Need more Year in Review lists?

I think I did this last year, and I’m sure not much has changed in this zooming-by, crazy-busy 2008.  But it’s always nice to reflect, isn’t it?

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? I bought a motorcycle and have even been riding it!  We also have our very own financial advisor, which makes us feel oh-so-grown up.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?  I think I kept up my resolutions for a third of the year.  Maybe a fourth, if you count the last month where I picked them up again.  I’m officially done making actual resolutions.  I resolve to just be the best me possible.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? T had some friends bring new babies into the world, plus some who brought their second baby over from China.  We have one couple who is expecting their first (really, the first in our group!) but I’m hoping he’ll stay put until January, like he’s supposed to.

4. Did anyone close to you die?  My grandpa died and it’s kind of weird now to think I have only one grandparent left.

5. What countries did you visit?  Sadly, we didn’t visit any countries this year.  We went up to Alaska for a cruise, which was pretty awesome.  Well, I guess we stopped in Canada.  That doesn’t really count, though.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?  I noticed that last year I wished for a landscaped backyard – which we did this summer.  I guess I should make my wishes very carefully now, huh?  In 2009, I would love to feel like the year isn’t rushing by us.  Does anybody know how to make that happen?

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?  The usual – birthdays, anniversaries… How about Labor Day?  That was the first time we officially hosted a party in our new (and so expensive) backyard.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?  Realizing that 3 dogs really is enough and 4 would be too many.

9. What was your biggest failure?  Not being as completely and unconditionally accepting of certain people.  But, not you!  I totally love and accept you!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?  Not really.  I went through a round of boob-smushing and prodding and an MRI that led to a large-caliber needle punch taking multiple samples out that all led to nothing except pain, but that’s about it.  Apparently, my boobs defy medical knowledge.

11. What was the best thing you bought?  The backyard, the front yard, the plants and fruit trees.  I still love just standing outside and looking at it all.  It makes me so happy.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? T, as always.  He is just a really good person and I honestly wish I could be as open and nice as he is.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?  Maybe Lexi.  She has a crazy complex and sometimes she’s just downright mean while other times she’s a sweetheart and I don’t know how to fix it.  Could someone please call Cesar Milan for me?

14. Where did most of your money go?  To the new plants and furniture for the backyard.  To groceries.  And Target probably sucked up a lot of it, too.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?  The fact that I had started a vacation fund and was able to pay off my vacation expenses from that.  And the patio furniture got paid for, too!

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?  Surfin’ Bird.  It’s awful.  I highly recommend never letting the men in your life hear it (or watch the Family Guy episode) or you will forever be on your guard.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier
b) thinner or fatter? Oh, slightly fatter
c) richer or poorer? Richer, both financially (as long as you don’t count the retirement accounts) and emotionally.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?  Baking.  Even though it’s counterintuitive to want to weigh less and bake more, I like baking and wish I had spent more time playing in the kitchen.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?  Spending.  We just seem to spend a lot on… well, a lot.  I think part of it is the feeling that we can – which is true, we’re comfortable enough to spend money on what we want without going into debt AND still being able to save.  But the miser in me wishes I had saved more.

20. How did you spend Christmas?  Again, for the second year in a row, we spent Christmas Day at home, in our pajamas, all by ourselves.  I really do love that small amount of down time we get just for us.  Then we flew his mom to Vegas, spent some time with my family, met my sister’s new boyfriend, and came home for a San Diego tourist visit.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?  You could say I did.  I’m reminded why I fell in love with T and why I still love him so much now.  He still makes me giddy and he has this ability to make me not mad at him in an instant.

22. What was your favorite TV program?  I still love Pushing Daisies, and I’m so sad it’s being cancelled.  I also started watching True Blood, but I don’t like it, yet I’m not able to stop watching it.  The vampires must have me dazzled.  I’m still waiting for Big Love to come back.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?  I certainly don’t hate anyone, but I did meet someone that I don’t like now.  I preferred last year when I didn’t even know she existed.

24. What was the best book you read?  The Friday Night Knitting Club.  It made me cry.  It also made me pick up my knitting needles again for a bit.  I’m also not ashamed to admit I read through all the Twilight books.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?  I don’t think I really discovered any new bands this year.  So, I’ll just take this opportunity to say that we saw Willie Nelson in concert and it was just as awesome and I hoped it would be.  Plus, we got to watch old ladies throw their bras onstage at him!

26. What did you want and get? A new backyard with a gazebo, less lawn to mow, and a fire pit in the back.

27. What did you want and not get?  I wanted a chicken, but then I didn’t want a chicken because they can be work and I do not want more work to do.  So, I didn’t get a chicken.  But I still kind of want one, just not the work that goes with it.  Like so much else in life…

28. What was your favorite film of this year? WALL-E.  He’s just so cute.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?  T arranged a really nice brunch at the Marine Room and it was fabulous.  I’m sure we also went out for nice dinners, too.  I turned 29 this year… that “big” one is coming up!

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?  If our neighbor lady wasn’t insanely crazy.  One minute she is raving on like a lunatic and the next breath (literally) she wants to gossip about people in the neighborhood.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?  I learned what my colors are, what season I am, and what body type I am, which all kind of rolled into my closet until I decided to stop spending so much money on clothes.  I still wear heels with everything.

32. What kept you sane?  T keeps me sane.  He keeps me balanced and he keeps me organized.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?  I do love me some Hugh Jackman.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?  Prop 8.  I just don’t get it.  How does allowing everyone to participate mean your personal situation is less meaningful?

35. Who did you miss?  I miss Ben.  I love that he made a move to Seattle and is happy there, but I miss that he’s not here.  It’s just not the same and there were certain times when I wish he had just been around.

36. Who was the best new person you met?  I have someone in mind, but it’s really too early to tell, so let’s just say he reminds me a lot of T and then next year if it all works out I’ll say more.  Is that fair?

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.  Sometimes you have to realize when you are spending too much effort trying to help someone who is not ready to be helped and then you need to just step away.  Life has a circle of influence and you can only do so much.  Anything more affects your quality of life.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.  Dude, I can’t even quote song lyrics that don’t relate to anything.

I can see that this has been the Year of the Backyard.  It truly was a massive project and it took up a lot of our time and energy.  And we weren’t even the ones doing the manual labor!  But it looks just amazing and I’m so happy with it and so grateful my mom was able to help/pay for the renovation.  We’re committed to maintaining it all, even if that means filling in small holes the dogs keep digging and constantly spraying Roundup on the funny grass coming in through the mulch.

I don’t expect 2009 to be drastically different for us.  We’ll get to see how our group dynamic changes once you throw a baby into the mix.  We have some trips planned and items on the to-do list and always new restaurants to go try.  I can guarantee you that 2009 will not be the Year of the Kitchen because that might just about kill me.