2008 Wrap-Up Meme (stolen from gnomad)
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Lost 40 pounds.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I mostly kept to them. The resolutions will remain the same, as I still have so much more work to do - and they're all available in the 126 by age 30 goal list I posted.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.

5. What countries did you visit?
None.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A swimming pool.

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 15.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Losing 40 pounds.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Work-related.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had surgery in March for a deviated septum, if that counts?

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Games to distract me, I suppose.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Nicole Hood. Meghan McGifford.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Sarah Frith. Edna Chapman. Others who might read this journal, so I won't name other names.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Junk I don't need. Car.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing my friends in October. Sister's fiance calling to ask my father for permission.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Live Your Life by T.I. and Rihanna

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Far happier
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter, probably
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
laughing, keeping my dignity, ignoring toxic people

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
allowing toxic people to hurt me, stayed home when I should have worked

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent it at home, with most of my family. Had a really, really happy Christmas... the happiest I can recall, but that's almost always true.

21. How will you be spending New Year's?
Spent it at home, talking to my friends. Had a sip of cheap champagne with my family to celebrate the new year.

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Nope.

23. How many one-night stands?
None.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
House, Leverage.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't hate her... I just... won't ever let her back in my life again. Which, I didn't feel that way about her this time last year. Mostly, this time last year, I was too scared of losing my job,

26. What was the best book you read?
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, The Essential Calvin and Hobbes

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I didn't have any, really.

28. What did you want and get?
Happiness. Weight loss. More energy and stamina. A future.

29. What did you want and not get?
A pool.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Queen

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I think I went out to dinner, and iirc, I got a step counter, which was what I wanted.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Getting a pool!

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Whatever Fits.

34. What kept you sane?
the support of my friends, who were, as always, incredibly understanding and patient. the support of my parents, who were ready to go to battle for me (literally!)

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
No one, really.

37. Who did you miss?
D. S. One of my kids from where I used to work. I miss him very much.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Adamma

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
Don't let yourself get down just because there are toxic people you can't get away from. Look forward to when you can get away from them.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Letting them know we're gonna stand our ground
Lift your hands high and wave them proud
Take a deep breath and say it loud
Never can, never will, can't hold us down."