The Average Blogger

2024 Review

 

A lot of things in 2024 made a lot of people unhappy, but I was generally not in that group.  

1. What did you do this year that you'd never done before?
Met the parents of my kid's girlfriend.  Then he got a new one. I haven't met the new set.  

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Ha! I did! I lost weight!  Gonna try to keep it up in 2025.  

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, and I am grateful.  One nephew I see once a year became a dad; that was it. 

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not close to me emotionally, but there was a pretty grisly murder-suicide in town—committed by the guy who gave me my ring finger tattoo—that bummed out a lot of folks.    

5. What countries did you visit?
As usual, just this one. 

6. What would you like to have in the new year that you lacked this year?
OMG, we got the new siding asked for in 2024! Let's see if the wishing here is effective: In the new year, I'd like to have a kid who better manages his finances and grades. Hahahaha, serves you right, Young Prince!!     

7. What date from the year will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I should excise this question since I never answer it, but I keep thinking maybe something will stick.  

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Meeting new people and not alienating all of them instantly.   

9. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Only age-related aches and pains.  

10. What was the best thing you bought?
The answer is always travel. Phoenix; Myrtle Beach and the Biltmore; Vegas for SC football and reunion; New Orleans and Sarasota. And the siding is pretty nice, as was replacing the completely rotten wall before the house fell down.    

11. Whose behavior merited celebration? 
I try to believe that all good behavior merits celebration. I guess Stackpole Books, for taking JB's book for publication.

12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? 
More depressed than appalled—the person who told me to fuck off when I tried to be nice after the election.  

13. Where did most of your money go? 
Same as last year: the house, travel, tuition.     

14. What did you get really, really, really excited about? 
Traveling with JB, like always. I must be getting older, because Christmas did not excite me as much this year. 

15. What song will always remind you of this year?
Santa Claus Is Smoking Reefer, performed by the Squirrel Nut Zippers in St. Louis.  

16. Compared to this time last year, are you: 
i. happier or sadder? I keep waiting to plateau on happiness, and I'm always delighted when I keep getting happier instead.   
ii. thinner or fatter? THINNER!! 
iii. richer or poorer? As I told friends at New Year's, I don't ACT rich, I AM rich.  In so many ways.  

17. What do you wish you'd done more of? 
Writing. Spending time outdoors.    

18. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Fretting and sliding down social media rabbit holes.    

19. How (did) you spend Christmas?
Party at our house the 14th; the kid brought his girlfriend home Dec. 16; Christmas Eve with JB's family at my niece KC's house; Christmas at my mom's.  

20. Did you fall in love?
This one remains an established daily tradition since 1998. And like every year, this was the best year yet. 

21. What was your favorite TV program?
Yellowstone ended with a bit of a whimper, but it kept me interested. JB got back into Dexter and watched the spinoffs, which more or less allowed me to forgive the awful last episode of the original series.    

22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't hate anyone, but I am doing a better job of distancing myself from folks who disappoint me.    

23. What was the best book you read? 
Ha. I read a LOT of bad books trying to find a way to write a good "women's" book. But I also finally got around to Andrew Roberts' bio of Churchill, and that was EXCELLENT.      

24. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Postmodern Jukebox!  

25. What did you want and get? 
Siding, and by extension a house that won't fall down. 

26. What was your favorite film of this year?
Dune 2 was pretty great, although I wasn't as dazzled as the kid was. Argylle was better than people said. Megalopolis was interesting but I do not need to see it again. 

27. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 53. Had a great steak dinner in Bloomington. 

28. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Finishing my novel. But I'm hoping that is what 2025 is for! 

29. How would you describe your personal fashion concept this year?
I've found what works. Mostly sundresses, a sort of Western undertone. I bought my first pair of cowboy (cowgirl?) boots and they are UHmazing!    

30. What kept you sane? 
Getting off social media before the election. Trying to hold the line on my work hours. 

31. What political issue stirred you the most?
I maintain my refusal to be stirred by that stuff anymore. It's become SEP.  

