Yep, it's that time again. It's close enough to the end of the year, right?
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
I lived alone. :) Like, intentionally, and for more than a month or so. I know, I know, how is it possible that I've not done this before, right? But I've always lived with family or friends or roommates, and every time I'd attempt to strike out on my own, something would happen and I'd end up in a house full of people again-sometimes because I needed someone there, sometimes because they did. This year I finally decided that I was done being the eternal hand-holder and got my own place, all to myself. You'd think after a lifetime of being surrounded by people, I'd be lonely, but actually, it just might be the best thing I've ever done. <3
2. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, one of my best friends and (now ex-)roommates gave birth to a little boy in March, who I shall refer to as 'Baby Q'. She had him in our bathroom-intentionally, not accidentally. It was probably one of the coolest things I've ever seen in my entire life, topped only by being present at Munchkin's birth four years earlier.
3. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
I'm not really sure. Lol. It might sound odd, but I actually am fairly happy with what I have right now, and while there are surely things that could improve it, I can't really think of anything off the top of my head.
4. What events from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Seeing Baby Q come into the world. A really terrible car accident that ended with me being thankfully uninjured, but involved my car flipping. Poor Rhonda… she was a good car.
5. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Um… I got a promotion, so that was nice.
6. What was your biggest failure?
Writing. OMG writing. I haven't written crap this year. I started to do my other usual year-end meme, the one that asks questions about the fics written that year, and had to stop when I realized that I posted exactly two fics this year, totaling less than 6,000 words when put together. One
Damages and one
HP, that's it. Sigh.
7. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had a flu that completely kicked my ass in January, and a handful of small colds and allergy issues, as always, but nothing too serious this year, that I can recall. I don't think I even ended up in the hospital this year, which is a nice change. Well, I might be lying about that. Somewhere in there I had to go for an allergic reaction that was causing anaphylactic shock, but I can't remember if that was this year or last. *shrug* Also, when I went for a blood test in the beginning of the year (during the flu thing that damn near did put me in the hospital, the phlebotomist accidentally hit a nerve, so my arm was all twing-y and spasm-ish for a few months. :(
8. What was the best thing you bought?
Furniture! I had to buy a lot of furniture, as when I moved, I owned only a bed, a dresser, and a couple of bookshelves. I increased my DVD collection by quite a few DVDs and seasons of things. I bought a car to replace Rhonda, but the new car (Edith) is not even remotely close to 'Best'. Edith and I have a very special relationship, filled with hate and lots of time spent at the mechanic's together.
9. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My two-year-old friend became my three-year-old friend, and learned to talk and use the toilet instead of needing diapers, so that was exciting.
10. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My boss, because he's a pain in my (and everyone else's) ass.
11. Where did most of your money go?
For once, the answer isn't 'Bills', like it was the last couple years. This year, my money mostly went toward purchasing and then continually repairing Edith. Also, to furnishing my apartment.
12. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Moving!
13. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Definitely happier.
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter. :( I went on the uber-diet last year and lost about fifty pounds, but this was the year of falling off that bandwagon hard, and I've gained about forty-five of those pounds back. My goal for 2012 is to get rid of them again, and maybe another 20 more for good measure. It will probably take me all of 2012 to accomplish because I'm a big fan of the diet-and-exercise, one-or-two-pounds-a-week method (hey, it worked for me before, so…) and that takes a while, but I genuinely do miss how much more energy I seemed to have when I was (a) thinner, (b) exercising regularly, and (c) eating healthier food.
c) richer or poorer? Richer, sort of? I think I ended up with more money to work with this year, but I have less of it left than I did at the end of last year. Yay, moving and then being saddled with Edith?
14. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing. WritingWritingWriting. Exercising. Sleeping.
15. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Watching TV. Lol. Netflix is an evil, evil thing, and I've watched my way through one series after another this year-which probably explains the lack of writing.
16. How did you spend Christmas?
With a few family members in SW Florida. I made it a shorter trip this year-I was only there about 36 hours, and they turned out to be a very pleasant 36 hours. Perhaps I should make all of my trips back home that short…
17. Did you fall in love in 2010?
Nope. I did date someone for a little while, but I'll admit, I got a little freaked out when talk of moving in together and having babies started at only month two, and I bailed. Lol. I'm not exactly one for dating for a decade before settling down or anything, but I need more than 60 days to decide if someone is going to be the person I spend the rest of my life with…
18. Thing you did most often?
Haha. Netflix.
19. What was your favorite TV program?
This is hard because I watched so many TV programs this year, courtesy of Netflix, many of which didn't actually air this year. I really, really enjoyed Damages, Doctor Who and Torchwood, but there were about a dozen or so others that grabbed my attention too.
20. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Not that I can think of.
21. What was the best book you read?
Probably Good Omens. I'd always heard good things and meant to read it, but kept putting it off. Then I came across this Good Omens/Sherlock crossover that made me decide I had to give it a go sooner rather than later.
22. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I don't know if I really discovered any new music this year. Edith doesn't have a functional radio (actually, technically the radio works fine, but the speakers are all broken), so I mostly listened to music I'd already downloaded on my ipod, and I don't know that I added anything new this year. Most of the stuff on there hasn't been 'new' in about a decade. Or two.
23. What did you want and get?
My own apartment. :)
24. What did you want and not get?
Guest room furniture. I have this second bedroom in my house that is currently completely empty. I was intending to buy a bed and stuff to go in there, but then… Edith. Sigh. So, that will happen at tax time.
25. What did you do on your birthday, and was it a major milestone?
Not a milestone. I worked. Lol. The team I supervise brought in a card and cupcakes, which was sweet, and B and his boyfriend took me out to dinner, which was lovely. B got me the coolest lamps-each one is a frog, one that's holding a book and appears to be reading aloud, and the other is sitting with his chin resting in his hands, as though he's listening. I was a little confused by them, to be honest, until he pointed out that they were us. See, B hates to actually read, but loves to have stories told to him, so when we lived together, many a night would find us curled up in some odd corner of the house (seriously, odd, like sitting on the kitchen floor despite their being ample couches and beds, or on the front steps outside or something) while I read him a book, or a story I'd written, or someone else's fanfic because it was awesome and I wanted to share.
I adore my best friend.
26. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Finishing some of my WIPs. Not having to deal with Edith. Rhonda not having gotten totaled in the first place.
27. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Bargain-bin-find. :D
28. What kept you sane?
My friends. <3
29. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I watched Farscape and ended up with a pretty big crush on Zhaan. Not sure if she counts, since I don’t know if she ever reached celebrity status, and if she did, it was about 10 years ago, but whatever.
30. What political issue stirred you the most?
I failed pretty hard at keeping track of politics this year.
31. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
There's nothing quite like having your own space and absolutely no one to answer to. Nothing. It's glorious.
32. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I'm not afraid of anything, be it mountains, water, dragons, dark, or sky.