2010 Year-End Survey
Previous year-end surveys: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
I played dodgeball as an adult, worked at a winery, tended bar at a beer garden, did a ride along with a police department... I can't even remember what else I did.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I never keep them, and I'm starting to think they're crap. A year is an arbitrary amount of time for a goal. If you want to be a better person, do it NOW.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My stepsister in law had a baby in April. Blake is still in the hospital, poor little guy.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
I stayed here. I'd love to change that... I need to create a five-year plan.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
A job, health insurance, and income. I didn't lack these things until the end of 2010, but since I lost my job in November, I've already regained something I hadn't realized I'd lost: my creativity. I'm thankful for that.
7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The day I was let go from my job (the day before Thanksgiving).
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I stayed in one place for the whole year. That's pretty good, for me. I gained a lot of Facebook friends? I don't really have a big achievement for 2010. (This would be an entirely different survey if I could rely on my job to give me the answers to these questions. I really put my all into that job. Luckily, I'm so much more than that. It just took me being fired to realize it.)
I was featured in the newspaper's 40 under 40 young professionals, and that was really cool.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Allowing work to define my life and not following through on a commitment to a friend until way late.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Just the odd cold. I shudder to think what would happen if I had to go to the doctor.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I bought a lot of clothes in the last few months of the year which improved my self-confidence dramatically.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Megan, Dustin, my mom and stepdad who have been very supportive these last few weeks that I've been unemployed.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
She knows who she is. I know who she is. End of story.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Clothing and shoes.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I had an idea in late December that I'm really, really excited about, and it's a new hobby for me. I haven't gone through with it yet, and everything is in its infancy, but hopefully I will be able to continue to be excited about it.
16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
California Gurls.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier. I found some videos of myself from last January and I was absolutely depressed. I'm better now.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner, by about three pounds.
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercising.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Work events.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas at Carl Jr's house because he was back from Iraq on leave.
22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
No way, I didn't even come close.
23. How many one-night stands?
I am trying to find a way to answer this that's factual and yet reveals nothing. Last year I said, "I plead the fifth, and no, that does not mean five." That's a pretty good answer. Let's keep it.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
True Blood, Weeds, Qi. Late on in the year I discovered Simon Amstell and Never Mind the Buzzcocks, which I have been obsessed with ever since.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yes. Yes, I do. It's not a nice thing to say but it's the truth.
26. What was the best book you read?
I finally started reading Eat, Pray, Love which is pretty good. I didn't read a lot of books this year.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
There were quite a few this year! I made a list of my top 20 tracks of 2010 over on Tumblr.
28. What did you want and get?
I got a raise in October. That was nice. Was.
29. What did you want and not get?
I need a new car. I have trouble answering this question every year because it's like, if I wanted it, I probably would have worked harder to get it.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Inception
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 28 this year. My boss was a particularly cruel human to me that day so I went home and sulked.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A trust fund.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Trendy with heels and a lot of accessories.
34. What kept you sane?
Megan and Ann.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Ryan Reynolds is always a good answer. But Noel Fielding is my quirky choice. Simon Amstell is my even quirkier choice, because he's gay.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
I tried to ignore politics this year. I got involved with some local stuff, but whatever.
37. Who did you miss?
This is going to sound somewhat bizarre, but the person I missed myself was myself.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Ann! Far and away my favorite new friend.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:
Do what makes you happy. Figure out what makes you happy, and do it.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Well ain't that some shit. (Ain't that some shit.)
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
I played dodgeball as an adult, worked at a winery, tended bar at a beer garden, did a ride along with a police department... I can't even remember what else I did.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I never keep them, and I'm starting to think they're crap. A year is an arbitrary amount of time for a goal. If you want to be a better person, do it NOW.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My stepsister in law had a baby in April. Blake is still in the hospital, poor little guy.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
I stayed here. I'd love to change that... I need to create a five-year plan.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
A job, health insurance, and income. I didn't lack these things until the end of 2010, but since I lost my job in November, I've already regained something I hadn't realized I'd lost: my creativity. I'm thankful for that.
7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The day I was let go from my job (the day before Thanksgiving).
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I stayed in one place for the whole year. That's pretty good, for me. I gained a lot of Facebook friends? I don't really have a big achievement for 2010. (This would be an entirely different survey if I could rely on my job to give me the answers to these questions. I really put my all into that job. Luckily, I'm so much more than that. It just took me being fired to realize it.)
I was featured in the newspaper's 40 under 40 young professionals, and that was really cool.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Allowing work to define my life and not following through on a commitment to a friend until way late.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Just the odd cold. I shudder to think what would happen if I had to go to the doctor.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I bought a lot of clothes in the last few months of the year which improved my self-confidence dramatically.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Megan, Dustin, my mom and stepdad who have been very supportive these last few weeks that I've been unemployed.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
She knows who she is. I know who she is. End of story.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Clothing and shoes.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I had an idea in late December that I'm really, really excited about, and it's a new hobby for me. I haven't gone through with it yet, and everything is in its infancy, but hopefully I will be able to continue to be excited about it.
16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
California Gurls.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier. I found some videos of myself from last January and I was absolutely depressed. I'm better now.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner, by about three pounds.
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercising.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Work events.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas at Carl Jr's house because he was back from Iraq on leave.
22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
No way, I didn't even come close.
23. How many one-night stands?
I am trying to find a way to answer this that's factual and yet reveals nothing. Last year I said, "I plead the fifth, and no, that does not mean five." That's a pretty good answer. Let's keep it.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
True Blood, Weeds, Qi. Late on in the year I discovered Simon Amstell and Never Mind the Buzzcocks, which I have been obsessed with ever since.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yes. Yes, I do. It's not a nice thing to say but it's the truth.
26. What was the best book you read?
I finally started reading Eat, Pray, Love which is pretty good. I didn't read a lot of books this year.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
There were quite a few this year! I made a list of my top 20 tracks of 2010 over on Tumblr.
28. What did you want and get?
I got a raise in October. That was nice. Was.
29. What did you want and not get?
I need a new car. I have trouble answering this question every year because it's like, if I wanted it, I probably would have worked harder to get it.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Inception
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 28 this year. My boss was a particularly cruel human to me that day so I went home and sulked.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A trust fund.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Trendy with heels and a lot of accessories.
34. What kept you sane?
Megan and Ann.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Ryan Reynolds is always a good answer. But Noel Fielding is my quirky choice. Simon Amstell is my even quirkier choice, because he's gay.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
I tried to ignore politics this year. I got involved with some local stuff, but whatever.
37. Who did you miss?
This is going to sound somewhat bizarre, but the person I missed myself was myself.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Ann! Far and away my favorite new friend.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:
Do what makes you happy. Figure out what makes you happy, and do it.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Well ain't that some shit. (Ain't that some shit.)