Year in Review

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?

Triathlons (this will be the answer to many questions, I suspect) & pre-dawn boot camp.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Last year's resolutions: "I'd like to stick with running, be a good friend, sister, pseudo-aunt, and daughter, and continue to travel down life's path attempting to make my dreams come true. Also, my sister and I made a mutual resolution: Clutter-Free in '09!"

I think I did pretty well with these! I'm not totally clutter-FREE by any means, but I've made progress. As for traveling down life's path attempting to make my dreams come true, I think I came into a clearer focus in 2009 -- which was kind of a year of rebuilding and recreating and re-imagining -- of what those dreams actually are, assisted in part by this loveliness. So that was a good thing. In 2010, I want to buy locally/independently (food, books, coffee shops, etc.) whenever humanly possible ... to move toward recreating my home as a space that feeds my soul ... I want to fit in to the perfect space, feel natural and safe in a volatile place ... to be brave and open ... and to run the half-marathon on my birthday faster than I ran it in '07! I want to ring 35 in with a celebratory bang.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes! To twin sons, wow. A couple more babies are on their way in the coming weeks and months -- a girl and a surprise -- about which I am very, very excited.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, thankfully.

5. What countries did you visit?

None. I did leave the continental U.S., though, when I went to Hawaii for the second year in a row! Which was, again, awesome.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

Mad, passionate, true & fiery love! I'm just gonna go ahead and put it out there.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Inauguration Day, the birth of the aforementioned sons, and even though this might sound weird, the day Michael Jackson died.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Triathlons. And giving up sweets for Lent -- maybe that shouldn't be considered an "achievement," but it totally felt like one!

9. What was your biggest failure?

One of my favorite friendships got bungled this year (see #37); thus far, it has been semi-salvaged and is well on the way to being repaired, I think, but I'd like to completely heal it in the coming year.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No illness to speak of, thank goodness. (Strangely, the sickest I usually am all year is during a period of wretched, miserable hay fever, from which I've suffered for the past 15 years or so, without fail. This year, during my sweets reprieve, I didn't suffer from it at all. I barely even sneezed. No idea if the two were related, but I found it fascinating.) My shins are injured every time I start a running training program, and this year was no different.

11. What were the best things you bought?

My bike because it made me a triathlete. My bed because it helped me to sleep better. My plane tickets to visit my friend and sister. My various and sundry concert tickets.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

She might not approve of my saying this, but I totally celebrate my friend for facing the shocker of having twins with aplomb and caring for not one but two newborns at the same time. I didn't realize all that goes into such a thing until visiting them, and I remain awestruck. It is a feat. She is awesome!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Repeat of last year: "Quite frankly all of the people who voted against gay rights in various elections. It sickens and saddens me a whole lot."

14. Where did most of your money go?

Registrations for various athletic events and equipment and attire for various athletic activities. WEIRD! But good.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

The awesome live music I saw this year ... I mean, I had so much fun at these concerts; they were like therapy. The Avett Brothers, Brandi Carlile (twice), the Indigo Girls, Ingrid Michaelson, and the Swell Season. All of these but two were with my little brother, which made them all the more fun & special to me. I also got very excited about my older brother's impending nuptials and other exciting family news.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?

Last Tears, specifically this version. I just think it's very beautiful.

I don't regret and won't forget
a single thing that we went through ...
I'm gonna dip into your memory and take a good stiff drink
And when I'm drunk on the last drop of sadness about how we went wrong
I'm gonna play this song
Make some coffee black and strong
Give thanks for healing time
And finally make up my mind

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? Happier.

b) thinner or fatter? About the same, but a wee bit stronger. Just a wee.

c) richer or poorer? Richer, but not exceedingly more so.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Purchasing locally grown food from the farmer's market ... I definitely made tremendous strides in this regard but could have done better.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Fretting. Regretting.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

Slept in, attended mass, ate a giant delicious meal, went to see Up in the Air, and watched Up. A fun, family-filled day.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?

