1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Motherhood and all its appurtenances. Next year for this answer I can say that I used the word appurtenance in a sentence, though whether I used it in a correct grammatical construct I can’t tell you.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My resolutions were to be a good wife and mother and to bring my own bags to the grocery store. I did keep them! Go me! As for next year, I’ve made them, see below. Another green resolution, two financial resolutions, and a wellness resolution. I shall audit my performance and provide quarterly updates for presentation to the Board of Directors in order to assure adherence to these objectives. Ha!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Besides myself, you mean? Well, my husband’s sister. And a handful of friends. I am of that age, it would seem, where marriage invitations are being crowded out of the mailbox by birth announcements. I LURVE this.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
An uncle.
5. What countries did you visit?
I have not left the beautiful U.S. of A. since 2004. This makes me sad. I used to be a globetrotter. I *did*, however, see many cool states, adding Wyoming and Utah to my list.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Savings. And sleep.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
April 24-25, 2008 – Labor and Delivery of the Jackster. September 1 – I turn 30 in style and quite possibly ruin my husband’s whole future career by guilting him into skipping a vital conference in order to throw me a big birthday party. I’m worth it, no?
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Nursing my kid this whole time, and making all his baby food by hand, and doing the cloth diapers thing.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Although I shed all the baby weight fairly quickly, I am disappointed in a lot of my food choices (she says, snarfing down Nerds and a caffeine free Coke.)
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I suffered pregnancy for the first 4 months (OHH, how I suffered!), and I suffered a rad knee scab that just came off in time for 2009! And I hit myself in the face with a car door. So, nothing major. This is because I am a wuss and a chicken and avoid anything that has a whiff of danger to my physical personage.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Baskets for under Jack’s bed, and a hanging closet organizer. So necessary for sanity.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Patrick’s, for being such a skillful, patient, and loving Dad to Jack – his first baby experience, and yet from day one he handled it lke a pro. He also handled hormonal sleep-deprived Gillian very skillfully, too.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Dow Jones’s terrible behavior has us all a little depressed.
14. Where did most of your money go?
(Besides down the toilet along with everyone else’s?) I spent most of my paychecks on gas and food. We spent a little on travel to weddings, a smidge on Christmas, and more than we should have on hospital bills for Jack’s birth (Dear Barack Obama, please hurry up with the Universal Healthcare, thank you very much.) We also threw down a bit on home improvements, to keep us from putting a foot through our deck or inhaling paint chips from our kitchen counter.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Man, if I make every one of these answers pertain to Jack’s birth this is going to be really boring, so just assume that to be number one. Aside from that, I was majorly stoked about seeing Yellowstone for the first time. And, of course, I nearly lost my mind with excitement in anticipation of being an Aunt!
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Patrick, this does not constitute a "win" for you.
Ahem.
Baby its time to get back to the good things in liiiife.
Let’s go to Lukenbach Texas, with Willie and Waylon and the boys.
This expensive life we’re livin’s got us feuding like the Hatfields and McCoys . . .
etcetera. I think this is sung by the Willie and Waylon of the lyrics, and I couldn’t spell Luke-in-bock Texas if you paid me a million dollars. Unless I googled it. Which I don’t plan on doing.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier, folks! I’m not pregnant! And I’m a Momma!
b) thinner or fatter? Thinner. Tee hee. It’s easy to be thinner when you are comparing yourself to yourself when yourself was gestating.
c) richer or poorer? Oh, poorer. But in money only!
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Exercised. I did pretty well, but not well enough.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eat candy. Damn the Controller and her Office Chocolate Bowl De Diablo.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
I spent it well – with the husband’s family, by a crackling fire, babies in arms and (almost) no phone calls from work!
21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Oh yes. There is another man in my life, and I love him more every day. Even when he pulls my hair and drools IN MY MOUTH. Blegh.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Extras! Netflixed!
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Besides my sister-in-law for having a magic sleeping-through-the-night-from-practically-day-one infant? No.
24. What was the best book you read?
Having Faith by Sandra Steingraber. I think I read this in 2008. I’ve also been devouring Margaret Maron and Ann Patchett. And I’m also glad that I re-read Carol Warner Shields’s UNLESS. Every time I read this book I get more and more of it. It breaks my heart.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The melodica! Come see one of our shows with the band and find out what that is!
26. What did you want and get?
A sewing machine. A Democratic president.
27. What did you want and not get?
A daughter. But Jack – it’s ok! I’m totally onboard with sons now! You’ve convinced me – boys are best. 😉
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Hmmm, oh dear, I didn’t watch many fill-ums. Erg. I liked Juno a lot?
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was the big THREE OH, 30, and I had a big party and everybody came to it and then the band played at this really awesome venue and lots of my friends came and it was so awesome. I didn’t even mind being not 29 anymore.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Sleep.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
For the first half – Maternity. For the second half – wrinkly and spitup-stained.
32. What kept you sane?
Patrick. During the first 3 months when he was in Brazil, I’d have to say webcams and Skype.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
My *first* love is and always will be my husband John Corbett (Chris in the Morning from Northern Exposure, Aiden from SATC), but recently Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais are kinda ringin’ my bell, wink wink say no more.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Sarah Palin inspired me to think about getting a law degree, because if that chick can become a Governor and a candidate for VP then anyone can. I feel that the American people may need me someday.
35. Who did you miss?
My friends who live in far off places. My mom, when I was in labor, although she made it to the hospital within hours of delivery.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
Jack, but of course. Best by a mile. Ellison was a fun person to meet, too.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Never let stupid teenagers see your Facebook page, and certainly don’t get embroiled in their petty teenaged teenagerness, because you are THIRTY.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Baby Mine, Don’t you cry
Baby Mine, Dry your eyes
Rest your head close to my heart, never to part, Baby of Mine