I'm sticking to my guns of at least posting this list every year. It's funny, I used to really love blogging, but social media took over and I decided journaling was kind of pointless. Then I decided I hated most of social media, and stopped chronicling much of my life on those platforms. So now I only post this annual listicle, even though just as many funny things happen to me and I think I can still tell a funny story about them now and then...
And now, the annual survey—a bit glummer than some:
1. What did you do this year that you'd never done before?
Attended a World Series game! (Now I'd like to attend one where my team wins.) And we finally saw the Christmas Story house in Cleveland! And I had dinner at Musso and Frank's!
2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I'm way too old to fool myself with such notions. I made a November resolution to lose weight that I seem to be doing OK with.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
I don't think so ... sorry if I'm forgetting someone!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Well, my mom lost a dog... but otherwise no, and a good thing. There aren't that many of those folks left!
5. What countries did you visit?
Nowhere new this year.
6. What would you like to have in the new year that you lacked this year?
Better life balance. Less time on the phone; more time reading. Less time stressing about the future and more time modeling good behavior in the now.
7. What date from the year will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I should just take this question out. No dates are etched on my memory. Even birthdays and anniversaries are a blur.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I suppose getting promoted—although I think I did a pretty good job of trying to disengage from managing the YP. (This is not to say I was completely successful, or that the YP thinks I was even remotely successful. But I think I did better.)
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Well, I rolled my ankle at my mom's house in the final week of the year, but aside from completely embarrassing myself and freaking her out, I was fine after limping around for a couple days.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
World Series tickets!!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The YP really came into his own over the summer as a gainfully employed teen-ager. It even carried over to a large degree into the first marking period of school...
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I try not to dwell on the appalling and depressing.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Paying off debt! Chopping down trees!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
See numbers 1 and 11—and, to a lesser extent, number 12.
16. What song will always remind you of this year?
I guess it will have to be Baby Shark. I just looked up the top songs of 2019 and didn't recognize a single one. This was the year of Sirius, the Yacht Rock channel, and retreating further into my own echo chamber.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? thinner! And not done yet!
iii. richer or poorer? Definitely richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Laughing.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Sighing.
20. How (did) you spend Christmas?
We went to see my mom. It's a tradition in the making.
21. Did you fall in love?
This one is an established daily tradition since 1998.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Probably Mrs. Maisel.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I literally don't hate anyone. I lack the energy.
24. What was the best book you read?
I'm told that the best book I didn't read was Andrew Roberts' Churchill bio. I am not sure which I actually did finish that I'd consider the best....
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Sirius XM.
26. What did you want and get?
Money! Thanks, mom!
27. What was your favorite film of this year?
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 48. I honestly have no recollection what we did, but NYAB was in charge so I'm sure it was lovely. I know I got a gift card for an hour in an isolation tank, which we used on HIS birthday. That was ... different.
29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I had a pretty satisfying year. Only niggling concern is the same as last year and most years before that going back to about 2009.
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept this year?
Same as every year: Lazy and maximum comfort. I've reintroduced jeans to my repertoire, and I'm hoping that in 2020 I'll find some that fit me while also being more denim than elastic.
31. What kept you sane?
NYAB. Sleep. Same as always.
32. What political issue stirred you the most?
I continue in my state of weariness and strive to avoid people who elect to be stirred by politics.
33. Who did you miss?
Yeah, I still miss my dad. And my grandfather. And my grandmother, although she's still nominally around.
34. Who was the best new person you met?
I'm gonna say a couple folks from work. One makes me laugh, one makes me pause before laughing.
35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned:
Sometimes you've got to have a little faith in people.
36. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
And don't you know
It's a beautiful new day
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