32. Who did you miss?
I dug up some information that really made me wish my grandfather was still alive and could explain to me.  

33. Who was the best new person you met?
The Saunders family—including the dogs!       

34. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned: 
It is possible to scale back a friendship to a polite acquaintance-ship rather than just noping out of there entirely.    

35. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Those who know will whisper when they see us walking, "There's a love that's always meant to be."

A lot of things in 2024 made a lot of people unhappy, but I was generally not in that group.  

1. What did you do this year that you'd never done before?
Met the parents of my kid's girlfriend.  Then he got a new one. I haven't met the new set.  

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Ha! I did! I lost weight!  Gonna try to keep it up in 2025.  

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, and I am grateful.  One nephew I see once a year became a dad; that was it. 

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not close to me emotionally, but there was a pretty grisly murder-suicide in town—committed by the guy who gave me my ring finger tattoo—that bummed out a lot of folks.    

5. What countries did you visit?
As usual, just this one. 

6. What would you like to have in the new year that you lacked this year?
OMG, we got the new siding asked for in 2024! Let's see if the wishing here is effective: In the new year, I'd like to have a kid who better manages his finances and grades. Hahahaha, serves you right, Young Prince!!     

7. What date from the year will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I should excise this question since I never answer it, but I keep thinking maybe something will stick.  

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Meeting new people and not alienating all of them instantly.   

9. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Only age-related aches and pains.  

10. What was the best thing you bought?
The answer is always travel. Phoenix; Myrtle Beach and the Biltmore; Vegas for SC football and reunion; New Orleans and Sarasota. And the siding is pretty nice, as was replacing the completely rotten wall before the house fell down.    

11. Whose behavior merited celebration? 
I try to believe that all good behavior merits celebration. I guess Stackpole Books, for taking JB's book for publication.

12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? 
More depressed than appalled—the person who told me to fuck off when I tried to be nice after the election.  

13. Where did most of your money go? 
Same as last year: the house, travel, tuition.     

14. What did you get really, really, really excited about? 
Traveling with JB, like always. I must be getting older, because Christmas did not excite me as much this year. 

15. What song will always remind you of this year?
Santa Claus Is Smoking Reefer, performed by the Squirrel Nut Zippers in St. Louis.  

16. Compared to this time last year, are you: 
i. happier or sadder? I keep waiting to plateau on happiness, and I'm always delighted when I keep getting happier instead.   
ii. thinner or fatter? THINNER!! 
iii. richer or poorer? As I told friends at New Year's, I don't ACT rich, I AM rich.  In so many ways.  

17. What do you wish you'd done more of? 
Writing. Spending time outdoors.    

18. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Fretting and sliding down social media rabbit holes.    

19. How (did) you spend Christmas?
Party at our house the 14th; the kid brought his girlfriend home Dec. 16; Christmas Eve with JB's family at my niece KC's house; Christmas at my mom's.  

20. Did you fall in love?
This one remains an established daily tradition since 1998. And like every year, this was the best year yet. 

21. What was your favorite TV program?
Yellowstone ended with a bit of a whimper, but it kept me interested. JB got back into Dexter and watched the spinoffs, which more or less allowed me to forgive the awful last episode of the original series.    

22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't hate anyone, but I am doing a better job of distancing myself from folks who disappoint me.    

23. What was the best book you read? 
Ha. I read a LOT of bad books trying to find a way to write a good "women's" book. But I also finally got around to Andrew Roberts' bio of Churchill, and that was EXCELLENT.      

24. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Postmodern Jukebox!  

25. What did you want and get? 
Siding, and by extension a house that won't fall down. 

26. What was your favorite film of this year?
Dune 2 was pretty great, although I wasn't as dazzled as the kid was. Argylle was better than people said. Megalopolis was interesting but I do not need to see it again. 

27. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 53. Had a great steak dinner in Bloomington. 

28. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Finishing my novel. But I'm hoping that is what 2025 is for! 

