me pack boxes. Happy birthday to me!
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not needing to move. Yup. That's probably it.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2011?
Will it help me stay cool? Does it emphasize pregnant over fat? Can I wear it while I'm not pregnant? Will my mother freak out over the cling/length/neckline?
32. What kept you sane?
Twitter. Because I didn't (and still don't) have the internet at my parents' house. And Twitter doesn't require a phancy phone. Also, Via Iced Coffee and my parents' yard/porch.
33. What political issue stirred you the most?
Uh... the fact that they're all liars and criminals?
34. Who did you miss?
My sister. Friends that I left behind when I moved- in 2011 AND 2008.
35. Who was the best new person you met?
Rebekkah!
36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
I can do it. I am strong. I can find joy in every moment of life-- even the moments that suck. Every thing that I need, I have. I am beautiful. I feel better and can manage my days beter when I wake up, shower, dress, and caffeinate before the kids wake up. I look better with long hair and tinted moisturizer.
37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Rather than a song lyric, my quote for the year is from William Penn's More Fruits of Solitude.
Death is but Crossing the World, as Friends do the Seas; they live in one another still. For they must needs be present, that love and live in that which is Omnipresent. In this Divine Glass, they see Face to Face; and their Converse is Free, as well as Pure. This is the Comfort of Friends, that though they may be said to Die, yet their Friendship and Society are, in the best Sense, ever present, because Immortal.