2009 is upon us

So I've been reading this gal's blog for a few years now, and her latest entry included one of those annoying-yet-hard-to-resist-online-survey things. Since I am home with an overly irritating cold, I figured why not? You also looking for something to do? Join in the madness!

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Graduated with a Master's Degree

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Not really a resolutions kind of girl...I'll make one right now for 2009, though: get prints of my zillions of digital photos I've taken and get them into photo albums/scrapbooks.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No, but two of my best friends (I actually introduced them!) will be having their first child in May!

4. Did anyone close to you die? Thankfully, no.

5. What countries did you visit? Does Indiana count? I kind of feel like it should.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? Hmm...maybe a date with a man that is not more boring than a grain of sand.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? August 16 - day of my graduation

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Surviving and finishing grad school

9. What was your biggest failure? Not being able to get my damn tub drain fixed so it actually drains water properly. Though I guess I have a couple of days left to turn this one around!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Well I have a horrible cold right now, does that count?

11. What was the best thing you bought? Probably my TV, which seems silly, but I had this bad-ass console TV from the 70's that finally died. I was sad about it until I brought my 32" LCD HDTV home and realized what a real TV screen is all about.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? The 44th President of the United States had some darn good behavior.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Well, the 43rd is always on my shit-list, but I'm adding John McCain to that list. I don't know who that dude running on the Republican ticket was, but it was not John McCain.

14. Where did most of your money go? I would like to know that, too. Groceries, probably. I shop with a basket, not a cart, and I swear groceries are at least 40 bucks every time! How can 40 bucks worth of stuff fit into one basket?!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? A presidential election that finally went my way.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Probably the "Umbrella" song by Rihanna. Man that gets stuck in the head, doesn't it?

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier
b) thinner or fatter? 'Bout the same
c) richer or poorer? I guess richer since I got a raise but still feel poor.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Traveling

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Can't think of anything.

20. How did you spend Christmas? It was kind of crazy because of the snow and my dad had to drive up to Portland to get us. So it was kind of a hectic Christmas season, but always fun and full of family.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008? Nope. Maybe next year.

22. What was your favorite TV program? House, MD

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Nope

24. What was the best book you read? I will somewhat shamefully admit I read the Twilight series books (you know, teenage vampires?) and I really liked them. It's not anything particularly profound or educational, but I really liked the story.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? I don't know. I really like how iTunes has a free weekly download or two, and Starbucks also hands out free downloads. I discover lots of music that way that I might not have listened to before.

26. What did you want and get? A new TV

27. What did you want and not get? A new couch

28. What was your favorite film of this year? Hmm. I don't know. I don't think I went to many movies. A friend lent me Fight Club, which I had never seen before and it blew my mind, so we'll say that.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 27 this year, and the night before my birthday my friends and I indulged at Urban Fondue and went to a comedy club, and then on my actual birthday day, some friends and I did a 5K "Run Like Hell" walk.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? More peace, less war.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? I do my own thang

32. What kept you sane? My friends and family...sometimes.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Barack Obama

34. What political issue stirred you the most? Gay civil rights. The whole issue makes my ass twitch and I'll never understand why people are so freaked out by gay people.

35. Who did you miss? Bridezilla--my best friend living in the midwest married to a jackass.

36. Who was the best new person you met? I really like this coworker of mine. He's funny, he's politically savvy, clever, and well...he's good lookin'.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. Don't let your apartment manager try to unclog drains.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. Whip it. Whip it good.

Still here

I’m having surgery on Friday. This recent realization has me slightly freaked out.

But it is the new year! And although the ridiculous things that happened to me over the year (blog hijacking, root canal, sinus fiasco, stolen stereo, random parking ticket, rat in my toilet, crazy bridezilla) offer good blogging material, I’d like to have a less eventful 2007. Sound good to you?

I ended up ringing in the new year in Seattle. My friends and I decided to get out of town so we stayed in Bellevue and drove downtown to the party at the Space Needle. It was fun and all, but not the “crazy fun party” the Seattle-ites insisted it would be. The fireworks shot from the needle were fantastic, though.



Then we tried to get out of Seattle, and inexplicably found ourselves on Queen Anne Hill. We kept going and went up and over the hill, only to come full circle back at the goddamn Space Needle. We found our way to I-5 soon, however, and headed back to the hotel.

So in honor of this new, beautiful year, I offer this New Year Survey, and suggest you fill it out for yourself! It’s a thinker.

