2008 in a Nutshell

I was browsing around the ‘net tonight and I stumbled onto a blog created by one Mr. Matt Silverthorn, who (although we’ve never met) happens to be married to one of my old friends from high school. This fun questionnaire seemed like a great way to kick this blog, and 2009, off right.


2008 in a Nutshell


1.What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before? Wrote a press release. If I had only known then what I know now…

2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don’t like New Year’s resolutions, but I seem to remember at some point swearing I was never going to eat Indian cuisine again. So far, that one’s managed to stick!


3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Josh and Rebecca, and lots of other people who I never get to see but who I send best cyberwishes to as often as possible.

4. Did anyone close to you die? I don’t remember. Isn’t that sad? In my defense, I’ve lost all of my grandparents in the past couple of years, and the time surrounding that has blurred a little bit.

5. What countries did you visit? Stayed in the U.S., although my neighbors shared an authentic El Salvadorean experience as often as possible.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? Patience, fingernails and a four bedroom house. Am I going to get any of them? The verdict’s not in yet.

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? April 10th. Fill your house with eighteen screaming preschoolers, a sandbox, a bubble machine and an authentic ball pit and you won’t have to ask why I remember it.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Finishing my med lab coursework and enrolling for my advanced BS degree in public relations.

9. What was your biggest failure? Hmmm. That’s a loaded question. I don’t know, to be honest. Probably gaining back a good bit of the weight I lost when I was sick last year b/c of too much overtime and an addiction to Mt. Dew. One or the other is fine, but the two together spell catastrophe with a capital C.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? A nasty bout of the flu that joined hands with strep and pneumonia to do the end zone dance. Otherwise, nothing new.

11. What was the best thing you bought? My corduroy overalls.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My children.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? The government. Seriously. It has to be pretty bad before I start talking politics when I’m not at work, but between Iraq and the slam to the economy I just can’t walk away.

14. Where did most of your money go? Rent, groceries, gas and kids. Yeah, that about covers it!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Going back to school and the release of Patricia Brigg’s new book. Yes, I’m a geek.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Anything by Thalia or Jesus Adrian Romero.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder? Happier

ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter-but considering I’d just had gall bladder surgery I’m not sure that counts!

iii. richer or poorer? Richer.

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

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

20. How will you be spending Christmas? Our Christmas tradition never changes. Christmas Eve dinner with my husband’s family, then Santa comes to visit and the kiddies stay up ‘til three in the morning. Christmas Day we go to my parents’ for their Christmas party, then roll home around midnight to sleep for at least twelve hours.

22. Did you fall in love in 2008? Every time I looked at my children.

23. How many one-night stands? I had a one night stand with Buffy the Vampire Slayer before I remembered I don’t really care for the show when there are other things on t.v. Does that count?

24. What was your favorite TV program? House and Bones-thanks Amy.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? No, although there are a few people I’m more disappointed in.

26. What was the best book you read? The Mercy Thompson series, Grave Bones and everything I read and re-read by Nora Roberts.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Ohhh, let’s see. Probably Taylor Swift, Westlife and Jesus Adrian Romero.

28. What did you want and get? Fleeting moments of pure, unadulterated happiness.

30. What was your favorite film of this year? Kung Fu Panda.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Had Chinese take-out, cooed over the flowers my husband and daughter bought me and didn’t wash the dishes. 26.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Taking more time to smell the roses.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Was it comfy? Did it match? Did it not make me look like a kewpie doll? Sold.

34. What kept you sane? The Hispanic Ministry at my church.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? David Boreanaz.

36. What political issue stirred you the most? Abortion and cuts in children’s healthcare and Medicaid programs.

37. Who did you miss? Everyone I didn’t see….some of them twice.

38. Who were the best new people you met? We don’t have that much time. If I met you in 2008, let me just say that it’s been an honor.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. It doesn’t matter how hard you try to run from it, sooner or later you’re going to get hurt. Life’s too short for regrets. Don’t regret that you never lived.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. “Tengo razones pa vivir, tengo canciones pa escribir, tengo una voz y un corazón. Tengo un camino pa seguir, tengo un amor pa compartir…”