It is nice that our jobs allowed us to loll around in a stupor for the past week -- and into next week. By working from home, I managed to spin a four-day weekend into six days I didn't got to the office (even though my "weekend" was punctuated by posting a few files and updating a few web pages.) It is even better that this week has become a 2-day workweek that will be followed by another four-day weekend -- again punctuated with some work done from home on New Year's Eve. By the time we actually have to resume actually working, I'm not sure I'll remember how....
But that did get me to thinking. There's been a lot of pushing and shoving in recent years about the "holiday season" -- about how you should say "season's greetings" instead of "merry Christmas;" disenfranchised non-celebrants; Festivus; Pagans; Christians who want that manger out in front of City Hall, by golly; Kwanzaa -- and yeah, does anyone know when that is without looking it up? -- etc. etc. And yet ... nobody has gone with the totally obvious and logical solution: Ditch it all and make New Year's the big celebratory thing. Oh, sure, you lose that extra federal holiday, and nobody gets Christmas trees or menorahs or baskets of fruit or what have you, but it would shut up all the PC-meisters, it's more or less non-denominational and universally observed.
Well, unless you're Chinese. Or Bahai'i, apparently.
OK, never mind. As you were.
But since it is the end of the year; I'm pulling out my old chestnut that I started back in 2004 when I was a member of TomTom Club, and have resurrected each year since.
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Saw Wrigley Field. Spent a week away from the kid.
2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Hahahahaha. Not hardly. Not by a long shot. I'll try making the same ones again next year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Uh. Define close. Some people I know gave birth.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
Just other parts of this one.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
More willpower. More backbone to say no to people who deserve to be told no. More time with NYAB.
7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I'm not so good with dates. But I'll remember dinner at the Willard.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
My career.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Taking too much time for the job and not enough for my family.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No worse than usual.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
An Illini flag, apparently. And new couches.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The YP's day care teachers, who got him over the humps on swimming and reading.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Certain colleagues. Larry Craig. William J. Jefferson. Roger Clemens.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Traveling and furniture.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to Chicago without the kid. Coming back from Chicago to the kid.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
The YP doing the whoo-hoo parts of Sweet Escape.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fat-fat-fatter.
iii. richer or poorer? More income, more outflow, richer overall because the YP keeps aspiring and achieving.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Taken more pictures.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Work.
20. How (did) you spend Christmas?
A nice cozy weekend at home. Eating turkey and watching DVDs.
21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Over and over.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
House.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate? Possibly. Definitely flashes of rage, but probably not hate. Feel disappointment toward? Yes.
24. What was the best book you read?
Ha. Did I finish a book this year? I can't even remember.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I was out of the musical loop this year.
26. What did you want and get?
A new drinking water filter. Another year's service out of the cars. The YP learning to read.
27. What was your favorite film of this year?
Uhm. Wow. I suck with the pop culture stuff. No idea. I saw The Notebook and liked that OK.
28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I'm ashamed to say I don't remember. 36.
29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Previous years' answer still applies. Having a jillion dollars. Short of that, my year was pretty darn good.
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Easy to clean, easy to wear, out the door in 15 minutes but still looking office-appropriate.
31. What kept you sane?
Family. Chocolate.
32. What political issue stirred you the most?
The war.
33. Who did you miss?
No one; for once I feel like I got to see everyone a good amount.
34. Who was the best new person you met?
Foodie staffer.
35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
Even if you know beyond a doubt that someone isn't listening when you explain something, you should get their attention by saying, "I don't think you understand," as opposed to "Hey! Stop talking and listen!"
36. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
(Another song the YP learned this year...)
And all the monkeys aren't in the zoo
Every day you see quite a few
So you see it's all up to you,
You could be better than you are
You could be swinging on a star
Hey, I can do this...
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Spend several days away from the YP, with the AB.
2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I never make 'em, so I can't break 'em.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not that I remember.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
I once had a thing for Benazir Bhutto.
5. What countries did you visit?
The good old U.S.A.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
More patience.
7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I like July 4th.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting a new job.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Who, me?
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
The usual stuff.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Furniture.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The YP's.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Much of the Muslim world. Appeasers.
14. Where did most of your money go?
I wish I knew.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The World Champion Boston Red Sox.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Like I'm going to discuss that with you.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Complain.
20. How (did) you spend Christmas?
Lounging at home, watching movies.
21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Every day.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
House.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No, pretty much the same old bunch.
24. What was the best book you read?
The Gathering Storm.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I stopped discovering music a couple decades ago.
26. What did you want and get?
My new job.
27. What was your favorite film of this year?
Casablanca.
28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I'll tell you on Sunday. 47.
29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Better investing.
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Ha ha ha.
31. What kept you sane?
My wife.
32. What political issue stirred you the most?
The terrorists' war on us.
33. Who did you miss?
I don't miss. When I shoot at somebody, I hit them.
34. Who was the best new person you met?
My new boss.
35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
If you call Granola a cookie bar, you have a better chance of it being eaten.
36. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
It's been a hard day's night and I've been working like a dog...
But when I get home to you I find the things that you do will make me feel alright.
Posted by: NYAB | December 28, 2007 at 01:19 PM
34. Who was the best new person you met?
Foodie staffer.
Hey, that's ME!! :)
Thanks!
Your the best new person I met this year too.
Feel better soon!! :)
Posted by: Foodie Staffer | December 28, 2007 at 02:34 PM
Wow, of course, I meant to type YOU'RE :-P
Posted by: Foodie Staffer | December 28, 2007 at 02:35 PM