The Great Lookback

1. What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before?

I second chaired a trial.  Bench trial (meaning just judge, no jury), but still – it was pretty awesome.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Given the gestation that occurred over the latter half of the year, I did fairly well.  Many of my resolutions were bang on target until morning sickness ran me off the rails.  Others I still managed in the second half of the year despite being a host to this wee parasite.

1. Daily yoga – kept this until the morning sickness debuted.  I’ll start it up again next year.

2. Make a trip to visit each of my siblings this year – I did manage to see each of my sisters at their homes.  I went to Nashville in July, Ohio in September, and North Carolina over Thanksgiving.  I’ve seen my brother this year a number of times, but not been to his place in Memphis in 2013.  3 for 4, not bad.

3. Run three organized races next year – I think I managed this.  It’s been so long since I could run . . . it’s hard to remember.  But I think I relayed a marathon in January, did the Color Run at some point, and ran the Azalea Trail in April or May.  So, yup!

4. Take at least one long, leisurely bicycle ride – nope, haven’t hopped on the thing in a year.  Flat tires and pregnancy are my two excuses, and I’m sticking with ’em.

5. Increase our charitable giving – eh.  We were charitable this year, but we are still too debt-laden to do much more than we’re currently doing.  It was a nice thought, though.

6. Write something 10+ pages long for pleasure – Nope.  This blog’ll have to be it for the creative writing at the moment.

7. Read ten amazing novels – yes.  I read quite a lot for pleasure this year, despite the chaotic job.  You can read more about some of them here.  I’ve also enjoyed the Flavia de Luce novels recommended by my sister, read a Margaret Maron or two, a new novel by Colm Toibin, and some battered old Agatha Christie mysteries.  I’m not sure I’d class each read as “amazing,” but definitely “worth my time.”

8. Do 200 workouts next year – so I give myself an A+ on this one, because I was totally on track to make this goal when I got pregnant and super duper sick.  I hit about 100 workouts at about 6 months in, and then began throwing up thrice daily for about five months.  Well, maybe four months.  But it was a lot of throwing up, and it wore me out, with the weariness even lingering long beyond the end of the constant Wall of Nausea.  You can still exercise when pregnant, lovely ladies, and by no means is this a criticism of those bad ass women who do Cross Fit and ballet and what-have-you up until their 40th week.  But with this pregnancy, I have been too sick and constantly weary to manage a thing.  I do what feels right, and what feels right this time around is sleeping as many hours as possible and drinking gallons of chocolate milk.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Some more MILPs had some more babies – seriously, join this club at your peril, because there’s something in the water.  On January 2, my niece was born, which I almost forgot since it was almost a full year ago, but technically it did occur in 2013!  She’s a blessing and a doll baby, and I hope we get to see her soon . . . maybe she and her mother will come visit when I deliver her newest little boy cousin, who will be almost exactly a year younger than her.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

My brother in law just lost his mother – I wouldn’t say I was close to her, but I knew her well, and I am close to him.  It’s been a rough holiday season for him.

5. What countries did you visit?

Texas.  It counts.

6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?

A third son.  😉

7. What dates from 2013 will remain etched on your memory, and why?

There weren’t a whole lot of these, actually.  I will call 2013 the year of basic, unexciting contentment – everyday domestic bliss, with only occasional moments that are worthy of being “etched on my memory.”  Here they are:

February 26-27, 2013 – taking the Florida bar exam

The Eastertime visit from family

Some point in May/June, when we discovered we were expecting baby #3

August 9, 2013, when we found out that this baby was also a boy

Labor Day, 2013 – my thirty fifth birthday weekend

The early October trip to Disney: here, here, here, and here

Thanksgiving in Durham, and Christmas at home

8. What was your bravest achievement of the year?

Surviving pregnancy.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I started a gun control activism group, but it fizzled.  I’m proud of myself for starting it, ashamed of myself for not being able to take it further.  I purchased a website, but then it started having technical difficulties that I could not resolve, and that became the beginning of the end.  But despite my failure, another mom took her own gun control group and made it national.  She did what I couldn’t, and I’m so glad somebody got it rolling.  Meanwhile she’s had death threats, crazies sending her updates that show they are tracking her minor children, all kinds of danger.  That’s another reason I wimped out.  We live in a gun-crazy state . . . I wasn’t prepared to have targets painted on my preschool aged boys.  But I joined her group, at least, and we donate money and I send emails and call Congresspeople and do all of those things, so I’m contributing in my way.  Still, I wish I could have made myself do what I feel needed doing . . .

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Morning sickness, oh lordy.

11. Where did most of your money go?

Mortgage/rent, daycare, and student loans.  It’s the same answer every year, isn’t it?

12. What song will always remind you of 2013?

Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky,” because I will never forget Jack being so hypnotized by the robots.

13. Compared to this time last year are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer?

(a) About the same happy, since I was pretty happy last year.  “Content” is the word of the year.

(b) Only about 15 pounds heavier, but definitely MUCH MUCH LARGER.  I’m about to lose about 8ish pounds in a big hurry, though . . . 😉

(c) About the same rich.  No raises or bonuses here, but at least nobody got laid off.

14. How did you spend Christmas?

At our new house, just us four, again.  We were housebound because of the fetus.  It was plenty nice, though I missed the fam.

15. Did you fall in love in 2013?

My new niece made me fall in love!  And I love Tex, of course, though I suppose I should claim him as my “new love” for 2014.

16. What was your favorite tv program?

I don’t so much watch tv these days as fall asleep in front of it.  Sherlock’s pretty rad, but that was about five episodes.

17. What was the best book you read?

Hmmmmmm . . . Joan Didion’s “Blue Nights” definitely gets the award for the one that continued to haunt me long after I finished it.  I also love the new Flavia de Luce mysteries – she’s my new favorite heroine.

18. What did you want and get?

Some landscaping for this hizz.

19. What did you want and not get?

A fence for the yard, so I can be lazy and just let the dog out when he has to pee.

20. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I was thirty five, and you can read all about it here.

21. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?

I have never liked this question.  I may delete this question in years to come.

22. What kept you sane?

Making it a priority to get lots and lots of sleep.

23. What political issue stirred you the most?

Guns ‘n healthcare.

24. Who did you miss?

Far flung friends and family, of course.

25. Who was the best new person you met?

Uhhhh.  Did I meet any new people this year?  I don’t know that I did.

26. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.

I was too busy throwing up to learn anything valuable.  Catch me next year.

27. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

No.  This is too hard.  I’m probably deleting this one next time, too.