I thought maybe I did, but I think I was just confused.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

The TV show I most flipped my lid over this year was Chuck! It aired for two seasons before I watched it ... how this happened I'm still not sure ... but I'm all caught up and one hundred percent in love with everything about it and can't wait until it starts up again in January. Other than that ... the usual ... Friday Night Lights, Ugly Betty, The Office, So You Think You Can Dance, Mad Men, and Battlestar Galactica, which ended earlier this year and was a huge commitment time-wise and emotionally for several years. My favorite new show by a mile is Parks & Recreation. If you only watched the first season and haven't tuned in to see how funny it is this year, you're missing out. Also, I loved watching Extras & In Treatment and the hilarious and heartwarming Gavin and Stacey on DVD this year. I guess I watched kind of a lot of TV this year. But it was all good.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

I can't think of anyone. I try not to be a hater.

24. What was the best book you read?

Young adult fiction: I loved Octavian Nothing by M.T. Anderson and The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt and Looking for Alaska by John Green and The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. Nonfiction: I loved Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food and Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life and Melissa Anelli's Harry: A History and Shelf Discovery: The Teen Classics We Never Stopped Reading by Lizzie Skurnick.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Other than Patty Griffin, with whom I fell in complete love and was new to me, this year was less about discovering new artists than it was about falling in love with some favorites all over again ... new albums by the artists listed in #15 made up the soundtrack of 2009 for me. I also couldn't get enough of Regina Spektor's new album. As for other artists who were brand new to me in 2009, I really like Amy Seeley & Greg Holden.

26. What did you want and get?

Medals for all four triathlons in my series. (Plus one extra.) thirtysomething released on DVD. A warm friendship with my ex-boyfriend, which I've learned is much better than having someone be dead to you.

27. What did you want and not get?

Rid of my under-eye circles.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

Gonna have to go with Slumdog Millionaire & The Edge of Heaven & The Class ... nothing else really grabbed me like those did. But I did also really enjoy Last Chance Harvey and Milk and Up in the Air and Up. (I laughed so hard when Doug the dog said, "I was hiding under your porch because I love you." I laugh basically whenever I remember it. Such a good movie.)

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I had a nice Thai dinner with my parents and brother the night before and a fun patio dinner with friends the night of. I turned 34.

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

Hmmmm...This is a hard one to answer. Honestly, looking back, it was a pretty great year.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?

Jeans? T-shirts? The usual.

32. What kept you sane?

The usual: great parents, great siblings, great friends. New: long bike rides and swims -- two of the most meditative and therapeutic activities I've ever participated in. Who knew?

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

It's a toss up between Chuck Bartowski and Don Draper. Chuck Bartowski is a perfectly reasonable fictonal character to adore; Don Draper, not so much ... Chuck is dopey & kind; Don is a cad but super sexy. I feel very divided!

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

Marriage rights for all.

35. Whom did you miss?

My sister & faraway friends.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

The sons!

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.

In the immortal words of Liz Phair, "It's better to be friends than lovers, and you shouldn't try to mix the two."

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

There was a dream, and one day I could see it,
like a bird in a cage I broke in
and demanded that somebody free it ...
Decide what to be, and go be it.

The Avett Brothers

(2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, and 2003.)

Year in Review

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?

Volunteered (in however tiny a way) for a presidential campaign.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Here's what my 2008 resolutions were: "This year I would like to do some improvements on my house and re-embrace exercise." I did re-embrace exercise, though not until the second half of the year. I didn't do any home improvements unless you count the new roof due to Gustav. I am pretty psyched to have a new roof but was not so psyched to have water pouring through the ceilings like miniature Niagara Falls in the middle of the night. As for 2009's resolutions ... I need a new hot water heater and AC/heater, but those aren't really proper resolutions. (My new washing machine arrived this very morning, hallelujah!) I'd like to stick with running, be a good friend, sister, pseudo-aunt, and daughter, and continue to travel down life's path attempting to make my dreams come true. Also, my sister and I made a mutual resolution: Clutter-Free in '09!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Several friends had lovely tiny babies this year.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, thankfully.

5. What countries did you visit?

None. I did leave the continental U.S., though, when I went to Hawaii! Which was awesome.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

A regular series of full nights of sleep. (Same as every year.)

