I often get these survey things via e-mail, and if I’m bored enough, I’ll fill it out and send it on to maybe 4 people who might actually respond. Because I’m actually interested in what they say, more than I’m interested in filling it out myself. But I saw this on two of my favorite blogs and thought I’d just lemming along and fill it out as well.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? I voluntarily had an organ ripped out of my body.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next
year?  I don’t usually make them, because inevitably I’ll forget and break them. I do have a list of goals that I have been working on, but they’re not resolutions.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Wow, yes. My best friend in Colorado, my cousin in Ohio, my boss’s wife, my friend’s wife, just for starters. I know 8 other women who are still pregnant.

4. Did anyone close to you die? My grandfather in June

5. What countries did you visit? I stayed local this year.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? A house, another dog, maybe a pregnancy (or the beginnings of one).

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? March 19th, the aforementioned organ ripping day. June 9th, the day I finally said what I’d been thinking for 2 years. July 2nd, the beginning of the greatest thing ever.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Finally standing up for myself and refusing to be walked on any longer. Putting an end to the miserable life I’d been slumping through, and doing something to change it.

9. What was your biggest failure? My marriage

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I sprained an ankle. Also, that kidney thing.

11. What was the best thing you bought? My new TV/entertainment center. It makes my living room look so much nicer!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? This is a hard question to answer. Jason was incredibly wonderful, despite our huge marital issues, right after I had surgery. My friends were amazing and wonderful right after my grandfather and marriage died at the same time.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? I just don’t think this is something I want to talk about here.

14. Where did most of your money go? Bills. Lots of bills.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Getting flowers, going on a date, looking at houses.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? 

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
Much much MUCH happier
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter. But I’m working on that.

c) richer or poorer? Pretty much exactly the same.

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

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Worried about what other people think.

20. How did you spend Christmas? In the morning with my parents, sister and Donald opening stockings and gifts, followed by the movies. Then in the afternoon/evening we went to Donald’s sister’s house to have dinner and open gifts with their whole family.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008? Yes! I certainly did!

22. What was your favorite TV program? I was ridiculously addicted to Big Brother 9 at the beginning of the year. But House is still my favorite.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I try not to “hate” people. It takes way too much energy.

24. What was the best book you read? I read so many, it’s really hard to choose. I enjoyed the Twilight series, but I have to say my favorite book was 19 Minutes.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Unless you count my new love for all things Rock Band, I don’t think I have a new discovery, musically.

26. What did you want and get? Respect, Love, and a new Wii!

27. What did you want and not get? A winning lottery ticket

28. What was your favorite film of this year? Wall-E!

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 29 last year, and I went out to dinner, dessert and a bar with some friends.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? A lot less stress would have been excellent.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Pretty much the same as I’d describe it since 1993. Jeans and T-shirt/Tank Top/Sweatshirt

32. What kept you sane? Donald

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I developed a new love for Craig Ferguson, does that count?

34. What political issue stirred you the most? Prop 8: the gay marriage ban. I am disgusted by my state’s passing of such a horribly discriminatory law.

35. Who did you miss? Heather mostly. But she was off having a baby and other such nonsense, and we did keep in touch via e-mail and text. It’s just weird having the other half of your brain a few states away.

36. Who was the best new person you met? Wow, I can’t pick just one person. I made so many new great friends this year, it’s impossible to single one out.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. The stress of thinking about something awful is far worse than the actual pain experienced after. Both physically and mentally.