2009 in review

1. What did you do in 2009 that you have never done before?
found out that i am going to be an aunt!

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more for 2010?
i don't make resolutions. i have a list of various goals i want to achieve but it's a fluid list & not associated with the new year. i crossed some items off in 2009, added some new ones, and hope to keep making progress.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth in 2009?
no new babies in 2009, at least not in my close circle.

4. Did anyone close to you die in 2009?
one of my dad's cousins and the last of my Gram's brothers passed away this year.

5. What countries did you visit this year?
just stayed right here in the U.S.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
2009 was a year full of rich blessings for me. i don't feel as though anything was lacking, other than my loved ones not all being closer.

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July 11, seeing one of my best friends get married & being so so happy for her that she finally is loved the way she deserves.

8. What was your biggest struggle in 2009?
any struggles i had seem silly & meaningless at this point. my biggest struggle was watching so many of my friends go through a challenging & difficult year, feeling as though there was so little i could do to help.

9. Did you suffer any illness or injury in 2009?
nothing noteworthy. a couple of mild colds & that's pretty much it. i am grateful for the uneventful!

10. What was the best thing you bought this year?
tickets to see the Sox!

11. Whose behavior merited celebration?
my friends who handled their challenges with far more grace than they realize.

12. Whose behavior disappointed you?
those who caused some of the challenges certain friends faced.

13. Where did most of your money go?
paying the bills. but there is a roof over my head & i want for nothing, so i am ok with that.

14. What did you get really really excited about this year?
Alison's wedding. finding out about my in-progress niece or nephew. getting to visit my friends. meeting Brandi and Lil Foot's Mommy--and i would have been excited about meeting Pocklock but that was a surprise! getting to see the Sox in Fenway, thanks to a very generous vendor from work.

15. What song will always remind you of 2009?
"I'm Alive" by Kenny Chesney & Dave Matthews.

16. Compared to this time last year, are you: much happier, much nicer or richer?
i am happier & i am richer in the ways that truly matter. i like to think i am nicer too...

17. What do you wish you had done more of?
the same things i did, just more of them. and taking more photos of them

18. What do you wish you had done less of?
calling the time i spend doing things i enjoy "nothing" because they are something.

19. Did you fall in love in 2009?
"Love isn't some place that we fall. It's something that we do." (from "Something That We Do," by Clint Black)

20. What was your favorite TV Program in 2009?
oh man... i can't pick just one!! Big Bang Theory. Grey's Anatomy. Dexter.

21. What was the best book you read this year?
Faithful: Two Diehard Boston Red Sox Fans Chronicle the Historic 2004 Season (Stewart O'Nan and Stephen King)

22. What was your greatest musical discovery this past year?
remembering older songs that bring back good memories.

23. What did you want and get?
a Jon Lester Red Sox jersey. i also got a Mike Lowell World Baseball Classic jersey i didn't even know i wanted but that i love! i also got the entire series of Boston Legal on DVD.

24. What was the best movie you saw this year?
Disney's A Christmas Carol.

25. What did you do on your birthday and how old did you turn?
i turned 33. i celebrated it low-key, just the way i like it: a nice quiet dinner out.

26. What one thing would have made your year more satisfying?
nope, i don't wish for a single thing to be different. this was a very.good.year.

27. How would you describe your personal fashion statement this year?
same as always: it has to be comfortable--and if it looks good, that's a bonus.

28. What kept you sane this year?
Twitter kept me sane a work many days.

29. What celebrity did you fancy the most?
the only "celebrity" i pay attention to is Mike Lowell. ;-)

30. Who did you miss this past year?
i miss a lot of people. see number six.

31. Who were the best new people you met this year?
i refer you to number fourteen.

32. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned this year:
you can't control what happens around you or to you, but you *can* decide how you will react to it. once i fully wrapped my brain around this, i felt so much more at peace.