29. How would you describe your personal fashion concept this year?
I've found what works. Mostly sundresses, a sort of Western undertone. I bought my first pair of cowboy (cowgirl?) boots and they are UHmazing!    

30. What kept you sane? 
Getting off social media before the election. Trying to hold the line on my work hours. 

31. What political issue stirred you the most?
I maintain my refusal to be stirred by that stuff anymore. It's become SEP.  

32. Who did you miss?
I dug up some information that really made me wish my grandfather was still alive and could explain to me.  

33. Who was the best new person you met?
The Saunders family—including the dogs!       

34. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned: 
It is possible to scale back a friendship to a polite acquaintance-ship rather than just noping out of there entirely.    

35. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Those who know will whisper when they see us walking, "There's a love that's always meant to be."

2023 Review

2023, like every year, was the best one yet — but this one was exceptionally good! 

1. What did you do this year that you'd never done before?
Visited San Antonio. Visited Tahoe. Drove on Bonneville Salt Flats.  Got NYAB to attend dance lessons. 

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Every year I say I'm gonna diet, and every year the Still Youngish Prince (SYP) is right to scoff at me.  

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope. A couple friends, but we aren't particularly close...  

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My grandmother. But she had been absent for so long that it didn't really feel all that traumatic.   

5. What countries did you visit?
As usual, just this one. 

6. What would you like to have in the new year that you lacked this year?
New siding, but that's on hold.    

7. What date from the year will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I still don't do dates like this.    

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Pulling the trigger and going part-time at my job. Totally life-altering and game-changing. I'm ecstatic. 

9. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Only age-related aches and pains.  

10. What was the best thing you bought?
Travel, travel, travel. And my zippy Mazda CX-5, Jackie Blue!  

11. Whose behavior merited celebration? 
The kid, the kid, the kid. I'm continually impressed by the grown-up traits he demonstrates (even if they are tempered by occasional lapses.)  

12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? 
Assorted folks on my periphery who made life harder for people I care about and then acted like they were the victims. 

13. Where did most of your money go? 
Same as last year: the house, travel, tuition.     

14. What did you get really, really, really excited about? 
Traveling with JB.  Winning big on the penny slots on our Notre Dame trip. 

15. What song will always remind you of this year?
Miles and Miles of Texas by Asleep at the Wheel, heard live at the San Antonio rodeo, which was totally awesome.  

16. Compared to this time last year, are you: 
i. happier or sadder? SO MUCH HAPPIER.  
ii. thinner or fatter? fatter and less fit but I have joined a gym and have good intentions. 
iii. richer or poorer? We're doing just fine. 

17. What do you wish you'd done more of? 
Yard work. Travel.    

18. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worked, but that's fixed now! Next goal is to retire entirely!   

19. How (did) you spend Christmas?
SYP home in early December; party at our house the 16th; Christmas Eve with JB's family at my niece KC's house; Christmas and Boxing Day at my mom's.  

20. Did you fall in love?
This one is an established daily tradition since 1998.  

21. What was your favorite TV program?
I don't know. With streaming, we watch a lot and it's hard to keep it all in mind. Maybe The Crown.   

22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Too happy to hate this year. It's a nice feeling.    

23. What was the best book you read? 
I read some bad ones. I'm looking forward to reading some good ones in 2024.      

24. What was your greatest musical discovery?
See No. 15.  

25. What did you want and get? 
Reduced work hours 

26. What was your favorite film of this year?
To quote the SYP: Barbenheimer (although I liked Oppenheimer better of those two). 

27. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 52. Spent the day in St. Louis at our first Cardinals Opening Day. It was gorgeous. 

28. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Same as last year: More play. Less work.  Also, if I could reconnect with a couple friends who appear to have dropped me for good without explaining why—but I guess they have their reasons and I'm unlikely to change, so maybe it's for the best. 

