The What I Did This Year Meme, Year 4
Year 1: 2004
Year 2: 2005
Year 3: 2006
This year: 2007
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
- figured out for sure who I want to marry someday
- had my writing accepted for publication in journals where I don't know anyone
- traveled to Phoenix, AZ, and Santa Rosa, CA
- was a maid of honor and a bridesmaid
- owned a cat
- stopped owning a cat
- played Scrabble regularly
- bought a sofa
- owned a bed
- cooked pierogies and fondue
- sold shit on ebay
- started liking wine
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Last year, I resolved to keep up with yoga. I mostly did that, except for right at the end of the year. This year, I will continue to not make any earth-shattering resolutions.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Ebeth and Amy F both gave birth. They both have adorable boys. Suzie technically gave birth in 2006, but she had Xander after the last time I did this meme, so I will include her here as well.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thankfully.
5. What countries did you visit?
No place but the US.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Last year I wanted to have "more compassion for myself". That's still a good one. I also now have a blender that I did not have last year, so that's pretty exciting. For 2008, I wouldn't mind having a fiancee and a shiny ring, but I'm not going to get all worked up about that--I'll have those when it's time. Mostly I just want to have a live-in boyfriend. I would also like to have more publication credits. Since this question asked about things I would "like to have", not things I could plausibly have, I will also say that I would like an awesome job, complimentary airline travel anywhere in the world, and several cases of my favorite wine. More local friends would also be nice.
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
February: moving into my new apartment.
March 1: first kiss with F
March: crazy homeless man on Miami bus; Missi's bridal shower
May 21-22
June: Missi's wedding
July: crazy martinis with Chris in NYC; Phoenix trip
August: giving Amy her custom Barbie; Bobbi's bachelorette
September: that amazing Saturday night in CA
October: meeting Lisa for the first time
November: T&A's wedding; writing a song about penises
December: Christmas with F, of course; meeting F's entire extended family except for Uncle Jan all in one sitting
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Landing financial aid to go to Key West; finally, finally having my work accepted for publication.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Focusing too much on what a failure I am.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I got that miserable stomach bug in February. That really sucked.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
As it turned out, the best thing I bought was plane tickets to Atlanta for AWP. I also bought plane tickets to Phoenix and to California. Those were all good buys. I bought two bridesmaid dresses, and the second one could be classified as an awesome purchase. I bought a couch too.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
F. He just rocks. Amy doesn't think her behavior merited celebration, but I think she's awesome for making the best of everything that happens to her. Surprisingly, I am not displeased by my own behavior this year, overall.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Probably, certain of the authors I have worked with. Although a lot of their behavior can be explained by ignorance and a lack of common sense (note that I don't say "intelligence", because they certainly have a lot of that).
14. Where did most of your money go?
Apartment, car payment, travel.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Falling in love with F, traveling to see F, F's visits to see me. The weddings I was in. Getting a blender and a security box for Christmas. Hanging out with Lisa.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Eh, I don't know if I've got one.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? So much happier. Dear God am I happier.
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter. And last year I was fatter than the year before. A disturbing trend.
c) richer or poorer? We'll go with "poorer" here, because the last time I filled out this meme I was living with my parents, and now I've spent a year paying rent and traveling.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Yoga, writing.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Previous answers to this question include: "Whining, bitching, worrying, playing stupid internet games, complaining, worrying, getting upset, stressing out, hating my life, hating my thighs, hating my body, being hard on myself". We'll add "worrying about money", and that about covers it.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas Eve partly with F and his family, then I had dinner with my parents and brought them to my church for the first time. I spent Christmas day with my parents. I spent the rest of the holidays with F.
21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Yes!!!
22. How many one-night stands?
What could have been a one-night stand (okay, weekend fling) is turning into a lifetime. That's pretty cool.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Heroes, Gossip Girl, America's Next Top Model.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
25. What was the best book you read?
I have to really think about this one, but candidates include Gilgamesh, Late Wife by Claudia Emerson, Sabriel by Garth Nix, Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, and No Other Life by Gary Young.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Didn't really discover much music this year. Bethanie sent me a great mix cd. F sent me several great mix cds. I actually kind of discovered some art this year, though. I found out I love Monet, and Mancini. Those were good discoveries.
27. What did you want and get?
An apartment. Some sex. To be published.
28. What did you want and not get?
This is hard, because 2007 was really a pretty good year in retrospect. Um, more time with F, and more money.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Ratatouille!
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 28. I went to the zoo with my mom, and then out for fondue for dinner with my friends.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Sleeping next to F every single night.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
I discovered Ann Taylor Loft's Julie-style curvy pants. OMG.
33. What kept you sane?
F, picture messaging, yoga, my parents, my boss, and my friends, with an honorable mention to Lisa, who entered my life late in the year but still managed to add significant sanity and awesomeness.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Probably still Peter on HEROES. Oh, and Neil Gaiman.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
I'm going to keep last year's answer: "There should be a word like 'vegetarian' for a person who doesn't like politics."
36. Who did you miss?
Fritz, Fritz, Fritz. Also, Amy, Heather, Chelsea, Sarahs B and EE and Farbo and the Laminator, Amy & Josh, the Sisterhood of the Scorpion Bowl, Dann Brown, the Carlos, and all the rest of you. I missed Boston, and I missed Dragon*Con, and all those associated with those places.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Lisa. She's just so great. I also re-met Bethanie, who I love to bits.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
It'll happen.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"California, here I come..."