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Election night. Because it was a dream come true. And the days of Gustav, just because. And Snow Day because it was a rare and wonderful event.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Coming to terms with what I want out of this life, however difficult that process has been.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I don't feel I've failed in any significant way this year. I mean, of course I beat myself up and shame spiral over things big and small all the time, but that is just part of life.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Just my shins, which were injured when beginning my training for the half-marathon. They seem to be doing better now (knock wood). And I got a RIDICULOUS cold near the end of the year after trouncing around in the snow like a giddy idiot and getting wet feet, but it finally went away, phew.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My plane tickets to D.C. and Hawaii.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My parents, for being generally awesome. My sister and her new husband's for taking the plunge and making the leap ... what a beautiful, brave thing ... I celebrate their partnership and their marriage with my whole heart and am so pleased to now have a wonderful new brother on top of the two super ones I already had.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Oh My Lord, McCain-Palin. All the time, but especially when their heinousness was very visible during their rallies and the debates; I will never forget rolling around on the floor of S.'s house in Hawaii in front of the TV as we actually writhed in agony and mortification over the things coming out of their mouths. And quite frankly all of the people who voted against gay rights in various elections. It sickens and saddens me a whole lot.

14. Where did most of your money go?

To my insurance company. Thanks, Hurricane Deductible!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Obama!

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?

Now & forever, "Yes We Can."

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? Both?

b) thinner or fatter? About the same, but a wee bit stronger. Just a wee.

c) richer or poorer? Richer, but not exceedingly more so.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Writing in my paper journal, spending time with girlfriends.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Stressing about classes. I mean, seriously. Life is too short, and I'm supposedly doing this degree for fun!

20. How did you spend Christmas?

I actually woke up and did "Punch, Kick, and Jam!" to start the day off right. Then we went to noon mass at a church other than our own, which my brother disdainfully said was akin to attending a Tulane football game. Then we gathered with my new brother-in-law's family for a giant meal cooked by my mother, which was fantastic. Then I guess we all hung around and digested for a while. Honestly last week in its entirety due to all of the wedding festivities, into which Christmas fell squarely in the middle, is a bit of a blur.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?

I continued to be in love with the same person.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Aside from older favorites (Friday Night Lights, Ugly Betty, The Office), I rented and watched Wonderfalls in its entirety and enjoyed it very much. I was also completely obsessed with So You Think You Can Dance and Mad Men.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

I can't think of anyone.

24. What was the best book you read?

Best novels: True Believer by Virginia Euwer Woolf, My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park by Steve Kluger, Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale, Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George, The Story of Forgetting by Stefan Merrill Block, The Underneath by Kathi Appelt, and Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson. Best short story collections: What Gets Into Us by Moira Crone and Pilgrims by Elizabeth Gilbert. Best nonfiction: When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris and The Race to Save the Lord God Bird by Phillip Hoose and of course Schuyler's Monster by my pal Rob Rummel-Hudson. Best graphic novels: see here. I read a lot of damn fine books this year, it turns out!

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Far and away, the Avett Brothers. And Brandi Carlile, many years too late. (I actually first heard her at the very tail-end of last year, but my love did not fully blossom until this year.) Best new Broadway musical soundtrack: Billy Elliot. And I am very in love with Ingrid Michaelson's new album. And I had a fantastic time at the Michael Buble concert.

26. What did you want and get?

An Obama victory. Back on the fitness wagon, albeit in fits & starts. A Superhero pendant.

27. What did you want and not get?

Rid of my under-eye circles.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

My favorite movies of the ones I saw this year were The Counterfeiters, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, In Bruges, Secret Lives: Hidden Children and Rescuers, Lars and the Real Girl, Gone Baby Gone, The King of Kong, and Stardust. Of those, Lars and the Real Girl was my absolute favorite, with Miss Pettigrew and In Bruges tied for a close second. I am still waiting to see Milk and Slumdog Millionaire. Overall, a good year for movies for me!

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 33 and had dinner with B. and then threw myself a karaoke birthday party.

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

I hate to sound like a broken record, but more sleep.

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

Jeans? T-shirts? The usual.

