end of the year meme...

Boosted, lovingly, from Mrs. Chili.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? I was strong during my dad's health crisis. I kept it together, managed information and kept things under control.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I kept my resolutions. I like to make them opportunities for self-care or reflection, things I want to do or enjoy rather than punishments.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
One of my teaching friends had a baby girl.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No. Thankfully!

5. What countries did you visit?
Does Canada count? Seeing how I'm 15 minutes from the border and all...

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Stick-to-it-ness.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
nothing is standing out, particularly.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Not getting involved in school politics. That's a heck of an achievement in our school climate!

9. What was your biggest failure?
One of my friendships died a somewhat painful death from neglect on my part, I just couldn't step up and end things gracefully. My other failure is on the health front, I didn't do what needs to be done to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing substantial. Yippee!

11. What was the best thing you bought?
a laptop.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I’m going with Mrs. Chili’s answer here; anyone who voted. I'll add that a lot of my former students got in touch with me to announce that they voted, which made me feel like I did something right!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
oh, I don't want to get into it--school politics.

14. Where did most of your money go?
The price of gas was outrageous.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
This was such a huge election year, all the way around.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Time Of My Life by David Cook. or John Legend's cover of Pride.

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

b. Much fatter. :-(

c. A teensy bit richer, or at least more mindful of my finances.

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

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Sitting on my ass, figuratively and literally.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
2008 was the most relaxed. I spent a wonderful day filled with great conversation, much love and much more laughter at my dad's.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
nope.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
American Idol. Although I did tune in to the Law & Order shows for the first time.

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 was fun plus, it's something else to share with my students. The books that have stayed with me the longest are The Book Thief and The Story Of Edgar Sawtelle.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
David Cook--I really dig him.

26. What did you want and get?
Hope for my country.

27. What did you want and not get?
A stress-free school year.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Burn After Reading. Mama Mia was fun. Ironman.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 43 and didn't do anything particular on the day itself.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
gosh, this is hard to phrase... but my therapist not getting cancer and closing her practice

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

32. What kept you sane?
my family and my belief in myself.

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

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
It shocks me that people consider equal rights an issue of morality.

35. Who did you miss?
a couple of friends whose friendship I didn't cultivate.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
I have some blog friends I can't wait to meet in person. Otherwise, I haven't met anyone new.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
I have to accept people for who they are and not who I want them to be.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. "So what/I'm still a rock star/I have my rock moves/And I don't need you" I don't really know why other than this is the song that gets stuck in my head lately...