End of year meme

I saw this over at Chessa's and thought I'd give it a try. You'll find some blog flashbacks in this post! I have to be honest with you, though: I think the quality of my writing was not that great earlier in the year, when I started blogging on a daily basis. I'm a much better blogger now.

Still, enjoy the trip in the Wayback Machine!

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Wow...I did so much! I went to a national convention, for starters, campaigned for a presidential candidate, and blogged on a daily basis. I also went to a corn maze and performed in a talent show.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
A friend of mine has a saying: "May your troubles last as long as your resolutions." I did, however, make one resolution, one that I really hope will stick: I resolve to stop biting my nails.

I hope that this will stick, because my resolutions tend to last for very brief periods of time. I'm lucky if I get past the third week of January!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My friend's sister-in-law had a baby back in March...does that count? I have another friend who is due to give birth to a daughter in either January or February, and another one is due to give birth to twin boys in May.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no. There's been a lot of serious illnesses amongst my circle of friends, but fortunately, no death. Just a lot of bravery.

5. What countries did you visit?
The United States of America. The farthest I got from Connecticut this year was Washington, DC and four trips to NYC. They're both very international cities!

I also made several trips to Mohegan Sun, which is not considered to be on state land. I know, I'm stretching things a bit...

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
More time with family and friends. More time to read. More time to play. More time to just be.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July 5th: Got to see Barack Obama speak.

November 4th - The world changed.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finally getting my butt to a great therapist in January and beginning a makeover of my spiritual, emotional, and mental well-being. This blog has helped quite a bit. I have really enjoyed all of the growth that I've made over the past year, and can finally say that I am a very happy, contented person.

It's an ongoing process, though, and it hasn't been easy. There have been a few stumbling blocks.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I don't want to dwell on the negative. Failure is just too strong a word.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I'm asthmatic and suffer from seasonal allergies. My mother calls me a human barometer. I'm never without my inhaler, Sudafed, or Kleenex.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My Kodak C813 Easy Share digital camera. I've been taking pictures like a fiend. Also, my new purple iPod Nano, the new generation. I can't be without my music. Ever.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My family and friends, without whose support over the last 12-15 months I would not have made it through a rocky period of my life.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The behavior of those who head the American auto industry, for gross mismanagement; those who head our federal government (1/20/09 can't come soon enough), executives at AIG; and Rod Blagojevich.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage, bills, credit card payments, student loans (still--ick)...although I've done a lot better for myself now that I've finally been able to stick to a budget for the first time in my life.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Opportunities to travel locally, spend some time with friends, and meet lots of new people.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Ooohhhh, sooooooooo many...Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" and Beyonce's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" have been two recent standouts. Seriously, though, anything that's on my iPod playlists for this year will always remind me of 2008.

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

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Scrapbook. Cross stitch. Anything crafty.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worry and fret.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With my family.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Alas, no. One day, though, God willing. I'm in no rush. It'll happen when it's supposed to.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
I WANT DVR!!! I don't want it so badly, though, that I have to pay the extra $20 monthly fee for cable. I really don't have a favorite TV program...unless you count my DVD subscription to The Carol Burnett Show.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate is a very strong word. I don't hate people. Life is too short for hating people.

24. What was the best book you read?
Oh God...I don't know what to choose! I really enjoyed A Town Like Paris and Almost Like Being in Love.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Country music has been a greater influence on my musical tastes this year than it ever has. I love Brad Paisley and Phil Vassar!

26. What did you want and get?
Personal satisfaction and contentment.

27. What did you want and not get?
Time. Especially time nurturing relationships.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
I'm not a movie person at all. It's very hard for me to sit down for 90-120 straight minutes to watch a movie. I've been compiling a list, though, of certain films I do want to see in the new year. I need to broaden my horizons.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 32 on the third day of the third month. I really didn't celebrate my birthday at all this year, save for dinner with my family. I feel really funny throwing a party for myself, in my honor, the older I get.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More travel!

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Potential nominee for What Not to Wear. Seriously. After yesterday's trip to NYC, I've concluded that I will never have fashion sense. Every woman dresses nicely in New York! I looked like a shlub...and it's worse at work!

32. What kept you sane?
Reading, blogging, music.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Barack and Michelle Obama.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The election. The financial crisis. The bailouts of the financial and auto industries. Sarah Palin's candidacy. Gay rights. I could go on and on.

35. Who did you miss?
This year, I really missed my maternal grandmother, who died when I was 9. I just felt a really strong connection/pull to her this year more than any other when she was alive...

36. Who was the best new person you met?
I've met a lot of wonderful people this year, both in real life and in the blogging community. It would not be fair for me to single out just one person.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
I'm with Chessa on this one: Things always have a way of working themselves out.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"So it goes like it goes
Like the river flows
And time it rolls right on
And maybe what's good gets a little bit better
And maybe what's bad gets gone."
--"It Goes Like It Goes," theme from Norma Rae