(This list of questions originates with Linda at All & Sundry. My 2010 version is here.)
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Ran a race! Actually I ran six races. One 8K, one 4-mile, and four 5Ks. I actually started running in late 2010, but didn't run an actual race until April 2011, so we'll count this for this year. Then I hurt my foot mid July and haven't been able to run much since, even after a cast and a couple months of physical therapy. SADFACE.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't typically write out formal New Year's Resolutions, but this time last year I did start working REALLY hard on eating better and exercising, and I kept that up. I doubt I'll write any specific resolutions for 2012 either. Odd, with how much I generally like lists, but it just doesn't appeal to me (right now anyway).
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Many internet friends had babies this year, but none of my in-real-life friends did. There were a couple of engagements though, so yay for them.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no.
5. What countries did you visit?
Ha, no. 2010 was a big year of travel (to domestic locations), so 2011 was more a year of vacations close to home, primarily visiting family.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you didn't have in 2011?
The ability to sleep past 4am, oh my hell.
7. What dates from 2011 will be etched upon your memory, and why?
This summer I got to be there when John proposed to my "baby sis" (who is 23 now HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?) and I will never, ever forget that. I've known Heather and her family since she was a year old and she is as much family to me as my actual family. The fact that John invited me to be there and included T and I in the celebration after means the world to me.
On October 15th I also got to see another one of my former babysitting charges get married, and I'm quite sure I cried more happy tears that day than I ever have before in my life. These kids just keep growing up and becoming happy, healthy ADULTS and it BLOWS MY MIND.
8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?
I'm going to go with the running six races thing again (and improving my time with each race), along with joining and continuing to go to my gym for both group fitness classes and personal training sessions. Before late 2010 when I started running I'd never run a mile straight in my entire life. I avoided physical activity as much as humanly possible because I decided sometime long ago that I'm just not good at athletic stuff. Much to my surprise, it turns out I was wrong - I'm actually pretty good at that stuff, or so says my improved-race times and gushing personal trainer.
9. What was your biggest failure?
While I continued to be an exercise rock-star, my healthy eating sort of went away for a large chunk of 2011. I'm getting back on track (slowly), but my word is that hard. Exercising is way easier than eating healthy food I don't like.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I hurt my foot in July running and landed myself in a cast followed by a couple months of physical therapy (following the casts on the same foot and physical therapy also in 2009 and 2010). It still hurts a lot now (along with a hip thing I'm mostly pretending to ignore), but there is nothing more to do short of surgery, and I'm not ready to go there yet.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My iPad2 and I are BFF.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
T continues to awe her professors at school, even getting invited to present a class presentation at some kind of forum thingy, which was super cool for her. My dad "retired" and is doing his own consulting thing, and I'm happy to see him so excited about what he is doing.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
All the jackasses who knew what was going on at Penn State and did nothing. They can all go rot in hell.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent and medical expenses, nothing exciting.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting the okay from all of my various doctors to start trying to have a baby.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Colbie Caillat - Brighter Than the Sun. Though that may just remind me of this month, so that could leak over and remind me of 2012, too. But it's my favorite song of the moment, and I smile whenever I hear it on the radio.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
Happier, slightly fatter, slightly poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I wish I was able to spend more time with my family, but that is more of a distance-and-money issue than that I didn't make it a priority. It's just hard to live 400 miles from home, you know?
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I wish I hadn't wasted so much time/money on physical therapy that didn't really help.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
We drove up to Minnesota to visit my family. Christmas Eve was spent in Wisconsin at my aunt and uncle's farm, then Christmas mid-morning we drove back to Minnesota, took naps, opened MORE presents, and watched the Packers kick some football ass. Other than the call for an ambulance for my aunt at 6am on Christmas morning (she is now home from the hospital and fine), it was a lovely, low-key holiday.
21. Did you fall in love in 2011?
I've kind of fallen in love with a fuzzy pillowcase I got at Target a few weeks ago, but don't tell my wife. She might make me share.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
I don't think I have a favorite. Most of the shows I watch are sort of a way of killing time right now. I did enjoy The Next Iron Chef, Alphas, and I'm starting to watch and like Haven. I continue to watch an unreal number of crime-dramas (Rizzoli & Isles, Law & Order reruns, Bones, etc.).
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hating is exhausting. I prefer my rage in small bursts at particular new stories and/or idiotic celebrities (see: Charlie Sheen), but sustained hate is well beyond my attention span.
24. What was the best book you read?
I'm currently reading my 54th book of 2011, which is EXACTLY the same number of books I read each in 2010 and 2009. I am surprisingly consistent. By the rankings I put in Goodreadsmy favorites this year were Room, Bag of Bones, and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I don't listen to a lot of music, I mostly leave musical discovery up to T.
26. What did you want and get?
A gym membership, an all-clear from my doctors, and an iPad2 (hey, they can't ALL be healthy things.)
27. What did you want and not get?
An iPhone 4S (I'm waiting for the iPhone 5 hopefully next year.)
28. What was your favorite film of 2011?
The Muppet Movie!! The Rainbow Connection simply broke me (SOBBING IN THE THEATRE), but I loved the cheesiness and the jokes and the songs and and and...I just really liked it.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 31 and T and I went out to dinner and a movie. Nothing big, just a low-key evening. I think I managed to fit in a nap, too, which is very like me.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More sleep. Insomnia mixed with narcolepsy BLOWS, in case I haven't made that clear.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2011?
Ha. Um....hey, this looks like it mostly matches? And is clean?
32. What kept you sane?
The friends who live in my computer/email/on Twitter. What did people do before the internet? Also naps help, since I can only sleep during the day.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Not sure. I can't think of any TV-loves-of-my-life this year.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Illinois (where I live) now allows same-sex civil unions, which is a great start. Maybe someday I'll actually be able to MARRY my wife. Dream big, I say.
35. Who did you miss?
Alex.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
Hmm, I can't think of many new people I met in 2011. I'll go with everyone I've met at my gym (teachers, trainers, fitness professionals, etc.) since they are so supportive and helpful and lovely.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
I can totally do that, and it doesn't really matter what "that" is. I can totally do that. Run a mile, run five miles, lift weights, take a dance class. That. All of that.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Right this moment you don't know it
But you're standing prepared
For the advent of all the big stuff
Had you runnin' 'round scared
And because of all that
Life gets simpler in fact
Learn to breathe, when to yield
Find what can be and cannot be healed
On the crest of the wheel - life gets real
Ann Reed - Life Gets Real