Year 2: 2005
Year 3: 2006
This year: 2007
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
- figured out for sure who I want to marry someday
- had my writing accepted for publication in journals where I don't know anyone
- traveled to Phoenix, AZ, and Santa Rosa, CA
- was a maid of honor and a bridesmaid
- owned a cat
- stopped owning a cat
- played Scrabble regularly
- bought a sofa
- owned a bed
- cooked pierogies and fondue
- sold shit on ebay
- started liking wine
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Last year, I resolved to keep up with yoga. I mostly did that, except for right at the end of the year. This year, I will continue to not make any earth-shattering resolutions.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Ebeth and Amy F both gave birth. They both have adorable boys. Suzie technically gave birth in 2006, but she had Xander after the last time I did this meme, so I will include her here as well.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thankfully.
5. What countries did you visit?
No place but the US.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Last year I wanted to have "more compassion for myself". That's still a good one. I also now have a blender that I did not have last year, so that's pretty exciting. For 2008, I wouldn't mind having a fiancee and a shiny ring, but I'm not going to get all worked up about that--I'll have those when it's time. Mostly I just want to have a live-in boyfriend. I would also like to have more publication credits. Since this question asked about things I would "like to have", not things I could plausibly have, I will also say that I would like an awesome job, complimentary airline travel anywhere in the world, and several cases of my favorite wine. More local friends would also be nice.
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
February: moving into my new apartment.
March 1: first kiss with F
March: crazy homeless man on Miami bus; Missi's bridal shower
May 21-22
June: Missi's wedding
July: crazy martinis with Chris in NYC; Phoenix trip
August: giving Amy her custom Barbie; Bobbi's bachelorette
September: that amazing Saturday night in CA
October: meeting Lisa for the first time
November: T&A's wedding; writing a song about penises
December: Christmas with F, of course; meeting F's entire extended family except for Uncle Jan all in one sitting
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Landing financial aid to go to Key West; finally, finally having my work accepted for publication.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Focusing too much on what a failure I am.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I got that miserable stomach bug in February. That really sucked.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
As it turned out, the best thing I bought was plane tickets to Atlanta for AWP. I also bought plane tickets to Phoenix and to California. Those were all good buys. I bought two bridesmaid dresses, and the second one could be classified as an awesome purchase. I bought a couch too.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
F. He just rocks. Amy doesn't think her behavior merited celebration, but I think she's awesome for making the best of everything that happens to her. Surprisingly, I am not displeased by my own behavior this year, overall.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Probably, certain of the authors I have worked with. Although a lot of their behavior can be explained by ignorance and a lack of common sense (note that I don't say "intelligence", because they certainly have a lot of that).
14. Where did most of your money go?
Apartment, car payment, travel.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Falling in love with F, traveling to see F, F's visits to see me. The weddings I was in. Getting a blender and a security box for Christmas. Hanging out with Lisa.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Eh, I don't know if I've got one.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? So much happier. Dear God am I happier.
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter. And last year I was fatter than the year before. A disturbing trend.
c) richer or poorer? We'll go with "poorer" here, because the last time I filled out this meme I was living with my parents, and now I've spent a year paying rent and traveling.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Yoga, writing.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Previous answers to this question include: "Whining, bitching, worrying, playing stupid internet games, complaining, worrying, getting upset, stressing out, hating my life, hating my thighs, hating my body, being hard on myself". We'll add "worrying about money", and that about covers it.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas Eve partly with F and his family, then I had dinner with my parents and brought them to my church for the first time. I spent Christmas day with my parents. I spent the rest of the holidays with F.
21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Yes!!!
22. How many one-night stands?
What could have been a one-night stand (okay, weekend fling) is turning into a lifetime. That's pretty cool.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Heroes, Gossip Girl, America's Next Top Model.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
25. What was the best book you read?
I have to really think about this one, but candidates include Gilgamesh, Late Wife by Claudia Emerson, Sabriel by Garth Nix, Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, and No Other Life by Gary Young.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Didn't really discover much music this year. Bethanie sent me a great mix cd. F sent me several great mix cds. I actually kind of discovered some art this year, though. I found out I love Monet, and Mancini. Those were good discoveries.
27. What did you want and get?
An apartment. Some sex. To be published.
28. What did you want and not get?
This is hard, because 2007 was really a pretty good year in retrospect. Um, more time with F, and more money.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Ratatouille!
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 28. I went to the zoo with my mom, and then out for fondue for dinner with my friends.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Sleeping next to F every single night.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
I discovered Ann Taylor Loft's Julie-style curvy pants. OMG.
33. What kept you sane?
F, picture messaging, yoga, my parents, my boss, and my friends, with an honorable mention to Lisa, who entered my life late in the year but still managed to add significant sanity and awesomeness.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Probably still Peter on HEROES. Oh, and Neil Gaiman.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
I'm going to keep last year's answer: "There should be a word like 'vegetarian' for a person who doesn't like politics."
36. Who did you miss?
Fritz, Fritz, Fritz. Also, Amy, Heather, Chelsea, Sarahs B and EE and Farbo and the Laminator, Amy & Josh, the Sisterhood of the Scorpion Bowl, Dann Brown, the Carlos, and all the rest of you. I missed Boston, and I missed Dragon*Con, and all those associated with those places.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Lisa. She's just so great. I also re-met Bethanie, who I love to bits.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
It'll happen.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"California, here I come..."