2008 Year-End Review

Last year, I made two new year's resolutions: to stop swearing and stop talking about other people behind their backs.  Both were complete FAILURES, so I'm not sure what I'll vow to do differently next year; we'll see.  For now, I thought I'd do this fun year-end quiz from Linda at All & Sundry (seriously my most-favorite blogger out there).  If you're up to it, complete it yourself and send me the link so I won't miss it.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?

Chopped my hair off, had a root canal, weaned a kid (on purpose), started a novel.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

No, not even CLOSE.  But I think I'll make some new ones this year anyway.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes!  My cousin Amber.  My friend Annagrace.  My oldest friend in the world, Rebecca.  Two second babies and a first baby. I hope I'm not forgetting anyone.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Fortunately, other than Carol's (evil) dog, Pandy, no.

5. What countries did you visit?

This one.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

Patience.  Presence.  Kindness.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

The election will undoubtedly stand-out forever.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Weaning Genoa.  Growing my own tomatoes (even if they never ripened on the vine).  Starting my novel.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Staying present with my kids.  Balancing their needs with mine.  It's a work in progress.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I had my first root canal under general anesthesia; does that count?

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Probably my MacBook.  Either that or our new TV.  Technology!  It's what's for dinner!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

David's.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

David's.

14. Where did most of your money go?

The house.  Food.  Savings.  Inside the gun safe.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Halloween.  This year was a stand-out.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?

Flightless Bird, American Mouth by Iron and Wine from the Twilight soundtrack.  (From the last scene where Bella and Edward are dancing outside).  I love it even though I have no idea what on earth the lyrics could possibly mean. 

No, seriously, these are the lyrics.  Your guess is as good as mine.

I was a quick wet boy, diving too deep for coins
All of your street light eyes wide on my plastic toys
Then when the cops closed the fair, I cut my long baby hair
Stole me a dog-eared map and called for you everywhere

Have I found you
Flightless bird, jealous, weeping or lost you, american mouth
Big pill looming

Now I'm a fat house cat
Nursing my sore blunt tongue
Watching the warm poison rats curl through the wide fence cracks
Pissing on magazine photos
Those fishing lures thrown in the cold
And clean blood of Christ mountain stream

Have I found you
Flightless bird, grounded, bleeding or lost you, american mouth
Big pill stuck going down

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Neither.
b) thinner or fatter? Neither.
c) richer or poorer?  Sadly, MUCH poorer.  The value of our house has lost at least six figures.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Laughed.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Yelled.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

Exactly how I hope to spend it for the next two decades: at home with my children.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?

I think I might have fallen in love with writing again.  More on that soon.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Probably True Blood.  Either that or Mad Men.  It's a tie.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

I don't hate anyone.

24. What was the best book you read?

The Twilight series, no contest.  Although Lonesome Dove would be a close second.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

That I finally figured out how to burn a CD from iTunes.  It only took two days and a few dozen TEARS.

26. What did you want and get?

Almost everything.  I am incredibly spoiled.

27. What did you want and not get?

A new couch?  Peace and quiet, mostly.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

Twilight.  (Sorry!)

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 32 and I spent the evening getting looped with my old California buddies.  God I miss them. 

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Sleep.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

Finally giving up and just going with the Ugg boots. But with cuter hair!

32. What kept you sane?

This here blog and all y'all readers.  Thanks for that.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Fancy?  What is this, Bridget Joneses Diary or something?  I'm not much of one to "fancy" celebrities.  There is a super hot model (see page 6) in the Rochester Big & Tall catalog who I look forward to seeing every month at the mailbox.  Does that count?

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

The election in general.  But if I had to pick a SINGLE issue, it would probably be gun control, which I am resolutely AGAINST.

35. Who did you miss?

My California friends, especially Jamie and Deneen.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

My friend Jennifer.  Not only is she funny and sweet, but the woman is made of steel.  She's somehow managed to keep her head courageously above the water during a year that would've easily drowned the rest of us.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

Four drinks is my official limit.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

"I was a quick, wet boy..."

Comments

[Lisa]

Ha! Loved your answer to #33. Happy New Year!

[elizabeth]

Yes, #33. That catalog in which the models look neither big nor tall, though all good-looking (except that older gentleman near the end).

[rachel]

Novel? NOVEL?? Tell us more about this novel!

[Janssen]

I too love that song, but I'd never realized until your post how very very odd the lyrics are.

[Christa]

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?

witnessed the election of our first black president in history

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

No...I have never been on in airplane in my life(I'm 36 years old! I KNOW!!!) I made plans in October to fly to New York with 3 of my pals, but sadly our plans fell through...so here I am...still grounded. But I will make new ones this year. One is that I would like to volunteer for the benefit of the community this year...like Toys for Tots, Salvation Army...etc... in addition to getting on that God Forsaken Plane!!!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My in-home babysitter gave birth to her 6th (yes 6th!) child. Baby Wyatt. I believe he was the only infant I've held all year.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

my cousin's 1 year old daughter drowned in his girlfriends parents swimming pool. she went to the same babysitter as my two boys.my boys miss her very much.

