New Year’s Survey
Sorry if I start boring you all with my incessant summing-up, but I’m still trying to get my head around this crazy year. I can hardly remember the beginning of it. Plus I like filling out surveys. I’ve seen this one on a few blogs I read, including my sister’s.
1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Bought a house. Got pregnant. Went to Mexico.
2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t tend to make New Year’s resolutions… but in 2010 I’m resolving to exercise more. I’d also like to teach myself Continental knitting—does that count?
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, but I know MANY, MANY people planning to give birth in 2010.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thankfully, besides my baby.
5. What countries did you visit?
Mexico.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
I’d like to have a baby, or be on my way to having one.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory?
June 23, Closing Day on our house. November 2. D&C Day.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I realize this is getting redundant. Buying a house!
9. What was your biggest failure?
Still redundant… failing to carry my baby to term.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had a nasty case of strep throat a few weeks ago. No injuries.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I’ve got to go with the house. I love my house! I also bought myself a nice camera.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My husband’s. First, for being an amazing support and voice of reason. Second, for being incredibly talented at doing projects around the house, even scary ones like fixing the boiler. He is determined, focused and resourceful, and has already put $1000s in sweat equity into our house.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I’m not sure I can think of anyone.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Again with the house. Down payment, movers, dishwasher, new patio, paint, tools… it never ends, really.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Being pregnant. Having my own cute house. My sister becoming a mommy. Seeing Phish for the first time in 5 years.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
“Be Calm” by fun.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? sadder
ii. thinner or fatter? about the same, after being both thinner and fatter at different points during the year.
iii. richer or poorer? more assets, less cash (stealing my sister’s answer here)
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Yoga.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Crying.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Christmas Eve: Hung around the house with Jed. Went to church.
Christmas Day: Opened our presents from each other. Had friends over for bacon & homemade cinnamon rolls. Celebrated with most of Jed’s family with dinner and a gift exchange of mostly handmade, personal gifts.
Day after Christmas: Saw Avatar at the 3D IMAX with some of my family, then celebrated at my parents’ house with my whole family, plus an aunt and cousin.
22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
I continue to be more in love with my husband.
23. How many one-night stands?
Um, NONE.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Oh my. Well, we went quite a while without any TV reception at our new house (we don’t have cable, don’t plan to get it). In my first-trimester fatigue I didn’t do much besides hang out on the couch when I was at home, and then when we were grieving we watched a lot of TV. Most all of it was on DVD. So hopefully that’s a good excuse for the following list:
Weeds, Dexter, Battlestar Galactica, Torchwood, Californication, Glee, Dollhouse, Firefly, Fringe, Top Chef, Mad Men, True Blood, How I Met Your Mother. We are also rewatching all the previous seasons of Lost. We’re in the midst of season 4 right now.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nope. I try not to hate.
26. What was the best book you read?
When You Reach Me. Catching Fire. The Graveyard Book. The Help. Little Bee. The Road. Revolutionary Road.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Imogen Heap.
28. What did you want and get?
A house. A bunch of stuff on my Christmas list.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Avatar sticks out because I saw it last week. The story was interesting enough, but didn’t add anything new to the genre, and I didn’t care much about any of the characters, but the worldbuilding was outstanding, the visuals were amazing, and I think it’s an accomplishment in filmmaking. But it wasn’t the BEST film I saw this year.
We went to an all-day screening of the 5 Best Picture nominations in February, and I really liked Milk & Slumdog Millionaire.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 30! I worked on my birthday, then went to Tre Kronor for dinner with my in-laws. We went to my parents’ house to celebrate three days after my birthday, and that morning I got an A on a pregnancy test.
I had been hoping to make a bigger deal of my birthday, but it didn’t end up happening. Oh well, it was still a nice one, and I’m happy to be in my 30s now.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Well, not having to grieve would have been nice.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
New hairstyle! Keep fitting into my clothes.
34. What kept you sane?
My husband. Knitting.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Neil Patrick Harris.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
I don’t pay too much attention to politics.
37. Who did you miss?
I started really missing a few separate friends that I hadn’t seen or heard from in a while, mostly just because our lives got in the way, we’re separated by distance, or weird schedules, that kind of thing. I got back in touch with them at various times and it’s really nice to still have these people in my life.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Our realtor Carrie and mortage broker Lee were pretty fantastic.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
You just have to keep moving forward.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your whole year:
I saw Ani DiFranco perform this in September:
“so here’s to the joys and trials of living
here’s to feeling our share of pain
yes all the way from childbirth to dying
here’s to staying connected to everything ”
