My Year in Review

Questions stolen fair and square from All & Sundry. She does them every year. I thought about doing them last year but didn't. Now I wish I had. So I decided not to make the same mistake:

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Left my children for three days. Flooded my car just like the idiots you see on the news.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My new year's resolutions last year were to rid the house of anything that isn't useful or beautiful, prep the house to be sold or rented, spend less time contemplating stabbing my eyes out, shrink, find a better bath pillow and exercise. Right. So let's see. I decluttered the hell out of my house. Not just the beanie babies either. All kinds of crap we never used. For example, I parted with most of the crystal wedding presents I've been hanging onto out of expensive gift guilt. I'm just not a crystal candle stick kind of girl. In fact, I'm not even a candle stick kind of girl. I'm still trying to rid the house of the fugly but useful stuff. For example we still sit on fugly mistmatched dining room chairs and my kitchen still contains a brown sink. But we're making progress. We are not, however, making much progress prepping the house to sell or rent other than the master bath. I like to blame that on my husband's frequent travel this year but my own personal laziness could very well have played a role. Who knows. Limiting eye stabbing thoughts was pretty ambitious. For example, if I'd known how much my husband was going to travel this year I'm sure I would have changed that resolution to "Spend less time feeling guilty for wanting to stab my eyes out sometimes." Because, really, sometimes life is frustrating. And my butt did not shrink. In fact, I feel confident I assisted it in expanding. On the bright side, I did successfully locate a good bath pillow. $10 at Target. Not inflated so it actually gives like a pillow. I utilize it behind the head and team it with a tried and true sea shell shaped inflated one for lower back support. Holla. No really. Holla. And by the way, I feel like a bath pillow expert having gone through so many at this point. For example, from me to you, the kind with the terry cloth cover over an inflated thing are overrated. You'll be expected to remove that cover after every use in order for it to dry without becoming utterly funkadelic. Seriously, I take a bath to relax not to create more work for myself. Low maintenance should go without saying on a bath pillow. And I'm still mulling over New Year's resolutions for this year. They're so inspiring to make but so disheartening to read the next year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. What countries did you visit?
Right. So instead of making a sarcastic joke I think I'll tell you about that one time seven years ago when I paid good money to get a passport and then never used it. To this day. I know. I'm like the polar opposite of worldly.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Free time. A babysitter. Fruit Loops with marshmallows.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
First day of Kindergarten. August 25th. Inside my head it was monumental.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I don't write too much about work stuff here. Not specific stuff anyway. But I have to say, in the last year I've come on like gangbusters at work. When I first got promoted last year I viewed it as temporary. I only envisioned short term goals because that's how I thought of my role. But I think I've finally adapted my thinking in the last few months. I feel like I own my role and assert my vision over my area of responsibility. Whereas in the past I used to check with colleagues before making changes, now I just make the changes and give instructions. In the last month especially. Pretending I'm a top dog in California must have gone to my head or something.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not walking more.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I've had a sinus infection for the last week. Inside my head, it's been crippling but in truth our household has been fairly healthy this year.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
The king size duvet for our queen sized bed was a very nice call on my part. So was my new Blackberry. But I have to hand it to my husband for the 52 inch flat screen television he decided we couldn't live without. I was initially aghast at how monstrously huge it was and told him regularly that I thought it was too big. Several months later, I'm embarrassingly spoiled. While flipping channels on the 20 inch television in my hotel room during my trip to California, it actually crossed my mind that the least they could have done was put the TV closer to the bed if it's going to be that small. I know. Someone should punch me in the face just for thinking that.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The newest Kindergartener. Loves school. Regularly complimented by her teacher for working hard, listening and being the first to help with everything.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Probably my own. But for no particular reason. I'm just harder on myself than anyone else. Makes it really easy to beat yourself up for little things that fall through the cracks. And plenty of stuff falls through my cracks. For example, I can't remember the last thank you note I wrote. I'd like to know what kind of lazy hag doesn't write a thank you note when someone takes the time to give you something? And I'm extra neurotic about my kids. For example, the newest Kindergartener got all As and one B+ on her first report card. But then several weeks later she got a C+ on one stupid phonics worksheet and I'm reevaluating my life and the choices I make. I even subjected my husband to a conversation about how we need to set up a parent teacher conference to discuss what we need to be doing differently. I'm pretty sure he wanted to suggest I chill but he managed to act sympathetic and did a lot of nodding and murmuring of "we'll work on it." I'm amazed he didn't point out the fact that this is the same kid that got placed in the class' top reading group literally the week before and it's one dumb worksheet. But maybe he's just hoping I'll forget about it over Christmas break. I know. It's like he just met me or something. As if.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage and keeping everyone fed.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Our trip to San Antonio was really fun. Loading the car and hitting the road had me clapping in delight. Have I mentioned I'm a clapper? Because I am. I do it without thinking. Including at work. People think it's youthful and funny.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
"There is No One Like You" from a mix CD made by the principal of my daughter's school of all people. He gave it to her because she likes the music they play in chapel. I can take or leave the rest of the CD but I catch myself randomly humming track 6 a lot. I may or may not listen to it when I'm by myself in the car too.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter
c) richer or poorer? Richer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Take the day off

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Telling the kids to go play.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
In my pajamas. Sick and slightly medicated. Dogs and kids underfoot.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
No.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
The Office, Survivor and Project Runway. In that order.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No. It's easy to annoy me but difficult to make me hate you.

24. What was the best book you read?
The Glass Castle. I'd forgotten I read that this year. Loved it.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Ipod. The fact that I only bought an Ipod in 2008 should say something about how up I am on music today. Oh well.

26. What did you want and get?
My son potty trained. Boo-yeah

27. What did you want and not get?
A new house. Complete and utter adoration at work. A better bra. Date night. A winning lottery ticket.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Sex and the City. When you're the kind of girl that goes to the movies once a year, you're easy to impress. I liked it. So sue me. Driving home I already missed the girls. I also saw No Country For Old Men this year. It's a much better film and genuinely impressive. But, to be honest, I've never once felt a pang in my heart missing any of those characters.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Took the day off, read a good book and had lunch with my mom. 34.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
My husband traveling less. I feel bad even mentioning it because he hasn't been traveling lately and I figure I should just shut up, be happy and knock on wood.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Comfortable

32. What kept you sane?
Hot baths. I love that the door to the bathroom locks.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I still like the guy from Burn Notice but Brad Pitt's always nice. And the guy in Twilight is growing on me.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The economy. I feel fortunate to have job security but I fret about everyone that doesn't. I'm also the sort of dope that feels sad about the price of bread and kids that don't have health insurance.

35. Who did you miss?
I missed my husband a lot when he was traveling. And old friends.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
I guess the new girl at work. She's nice and seems like she could use a friend. I know what that's like.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Taking your kids places is fun. Cuddling in bed with them is better. When they leave home and forget to call me, it'll be the cuddling I miss not the trips to Chuck E. Cheese.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"But if my life is for rent and I don't learn to buy
Well I deserve nothing more than I get
Because nothing I have is truly mine." Dido