Entry tags:
that was the year that was - 2009
So, it is Boxing Day, and tomorrow I'm heading out to be the Deputy Chief Umpire (the fact that this can be abbreviated to "Deputy ChUmp" is, I feel certain, no coincidence) at the regional junior curling championships, where I will be on my feet for fourteen hours a day and not really in any shape to communicate much for the other ten; and thence to TribeCon, where it will be the new year. So it seems like now is a good time for the usual year-end summary:
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Speaking of curling: taught an officiating course. I was going to say headed-up an event as Chief Umpire by myself, no Deputy about it, but in point of fact I did that for the first time a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving, 2008, so it doesn't get on the 2009 list.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
As I always say: I don't make New Years' resolutions. I've thought for a while now that it's better not to have written evidence of my eventual failure.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My college roommate L had her third (and final) child in March; my high school (in fact childhood!) best friend C had her first in November, as did![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
kass. BABIES EVERYWHERE.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not this year.
5. What countries did you visit?
Canada. And the embassy of New Zealand.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
I'm sure we all know the answer to that question by now.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Let's take the easy answer and say January 20.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Right now, it feels like schlepping two weeks' worth of luggage to my car, between half a mile and a mile away, in the snow (don't laugh: uphill), in one trip, was it. I realize this is probably not in fact my biggest accomplishment of the year.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I'm becoming more and more aware of my own weak spots, but no more able to strengthen them. This disappoints me.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not more than the usual.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Blender.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Jenny Sanford.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Oh, the other day something happened and I thought, that's it, that's the appalling behavior for this year's round-up, and now I can't remember it.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, I'm sure.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Yuletide!
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
I'm never really able to answer that question.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
About the same, I think. Maybe a shade sadder.
ii. thinner or fatter?
A little fatter, but not much.
iii. richer or poorer?
About the same.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Laughing.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Clenching my teeth. Thank god I have this bite guard.
20. Howwill you be spending did you spend Christmas?
Quietly, at my parents' house.
[there's never a number 21. don't know why.]
22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
No.
23. How many one-night stands?
None. Alas!
24. What was your favorite TV program?
I like the new TNT stuff these days. White Collar!
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Same answer as always: I try not to hate people. If I don't like them, they're not worth the energy (and the acid stomach) of hating them. This, of course, has to do with people I know personally. There are public figures who don't please me one bit, but I can't say I hate them because I don't know them or their motivations. I can certainly hate what they do, though, and trust me, I do in many cases.
26. What was the best book you read?
I'm loving Patrick O'Brian these days.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
E-flat above the treble clef.
28. What did you want and get?
A grip.
29. What did you want and not get?
At this point, I'm so used to it, you know?
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
... did I even go to the movies more than a couple of times?
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
A bunch of DCfolk took me to dinner, andellen_fremedon made cake. [Wow, that's the same answer as last year, and it's still true. ;-)]
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
As always, I continue to puzzle at the presence of so many related questions. Isn't this one a lot like #6?
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
I am still learning about colors.
34. What kept you sane?
There must have been something, I guess.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
"Fancy" is such an odd word here.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
One of these days, all citizens will have equal rights to be married under the law. I swear they will.
37. Who did you miss?
sanj moved away this summer, and wah.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
On this one I shall not name names. :-)
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
Last year, the valuable life lesson was, "It's not that hard to be a little bit brave." This yea, it is, it's not much harder to be quite brave.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
[place holder here]
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Speaking of curling: taught an officiating course. I was going to say headed-up an event as Chief Umpire by myself, no Deputy about it, but in point of fact I did that for the first time a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving, 2008, so it doesn't get on the 2009 list.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
As I always say: I don't make New Years' resolutions. I've thought for a while now that it's better not to have written evidence of my eventual failure.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My college roommate L had her third (and final) child in March; my high school (in fact childhood!) best friend C had her first in November, as did
kass. BABIES EVERYWHERE.4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not this year.
5. What countries did you visit?
Canada. And the embassy of New Zealand.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
I'm sure we all know the answer to that question by now.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Let's take the easy answer and say January 20.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Right now, it feels like schlepping two weeks' worth of luggage to my car, between half a mile and a mile away, in the snow (don't laugh: uphill), in one trip, was it. I realize this is probably not in fact my biggest accomplishment of the year.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I'm becoming more and more aware of my own weak spots, but no more able to strengthen them. This disappoints me.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not more than the usual.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Blender.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Jenny Sanford.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Oh, the other day something happened and I thought, that's it, that's the appalling behavior for this year's round-up, and now I can't remember it.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, I'm sure.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Yuletide!
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
I'm never really able to answer that question.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
About the same, I think. Maybe a shade sadder.
ii. thinner or fatter?
A little fatter, but not much.
iii. richer or poorer?
About the same.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Laughing.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Clenching my teeth. Thank god I have this bite guard.
20. How
Quietly, at my parents' house.
[there's never a number 21. don't know why.]
22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
No.
23. How many one-night stands?
None. Alas!
24. What was your favorite TV program?
I like the new TNT stuff these days. White Collar!
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Same answer as always: I try not to hate people. If I don't like them, they're not worth the energy (and the acid stomach) of hating them. This, of course, has to do with people I know personally. There are public figures who don't please me one bit, but I can't say I hate them because I don't know them or their motivations. I can certainly hate what they do, though, and trust me, I do in many cases.
26. What was the best book you read?
I'm loving Patrick O'Brian these days.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
E-flat above the treble clef.
28. What did you want and get?
A grip.
29. What did you want and not get?
At this point, I'm so used to it, you know?
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
... did I even go to the movies more than a couple of times?
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
A bunch of DCfolk took me to dinner, and
ellen_fremedon made cake. [Wow, that's the same answer as last year, and it's still true. ;-)]32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
As always, I continue to puzzle at the presence of so many related questions. Isn't this one a lot like #6?
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
I am still learning about colors.
34. What kept you sane?
There must have been something, I guess.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
"Fancy" is such an odd word here.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
One of these days, all citizens will have equal rights to be married under the law. I swear they will.
37. Who did you miss?
sanj moved away this summer, and wah.38. Who was the best new person you met?
On this one I shall not name names. :-)
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
Last year, the valuable life lesson was, "It's not that hard to be a little bit brave." This yea, it is, it's not much harder to be quite brave.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
[place holder here]