29. How would you describe your personal fashion concept this year?
Big and baggy. A lot of sundresses.   

30. What kept you sane? 
For once, the main thing was not NYAB or sleep—it was going part-time at work. Of course, that meant more time for NYAB and sleeping, so .... 

31. What political issue stirred you the most?
I refuse to be stirred by that stuff anymore. It's become SEP.  

32. Who did you miss?
All the dead ones—especially my grandmother at her memorial, but my dad a lot, too, for some reason.  

33. Who was the best new person you met?
Probably Johnny Boggs and Debby Arnold (who introduced us).      

34. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned: 
It's easier to stay in compliance than try to bring everything back up to speed.    

35. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Here's to the good times, here's to the sunshine.

2022 Review

2022 was pretty eventful! 

1. What did you do this year that you'd never done before?
Became a legit member of a small-town community. Joined the Friends of the Library. Invited an entire town to a party at my house. LOVED MY INDOOR POOL.    

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I had a resolution made FOR ME for 2023 to lose weight.  

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.   

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, although the diabetic dog probably came close.  

5. What countries did you visit?
Nowhere new this year.  The kid got his first trip to Chicago ... and his first trip to my friend Beth's house for a weeklong hurricane hunker-down. 

6. What would you like to have in the new year that you lacked this year?
A working hot tub, a gravel path that goes to the gate we installed in the fence, maybe new siding on the house. Things to stop breaking.   

7. What date from the year will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I don't really do this, either. I do well to remember vaguely the season in which an event occurred.    

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Buying the house and getting moved in. The biggest family achievement not by me was the kid getting through his first semester. 

9. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing particularly dreadful. We all got COVID finally and were done with it inside of a week. 

10. What was the best thing you bought?
The house! 

11. Whose behavior merited celebration? 
The kid, the kid, the kid.  He did great this year. 

12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? 
My new boss. I adore her as a person, but damn the work thing feels like a bad fit. 

13. Where did most of your money go? 
The house and its peripherals, and college tuition.     

14. What did you get really, really, really excited about? 
See the answers to No. 13.    

15. What song will always remind you of this year?
I have reached an age where I don't listen to much new music. I should probably rectify that, but with Sirius XM playing multiple channels of old favorites, it's unlikely to happen. 

16. Compared to this time last year, are you: 
i. happier or sadder? happier, although now I'm pretty hot to get out of the workforce.  
ii. thinner or fatter? fatter. And in worse shape. I dumped the gym when we left Virginia and didn't replace it with anything. 
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer, but quality of life is way better. 

17. What do you wish you'd done more of? 
Anything but work. Hang with JB, hang with my mom, hang with the library folks...   

18. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worked.   

19. How (did) you spend Christmas?
We spread it out over a couple weeks; Christmas weekend at my mom's; New Year's Eve day with JB's family.   

20. Did you fall in love?
This one is an established daily tradition since 1998.  

21. What was your favorite TV program?
Yellowstone, although it's not really new anymore. It was new to us.     

22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yeahhhh, and they all work at my place of employment.    

23. What was the best book you read? 
I'm not sure I read anything besides Poldark this year. Disgraceful.     

24. What was your greatest musical discovery?
That Sirius XM works in Moweaqua. 

25. What did you want and get? 
The house.  

26. What was your favorite film of this year?
Top Gun was great. Bullet Train was fun. 

27. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 51. We bought the house. 

28. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More play. Less work.  

29. How would you describe your personal fashion concept this year?
Big and baggy. A lot of sundresses.   

30. What kept you sane? 
NYAB. Sleep. Same as always. 

31. What political issue stirred you the most?
I have decided that fat and dumb are the way to be happy. I tried to ignore politics as much as I could. 

32. Who did you miss?
All the dead ones—especially the newly dead ones.  

33. Who was the best new person you met?
The Moweaqua librarian!!     

34. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned: 
Always take the wire transfer for funds. Don't let them mail a check.   

35. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Another boring romantic, that's me.

