Peaceable Imperatrix has given me something to blog about! These days, that's an accomplishment, since all I seem to have time for is cleaning, cooking, and walking the dog. But with six sleeping twenty-somethings upstairs, who'll wake up hungry in a few hours, I need to do this fast. Here goes:
1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Visit Andorra.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't recall making any. I think I was consumed by the elections this time last year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Define close. Lots of nieces/nephews had babies, including my brother's youngest son, but I'm not very close, geographically, to them. I'm really not in baby mode these days, and I can't get too excited about the idea of ever having grandchildren.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No. Thankfully.
5. What countries did you visit?
The Netherlands, France, Luxembourg, Germany, Scotland, Czech Republic, France again, Andorra, Belgium. I think that's it.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A Mini.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 3 and November 4. First Iowa, and then the United States, decided that the best candidate for president was a man with a funny name.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Throwing a party on short notice. Seriously. I'm not good at stuff like that, and tend to obsess for weeks whenever I have a party. This one was better than the one I held last year by far.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I don't think I sent anything out to a single publisher. I did finally get a rejection from my last submission, which counts as a failure.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Frozen shoulder. That turned into about six months of physical therapy, and inspired my return to the gym once I got the okay to do some easy weight lifting.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My Georgian chest of drawers. Close second: my 17th century Bible box with my daughter's initials, reversed.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My daughters, both of whom are working and going to school at the same time, and making excellent progress.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Hillary Clinton.
14. Where did most of your money go?
See number 11. Also number 5.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The elections.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
That stupid Ting Ting's song "That's not my name" that made my daughter and me both reach for the radio dial to change the station. But first we'd laugh, with mutually shared loathing.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:_a) happier or sadder?_b) thinner or fatter?_c) richer or poorer?
a) Happier. I've adjusted to not having my daughters home every day.
b) Neither: I may have gained a pound, but I'm also becoming more fit. I don't weigh.
c) Both: the pound has shrunk; it's now worth less than $1.50, which makes me feel very wealthy. Yet the nosediving stock market and housing prices have made our investments worth less. So also poorer.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Travel.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Surfing the internet.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Commiserating with a sick daughter.
21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
In a metaphorical sense, I fell in love with every place I went. (Well, except for Slough, but you know what I mean.) And sitting on a balcony in Andorra drinking Rioja with my husband was the most thrilling moment I've ever had.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
I don't watch TV very much at all, except for the news, but one program I love is Top Gear. I think I watched it once or twice in 2008. Also Hollyoaks, which I faithfully watched for my daughter, at least for a few weeks, to report on who got killed off/broke up/developed personality disorder/caught HIV/got preggers/stole a baby/etc.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
A few politicians whom I have vowed to forget.
24. What was the best book you read?
One result of my addiction to campaign coverage was a lack of reading for pleasure rather than knowledge. Many of the books I read were for class, and they put me right to sleep. Others were travel guides, which I enjoy reading as long as they're The Rough Guide. I read His Dark Materials and absolutely hated The Amber Spyglass. Didn't get around to reading too many novels, and those I did read weren't very memorable.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
There was a song on the radio one day with the lyric "I saw a UFO and no one believed me." I've never heard it again. And no one believes me when I tell them about it.
26. What did you want and get?
See numbers 5 and 11.
27. What did you want and not get?
A Mini.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
A DVD we watched in France, about a boy who needs a father, called Dear Frankie. Get it if you can find it; it's a really sweet film.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I really don't remember. I think I'm 46. Now I remember: I was sick with some odd illness, running a fever for about six days. We walked up to the wood and that was about all I could manage that day. Lost my appetite totally, which affected Number 17 b.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Being able to accomplish more. I blame Barack Obama and my fascination with the election. But his election also made 2008 one of the most satisfying of my life.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Decide between black and brown, and alternate each day. But it's good to have a little variety in your wardrobe, so sometimes I'll throw on a grey sweater just to keep people guessing.
32. What kept you sane?
My dog.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I echo Imperatrix: Barack Obama.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
All of them—the war in Iraq, the environment, the economy, healthcare being the biggest. I'm especially attuned to the reputation of the U.S. around the world, so improving the United States' international relations is important to me, but that sort of encompasses all the rest.
35. Who did you miss?
My mom. My daughters. My friends who moved away.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
My friend who I've started walking with some mornings. She's a minister, and we have interesting philosophical discussions as well as just regular talk. Also, on the way to our meeting point, I stop and talk to a neighbor's gardener from South Africa. He's shared some really interesting stories—he was imprisoned in SA after speaking out—and has a unique view of race relations and Obama's victory. I have to plan an extra few minutes for our chats on Fridays, as I walk to meet my friend.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Time management is very important. Sadly, I only learned this recently and haven't quite got the knack.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Listen to me, oh no, I never say anything at all. (From the aforementioned Ting Ting's song.)
You had a full year! And you're going native, did you know? (grey vs. gray).
I didn't know you read His Dark Materials! I'm actually re-listening (we have the series it on tape - boy is that difficult to listen to these days) currently as I knit.
Looking forward to your adventures in 2009.
Posted by: Imperatrix | January 01, 2009 at 02:36 PM
Yes, I have a weird mix of British and American spelling. When I wrote my paper I had to be careful to use British spelling and punctuation, but I probably missed a few.
Posted by: KathyF | January 01, 2009 at 04:57 PM
Haha, I want a Mini, tooooo :-)
Happy New Year and keep up this great blog! I enjoy it a lot :-)
Posted by: Anke | January 01, 2009 at 06:04 PM
Haha, I want a Mini, tooooo :-)
Happy New Year and keep up this great blog! I enjoy it a lot :-)
Posted by: Anke | January 01, 2009 at 06:06 PM
About 25:
I believe you: It is - UFO by Sneaky Sound System
Posted by: niCk(MemBeth) | January 02, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Yes! That's it! Mystery solved.
Posted by: KathyF | January 02, 2009 at 12:57 PM
When you say "a mini," to what are you referring? What does that mean when someone in the UK says it?
You DID have a full year.
Posted by: Diane | January 02, 2009 at 08:31 PM
A Mini is a Mini Cooper, the cute little car made by BMW in Oxford. They're everywhere here, but despite their popularity, I still think they the cutest things on four wheels--they get great gas mileage too. And Bailey fits in the back of the new Clubman!
http://www.mini.co.uk
Posted by: KathyF | January 02, 2009 at 09:08 PM
I thought it was a car, but I wasn't sure. I've seen those--I just saw one yesterday, in fact--very cute! I haven't heard anyone refer to a "mini" here, though, other than referring to a netbook.
Posted by: Diane | January 03, 2009 at 12:06 AM
Hi, It's the second time i'm posting you without a reply. I found your site using Yaehoo, does your site support firefox?
Posted by: Yaehoo | May 01, 2009 at 05:55 AM