32. What kept you sane?

The love of all the great people & pets in my life. Having a good, steady job while the economy went haywire. Chalene & Jillian.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Probably Jon Stewart simply because The Daily Show helped me survive election season without going completely berserk.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

The presidential election.

35. Whom did you miss?

B. when he went to France for the summer.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

This is a hard one! I guess maybe I didn't meet anyone new. Is that weird?

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

Doing what's right can be very hard.

Also, I continue to really love this poem that my friend Grace once posted on her site. (I still haven't really come to a firm position on the giving up God part, but I deeply love and cling to the rest of this poem.)

Instructions

Give up the world; give up self; finally, give up God.
Find god in rhododendrons and rocks,
passers-by, your cat.
Pare your beliefs, your absolutes.
Make it simple; make it clean.
No carry-on luggage allowed.
Examine all you have
with a loving and critical eye, then
throw away some more.
Repeat. Repeat.
Keep this and only this:
what your heart beats loudly for
what feels heavy and full in your gut.
There will only be one or two
things you will keep,
and they will fit lightly
in your pocket.

Sheri Hostetler

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

... We only get so many days ...
Just do your best.
It's the only way to keep that last bit of sanity.
Maybe I don't have to be good, but I can try to be
At least a little better than I've been so far.

"When I Drink," the Avett Brothers

(The same survey: 2007, 2006, 2005, and 2004.)

Year in Review

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?

I ran in and finished a half-marathon without stopping to walk. I barely ran (in terms of speed), but I ran. I remain very proud of myself for this.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Here's what my new year's resolutions were: "In 2007, I'd like to run the half-marathon. And try to make the world better since I didn't really do that this year. And figure out more of what I believe and what I don't. And find more ways to be creative and create things." I did the half-marathon. I'm not sure I did the rest. Although I did just buy a new video camera and look forward to using it creatively. This year I would like to do some improvements on my house and re-embrace exercise.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes! I watched my friend's second daughter being born, and my lifelong friend also had her second daughter, my godchild.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, thankfully.

5. What countries did you visit?

I traveled out of the country in 2004, 2005, and 2006, but not in 2007. I try not to be sad about that, but I am, a little.

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?

A regular series of full nights of sleep. (Same as every year.)

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Not to be a broken record, but the half-marathon was a great day.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

See #7.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Utterly failing to maintain my newfound fitness regimen and outgrowing all of my clothes by the year's end. This truly depresses me on a deep level, and I'm trying to rise out of it.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Not really, thankfully.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

I think maybe my new video camera. Otherwise, not sure. Right now there are ten brighly colored gerber daisies scattered throughout the house, and I'm feeling very glad that I bought them.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

I'm going to go with my three favorite women: my sister, who graduated from law school, passed one of the hardest bar exams, moved to Bolivia, and is preparing to begin the rest of her life; my best friend, who changed her life on a leap of faith; my other best friend, who has been a warrior mama.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, George W. Bush. (It's the same answer every year; I can't help it.)

14. Where did most of your money go?

I probably spent the largest sum of money on my damn busted pipe.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Seeing Spring Awakening.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?

Hm. I think my favorite song from this year was Tomorrow Is a Long Time by Nickel Creek. I have no idea if their version is actually from this year, but I sure listened to it a lot once I discovered it, and I love it a whole lot. I also love Mark Erelli's version of Shawn Colvin's "I Don't Know Why." (You can hear it here, #9.) I just learned a new song called "Have You Ever" by Brandi Carlile on a CD that B. made me, and I love it so much that the love is spreading backwards into all of 2007 and forward into 2008. I knew nothing of Brandi Carlile but a recollection that she is beloved by Al Lowe, and I wish I had paid attention to her before. (Enjoyable Brandi Carlile clip [singing a Beatles song]: here. Singing "Have You Ever": here.)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? I don't know. I remain sort of chronically sad that I have fallen off the fitness wagon, but apparently not sad enough to climb back on it. More like paralyzed fitnessly, I guess. Weird.

b) thinner or fatter? GOD -- fatter. By a large margin.

c) richer or poorer? Richer, but not exceedingly more so.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Exercising, post-spring. (I did take an hour-long walk this afternoon on a beautiful sunny day around the lakes, which was a nice way to spend an hour on the last day of the year.)