2021 Review

A little later than usual, a few more ups and downs, but all in all, a second year of pandemic noise that was generally accepted as awful but nonetheless had some incredibly bright spots for me personally; another blog post that nobody will see except maybe my kid. 

1. What did you do this year that you'd never done before?
Bought a puppy, sent a kid to college, brought him back, got a colonoscopy, faced spousal retirement.   

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I should take this question off. I never have resolutions. 

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.   

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No. We had quite enough of that in 2020, thank you.  

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?
A U.S. populace that is not only physically healthy but also unafraid of shadows, boogeymen, air, etc. Also, a new house in Missouri or Illinois by summer.   

7. What date from the year will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I don't really do this, either. I do well to remember vaguely the season in which an event occurred.    

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I believe it was getting the dog housebroken.  

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope; and depending on what media you follow that puts me in the majority or the minority. 

11. What was the best thing you bought?
The puppy. Nicky is a doll.   

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? 
Despite his setbacks, I was immensely proud of my kid for going to Florida and not dying. 

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? 
Pretty much everyone else's. Right wing, left-wing, fearmongers, the fearful, I found them ALL tiresome.  

14. Where did most of your money go? 
The dog, a fence, and college tuition.     

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? 
See the answers to No. 14.    

16. What song will always remind you of this year?
I have reached an age where I don't listen to much new music. i should probably rectify that, but with Sirius XM playing multiple channels of old favorites, it's unlikely to happen. 

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: 
i. happier or sadder? there were highs and lows, but overall, about the same.  
ii. thinner or fatter? about the same, but in better shape. 
iii. richer or poorer? Definitely richer. 

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? 
It sounds like a horrible idea, but I wish I'd checked in with the kid more to help him stay on track.  

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worked when I should have played.   

20. How (did) you spend Christmas?
We went to see my mom. Again. And it was great—much better than last year. JB announced his retirement.   

21. Did you fall in love?
This one is an established daily tradition since 1998.  

22. What was your favorite TV program?
I don't think I had one. We didn't really watch anything new.     

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Well, I'm not too fond of the gal who threw my kid into a tailspin.    

24. What was the best book you read? 
Oh, goodness. I have no idea. I really should start keeping a list.     

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
That I need to listen to all my CDs on iTunes to make sure the files are not glitchy and then start selling them off. 

26. What did you want and get? 
The dog.  

27. What was your favorite film of this year?
I liked Belfast a lot.  I also enjoyed Last Night in Soho and I thought the Sparks documentary was fantastic. 

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 50. We went to DisneyWorld (which also turned 50), but that was more in consideration of the kid's last spring break as a high schooler than my birthday. 

29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
The kid sticking it out in college. But there's always 2022. 

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept this year?
Gym clothes—sweats, shorts, and T-shirts.  

31. What kept you sane? 
NYAB. Sleep. Same as always. 

32. What political issue stirred you the most?
I have decided that fat and dumb are the way to be happy. I tried to ignore politics as much as I could. 

33. Who did you miss?
All the dead ones—especially the newly dead ones.  

34. Who was the best new person you met?
Our new across-the-street neighbors.    

35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned: 
Go out whenever you can; connect whenever you can; don't wait around for it to be safer or more convenient or socially acceptable.  Fricking do it.  

36. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Don't worry about a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right...

2020 Review

Another year that was generally accepted as awful but nonetheless had some incredibly bright spots for me personally; another blog post that nobody will see except maybe my kid in a few years when he is waxing nostalgic. 

1. What did you do this year that you'd never done before?
Was part of a pandemic; worked from bed a record number of days in a row; hiked in the dark to watch the sun come up at Arches, hired a personal trainer.  

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I believe in evolutions, not resolutions. 

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope. I'm in that gap between my friends being too old and my kid's friends being too young (at least, too young to my way of thinking!)  

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Ugh. Yes. The dog died the Monday before Christmas, which was awful, and my BFF Duryan died on Jan. 2, but you can bet your ass I'm counting it as part of 2020. She wouldn't want anyone carrying that baggage into the new year! 

