We come into this life waterlogged and tender.
What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
Took a vacation by myself. Did intense, real speech therapy. Had a serious medical scare. Took a spin class (and fell in love with it). Bought a car. Ate an octopus (that looked like an octopus, not like those safe little rings of calamari). Cut my hair short-short. You know... got married.
Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't really do resolutions... but I do think I've made emotional progress since last year.
Did anyone close to you give birth?
Previous-life friends from high school.
Did anyone close to you die?
Too many friends-of-friends died... but no one I knew personally.
What countries did you visit?
I went to California... does that count?
What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
More balanced hormones. A consistent workout schedule. Less big-ticket purchases (weddings, even budget ones, are hell on one's finances).
What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory?
August 21.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Planning a wedding... don't laugh -- it's a big freaking job. Bulling through speech therapy even though it made me want to die, every single bloody week. Making and going to dentist and doctor's appointments that I'd made myself. Not going insane because of work.
What was your biggest failure?
Not being more pro-active about finding friends/social opportunities. Quitting speech therapy (due first to other constraints -- AKA "wedding and attendant hullaballoo" and then to fear of restarting).
Did you suffer illness or injury?
No sickness. One medical scare (heart palpitations/arrhythmia), but it turned out to be nothing -- just stress.
What was the best thing you bought?
Tickets to a Jonsi concert. A car. A hybrid commuter bike.
Whose behavior merited celebration?
My coworkers. My husband. My family. I found a lot of new heroes this year.
Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My company. Politicians. Certain people acting as political mouthpieces. (forgive me for saying this) A large contingent of the pro-life faction.
Where did most of your money go?
Wedding. House accoutrements. Concert tickets. Expressions of affection.
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Staring down the rest of my life and not being able to contain my glee at getting to LIVE IT! Stuttering and ED activism and awareness. Typography.
What song will always remind you of 2010?
Go Do -- Jonsi
Someone to Share My Life With -- Jens Lekman
Swallow It -- Brandon Flowers
Kickass (We Are Young) -- MIKA
The Cave -- Mumford & Sons
Write About Love -- Belle & Sebastian
Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? At more of an equilibrium, I think. Although all winters are harder than most summers. Stupid cyclical depression.
ii. thinner or fatter? The same.
iii. richer or poorer? richer, I think.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Gymming. Spending time with friends. Reading.
What do you wish you'd done less of?
Workinggggggg. Crying. Worrying.
How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent Christmas Eve at home with my family and Christmas Day at our house, lazy and relaxed.
How will you be spending New Year's?
Seeing the Spokane Symphony perform Beethoven's Ninth; with dear, beautiful friends; with a glass of champagne and the man I love.
Did you fall in love in 2010?
It's a continuing thing...
How many one night stands?
No.
What was your favorite TV program?
Sanctuary. Nikita. Dexter. Mad Men. Castle.
Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No hate.
What was the best book you read?
I need to spend more time reading books and less time reading blogs. The Hunger Games trilogy, I guess. Rereading Stephen King's On Writing and again being reminded of why I am unworthy of even dreaming of being a writer.
What was your greatest musical discovery?
Mumford & Sons. The Black Keys. The Weepies. The Avett Brothers. K'naan.
What did you want and get?
A raise. A successful wedding and honeymoon. A bike.
What did you want and not get?
Contentment with my body. A puppy.
What was your favorite film of this year?
Please Give exploded in my heart. The 3 Millenium Trilogy movies. The Kids are Alright. Inception and Shutter Island -- but somehow I've conflated them in my head... so all I can say is that they're both beautiful, creepy and sad.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 26 and took The Boy home to ride horses.
Horses are happiness.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Fewer 12+ hour workdays.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Layers. Layers, layers, layers. Skinny jeans, boots and sweaters.
What kept you sane?
Ivanko.
My amazing husband. My brilliant best friend. Spin class. Crossword puzzles.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Mika (hush... he's pretty).Catherine Keener. Nathan Fillion.
What political issue stirred you the most?
Pro-lifers. Birthers. Michelle Obama's Let's Move initiative. Disability/ableism issues.
Who did you miss?
Friends I've lost, friends who've left Spokane.
Who was the best new person you met?
Many beautiful coworkers. A fellow stutterer who rocked my paradigms.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
It gets done. Even though you have no idea how, it all works out. Babysteps.
Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
"it's not the chase that I love
it's me following you"
-- The Avett Brothers
"Let me step out of my shell
I'm wrapped in sheets of milky winter disorder
Let me feel the air again, the talk of friends
The mind of someone my equal"
-- Belle & Sebastian
"I wrap my fear around me like a blanket
I sailed my ship of safety till I sank it
I'm crawling on your shores."
-- Indigo Girls