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Inexplicably crying. Lying awake in the middle of the night fretting about things that happened in other lifetimes.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

Going to mass with my parents and siblings where we once again marveled at the weird out-of-tuneness of the "Gloria" song, sitting around a large table of food with my family, re-watching the game against Auburn, and overall having a pretty fun and functional Christmas.

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?

I continued to be in love with the same person.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Friday Night Lights, though it caused me some discomfort with the shift from the perfection of last year; Ugly Betty remains fantastic; Pushing Daisies is basically a joy; Dirty Sexy Money is deliciously fun; The Office somehow seems to get better each season; Brothers and Sisters=still really good, though I still can't really buy this supposed great romance between Flockhart and Lowe. Battlestar Galactica ended awesomely, and I'm excited for the next season, whenever that is. I enjoyed Big Love season two on DVD.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

I can't think of anyone. I pretty much reserve all of my hatred for the president. (Still.)

24. What was the best book you read?

Best novels: The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak was the best book I read this year, but I was lucky to love or really like several others as well, including The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass, The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien, Long May She Reign by Ellen Emerson White, and Love Is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield. Currently, I'm loving What Gets Into Us by Moira Crone, and next up is How Sassy Changed My Life, which it most certainly did.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Hmmmm...I mostly just listened to music I already loved this year, though I did spend countless hours listening to the soundtracks of Once, Hairspray, and Across the Universe. Once's music has definitely been especially special to me.

26. What did you want and get?

An A in both of my graduate classes.

27. What did you want and not get?

Rid of my under-eye circles.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

I saw a lot of movies I loved or really liked this year (not all of which were actually released this year). Loved: Waitress, The Heart of the Game, The Lives of Others, Once, Hairspray, Juno. Really liked: Pan's Labyrinth, Grey Gardens, Shut Up and Sing, Diggers. Liked parts of / hated parts of / still think about often: Across the Universe.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 32 and had dinner with my family.

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

I hate to sound like a broken record, but more sleep.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?

Um. Jeans? T-shirts? The usual. Busting out of said jeans by December. Ugh!

32. What kept you sane?

Love: of boyfriend, family, friends, dogs, cats.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Hm. I don't know that fancy is the right word, but I was so impressed and enchanted by Keri Russell in Waitress and very glad the world finally got to see her talent in a big way.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

The upcoming presidential election has me alternately excited and scared.

35. Whom did you miss? I miss Madeleine L'Engle, even though I obviously did not know her. I just miss knowing that she exists, basically.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

My godchild. Ned, Olive, Emerson, and Chuck. And I also enjoyed meeting my classmates.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.

But I know
There’s so much more to find
Just in looking through myself, and not at them
Still, I know
To trust my own true mind
And to say there’s a way through this
On I go
To wonder and to learning

-- "All That's Known," Spring Awakening

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

I tried to listen to "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'" on the way to work more mornings than not, and it never failed to put me in a better mood and make me feel more happy to be alive. So I'm going to go with the last verse of this song, as dorky as that might be.

All the sounds of the earth are like music,
All the sounds of the earth are like music,
The breeze is so busy it don't miss a tree,
And an ol' Weepin' Willer is laughin' at me.

--Rodgers & Hammerstein

(The same survey: 2006, 2005, and 2004.) (First found via Linda.)

Breathe, Think, Enjoy, Love

1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?

I trained for a 5K, did a one-hour running program, and started training for a half-marathon. I also opened an IRA (not that exciting) and marched in a Mardi Gras parade (insanely cold but fun).

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

My only new year's resolution was to make myself and the world a little better. I think I've made myself somewhat better by miraculously exercising for the better part of the year. I'm not sure I did much to make the world better, which is not good. In 2007, I'd like to run the half-marathon. And try to make the world better since I didn't really do that this year. And figure out more of what I believe and what I don't. And find more ways to be creative and create things.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

An old friend had her third son, and my old roommate had her son after being told she was having a girl which was hilarious and exciting.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No.

5. What countries did you visit?

Mexico!

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?

A regular series of full nights of sleep. (Same as last year and the year before.) Thirtysomething released on DVD.