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?
A U.S. populace that is not only physically healthy but also unafraid of shadows, boogeymen, air, etc.  

7. What date from the year will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
None that are good.   

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Working with (instead of for) the YP to get through the college application process. And he got accepted places! 

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope; and depending on what media you follow that puts me in the majority or the minority. 

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Trips, as usual.  Beautifying the house. We bought a deep freeze, but the jury's still out on how great it is.  

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? 
The YP did great as an essential worker at the grocery store when the powers that be decided to blow off school. Duryan was an amazing example of how to keep kicking ass even when cancer is kicking yours. I hope when it's my time to go, I show the same grace and style. 

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? 
Pretty much everyone else's. Right wing, left-wing, fearmongers, the fearful, I found them ALL tiresome.  

14. Where did most of your money go? 
Travel. The yard. Savings because we couldn't travel or go to sporting events.     

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? 
Going to the movies when the theaters reopened—until they closed again.    

16. What song will always remind you of this year?
I don't want to ruin any songs by associating them with this year. 

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: 
i. happier or sadder? happier.  
ii. thinner or fatter? about the same, but in better shape. 
iii. richer or poorer? Definitely richer. 

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? 
I am pleased to say that despite covid and side-eyes, I did pretty much everything I wanted to, except for go to Newport, which was shut down and thus beyond my control.  

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Getting spun up about assholes on social media. Cutting that shit off in the autumn was one of the best decisions I made all year.  

20. How (did) you spend Christmas?
We went to see my mom. Again. And it was great, except for the dog dying while we were gone. I ate a lot, drank a lot, learned a lot about cooking, and I think was at least marginally useful.  

21. Did you fall in love?
This one is an established daily tradition since 1998.  

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Longmire, even though it was off the air.    

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 read a lot of books this year! The Longmire series captured my heart.    

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
That I need to start listening to music again. And practicing the piano. 

26. What did you want and get? 
Money! Books! Travel! Girly shit! Workout stuff!    

27. What was your favorite film of this year?
I guess it was Mank. But it was a shallow bench, for sure.  

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 49. I honestly do not remember. It was right around when quarantine was kicking in, so I probably stayed home and worked.      

29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Dumping social media sooner than I did.     

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept this year?
Bathrobe chic!  

31. What kept you sane? 
NYAB. Sleep. Same as always. 

32. What political issue stirred you the most?
The fact that other people insist on being stirred rather than civil. And the appalling double standards demonstrated. 

33. Who did you miss?
All the dead ones, as usual.  

34. Who was the best new person you met?
Probably Duryan's neighbor, although we aren't officially that well acquainted.    

35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned: 
Go out whenever you can; connect whenever you can; don't wait around for it to be safer or more convenient or socially acceptable.  Fricking do it.  

36. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
What good is livin' a life you've been given
If all you do is stand in one place...

2019 Review

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

2018 Review

So, maybe 2019 will be a better year for writing. And reading. I did a lot of both this year, but almost entirely work-related and none of it very much fun. I think I know better than to say I'll do anything here... meanwhile, happy new year, y'all!

And now, the annual survey—a bit glummer than some:

1. What did you do this year that you'd never done before?

Lost a parent, gained a student driver. 

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
If I made any, I have no idea what they were. 

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! For the fourth time! Because she's amazing (and maybe a little nuts).

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yup. That sucked.  

5. What countries did you visit?
Counting the ones at Epcot? A couple. Otherwise, nowhere new this year.  

6. What would you like to have in the new year that you lacked this year?
More free time; more influence over the YP. 

7. What date from the year will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I don't think there are any dates I really want to remember from this year. Sometimes having no head for dates is a blessing. 

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting closer to my mom without sacrificing anything else (including sanity, for both of us).  

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope. 

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Space Coast tickets, hockey tickets, ticket-tickets... 

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? 
My mom is probably MVP this year for putting up with so much ugh-ick-yuck with a great show of grace. NYAB and the YP run a close second for tolerating me and my ugh-ick-yuck while dealing with their own. 