5. What countries did you visit?

This one.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

one night alone in my clean house all by myself

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

April 5th-Carson's 3rd birthday
July 19th-Maddie drowned
September 14th-Cullen's 5th birthday

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Finally having this sinus surgery that I should have had 6 years ago

9. What was your biggest failure?

Reading to my children. I get frustrated when they start bugging eachother during storytime, so I slacked on attempting to even read to them many nights.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Mostly a series of sinus infections that finally pushed me over the edge. I had surgery to repair my septum and have polyps removed on December 23rd. Yes, right before X-mas. I am still recovering, and although there is much pain and suffering (mostly due to the kids bickering at eachother because it is too blessed cold for them to go play outside), this will hopefully all be worth it!

11. What was the best thing you bought?

my new dell laptop

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Cullen (age 5) between K4 and tae kwon do, he listens and speaks much clearer

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

my husband. the man is the most pessimistic person i know.

14. Where did most of your money go?

food/truck maintenence/house (converted from fuel oil to propane heat/new chimney)

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Christmas this year. The kids were finally both old enough to "get it". They were soooo excited to see Santa, follow the advent calendars, watch xmas specials on ABCFamily, etc.. and it brought back a lot of lost spirit for my husband and i as well.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?

This is going to sound weird also, but Black Betty by Ramjam. I listen to classic rock on my way to work, and unfortunately my children have picked up on the lyrics to this song this year, unbeknownst to me until a recent cartrip. Apparently I need to find a more kid-friendly station for that ride to school!

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Sadder...wish I could go out tonight! still on meds.
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter...oops!
c) richer or poorer? Richer...better paying job

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Laughed.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Yelled. (you hit that on the head!)

20. How did you spend Christmas?

in my pj's all day with happy children running from room to room trying to play with EVERYTHING all in one day

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?

no...not that I'm aware of

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Brothers & Sisters and the final season of ER

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

I don't hate anyone.

24. What was the best book you read?

Sickened

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Sarah McLaughlin's Greatest Hits

26. What did you want and get?

my laptop

27. What did you want and not get?

a new car...my super sport malibu hot rod mama car will have to last me one more year I guess

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

i beleive the only two movies I saw in the theater this year were Baby Mama and Madagascar 2, and I don't think that either qualify for a favorite.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I was 36. I got drunk with my friends,as I do every year on my birthday.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

More time to myself. I was an only child, so the selfishness still comes out in me once in a while.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

Better than last year. My trips to the Outlet mall have proven successful. I went a little overboard in Land's End and Eddie Bauer yesterday, but oh well...

32. What kept you sane?

Work. I am a better mom because I work full-time. I am not cut out for staying at home with my children 24/7. God Bless those who are!

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

This really is a dorky question. But I guess I would have to say Jenny McCarthy for continuing to publicly describe her personal story of raising a child with autism.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

Yikes. This is a touchy subject, but I guess on the top of my list are the pro-life in the event of rape issue and the stem cell testing issue.

35. Who did you miss?

my friend Jeni, who I only saw once, and that was purely by accident!

36. Who was the best new person you met?

Another Jen, ironically. A bartender turned pal. (Doesn't that sound horrible?) I throw darts on Wednesday night out with the girls (my husband bowls with his buddies on Tuesday nights) and she just happens to barten on that night and we have become pretty good friends over the course of a few months. I'm a pretty nosey inquiring person, though, and she was responsive. :)

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

Dogs and kids don't mix. I work in the emergency room and we had an unbeleivable amount of dog bites/attacks this year. No dogs for a long time here!

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

"It's not the life you choose, but the life you live. It's only what you give." Tesla

[Janie]

Please tell me you aren't against ALL gun control--I mean, you don't want your next door neighbor's 13-year-old to keep an Uzi under his bed, do you? Or every mom shopping at Costco to have a pistol stashed in her diaper bag? Or every yahoo careening down Main St. in a pickup on Saturday night to be clutching his shotgun in one hand and his cellphone in the other? Please tell me you aren't against criminal checks, waiting periods, and assault weapon bans? Because if you want to have a gun in your house for some reason I can't begin to comprehend, go ahead, but don't try to make my world more dangerous by eliminating all government controls on guns.

[jonniker]

Happy new year, my friend! It was a pleasure getting to know you even more this year.

(Also? I am resolutely against gun control as well. It surprises people, given many of my other political viewpoints. But I live in the state with THE MOST lenient gun laws in the country (no permit to carry, I can buy them a mile from here with nothing but cash -- no permit, no license, NOTHING), and our gun violence remains very low. It's not about the laws, folks. It's about personal responsibility and education. And oh my God, where did this rant come from?)

[Ariel]

I posted to my blog =) Nice to know you better!

[kj @ Where my boys at?]

I did this on my blog too!
Happy New Year to you and your family!

[Refinnej]

Thanks for the meme...I just can't resist the good ones. And some of the not-so-good ones.

[Kelly from Almost Frugal]

I did it too! Thanks Manda. And Happy New Year.

http://www.andnowwearefive.com/2009/01/and-continuing-new-year-theme.html

[lindsay]

I hear ya on the being present thing. I need to work on it too. Not so much on the gun control thing, but that is the beauty of personal opinion and a free country right?

Happy New Year!

[Brandy]

Loved your post! It has been so great getting to know you guys this year!! I would have posted this to my blog, but my answers seemed rather pathetic! LOL! :)

[franticallysimple]

How would you like to start 2009 out with an act of kindness to one of your fellow humans? I'm not talking about helping the poor or war-torn, though those are worthy endeavors too, but I'm talking about a more local plight.
I can't burn a CD from itunes. Can you help me?
Happy New Year

[Sarah]

Well if you were a quick wet boy back then you're a slow wet woman today! :)