When I used to write a beauty blog, I always had blog envy about memes and events I couldn’t join because of my narrow focus — well, now that my blog approach is much broader, I can do fun things like the end-of-year meme, which I plan to make an annual tradition. I have seen this meme many places, but do check out Bleeding Espresso’s!
1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Like my full-time job, blog almost daily at times, include more pictures on the blog, participate in memes and blog events and be part of Tour del Gelato, join Facebook and twitter, turn 30, carry a digital camera around for spontaneous pics and blog inspiration.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don’t do resolutions as much as goals, and I hit many, including: get a job I really like, live in the same city as my husband with both of us employed full-time in that city (that was more of a joint resolution – we had managed the same city part already, but never with full-time jobs in the same city), move away from writing a beauty blog to writing more of a lifestyle blog, find a way to put time into blogging and other creative activities. Things like spending time with friends and family did not work out so well, and I am hoping 2009 is better for that. Also, exercise more (see #10 for why that went down the drain). And I think I need to make be happy and grateful an actual resolution. I think of it often, but maybe I should make it a goal seeing how well the other ones went.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes, my college roommate gave birth to the lovely Vivian.
4. Did anyone close to you die? Thankfully, no.
5. What countries did you visit? Just the U.S.,
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? More time with family and friends. Apartment space for guests (oddly, I don’t mind our 500 square feet for the two of us, but it does not allow for extended visits from people – I wish I had a pop-up guest room for when people wanted to come visit). Non-stressful travel.
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Obviously November 4 because of the election, but also March 17 (Bear Stearns sale to JP Morgan), September 14 and 15 (Lehman bankruptcy and Merrill sale) and December 11 (Madoff scheme exposed). Obviously, those dates are stuck in my head because I am a securities lawyer, but the last one is particularly vivid because I was looking through the SEC’s website (looking for an archived rule proposal) around 6pm on December 11 and just happened to notice the Madoff press release. At that point google news only had *8* articles on the matter. By the next morning it had 3000 hits. As someone who is not always up on news (I swore off my 24-hours news addiction sometime in October 2001) it was fascinating to watch the story unfold from almost the very moment it hit the press.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Obviously liking my job. But also finding a way to balance long hours of working with more creative activities. For a long time I did not put time in those creative things because I didn’t want to pursue them as a career – many bloggers I know are leveraging their blogs to switch careers into writing or other creative careers, and I just wanted to blog to write, but have it not be part of my main focus. Finding a balance to do all these things was very important.
9. What was your biggest failure? I had so very little time to spend with people as a function of everything – I truly missed friends and family.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? That’s when I have to mention the 10-month long misdiagnosed sinus infection that lived in my throat so several doctors managed to miss it. By the time it was diagnosed I was in bad shape. Thankfully, I found a good specialist and am all better. Oh and the tendinitis from blackberry overuse (yes, sad statement on my life and by the way, it’s also known as blackberry thumb) and generally some mild carpal tunnel.
11. What was the best thing you bought? A toss-up between a Le Creuset dutch oven (yes I talk about it too much) and my new work purse. Late in the year I also found fitted work shirts (aka the M&O haberdasher shirts) that actually were cut well but not $200 plus. If you know me in real-life, you will know I *always* complain about how conservative work shirts don’t have enough materials around the armholes and shoulders and you have to pay a fortune to find shirts that do (which I just can’t bring myself to do). Anyways, I am still test driving the shirts for comfort and shrinkage, but if they work, they are up there with the other two items, considering two of the shirts were $14.96 and the other two were $39 (yes, I love sales!).
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My incredibly supportive friends and family.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Don’t get me started.
14. Where did most of your money go? Bills and food – at least, much less money went to Amtrak and the DC2NY bus compared to 2007.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? All the times this year that my husband and I were living in the same city for stretches of several weeks and months and, obviously, getting the job that allowed us to live in the same city all the time. The related benefit of only having one apartment. Also, several of my friends had very happy news (starting their own companies, babies, promotions) and I actually tend to be more excited for other people’s news than my own, so several times this year I was really really excited.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008? I need to think about this one.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer? Happier and about the same on the two others.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Spend more time with people, gone to the gym more and done more yoga. And read more actual books.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Looking back on the year, I was sick and exhausted from being sick an awful lot – so I wish I had had less of that, not that it was completely under my control. Also, I wish I had stressed out less about things.
20. How did you spend Christmas? With my husband, relaxing and cooking and exchanging presents.
21. Did you fall in love in 2008? 2005 would have been the best year to ask me that for news — that was the year I fell in love with my husband. This year I just keep refalling in love with him.
22. What was your favorite TV program? Ugly Betty.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I avoid hatred. Ok, fine, I hate how slow lines seem to move in Washington, DC.
24. What was the best book you read? Probably
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Again, I have to think about this one.
26. What did you want and get? Many things 
See #1.
See #1.
27. What did you want and not get? More time with people.
28. What was your favorite film of this year? Honestly, none. I thought 2008 was an abysmal movie year. In fact, the only film I saw in theaters was the Sex and the City Movie.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Had a lovely day walking around in Manhattan, visiting the Metropolitan Museum and having dinner at the Bread Bar at Tabla (one of the NYC restaurants that I truly miss). I turned 30.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Not getting sick.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007? Same as last year, lots of black suits during the week, comfy bamboo clothes on the weekends, and ballet flats.
32. What kept you sane? Some combination of time with loved ones, long walks, sporadic yoga, blogging, and cooking.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I need to think about that one.
34. What political issue stirred you the most? Everything related to TARP and securities regulation, of course.
35. Who did you miss? As much as they drive me crazy, my parents.
36. Who was the best new person you met? All my new bloggy friends have been truly amazing – especially Jen of Pink Heels who was a valuable resource when I was job hunting.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007. Things really do sometimes work out.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. Trite, but “I will survive” comes to mind.
General Disclosures & Disclaimers
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Thanks for sharing and thanks for the idea for an upcoming post!
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