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Here's my review from 2010, and here's 2009 part one & part two.
1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
I went rock climbing! On actual rock! We stopped in Asheville on the way to Florida this spring, and had the most patient guide (Ron Funderburke at Fox Mountain Guides). I got the shakes and was going to just hang back and watch while J climbed, but Ron helped me get past my fear and do some climbing. It was a great experience.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Last year, spurred by the somewhat horrific realization that between Thanksgiving and Christmas I had eaten most of an enormous bag of marshmallows from a warehouse store, I resolved to eat fewer marshmallows. And I did! I only ate ten all year (I kept track on the white board in the kitchen). This year, I resolve to eat MORE marshmallows than I did in 2010. Like eleven or twelve. You know, just to shake things up.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! There are some new awesome little people in the world! Love it!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
J's grandpa passed away. He used to write us the best letters, and I still catch myself thinking of things we should put in the next note to Grandpa.
5. What countries did you visit?
Just this one. But I went to Texas for the first time. It doesn't count, obviously, but it's something new.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
I'm still striving for work/life balance. But I used to work too much at a job I hated, so working too much on my writing feels like a luxury (on the good days, I might have a different answer for you on the bad ones).
7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I'm still crap at remembering dates. But we spent a week in Florida in April with J's siblings, making sandcastles in the sun with our niece and nephew. And I got to lounge on a beach chair and chat with my sister-in-law in person (instead of clocking our gazillion hours a week of phone time). It was absolute bliss.
We also took a last minute trip to Maine in the fall. Acadia is gorgeous!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Over the summer, I finished what is probably the second to last draft of a personal project I've been working on for years. I pushed past the limits of my comfort zone in a major way, and I feel like a stronger person because I did.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I've focused on writing so much this year that I haven't had as much time as I'd like for the people I love. After spending so much time traveling and seeing old friends in 2010, 2011 felt a little sparse.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had a breast cancer scare. The biopsy results came back clear, it was benign. The surgeon I talked with in follow-up told me that it was an imaging issue - they couldn't see for sure that there wasn't something to be concerned about, so the biopsy was just a precaution. The wait for the results shook me up in a major way and I have the ultimate respect and compassion for people who go through that whole process and get different news.
I wasn't going to talk about it here, because, hey, my boobs are private, but when it happened, I found a lot of comfort from people who shared that they'd gone through something similar, and I wasn't alone. And I'm going to preach at you! Go to your annual doctors' appointments! Check your boobs! (Follow Lisa on Twitter, she'll nag you nicely).
Oh, and then I had that whole fun with Vitamin D thing. But otherwise, I've been pretty healthy (knock wood).
11. What was the best thing you bought?
2011 is the year I discovered moose antlers as dog chews. Best dog distraction ever. And since antlers are shed naturally, they're cruelty free.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My sister-in-law. You know that whole biopsy thing? I couldn't have gotten through it without her. In general, I'm not sure what I'd do without her. She's brilliant and kind, super practical, and the funniest person I've ever met. My life is so much brighter because I get to be her friend. I am eternally grateful that J's big bro has such amazing taste in women.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
See #23
14. Where did most of your money go?
I just did our year end expenses and realized that as self-employed folks, last year we paid more for health insurance than we did for our mortgage. Yeah. But, I'm thankful that we have health insurance.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I'd tell you, but then I'd have to erase your brain.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Evan Dando's cover of Frying Pan. It got stuck in my head and I. COULD. NOT. STOP. SINGING. IT. Under my breath. At the top of my lungs. In the shower. In the car. All the time. I think J was ready to leave me, just to get away from hearing "I looked in a frying pan, I seen a song. I looked at a dying man, he sang along," over and over and over again. And really, I wouldn't have blamed him.
I'm still crap at remembering dates. But we spent a week in Florida in April with J's siblings, making sandcastles in the sun with our niece and nephew. And I got to lounge on a beach chair and chat with my sister-in-law in person (instead of clocking our gazillion hours a week of phone time). It was absolute bliss.
We also took a last minute trip to Maine in the fall. Acadia is gorgeous!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Over the summer, I finished what is probably the second to last draft of a personal project I've been working on for years. I pushed past the limits of my comfort zone in a major way, and I feel like a stronger person because I did.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I've focused on writing so much this year that I haven't had as much time as I'd like for the people I love. After spending so much time traveling and seeing old friends in 2010, 2011 felt a little sparse.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had a breast cancer scare. The biopsy results came back clear, it was benign. The surgeon I talked with in follow-up told me that it was an imaging issue - they couldn't see for sure that there wasn't something to be concerned about, so the biopsy was just a precaution. The wait for the results shook me up in a major way and I have the ultimate respect and compassion for people who go through that whole process and get different news.
I wasn't going to talk about it here, because, hey, my boobs are private, but when it happened, I found a lot of comfort from people who shared that they'd gone through something similar, and I wasn't alone. And I'm going to preach at you! Go to your annual doctors' appointments! Check your boobs! (Follow Lisa on Twitter, she'll nag you nicely).
Oh, and then I had that whole fun with Vitamin D thing. But otherwise, I've been pretty healthy (knock wood).
11. What was the best thing you bought?
2011 is the year I discovered moose antlers as dog chews. Best dog distraction ever. And since antlers are shed naturally, they're cruelty free.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My sister-in-law. You know that whole biopsy thing? I couldn't have gotten through it without her. In general, I'm not sure what I'd do without her. She's brilliant and kind, super practical, and the funniest person I've ever met. My life is so much brighter because I get to be her friend. I am eternally grateful that J's big bro has such amazing taste in women.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
See #23
14. Where did most of your money go?
I just did our year end expenses and realized that as self-employed folks, last year we paid more for health insurance than we did for our mortgage. Yeah. But, I'm thankful that we have health insurance.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I'd tell you, but then I'd have to erase your brain.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Evan Dando's cover of Frying Pan. It got stuck in my head and I. COULD. NOT. STOP. SINGING. IT. Under my breath. At the top of my lungs. In the shower. In the car. All the time. I think J was ready to leave me, just to get away from hearing "I looked in a frying pan, I seen a song. I looked at a dying man, he sang along," over and over and over again. And really, I wouldn't have blamed him.
