Wednesday, January 06, 2010

2009 year in review

i lurve my friends! :: michele’s holiday party :: december 12, 2009

I stole this from Michele—seemed like a good way to summarize what I couldn’t before

1. What did you do in 2009 that you have never done before?
Lots - went to Soyuzivka, received a CD of rough mixes from my favorite band, watched BU win a national championship, finally got hope that we could get Apache under control, went to the GTD Summit and networked my butt off, was put under a microscope by IBM staffers… I could keep going. 2009 was such an amazing year.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions and will you make more for 2010?
I try to make resolutions, and I always fail at keeping them. I’m in love with the idea of the fresh start, but not so much with the follow through. 2010 is about little wins…  I want to drink more water. It’s like if I drink two glasses, that’s two more than I used to. I’m not going to stress out about not drinking eight glasses or four. Whatever I drink is what I drink. I hate water, so even a glass is progress. (I don’t really like the flavored stuff either. I’m just fussy.)

3. Did anyone close to you give birth in 2009?
A friend from high school, some friends from college… no one in my inner circle.

4. Did anyone close to you die in 2009?
“Close” is a relative term… my godfather died. I hadn’t spoken to him in years, but it affected me all the same. “Died” is relative, too. My aunt, my mother, Soulmate Boy - they’re all dead to me. Clarity, closure, cookies.

5. What countries did you visit this year?
No world traveling for me unless you want to count Soyuzivka - I was such the outsider, I might have well been in the Ukraine.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
A house in Connecticut!

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Oh, man! There were so many! I’m going to go with BU winning the National Championship. It was such a great night all the way around - hanging out with my little brother, watching the game with the hubby, and getting to watch instrument all in one night!

8. What was your biggest struggle in 2009?
To remember that I’m the only one with the power to make myself miserable. False accusations and suicide attempts drove me out of my mind and into a deep, dark depression. I’m pretty disgusted by that.

9. Did you suffer any illness or injury in 2009?
I basically ‘dislocated’ my knee cap and fought hardcore with the bipolar, but I think it’s the two trips to the ER and the resulting diagnosis of SVT that I’ll never forget.

10. What was the best thing you bought this year?
My Forester! Now I don’t have to freak out about all the miles I’m putting on it!

11. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Boston University’s!  Apache’s. My own.

12. Whose behavior disappointed you?
Boston University’s. My own. Soulmate Boy’s.

13. Where did most of your money go?
In the Forester’s gas tank.

14. What did you get really really excited about this year?
Instrument, BU Hockey, the GTD Summit, my friends

15. What song will always remind you of 2009?
It’s a toss up between “Invincible” by instrument and “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz. There were a few by Fall Out Boy that really spoke to me this year, too.

16. Compared to this time last year, are you: much happier, much nicer or richer?
At the very least I’m happier. I’m not sure about nicer but I’m definitely not richer.

17. What do you wish you had done more of?
Spent even more time with my friends

18. What do you wish you had done less of?
Driving!

19. Did you fall in love in 2009?
I’m gonna go with “yes” since the question doesn’t specify WHAT I fell in love with.

20. What was your favorite TV Program in 2009?
Supernatural—Dude, SPN fans broke Twitter, pissed off PDiddy, and created the Minion Stimulus Group.  We totally rock!

21. What was the best book you read this year?
We Need to Talk About Kevin: A Novel (P.S.)—this was a difficult book to read, but it was worth it. VERY worth it.

22. What was your greatest musical discovery this past year?
Hands down, Black Mountain Symphony.

23. What did you want and get in 2009?
I got more stuff than I knew I wanted and all of it was good. Is that a good answer?

24. What was the best movie you saw this year?
I don’t know… nothing really stands out as the best movie. MST3K’ing Twilight was fun, tho.

25. What did you do on your birthday and how old did you turn?
I turned 34 and came to terms with the fact that my mother’s been dead exactly half my life. I also seemed to spend all my time in the week surrounding my birthday at instrument shows.

26. What one thing would have made your year more satisfying?
More time with my friends / less time driving.

27. How would you describe your personal fashion statement this year?
High five, dyke!

28. What kept you sane this year?
My friends, my husband, my dogs, my blog, my moleskine…

29. What celebrity did you fancy the most?
Besides Michael Stipe, those Winchester Boys certainly get me all WOO-HOO! I do lurve me some Freckles and Plaidapuppy!

30. Who did you miss this past year?
My dad…

31. Who were the best new people you met this year?
Soup and Skinny, my friends from the GTD Summit, and I’m going to count reconnecting with college and high school friends, too.

32. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned this year:
There’s nothing in life that a good friend can’t help you through.