Well, I did pretty well right up until the end there, with the blogging and whatnot. Apparently when things get too real in real life, I can't bring myself to do much in the way of virtual existence—or any writing existence, since I didn't do any writing in my private diaries either, come to think of it.
Still, the year showed some marked improvements. If 2014 was The Year I Quit, 2015 was The Year I Resumed. I blogged. I finished my book, even if I didn't get it published. I redid the flowerbed, I decorated for the holidays, I visited my family more than usual (though probably not as much as I should have).
Thanksgiving was the perfect family holiday. We all sat in bed and watched movies. We got up to cook, to eat, and to change the movies in the player. That was it.
My parents came to visit us for Christmas. It was wonderful. My mom and I went shopping and I think she even had a little fun running around. We all went to the Ebbitt House for Christmas Eve and then walked by the White House tree. The holiday was great, we all got along and had a good time. It was so, so nice. Best I could have asked for.
Where are we now? The Young Prince starts a new school and a new doctor in January. Not Your Average Blogger is in a new executive gig that he seems to really, really like—and how many people can say that? I dialed back my work schedule to address more home stuff (thank goodness for a good boss who gets it), but still was given more to do and I think I did a pretty OK job of keeping up with it.
As for last year's resolutions: 1: Eating. We did better, but not great. The kid gained, the old folks lost, but not enough on either score. And as for exercise, well, let me just say, Ha. Still a lot of room for improvement on this one.
2: Writing. I finished the book. Then I got terribly demoralized trying to get it published. Time to cowgirl up and find a house to do it, even if it's not what I'd hoped for. On the plus side, NYAB is about done with his second one, and it's guaranteed a publisher, so yay for that.
3: Work. Going well.
4: Everything else. I did some work on social media, but it was not the direction I expected. I downsized, rather than branched out. I cleaned house pretty rigorously and my friends list is a much happier place for me than it was.
And now, the same survey I do every year:
1. What did you do this year that you'd never done before?
I went down a zip line. I went to Bowling Green.
2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
More or less, as stated above.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, but it was too damn close for comfort, thank you very much.
5. What countries did you visit?
No significant travel this year, really.
6. What would you like to have in the new year that you lacked this year?
Money makes the world go around... but I'd spend it on a non leaking septic tank, a working water filter, and an untracked driveway. Theoretically, I'll have at least one of those by this time next year. I'd also like to have a YP with a healthy body weight and a better track record with school admins.
7. What date from the year will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
They're all dad-related. The all-clear was nice news.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finishing the book. Hoping that publication will be the biggest achievement of next year.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Only the usual mental illness and klutzy injuries.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
It's a tossup between the remodeled bathroom and the snowblower we bought so that the contractor could continue remodeling the bathroom.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I think it's safe to say everyone's behavior merits celebration at some point. I feel very Fred Claus on this one.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
This would be the other side of the coin to No. 12. I'm easily appalled and even more easily depressed. Especially about politics and willful ignorance.
14. Where did most of your money go?
The bathroom!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Sleeping late was a much bigger deal this year than it probably should have been.
16. What song will always remind you of this year?
Walk the Moon's Shut Up and Dance.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Much happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner! For the first time in YEARS, thinner! All thanks to the lovely Kris.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer, but not for long, once we get the new whatever-we-get.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Getting published.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Being polite and cheerful in meetings with school administrators when what I really wanted to do was tell them where to get off. I'm pretty much done with that for the rest of my life.
20. How (did) you spend Christmas?
At home, with my parents visiting. It was fantastic!
21. Did you fall in love?
Every day.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
I have an awful lot of fun text-snarking with Katherine about Walking Dead. I also got introduced to The Blacklist by Beth, which is pretty good.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I only hate in the abstract. With actual real people, I find it much more satisfying simply to excise them from my life.
24. What was the best book you read?
Not gonna lie, the Outlander series sucked me right in.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
That the YP's drumming isn't half-bad.
26. What did you want and get?
I am blessed. I got a lot. Dad not dying kinda tops the list, though.
27. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Martian. Hands down.
28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 44. The YP and I were in Illinois on spring break. I got happily drunk on champagne.
29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Getting published. C'est la vie.
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept this year?
Same as last year. Seriously, I think I bought maybe one new outfit.
31. What kept you sane?
NYAB. Sleep. Same as always.
32. What political issue stirred you the most?
They all stir me. Actually, the issues don't stir me so much as the jibber-jabbering masses holding forth on the issues like they are experts.
33. Who did you miss?
My ability to run uphill without wanting to die.
34. Who was the best new person you met?
Well, we didn't really meet and we sort of already knew each other, but Kris is the best!
35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned:
Don't waste time.
36. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think
Enjoy yourself, while you're still in the pink
The years go by, as quickly as a wink
Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself, it's later than you think