7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

This was very exciting, as was the 5K.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I have to say starting to run and sticking to it. I never thought back in April when I could barely run for seven seconds that I would be able to run seven miles by the end of the year. I feel good about that and proud of myself. I also felt like getting through the backpacking trip was a big achievement because while very fun it was also very challenging to keep putting one foot in front of the other without collapsing and demanding a helicopter ride out.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Hm. I don't know. I guess I don't really feel like I've really failed this year. That is kind of astonishing.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Not really, thankfully.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My new running shoes. The dill weed paint I bought for my kitchen?

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Anne Lamott.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, George W. Bush. (It's the same answer every year; I can't help it.)

14. Where did most of your money go?

Mexico and Christmas gifts.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

In a bad way, I got pretty excited by the flying bug in Mexico, so much so that I completely fell apart.

16. What song will always remind you of 2006?

The World Spins Madly On by The Weepies and Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap and Comfort by Deb Talan. (Click links to listen.)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? I think I'm happier in general because I feel good about taking better care of myself. I am very sad that my boyfriend's cat is no longer with us, and I will miss her very much.

b) thinner or fatter? About the same, but I think my legs are slowly getting a little stronger.

c) richer or poorer? Richer, but not exceedingly more so.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Recycling, reading.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Ruminating.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

Around a large table of food with my family and my boyfriend and his mom. It was loud. We ate a lot. Several friends stopped by. We ate some more. It was a good day, I think.

21. Did you fall in love in 2006?

I continued to be in love with the same person.

22. How many one-night stands?

None.

23. What was your favorite TV program?

Ugly Betty and Friday Night Lights and Battlestar Galactica. I wasn't sure about Ugly Betty at first, but it's completely won me over. I didn't like the Friday Night Lights movie so I didn't expect to like the show, but I completely love it. I loved Battlestar from the miniseries through season 2.5 (all viewed on DVD), but season 3 is feeling a bit uneven to me so far. I'm not giving up yet, but it doesn't hold the same wondrous appeal as it did when I was watching it on DVD.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

I can't think of anyone. I pretty much reserve all of my hatred for the president. (Still.)

25. What was the best book you read?

Best novel: Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson. I also really liked The Archivist by Martha Cooley. Best nonfiction: Eat, Pray, Love. I'd like to give a special shout-out to Shelley for giving me the Atkinson book, Grace for sending me the Gilbert book, and Colleen for sending me so many good books and book recommendations, out of which I think King Dork by Frank Portman has been my favorite, and you should all read it.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Totally The Weepies. (Thanks to Erin, Jessamyn, and Lizzie B. for leading me to them.)

27. What did you want and get?

A grip on myself when it comes to exercising. Finally.

28. What did you want and not get?

Rid of my under-eye circles.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?

The best movie I saw in the theater was Little Miss Sunshine. Of my many rentals, I loved Serenity, Junebug, and Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang the most.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

Let's see. I turned 31 on Mardi Gras Day.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

I hate to sound like a broken record, but more sleep.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?

Um. Jeans? T-shirts? The usual.

33. What kept you sane?

Love & Lexapro!

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Hm. I'm completely over my McDreamy love. I haven't really found a replacement yet. Maybe the coach on Friday Night Lights, but it's not really that I fancy him. I'd like him to be my life coach and say things to me like "Git 'er done."

35. What political issue stirred you the most?

Probably George W. Bush's veto of the stem cell bill. There are really no words for how angry that made me and still makes me.

36. Whom did you miss?

Ephram Brown. Al Swearingen. As of December 21st, my favorite grey kitty.

37. Who was the best new person you met?

Betty Suarez.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.

When you arise in the morning, think of what a privilege it is to be alive: to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.

Marcus Aurelius

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

I want only this, I want to live

I want to live a simple life.

Or ...

I am humbled in this city

There seems to be an endless sea of people like us

Wakeful dreamers, I pass them on the sunlit streets

In our rooms filled with laughter

We make hope from every small disaster

Or ...

All it takes is a little faith and a lot of heart.

(All by The Weepies.)

(The same survey: 2005 and 2004.)