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? 
Same as last year: pretty much every public figure out there, and a good many private citizens who act like public figures on social media. Plus a couple doctors in Illinois. 

14. Where did most of your money go? 
Good question! Travel?   

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? 
Um. Vacations.  

16. What song will always remind you of this year?
  Some awful thing the YP played for me called "Rah Rah Rasputin." 

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: 
i. happier or sadder? About a wash. Depends on the moment.  
ii. thinner or fatter? Only a little fatter, but with the usual New Year Good Intentions.   
iii. richer or poorer? I'd say we're in an upswing. 

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? 
Guiding the YP.  

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Fighting with the YP (the usual result of attempting No. 18).  

20. How (did) you spend Christmas?
We went to see my mom and her new house—it's a GREAT house. 

21. Did you fall in love?
An established daily tradition since 1998.  

22. What was your favorite TV program?
I don't think we watched anything new; just revisited old friends.   

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 read a glitz of Gatsby analyses over the summer; that was a fun agglomeration.  

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I found Greta van Fleet for the YP, which made us both happy. 

26. What did you want and get? 
To pretty much be left alone at work, for which I owe undying thanks to the best boss ever.   

27. What was your favorite film of this year?
Sing Street (even though it's not a 2018 movie). 

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 47. It was a Friday, so I suppose I went to work, maybe?  Or worked from home and enjoyed my bed?  

29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Well, my dad not dying would probably top the list. Short of that, figuring out a way to keep the YP on an even scholastic keel. Short of that, I don't really want for much.    

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept this year?
Same as every year: Lazy and maximum comfort.   

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?
Erm, duh. 

34. Who was the best new person you met?
I'm gonna say NYAB's work colleague's kids. They totally made our holiday party.   

35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned: 
Say it all when you've got a chance; I was lucky I got to spit it all out in time.  

36. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"I got through all of last year
And I'm here.." 

Worse than ever

Really ought to shut this blog down, but hope springs eternal I'll come here with words of wisdom for the Still-Fairly-Young Prince when he's older -- or at least a road map for his future therapist. Meh.

And now, the annual survey—seven months late (with a goal of updating this properly in December with developments of 2018, of which there were several):

1. What did you do this year that you'd never done before?

Watched the YP get excited about nature during a bison "stampede."  Lived through a home remodel. 

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I made none, and have done a bang-up job of not keeping them. 

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Acquaintance, but nobody close.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.  

5. What countries did you visit?
This one, as usual. 

6. What would you like to have in the new year that you lacked this year?
A remodeled upstairs to match the beautiful downstairs -- not gonna happen, though. 

7. What date from the year will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
None, as usual. 

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
All kinds of home improvement, getting to Yellowstone.  

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope. 

11. What was the best thing you bought?
The kitchen. The living room. The giant TV. 

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? 
The YP surviving his first semester of high school, and playing drums in community band and school band. 

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? 
Pretty much every public figure out there, and a good many private citizens who act like public figures on social media. 

14. Where did most of your money go? 
Remodeling, remodeling, and travel.  

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? 
Remodeling and travel.  

16. What song will always remind you of this year?
  Brandy, a la Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. 

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: 
i. happier or sadder? Happier.  
ii. thinner or fatter? Same.   
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer, but with nicer stuff. 

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? 
Reading.  

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Working.  

20. How (did) you spend Christmas?
Parents came to visit in early December, then it was just us at home for the holiday. Very nice. 

21. Did you fall in love?
Every day.  

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Black Mirror.   

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 can't even remember reading a book, although I'm sure I did.  

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I wouldn't say I had one. 

26. What did you want and get? 
I got pretty much everything I wanted. Spoiled princess over here!  

27. What was your favorite film of this year?
Guardians 2. 

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 46. I have no idea what we did, but I'm sure it was lovely.  

29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Immeasurable wealth and what I could do with it.   