1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?
Took graduate school classes.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I normally don’t make resolutions—they’re kind of silly. I mean, if you want to change something in your life, why wait until January 1st? Do it now!
I do, however, hope to up my exercise soon. I haven’t had a good work-out in months. I blame it on the ridiculous congestion that prevents me from breathing and makes me feel like I’m going to pass out because I’m not getting enough oxygen. But theoretically, 2 weeks after the surgery, I should be able to get it going again.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope, not in ’06.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Well, it might seem strange that I never mentioned this before, but my aunt died several weeks ago. I started to blog about it, but didn’t finish because I couldn’t really decide what to say. I hadn’t seen her in about a decade—she was a drug addict and estranged herself from the family. My mom went to visit her finally, and brought back pictures. At 45, she looked like my grandmother right before she died. My aunt was addicted to meth and heroin (as far as we know), and by the time she got clean, it was too late. She had Hep C & permanent brain damage and was living on disability. She got pneumonia and died.
5. What countries did you visit?
I didn’t go anywhere this year, really. I went to Washington, and that’s sort of close to Canada, right?
6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
Better health, please.
7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
None in particular, really. September 25th was good because I started school.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Being accepted into and starting graduate school. And kicking ass while working full time and being full of snot.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I wasn’t able to convince my best friend that her impending marriage was a mistake. I hope I’m wrong and that they’ll live happily ever after, but I doubt it.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Hahahahhaaa. That’s funny.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Hmmmm…I didn’t buy anything really big…so I’ll have to say my new computer. And the following shoes:

Upon which I now feel the need to have these shoes:

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I’d have to say the American voter. Looks like they are starting to figure some things out!
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
There’s the usual—the president and his blind followers who still fail to see the huge mistake that is Iraq. 3,000 of our own soldiers dead. How many more will we have to see?
14. Where did most of your money go?
Well, now that I’m an “adult,” the correct answer is rent, bills, car insurance, groceries and the like. But some went to school, a new computer, and you guessed it—shoes!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The election. I was jumping up and down. I don’t think I got anything done that day at work.
16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
“You Can’t Always Get What You Want” – Rolling Stones
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? About the same, really. Maybe a little happier, regardless of 2006’s fiascos. b) thinner or fatter? I’m pleading the fifth on that one. c) richer or poorer? About the same. My raise in June didn’t do jack.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
I wish I had seen more movies. But they’re so damn expensive that I probably won’t change that this year.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Getting frustrated and worked up over things I cannot control. I never thought I was a control-freak, but I think I may have to admit that I am. I don’t like things that I cannot change.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Christmas was great. Just fantastic.
21. Did you fall in love in 2006?
Nope.
22. How many one-night stands?
Oh for crying out loud. This survey was doing so well. The correct answer is zero.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
House. I miss it. I have to wait until next week to see it again.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Uh, no.
25. What was the best book you read?
Ooh, tough call… I’m going to have to go with The Kite Runner. If you haven’t read it, go do it. Run, don’t walk. I also recommend The Time Traveller’s Wife and The Memory Keeper’s Daughter. I do not recommend Running with Scissors. I was horrified.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Hmmm…Snow Patrol, KT Tunstall, Hinder, Damien Rice.
27. What did you want and get?
Accepted into grad school.
28. What did you want and not get?
World peace.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Little Miss Sunshine, hands down.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
A few things—good friends, good food, good times. I hit the big 2-5.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I would have loved it if my sinuses had cleared up after the first round of antibiotics. Ah, what a lovely thought.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
The usual. I like fashion, but I’m too broke sensible to buy extravagant things. I do have a shoe-shopping problem, though.
33. What kept you sane?
My friends. My family. This blog.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Fancy? Is this a British survey? Well, I fancy several famous people: Orlando Bloom, Johnny Depp, Ty Pennington, Hugh Laurie, Barack Obama, and Taylor Hicks to name a few.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Yeah. Like I could narrow it down to one. But for the sake of this survey, I will say a pointless, violent, tragic war that is unnecessary and severely detrimental to the entirety of the world. Troy will fall again. Mark my words.
36. Who did you miss?
My friends that live far away (yes, even Bridezilla).
37. Who was the best new person you met?
I met a lot of people in 06—but the new people I like most are the friends I made in school.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.
Keep your toilet lid closed at all times.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
nothing unusual

nothing strange

close to nothing at all

the same old scenario

the same old rain

and there's no explosions here

“Amie” – Damien Rice


::::::

If I don’t get a chance to update in the next couple of days, I promise I will keep you posted on my surgery this weekend.

Purple

I stole this from my new Twilight Zone friend, Madge, who incidentally, has just opened a new blog.

