New Year’s Meme

Posted on January 2, 2010 with 1 Comment

I do this post every New Year just to reflect back on the year. If you like it, feel free to do it yourself!

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Worked in the fire safety industry. Worked for a startup.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Instead of New Year’s Resolutions, last year I made a list of 101 Things in 1001 Days. I’ve been slowly plugging away at items on the list and crossing them off, but my 1001 days are not up yet. You can see my progress on the 101 Things page.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, we have some very close family friends who had their second baby boy this year.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, and I’m grateful for that.

5. What countries did you visit?
I stayed in Canada this year. Last year was my year for travel and this year was my year for working hard.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
A bigger paycheck, I guess. But I have everything I truly need and many extra things that I want, so I don’t feel like I was lacking in 2009.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
February 23: the day I started my new job. June 6: I attended the wedding of two good friends of mine. July 23: the day I met Marty. November 13: the day I was laid off again.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finally getting my own apartment and supporting myself again.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Gaining back every last pound that I lost over the last two years, and then some. Guess who’s making a fitness-oriented New Year’s Resolution this year along with the rest of the population?

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing worth mentioning.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A chalkboard for my kitchen. It makes me happy!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My mum’s. She spent almost the entire year living back in England with her elderly, frail, and very confused and depressed mother, who needs care around the clock now. I know this year has been really hard on my mum emotionally, but she’s a trouper and has been there for her mother time and time again, even when her mum yells at her or tells her she’s doing things wrong or is being mean (out of confusion or dementia, I should add. She’s not a mean person by nature).

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
There’s a blogger I won’t name because that would be mean. I like her writing and have enjoyed her blog for months, but I was so disgusted when she decided to put her 2 year old dog to sleep because she and her husband couldn’t deal with his special needs anymore that I unsubscribed from her blog. Reading about that type of selfishness made me so livid I couldn’t see straight so I had to stop reading for my own sanity. Pet ownership is not all fun & giggles, you don’t throw a pet away because you got one that wasn’t as healthy as you bargained for.

14. Where did most of your money go?
To stores that sell home wares. I had a whole apartment to furnish!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My new apartment.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
I honestly can’t think of one that represents the year for me. But the one musical thing I’ll probably remember about 2009 is that it’s the year I began to build my collection of Christmas music. I have no idea why but that always seemed like a very adult thing to do, and for the first time ever, I wanted my own Christmas music to listen to at home this year, so I bought some albums.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier.
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter.
c) richer or poorer? Richer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
I don’t wish I did anything differently.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Okay, maybe I wish I’d eaten fewer cookies.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With my family at my parents’ house, with my mum too! She’s back from England for the time being.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Yes

22. What was your favorite TV program?
So You Think You Can Dance. I have three favourite shows actually; they are the only shows I watch. The other two are Lost and Grey’s Anatomy. Can’t wait for the Lost season premiere in February.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate is a very strong word. I disliked my former coworker, but then we both got laid off in November and I don’t ever think about him anymore.

24. What was the best book you read?
So, my resolution to read 30 books in 1001 days is not going so well. I read one book last year. ONE. And I’m not admitting which one it was because that would be embarassing.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I have terrible taste in music. It’s highly unlikely I “discovered” any music that isn’t played on top 40’s radio.

26. What did you want and get?
A new apartment.

27. What did you want and not get?
Nothing.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Hmmm, that’s tough. I really, really loved My Sister’s Keeper, so maybe that one.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 29 and went out with my friends to celebrate over drinks.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I’d had a bigger financial cushion.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
The year I embraced skinny jeans with boots.

32. What kept you sane?
Things have been going well for me, I haven’t really needed anything to “keep me sane.” But maybe that’s because I’ve been employed, got my own apartment, have an awesome boyfriend, family and good friendships. So let’s say those things kept me sane.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Again.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
I really wish I was more interested in politics, but I’m just not.

35. Who did you miss?
I missed my mum a lot.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Marty.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
Although I want a job that’s fulfilling and that I’m passionate about, sometimes you just have to dig in and do what you gotta do to get the bills paid. And that’s nothing to be ashamed of.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
No.