2008: Year in Review

I found this annual review over at a blog I regularly read and couldn't resist partaking in a little year end review. Enjoy and feel free to fill out on your own blogs (if appropriate), or go forth and visit the bajillions of other blogs she's painstakingly linked.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Wakeboarded. Snowboarded out west. Stressed a teeny tiny bit less. Just enough for me to notice.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I find that I end up making them all year round. I'm a resolutions kind of gal.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousin Danielle had her 3rd. Charlie Maureen. My best friend from middle school had her first, Jacob Connor. And my cousin-in-law just welcomed her first little girl on the first day of '09. (So technically not part of this year in review, I suppose.)

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, amazingly and fortunately so.

5. What countries did you visit?
Ooooh Canada.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Follow through.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

August 11 - 1 year wedding anniversary

October 11 - Baltimore Half Marathon with this chickie

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Graduating coaching school

9. What was your biggest failure?
Bringing work problems come home with me.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Shingles in January, a minor colitis flare in April, but a healthy year overall.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A wii for Matt and new dungarees for moi.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My hubby's. 4th Year is supposed to be take it easy year and every time I turn around he's doing the dishes, going to the grocery store or vacuuming. Also, my co-workers - we became a formidable team this year.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I won't go down this road on a public forum, but suffice it to say this last quarter of the year taught me some life lessons of the working world.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Student loans, Wal-mart and bridesmaid dresses.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
A new camera. Biggest Loser. Wino Weddings.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
TI /Rhianna - Live Your Life

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:a) happier or sadder?b) thinner or fatter?c) richer or poorer?
Equally as happy. Slightly thinner. Equi-rich.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Gone out. Traveled. Wrote. Prayed. Listened.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Complained. Judged. Gossiped. Whined.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
In Lincolnton with my in-laws, then flew up to Rochester to be with my family.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Even more with my hub? Yes. (Sorry. Cheese.)

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Biggest Loser

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No.

24. What was the best book you read?
Twilight, The Shack and Eat Pray Love. Oh just one? Yea, I can't.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Ingrid Michaelson, Boyce Avenue, Casting Crowns, Bret Harris

26. What did you want and get?
A new camera. I am in love. Sigh.

27. What did you want and not get?
A dog.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Forgetting Sarah Marshall was actually really funny, and The Dark Knight was excellent.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
26, I celebrated with the most scrumptious cake that I obligingly shared with my husband, mom and sister and neighbors Zac and Jamie.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Cheaper air fare.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Ann Taylor Loft, say hello to Forever 21.

32. What kept you sane?
Going to bed early, Matt making me laugh, Wino List Serve, Pinot Grigio and long runs with J.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Bob Harper. And Oprah. It's a tie.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The bail-outs.

35. Who did you miss?
Far-flung friends and Mike&Share.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
My favorite new people of 2008 are our friends' Zac & Jamie's relatives Margaret & John who graciously took us in, not once but twice, in Utah and then again in Toronto. Not only are they hospitable, but they're hilarious and generous, and made us feel like family when we were the ones crashing on their family time.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Be more involved and less invested.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I've got a peaceful easy feeling / and I know you won't let me down / cause I'm already standing / on the ground. (-Eagles)

Ciao, '08. I imagine I will look back at 2008 as a quiet, peaceful easy year, sandwiched between two eventful years (2007 = marriage, 2009 = hubby's GRADUATION!). It was a year of settling into our role as Mr. and Mrs. and the first year I stayed at my current residence for more than one year (yet thanks to weddings and interview and fun, still managed to drag around a suitcase with great frequency). It was a year of steady health, of job and school stability, of relative peace and quiet in both our families. While in retrospect it appears almost unexceptional, perhaps this year of status quo provides welcome respite. Who knows what 2009 hold for us?

Cheers to a happy & healthy 2009!