2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I can't remember what my resolutions were, so probably no.
Yes, I am working on new ones now.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
A colleague had a baby girl.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No. So glad about that.
5. What countries did you visit?
England and France on a whirlwind eight-day tour.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Mindfulness.
Control.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I really suck at remembering dates. My best memory was in July, though, a moment of shared humanity in the Metro after midnight.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Got up enough nerve to apply to a Ph.D. program.
Got accepted to said Ph.D. program.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Well, that afternoon in the police department was not my proudest moment.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I broke my foot carrying a laundry basket down the stairs.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A small bottle of Jo Malone perfume in London.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I'm pretty happy with Younger Boy's behavior this year. He's weathered the storm of Older Boy's teenage hormones amazingly well.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Our exes did not always behave in admirable ways.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Restaurants.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Trip to Europe.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
"My Heart Will Go On." Played on and on and on at Younger Boy's orchestra concerts.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
a) sadder, I guess
b) about the same
c) about the same
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Organizing.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Crying.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Christmas eve: fondued with my parents and played Catch Phrase.
Christmas day: boys came and extended family enjoyed husband's crazy buffet.
Post Christmas: weekend of skiing/snowboarding with boys.
21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Over and over with my husband.
22. How many one-night stands?
Uh, none.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
My love for Lost continued. Also discovered Weeds, Boston Legal, and Pushing Daisies. Battlestar Galactica and Heroes, though, disappointed greatly.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is a strong word. The same people continued to irritate me.
25. What was the best book you read?
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
27. What did you want and get?
A new MacBook!
28. What did you want and not get?
Hmm. I was actually pretty satisfied.
29. What was your favorite film of the year?
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 40 this year. Husband took me to see a Rick Springfield concert. It was fun, but a bit sad.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurable more satisfying?
More time. With my husband, my kids, my students, myself.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
I discovered Boden and spent my summer in their t-shirts. Otherwise, same old stuff.
33. What kept you sane?
Walking around the lake with my ipod.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I fancied Obama.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
The election.
36. Who did you miss?
My kids when they were not here.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
A new colleague is an awesome person and makes me laugh.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Never underestimate the power of peer pressure for a teenage boy.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I'm freaking out that we're running out of time
But to do what?
Should I stop and think of that?
Is there something I could do to slow it down?
Live in a day for once
Instead of watch it screaming by
July: Trip with boys to farm and county fair.
