I’m not really much of a meme person, but as the year comes to a close I thought it might be interesting to do this here meme lady Sundry proposed, if only for my own reflectionish and navel-gazing type purposes. There were some questions I just couldn’t answer for any number of reasons, but I think overall I covered most of the ground and didn’t lame out too much.
. . . . .
1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
I was interviewed about blogging on public radio.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn’t make any resolutions last new year’s, don’t plan on making any this year beyond to always be doing things and making changes to be a better, happier person.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, Amy (Amalah) & Catherine (Her Bad Mother) .
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Jamie’s aunt Carol. David Foster Wallace’s untimely death hit me pretty hard, too.
5. What countries did you visit?
I didn’t travel outside the US this year. Sad.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Is it corny to say inner peace? Probably. But yeah. That.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
M’s first day of big kid school.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Being a part of Sleep Is For The Weak. Or speaking at BlogHer. Also, on a less bloggy note, finding away out of the depression that had been crippling me for so long.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Probably being too sensitive about things. Letting my emotions get the better of me at times.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Again, the depression. A hole that I’ve finally climbed out of. Well, for the time being at least.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Tie between my iPhone and Macbook Pro.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The writers of MamaPop (myself excluded, I mean. I’m not that much of an egotist, promise). They quite literally shock me every single day with their brilliance.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Some of the behavior of persons on the political right during this year’s election season was pretty sad and appalling. And made me all stabby.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Books, music, dvds, computer stuff. All your audio-visual entertainment crapola.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Obama winning the election.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Though technically a song from 2007, LCD Soundsystem’s All My Friends moved me more this year than probably all the other songs I’ve heard in the past 12 months combined.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
Sadder… but not clinically depressed! PROGRESS!
b) thinner or fatter?
Thinner.
c) richer or poorer?
Breaking about even, I believe.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Laughing.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Feeling sad/down.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Chillin’ at the homestead.
21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Yes. With The Palinode.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Consistently, The Daily Show brought it. Though True Blood, LOST, Mad Men, and Entourage were all up there for sure.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nope. I make it a policy to not hate or drink of the haterade.
24. What was the best book you read?
In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Either Girl Talk or the new TV on the Radio album.
26. What did you want and get?
Eh, lots of stuff.
27. What did you want and not get?
Eh, none of your beeswax and stuff.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. I know, it’s not exactly a film — but then, it wasn’t/isn’t exactly a TV show either. So whatever. I stand by the pick.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Had a lovely dinner/evening out. I was/am 38.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I can’t answer this. It makes my head explode.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Fuck the haters.
32. What kept you sane?
Music. As always, always.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
NPH. Or the ol’ standby, Jon Stewart.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Everything having to do with the presidential election, all the issues surrounding it, honestly.
35. Who did you miss?
Too many people, and too much. Sigh.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
There were several, can’t really single out one.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Life is a very messy and inconvenient enterprise.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
For I am an engine
And I’m rolling on
Through endless revisions to state what I mean
For sweetness alone who flew out through the window
And landed back home in a garden of green
– Neutral Milk Hotel, "Engine"
. . . . .
Happy New Year’s Eve, everyone!