Things I have done in my life (so far): Highlighted Purple

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink

02. Swam with wild dolphins

03. Climbed a mountain (actually it was a volcano)

04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive

05. Been inside the Great Pyramid

06. Held a tarantula

07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone

08. Said I love you and meant it

09. Hugged a tree

10. Bungee jumped

11. Visited Paris

12. Watched a lightning storm at sea

13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise

14. Seen the Northern Lights

15. Gone to a huge sports game

16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa

17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables

18. Touched an iceberg

19. Slept under the stars

20. Changed a baby's diaper

21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon

22. Watched a meteor shower

23. Gotten drunk on champagne

24. Given more than you can afford to charity (which I shamefully later regretted)

25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope

26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment

27. Had a food fight

28. Bet on a winning horse

29. Asked out a stranger

30. Had a snowball fight

31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can

32. Held a lamb

33. Seen a total eclipse

34. Ridden a roller coaster

35. Hit a home run

36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking

37. Adopted an accent for an entire day

38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment

39. Had two hard drives for your computer

40. Visited all 50 states

41. Taken care of someone who was drunk.

42. Had amazing friends

43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country

44. Watched wild whales

45. Stolen a sign

46. Backpacked in Europe.

47. Taken a road-trip

48. Gone rock climbing

49. Midnight walk on the beach

50. Gone sky diving

51. Visited Ireland

52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love

53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them

54. Visited Japan

55. Milked a cow

56. Alphabetized your CDs

57. Pretended to be a superhero (what do you mean pretend?)

58. Sung karaoke

59. Lounged around in bed all day

60. Played touch football

61. Gone scuba diving

62. Kissed in the rain

63. Played in the mud

64. Played in the rain

65. Gone to a drive-in theater

66. Visited the Great Wall of China

67. Started a business

68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken

69. Toured ancient sites (Roman and Incan!)

70. Taken a martial arts class

71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight

72. Gotten married

73. Been in a movie

74. Crashed a party

75. Gotten divorced

76. Gone without food for 5 days

77. Made cookies from scratch

78. Won first prize in a costume contest

79. Ridden a gondola in Venice

80. Gotten a tattoo

81. Rafted the Snake River

82. Been on television news programs as an expert

83. Got flowers for no reason

84. Performed on stage

85. Been to Las Vegas

86. Recorded music

87. Eaten shark

88. Kissed on the first date

89. Gone to Thailand

90. Bought a house

91. Been in a combat zone

92. Buried one/both of your parents

93. Been on a cruise ship

94. Spoken more than one language fluently

95. Performed in Rocky Horror

96. Raised children

97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour

99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country

100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over

101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge

102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking

103. Had plastic surgery

104. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived

105. Wrote articles for a large publication

106. Lost over 100 pounds

107. Held someone while they were having a flashback (???)

108. Piloted an airplane

109. Touched a stingray

110. Broken someone's heart

111. Helped an animal give birth

112. Won money on a T.V. game show

113. Broken a bone

114. Gone on an African photo safari

115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears

116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol (Does a BB Gun count?)

117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild

118. Ridden a horse

119. Had major surgery

120. Had a snake as a pet

121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon

122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours

123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states

124. Visited all 7 continents

125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days

126. Eaten kangaroo meat

127. Eaten sushi

128. Had your picture in the newspaper

129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about

130. Gone back to school

131. Parasailed

132. Touched a cockroach (not on purpose)

133. Eaten fried green tomatoes

134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey

135. Selected one important author who you missed in school, and read

136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (fish when I went camping!)

137. Skipped all your school reunions

138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language

139. Been elected to public office (not yet)

140. Written your own computer language

141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream

142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care

143. Built your own PC from parts

144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you

145. Had a booth at a street fair

146. Dyed your hair

147. Been a DJ

148. Shaved your head

149. Caused a car accident

150. Saved someone’s life

Bad news, bombs, and books

Tragedy has struck. My shoes don’t fit. I don’t really understand why, either! I have some of the same designer’s shoes and they fit fine. So I’m going to return them and order a different pair (I’d get the next size up, but there isn’t one).

Sigh.

In other news, Matt Lauer is my hero for this interview. And the President of BP looks like an even bigger asshole.

And I hope the US takes notes from GB on how to foil terror plots BEFORE they are carried out. And Bush, don’t act like you’re the one who foiled it. Idiot.


And I thought this little survey was cute—and I’m tagging all of you to fill it out, too!

One Book

One book that changed your life:
The Diary of Anne Frank

One book that you’ve read more than once:

Jane Eyre

One book you’d want on a desert island:
War & Peace—that’s probably the only way I’d get through it—on a desert Island.

One book that made you laugh:
The Idiot-Girls Action Adventure Club

One book that made you cry:
The Kite Runner

One book that you wish had been written:
Stay the Course: The Impeachment of George W. Bush

One book that you wish had never been written:
Catcher in the Rye. (Sorry, I can’t stand that book.)

One book you’re currently reading:
Classics of Public Administration (yes, I’m a dork, I want a head start on school.)

One book you’ve been meaning to read:
I have a pile. Next on the list is The Bronte Project.

Now tag five or six people:
Tag! You’re it!