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept this year?
Lazy.   

31. What kept you sane? 
NYAB. Sleep. Same as always. 

32. What political issue stirred you the most?
The fact that everyone was all stirred up made me ill. I am tired of people being stirred up.  

33. Who did you miss?
Still my grandparents. 

34. Who was the best new person you met?
I don't think I met anyone new.   

35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned: 
More like a lesson I relearned: Sometimes you are much better off not getting the thing you think you want.  

36. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Same as last year: It can't get much better than this. 

 

New Year, Fresh Start, Probably Same Old Results

I am trying to figure out how to add structure to my life. A schedule that includes going to the gym, doing research, making sure the kid gets enough attention, and researching a new book, maybe. I don't know what good it does me to keep blogging, but I keep thinking maybe it'll be good for the Young Prince someday, so here I am.

We had a surprisingly good year for all the weird stuff that happened. The YP made it through a whole year at the new school with no serious repercussions. Now we are going to spend this year trying to get him re-mainstreamed. Maybe that will be blog fodder. So far I've sent two emails and a note to the school asking for guidance on how to proceed and have had crickets in response. This week will see an escalation. 

Work is Work. 

I published a book. It was a process that had its ups and downs. 

Not Your Average Blogger is sailing along and becoming a bigger pundit, with his new book coming out this year. I am 

And now, the same survey I do every year: 

1. What did you do this year that you'd never done before?
Published a book. Such a mixed bag I'm not sure I want to do it again, but I'm trying.  

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No, and no. 

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yep.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes.  One in, one out. 

5. What countries did you visit?
A lot of them, when we went to Epcot for Christmas. 

6. What would you like to have in the new year that you lacked this year?
A new kitchen. A new driveway. Another book published. 

7. What date from the year will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I don't etch the bad dates. I don't etch most dates, to be honest. But definitely not the bad ones. 

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting the book out and seeing more of my family. 

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope. 

11. What was the best thing you bought?
The trip to Disney.  Although the dog lamp I bought my parents was a big hit, too. 

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? 
The YP had a banner year. Still some bumps in the road, but not nearly as many as in years previous.  

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? 
It was a presidential election year; that pretty much answers that question. 

14. Where did most of your money go? 
Home stuff and travel. 

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? 
Spending the night in Brentsville jail in the room where James Clark died, and spending Christmas in Orlando. 

16. What song will always remind you of this year?
  Cheap Thrills by Sia. 

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: 
i. happier or sadder? Happier.  
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter than last year, but thinner than the year before that... gotta get back on that treadmill. Literally.   
iii. richer or poorer? Richer. Which is nice. 

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? 
Sleeping. Playing with the kid.  

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Eating. Hahahaha.  No, not really.  But I do wish I hadn't gained weight.  

20. How (did) you spend Christmas?
At Epcot. It was fantastic. 

21. Did you fall in love?
Every day.  

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Good Behavior made me happy.  

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. In fact, I am better able to tolerate someone who drove me bonkers last year. Progress!  

24. What was the best book you read? 
I'm gonna say The Millionaire and the Bard. 

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I wouldn't say I had one. 

26. What did you want and get? 
I got pretty much everything I wanted. Spoiled princess over here!  

27. What was your favorite film of this year?
Rogue One. 

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 45. The birthday was nice and low-key, and then we went and lived it up in New York and saw Kayla at Carnegie Hall! 

29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Well, never having to work again would be nice, but that's a pipe dream. And I'd probably still want to do some work for fun, so ...  

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept this year?
I'm gonna go with "flowing."  

31. What kept you sane? 
NYAB. Sleep. Same as always. 

32. What political issue stirred you the most?
The election, like everyone else.  

33. Who did you miss?
My grandparents, to various degrees. 

34. Who was the best new person you met?
I think it was Sheila, but I only got to talk to her for 15 minutes. :)  

35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned: 
Say what you think.  

36. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
It can't get much better than this. 

 

Wrapping up 2015

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