Recycling the post from last January, let’s see what answers 2009 provides.
1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Run 30 minutes in one stretch.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
From the blog last year:
To live more in the moment. At work I’m usually working on things that are happening 6-12 months out, and Neil and I are great at setting and making long-term goals and plans. But I think the aforementioned, combined with my natural impatience, leave me missing out on a lot of “today” as I rush headlong into “tomorrow.” For 2009 I’m going to try to remind myself to be a bit more present in the now.
Hmm, I think I have. Sadly for you, it’s resulted in fewer pictures and blog posts, but I’ve become very comfortable with just “doing” rather than documenting. I am still a crazy planning machine, but when I do something, I’m much more committed to just being there and tuning out distractions.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
New humans for 2009 include Jackson Closs and Adele Quinn. It’s a baby-palooza. We are still happy spectators.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope. Hooray!
5. What countries did you visit?
Just the usual local BC trips and the US of A this year. But we’re off to Thailand in February 2010!
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
A million dollars?
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Er… Uh… The whole year’s been a bit of a blur really. Lots of little things stand out, but no biggies.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Paying off all our consumer debt! It wasn’t exactly a New Year’s resolution, but it was a big goal we had for the year, and we rocked the socks off that one.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Pastry. Again.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I spent most of the holiday season with a craptastic cold. Other than that, knock on wood, a healthy year.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A car!
12. Where did most of your money go?
Paying off debt.
13. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Paying off debt!
14. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier! It’s been a very mellow but great year.
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter. Most definitely. It’s one to work on in 2010.
c) richer or poorer? Richer, in life, happiness, and actual net worth, huzzah!
15. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Snowboarding, running.
16. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eating.
17. How did you spend Christmas?
Relaxing at my inlaws’ lodge in the middle of nowhere. Bliss.
18. Did you fall in love in 2009?
I fall in love all over again all the time. I’ll get worried if/when that stops.
19. What was your favorite TV program?
Glee! Hands down. It’s embarrassing how much I love that show.
20. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Of course not. Hate is a waste of time.
21. What was the best book you read?
I actually didn’t read many books in 2009. Plenty of internet and magazines, but light on actual books. I’d like to change that. I did manage to get through “Fool” by Christopher Moore over the Christmas break. Another winner.
22. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Dan Mangan, Great Lake Swimmers
23. What did you want and get?
Got to Debt Free. Got a new job when I was laid off. Got a car when we needed one. This year was certainly a year of serendipity.
24. What did you want and not get?
A trip to Germany. That was one of the big sacrifices of getting to debt free. Same with a new TV. And a thousand other tiny things we put aside or postponed to get rid of that line of credit. But considering I don’t really remember them now, I’d say they’re worth it.
25. What was your favorite film of this year?
Slumdog Millionaire. Was that even released in 2009? Because that’s when I watched it.
26. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 29, played it low-key in the middle of a wicked heatwave and went for a giant Indian food dinner with friends.
27. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
You know, I can’t think of anything. It was a really good year. Perhaps not the terrible cold over the holidays would’ve been nice…
28. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic. The End. (It is sad, I still need help, and also that money fairy.)(This is the same answer from 2008 – clearly still an issue).
29. What kept you sane?
Wine.
A shorter list than last year, since I couldn’t think of good answers to the rest of the questions. Over all, 2009 has been a year of looking inward, solidifying some personal goals and putting plans in place to move forward.
This year we’re looking forward to a great vacation, some new adventures, and a few of the things we were denying ourselves over 2009 as we worked to get over that big financial goal. Now that we’re consumer debt-free, we’ll also be working on something that resembles a retirement plan and other such things that are only exciting to investment managers and accountants.
Onward and upward for 2010!
