The End of the Year, 2009

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Dabbled in self-hypnosis. Had a baby without pain medication. Conquered the high ropes course.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
It looks like I never got around to making any last year. That may be why I feel like making a lot of them this year. #1, blog more.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Just me :)

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no one close to me. But there was something about John Hughes passing that really made me sad/sentimental.

5. What countries/states did you visit? Beautiful Wisconsin.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
A consistent schedule for sleep. And I would like to get a bike trailer when the weather is nice again.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
Feb. 14th (Genghis' birthday), Girls Adventure weekend, my parent's 40th Anniversary.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I don't know that it's an "achievement" but becoming a family of 4 was a big deal to us.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Attila says her favorite thing is to "watch TV". Sigh. Fail. But she doesn't bite people so, hey.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope, just the usual minor things *knock on wood!*

11.What was the best thing you bought?
Hmmm. Probably the new phones- they are pretty handy.
I suspect a snow blower might make the list here soon too...

12. Where did most of your money go?
The pie chart says "groceries" but it's really Target/ household stuff.

13. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Girls Adventure weekend, finding some old friends on FB. Oh, and the Wiggles show.

14. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Free Energy, Free Energy

15. Compared to this time last year, are you a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer? happier/thinner/about the same

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Gone to see more friends, more often. (add to resolutions...)
Gone to some concerts. I never do that anymore. Sometimes I think I miss that more than going to movies.

17.What do you wish you’d done less of?
Researching myself out of taking action.

18. What was your favorite TV program?
Glee! and Castle.

19. What was the best book you read this year?
You know, besides not blogging, I also haven't been updating my book reading list, which is really annoying, because it always comes in handy for this question. Also, I like to see what I've been into over the year. I read quite a bit (for me) of non-fic this year, and even a biography! (Everybody Was So Young:Gerald & Sarah Murphy: A Lost Generation Love Story - friends of Hemmingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Dorothy Parker.) I enjoyed the Dante Club a lot more than I thought I would. I think my favorite was The World Below, by Sue Miller.

20. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Free Energy, Frances England, and The Avett Brothers

21. What was your favorite film this year?
Well, I saw Star Trek in the theater. I don't know if it's my favorite of the year, but it was good.
(add to resolutions list!)

22. What did you do on your birthday this year and how old were you?
Turned 36, but I can't remember what we did!

23. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I don't know. I hate this question. I'm cutting it next year. Truly, I consider myself very lucky and very blessed and I really can't complain.

24. What kept you sane?
Wireless internet & preschool.

25. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
You know, I am in love with Neil Patrick Harris this year. Love him. Obviously, it's a platonic thing, but I think he is so funny and I know that when we finally meet we will be fast friends. ;)

26. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Courage Campaign and equal marriage rights for all.

27. Who was the best new person you met?
This is terrible, but I can't think of any. (guess that is also going on the resolutions list) But I did re-meet a few old friends that I hadn't seen in years and years. That was terrifying and thrilling and fun all at once. (Ok I now thought of some new people I met, but I still don't know any of them enough to pick them as a best. But I am relieved to remember that I have met new people.)

28. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
I really wish I could think of something brilliant and insightful and profound, but I am drawing a blank. I've been thinking on it for a good half hour too, and nothing seems right. So, because I am trying to get this post up, I am just going to not worry about it for now and reserve the right to go back and add something later if I ever think of it.

29. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"When I wake up early in the morning
the first thing I always see
is a superhero magical princess
dancing circles right around me
I'm a sleepyhead mommy don't want to wake up
Want to stay in bed some more
But the day is breaking early, as always
so we get up, we get out the door." ~Frances England, Sleepyhead Mommy