I have to say 2009 was not one of my favorite years, and I’m not sorry to see it go. Last year I summed it up with a survey, and for comparison’s sake I decided to do it again this year.
1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? Moved into my own house with Donald, Filed for unemployment
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I never make resolutions for the new year. If I want to change something, I start right away. I never wait until January 1.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes! Donald’s sister had the cutest boy ever in March! I love that kid!
4. Did anyone close to you die? My grandfather in May
5. What countries did you visit? I visited the other side of the US. That’s as international as I got.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? A wedding, a pregnancy, a job. Not necessarily in that order.
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? May 3, the day my Grampa died. July 2, the day I got a brick as a gift. October 22-26, my first NFL football game and the best vacation I’ve ever had!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Learning to cook, and not poisoning anyone in the process.
9. What was your biggest failure? My lack of getting a new job after my old one let me go.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I was sick a bit, but nothing serious.
11. What was the best thing you bought? My Sketchers Shape Ups! They’re awesome and I love love LOVE them.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Donald, hands down. When I had a meltdown after I was laid off, he was more supportive and wonderful than I deserved. I don’t think I would have made it without him.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Like last year, not something I can talk about here.
14. Where did most of your money go? Bills. Again.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Learning to cook, and our trip to Pittsburgh (which I totally forgot to post about)
16. What song will always remind you of 2009? Alright by Darius Rucker.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
Honestly, probably sadder, but I’m working on that.
b) thinner or fatter? Thinner!
c) richer or poorer? Poorer. Lack of a job will do that to ya.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Saved money
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Stressed about things I cannot control.
20. How did you spend Christmas? Christmas Eve I spent with Donald’s family, watching his hilarious nieces and nephews. Christmas day we went to my parent’s house for gifts and stockings, then to see Sherlock Holmes, and back to my parents for dinner.
21. Did you fall in love in 2009? Every single day.
22. What was your favorite TV program? I love NCIS and House, and I discovered the magic of the Penguins of Madagascar. If you’ve not seen it yet, you should watch an episode or 4. It’s great.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I don’t hate anyone. I dislike people strongly, but I rarely use “hate” to describe how I feel.
24. What was the best book you read? I didn’t read as much this year as I have in the past, which is odd since I had so much more free time. I can’t think of any book that stands out.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? I don’t really think I have one.
26. What did you want and get? A house that I absolutely love!
27. What did you want and not get? A winning lottery ticket
28. What was your favorite film of this year? The Hangover, The Proposal, The Blind Side, Julie & Julia.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 30 this year! I went with my friends to dinner the night before, and did the family dinner the night of my birthday.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Karma taking it’s toll, but I can wait for that.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? Pretty much the same as I’d describe it since 1993. Jeans and T-shirt/Tank Top/Sweatshirt
32. What kept you sane? Donald and my fantastic friends.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I can’t really think of anyone who sparked my interest this year.
34. What political issue stirred you the most? I was a little too busy being selfish and focusing on my own life this year to pay attention to politics.
35. Who did you miss? Heather, Kerry, Tony & Jenn. The closest friends I have that don’t live near me.
36. Who was the best new person you met? I became closer with a lot of my friends this year, which I think is better than meeting new people.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009. You can only control so much. The rest you just have to roll with.
That Darius Rucker song (along with “Chicken Fried” by the Zac Brown Band) was one of the few songs currently being played on country radio that kept me sane during our million mile traveling extravaganza around the Midwest. I choose to interpret it as “the woman I love naked in my bed” because it’s way sexier that way. Alright.