It's that time of year again! And "even if I abandon this blog for 99% of the year, I think I'll always come back to do this."
Away we go! I did this in 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010!
1. What did you do in 2019 that you'd never done before?
Had a Slutty Vegan burger. Started working at a startup.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I wanted to find a new job and I found a new job.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yep! New babies. :)
4. Did anyone close to you die?
I don't think I lost anyone close to me in 2019.
5. What countries did you visit?
I didn't travel this year.
6. What would you like to have in 2020 that you lacked in 2019?
Ease.
7. What date from 2019 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Probably my first day at the new job. This year was kind of just an exercise in getting through.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I found a new job in the timeframe I set for myself. I hit goals, I published a ton of shit, I did well even though I wasn't happy about it.
Also I am ending the year having lost 20 pounds - the 20 pounds I put back on over time. I'm close to my realistic goal and I have a stretch goal but I accept that I'll never get to where I was in WW. That said, I'm losing weight mindfully and this time I'm losing weight WHILE having a full-time job (when I did WW I was working fully for myself and had a lot of time to cook/exercise - and I gained it all back as soon as I got a job). I hope this time it sticks. It feels right.
9. What was your biggest failure?
That I didn't vet the new job as closely as I could have. That I still sometimes let anxiety get the best of me.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yeah but it's fine.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I always make my biggest purchases in November/December to take advantage of sales. I've had a smartwatch for about 2 weeks and I really like it. I also splurged on an iPhone 11 - I've NEVER had the newest, latest model of pretty much ANYTHING and I am SO PLEASED that I did this. I love it.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
RBG, I guess?
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
EVERYBODY.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage, savings.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I got to see a few shows with friends - Garbage and Sleater-Kinney and....was Liz Phair this year? I think so?
16. What song will always remind you of 2019?
Funny you should ask, I just "discovered" that I like Graveyard by Halsey because it's in a Pandora ad, so probably that.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
Happier? Depends.
II. Thinner or fatter?
THINNER!
III. Richer or poorer?
Richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Travel. Leaning into when it's easy and not pushing so hard when it's hard.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Being anxious. Still.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
The same as every year, Pinky - a trip to Super H-Mart, Indian-Chinese food.
21. What, if any, insight did you gain about yourself in 2019?
Therapy is awesome and you learned so much. YOU ARE AN ADULT! WHO HAS VALID THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS THAT ARE OK TO EXPRESS!
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Goodbye to Crazy Ex-GF and Jane the Virgin. Bojack Horseman. This Is Us (I know, but I'm hooked). Uh...I kind of started watching the Masked Singer and it was good stupid fun. The Good Place. Broad City. Pose. Schitt's Creek (I'm on S1).
(To refresh my memory, I checked my Tivo OnePass list and it's a literal graveyard of shows that are no longer on. Sad.)
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't think so.
26. What was the best book you read?
Here's what I gave 5 stars to this year:
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.
The Library Book.
I am I am I am
The Radium Girls.
The Wedding Date (*the sequels were NOT great)
Once More We Saw Stars (maybe maybe I can say this is the best of the year)
A Dream About Lightning Bugs (I read a lot of musician memoirs - Flea's was bad but readable, Ani's was upsetting, Liz Phair's was REALLY good, but Ben's was my favorite)
Because Internet.
The Starless Sea. (lovely)
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Hahahaha I guess it was Halsey? And I like Lizzo a lot. I sometimes tell Alexa (I currently have a few trial months of Amazon music) to play me a Tori mix. I'm still that girl.
28. What did you want and get?
A new job.
29. What did you want and not get?
A NEW new job
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I probably should watch more movies - I have Hulu and Netflix and Disney+....but I didn't really. I think I may see Star Wars this week?
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Went to Iberian Pig with two very good friends and ate tons of delicious food. I am now 46. Whoa.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If only the new job had been what it was supposed to be.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2019?
Capsule.
34. What kept you sane?
Therapy! (But now it's over.)
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Nyle, maybe?
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
ITMFA!
37. Who did you miss?
I still miss Mikko.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Olli isn't a person but he's pretty great.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2019.
Adulthood...is a thing....
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I can't think of anything but maybe I'll come back to it.
