The meme, courtesy of Sundry.
1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
I visited San Francisco. I drank a mint julep on the veranda of a plantation.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn’t actually make any resolutions last year. I was actually kind of weirdly goal-less last year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Baby free this year, but next year is going to be a doozy.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My grandfather passed away in April. He reassured us repeatedly that “It was simple. Dying is simple. And it’s so beautiful.” It was a lovely gift he gave us.
5. What countries did you visit?
I stayed in northern North America, once again. Although I did get to places I’d never been before – including San Francisco, Las Vegas, and the Grand Canyon.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
A steady, solid job.
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
April 19th, when Opa died.
April 24th when we sold our house.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Standing firm in real estate negotiations. Realizing that it wasn’t impossible for me to dictate the where’s and when’s of my life. Getting better at keeping my emotions in check, while still being assertive.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Letting the days go by without pushing myself enough.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Just a persistent and ongoing low-grade sinus infection. Thank goodness for Canadian pseudoephedrine.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Although I didn’t really buy it (AB got them for us), I’m desperately in love with my Droid phone.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My sister amazed me. She finished her Ph.D, moved to Sweden with her one year old, and is doing research in a narrow and very important field.
Also our friend who let us move in with him when we were unable to make up our minds about what we were doing with ourselves. And who’s let us live with him for the last 10 months.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Everyone involved in the whole moving & funeral in a single week.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Plane tickets and clothes.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing my niece at Christmas.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Lisztomania.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Maybe just a little sadder.
b) thinner or fatter? Probably about the same.
c) richer or poorer? Richer in a way.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Stepping out of my comfort zones.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Waking up in the middle of the night.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
We spent Christmas in Calgary again this year, surrounded by my entire immediate family, and a lot of my extended family.
21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Yes. With legumes in many forms.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Glee
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate is always a pointless emotion.
24. What was the best book you read?
It was a tie between The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and The Graveyard Book.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Phoenix. Roisin Murphy. Glee soundtrack. Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack. Getting back into musicals.
26. What did you want and get?
A pair of grey suede, button toe, Frano Sarto flats.
27. What did you want and not get?
A house.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Totally Slumdog Millionaire.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 33 on my last birthday, and AB and I went down to the French Quarter, and walked in the rain.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Same as last year – moving out of Mississippi.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Jeans, sweaters and good shoes.
32. What kept you sane?
Can computer games keep a person sane? How about headphones?
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Corey Monteith.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
After all the hoopla last year with the election and market crash, and after the inauguration, I think I kind of unplugged from news and politics.
35. Who did you miss?
Always my family.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
I’m sure I met some fabulous new people this year, but I think I was most thrilled to get back in touch with my friends from Regina. With Chris coming to visit this summer, and catching up with my Homer in Vegas, and another Regina college friend in Calgary, I was reminded of all the great people I know and love back in the Great White North.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
If you don’t push yourself, no one is going to do it for you.
One Year Ago Today: Right now, right this moment, you are fine.
Holidailies