New Year, Same Great Crap

I have stolen this from all over the Interweb and love reading other people’s year-in-review and hope you enjoy as well.  If you follow suit, leave a link in the comments!

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

Not as much as I would have liked, but all the new stuff was good:  Started working for a small law firm.  Took a few pregnancy tests and wasn’t terribly worried about the outcome either way.  Had a biopsy that thankfully came up negative.  Hosted Thanksgiving LIKE A BOSS.

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

I always have grand plans for some vague “healthy living” and while I’m not stuffingmy face full of lard each day, I could probably stand to improve this area.  I’m just not great at making a resolution, but I try not to be a total dick and maintain good relationships with the people around me.  Usually serves me well.  I’d also like to try and send real, paper snail-mail birthday cards to each of my friends this year.  Not exactly a change-the-world thing, but it kept me connected to people all over and that’s always good.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

I can’t walk around without getting hit by a baby flying out of someone’s vagina these days.  And I have a feeling 2012 will bring more.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

My Uncle Danny and our family dog Scout.

5. What countries did you visit?

None.  See also: massive backyard makeover that ate the bank account and will to live.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you didn’t have in 2011?

Less health stress, which is already the trend.  More casual get togethers with friends.  A true vacation.

7. What dates from 2011 will be etched upon your memory, and why?

October 16 – biopsy day.  October 20 – negative result day.  Our wedding anniversary was pretty great, followed by my cousin’s wedding that same weekend.

8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?

Landing a job.  BOOM.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not writing enough.  Losing my patience too frequently.  Not saying “thank you” as much as I should.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

See oft-mentioned lady parts issues.  A raging cold-turned-respiratory-infection around Thanksgiving broke my very long streak of good health.  Very excited about the minor nature of these!

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My super sweet soccer mom car!  I fucking love that thing.  Do you know how many cases of wine I can fit in there?

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Ed’s, for sure.  He makes life better, funnier, and easier in a million little ways each day.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Thankfully no one in my real life, but I get pretty grossed out by a lot of celebrity news.  Sometimes I think about quitting the Interweb because Facebook and trolls can really shake your faith in humanity.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Car payments, home improvement, sushi, and new work clothes.

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

My new job!  I get easily excited over the goofiest stuff, so things like seeing The Muppet Movie get me pretty psyched.  What can I say?   I’m a cheap date.

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?

“Rolling in the Deep” by Adele.

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

a) Happier

b) Same

c) About the same?  I guess?

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

Wrote here.  Let go of petty annoyances, although I do think I’m making progress in that area.  Said “fuck it” to errands and to do lists and enjoyed the moment.

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

Worried about work away from work.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

Christmas Eve at the mother-in-law’s, Christmas day at our house, then headed to Dad’s for Round 3.  We really go full force with multiple days of celebrating.  And by “celebrating” I mean “drinking and eating non-stop.”

21. Did you fall in love in 2011?

Yes. With Betty Draper and Joan Holloway’s clothes on Mad Men.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

30 Rock, Mad Men, Community, and Parks and Recreation.

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

This feels like a question for a junior high student.

24. What was the best book you read?

Bossypants was pretty fun and easy.  (Like your mom.)

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

My greatest musical discovery is that I am generally 6 months behind the general population and just need to own my own lameness.

26. What did you want and get?

A new car, a new job, a happy marriage, a clean bill of health.   My motherfucking rad iPad!

27. What did you want and not get?

Serenity now!

28. What was your favorite film of 2011?

Bridesmaids, The Muppet Movie.

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

I turned 33 and celebrated with a few fancy dinners out.

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

Not sweating the small stuff.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2011?

Mullet-esque: business in front (during the week), party in the back (on the weekends).

32. What kept you sane?

My family and friends.  Wine.

33. What political issue stirred you the most?

Marriage equality and abortion rights. Why in the fuck are politicians worried about shit that ultimately does not affect their lives?

34. Who did you miss?

Bubba, always.  Pretty much all of my long-distance friends and family.

35. Who was the best new person you met?

My little local social circle has expanded this year and I am so excited about the great new friends we’ve made. You know who you are.

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

I will fucking hate life after more than 3 slices of pizza, whiskey sours, and/or hours in the car without a break.

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

Insert something really deep and hipster sounding here.