End Of The Year Quiz.

Swiped from Linda..

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
A lot of parenting-related things! I survived a whole year (!) as a parent of 3 kids! I swear, honest, I’ll stop being so surprised by that shortly. Maybe.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Last year I didn’t make any resolutions – I figured I had enough to manage – but this year I’ll definitely be making a few. I’m going to encourage the kids to make some, too, with “measurable milestones” and all.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not that I can recall! I think everyone came in under the wire of 2007.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope – and, may I say, PHEW! I’m hoping my “Everyone Dies Around The Holidays” streak is now fully, completely and utterly FINISHED.

5. What countries did you visit?
I didn’t leave Ontario (Canada) other than to go to the United States for some shopping in NY state.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Patience. Resolve. More confidence in myself. Money! Spare time. Hobbies. Oh, and some naps! (ha)

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
There are no specific dates that I’ll remember more than others, but there are obviously certain events that rocked (like finding out our adoption will be finalized soon).

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I know I’m repeating myself, but I’m seriously impressed that I made it through my first year of parenting. I’m also pretty happy that I juggled all the assorted tasks, requirements and bits-n-pieces required to help the kids get through the year. I kept ‘em alive!

9. What was your biggest failure?
That’s a tough question to answer. Most of my failures haven’t been enormous this year – they’ve been generic, run-of-the-mill kind of failures and mistakes and missteps. Thankfully.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
The kids have brought me the plague a few times, but for the most part I’ve been quite healthy in big ways. My wrist and its “severe tendonitis” has healed 99.9% with only occasional flare-ups. Even my cat allergies have been minimal!

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Nothing specific. This wasn’t a year of buying randomly, so the things I did buy were things I wanted/needed more so than “just thought was cool”.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
The kids, for working hard to adapt to our new family. Coffee, for being so incredibly supportive of me in all possibly ways. Me, for not killing everyone and stuffing them in the freezer. (What?)

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
The kids, at times, when they weren’t adapting. Not appalled, though, just a bit depressed. And my own behaviour depressed me at times when I felt I wasn’t being as great at parenting as I could be.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Kids – food, food, food, assorted extracurriculars, food, food, food.. I mean, obviously other chunks went to things like the mortgage, hydro, water.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I can’t think of anything specific – this year has been pretty high-key in a lot of ways.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Oh, man, there are SO many! I’ve been a downloading, music-listening maniac. And much of it is shamefully bad stuff. I am pleased, however, that GnR finally realized “Chinese Democracy” and that it didn’t suck balls.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? – happier
b) thinner or fatter? – fatter (but that’s gonna’ change, dammit)
c) richer or poorer? – poorer, definitely

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Hobbies – sewing and embroidery and makin’ stuff. I’m going to put forth a big effort to do more “me” stuff this year.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying. Stressing out. It never helps.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
Wishing it was over. I am not a fan of Christmas. I was happy, though, to get time with Coffee and to sleep later and for the brief bits of happiness coming from the kids.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Nope! But I did STAY in love and I think that’s pretty fucking important.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia How did I not know about this show before? And it’s been renewed for 2 more seasons! Then, of course, there’s my ongoing love for UFC and TUF.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nope! I think, maybe, I’m finally too old to hate anyone flat-out. There are certainly people I think the world could do without and there are people who I could handle never seeing again.

24. What was the best book you read?
This is another one without an answer – I read SO many fabulous books this year!

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I haven’t really found new musical stuff – just got more into what I already had and grew my collection as a result.

26. What did you want and get?
A fountain pen!

27. What did you want and not get?
A trip to California to see Michelle. A big bucket of free money. New tattoos.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
I have no idea. I didn’t go to the theatre to see anything other than Wall-E (meh).

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 33. My birthday mostly sucked. This year I shall make it rock and I will be 34!

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If other people in the world – immediate world and greater world – would follow through on what they say they’ll do, follow the rules of the situation, play fairly and get along.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Jeans + t-shirt, as always, but with added bonus of UFC hoodie. Because I am THAT stylish.

32. What kept you sane?
My dear husband, Coffee. WNET, Dr. Pepper, occasional outings for sushi and lots of library books.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The election of Obama totally blew my mind in a really, really good way.

35. Who did you miss?
I missed my Dad so very, very much at times that it was like a sucker punch to the head. I also really missed all the various people and places of my childhood. That’s sort of an ongoing thing, though, rather than specific to this year.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Jenn! She’s an all ’round excellent person and I got to meet her in person. AND she babysat for me! I’ve also been REALLY lucky to “meet” some new online friends – some of whom have allowed me to abuse them in Scramble repeatedly.. Yay!!

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
This too shall pass. I’ve always known it, but I’m working harder to embrace it.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Pick any nofx song and go with that. Really. Once again, they’ve been the soundtrack for the year.