Year in Review 2009 edition

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before? swam 400 meters freestyle without stopping, ran 8 miles (in 1:32:03), made my own yogurt

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I did all three last year - opened Matt's IRA, exercised more (a LOT more), and read through the entire Bible. This year I want to complete a mini triathlon in under two hours, save $25,000 for our next house, floss more often, and do a better job on keeping up with the housework.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Emily (Owen) and Pam (Andrew)

4. Did anyone close to you die? My dad, and my childhood dog

5. What countries did you visit? Just the US this year

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? a new computer, a flat-top stove, and a bike

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? March 12th - first day of my first REAL job!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Getting a job

9. What was your biggest failure? Gaining back the same 10 pounds I lost in the first part of the year

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? shin splints from running, couple random muscle spasms - the usual

11. What was the best thing you bought? passes to the rec center gym and the base pool

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Mom

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? the V.A.

14. Where did most of your money go? we saved quite a bit of money this year in CDs, retirement accounts, regular savings, and towards our next house

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? vacation, new job, having my nomination chosen as a winner by the FLC, getting a paper accepted for publication, opening an account to save for our next house

16. What song will always remind you of 2009? Her Diamonds by Rob Thomas, Suite: Judy Blue Eyes by CSNY, and anything off of the Glee soundtracks

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier
ii. thinner or fatter? fatter (well, at least heavier)
iii. richer or poorer? richer

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

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? wasting time doing nothing on the computer

20. How will you be spending Christmas? went to South Carolina this year

21. How will you be spending New Year's Eve? same old same old with M's extended family in VA, hopefully drama- and flu-free this year.

22. Did you fall in love in 2009? see previous responses

23. How many one-night stands? see previous responses

24. What was your favorite TV program? CSI, Glee, Chuck

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Hour Eyes

26. What was the best book you read? I didn't read enough this year, but Duma Key was the best

27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Melodime

28. What did you want and get? a shorter commute and business cards

30. What was your favorite film of this year? I can't remember actually going to the movies this year (though I know I did). But I saw Alfred Hitchcock's Dial M For Murder for the first time (twice) and thought it was awesome.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? 28 - I got a free yoga class and ice cream cake at the office, and then we went to O'Donnells for dinner. Had a few people over the following weekend for more ice cream cake and games.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? a higher metabolism

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? considerably more business professional than ever before

34. What kept you sane? success on a regular basis

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Chris Colfer's a cutie...too bad he's almost 10 years younger than me.

36. What political issue stirred you the most? bank/auto/mortgage bailouts

37. Who did you miss? Eric and Emily

38. Who were the best new people you met? Donna, Kendra, Travis, Stacy

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009: You don't have to die on the battlefield to be a casualty of war.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: "All that I'm after is a life full of laughter, as long as I'm laughing with you. I'm thinking that all that still matters is love ever after, after the life we've been through, 'cause I know there's no life after you." - Daughtry, Life After You

(YIR 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005)