2009 Survey for the New Year

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?

Became a Grandma. Although that isn't really something I *did* as much as something that happened to me.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

No.
Yes.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth or get pregnant?

Yep, the Equuschick.=)

4. Did anyone close to you get married?

Yep, the HG.

5. Did anyone close to you die?

No.

6. Travel?

My traveling days are over.

7. Did you move anywhere?

I think my moving days are over, too.

8. What was the best month?May was pretty fun. The HG graduated, Strider stepped forward. Of course, in September I got to be a Grandmama, and in October I got to be the Mum In Law again.


9. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

More self discipline.

10. What date(s) from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Well, nothing stays etched in my memory that long anymore, but April 1st is when Strider asked the HG if they could pursue a more serious relationship,
September 19 ~ The Pirate was born
October 16 ~ Strider and the HG were married.

11. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I hope it was making an impact for good in Blynken's and Nod's lives.

12. What was your biggest failure?

I do not think I am doing all I could for their mother, and I am not sure how to do what needs to be done or if it's even possible.

13. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Colds, flu, tooth removals, root canals, undiagnosed aches, pains, and various physical limitations.

14. What was the best thing you bought?

I do not know, which prompts another question- was it worth buying if I cannot remember what it was?


15. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Shasta's, for his blue ribbon, incredible, amazing role as the wonderfully supportive, loving, and totally involved labor coach in the Equuschick's labor and delivery.
Strider's for finally being brave enough to ask the HG out.=)

16. Whose behavior made you appalled and/or depressed?

Congress, all of them, and the media.

17. Where did most of your money go?

House payments, van payment, groceries, and utilities.

18. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Having a grandbaby, having another son-in-law.

19. What song will always remind you of 2009?

I really cannot think of one.

20. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
ii. richer or poorer?

i. That's a complex question for me. On one front, the one I never blog about except obliquely, the same, only a little sadder because it is the same.
On other fronts, happier, because who could not be happier with a new grandbaby and a second delightful son-in-law? Well, to be honest, sometimes me, because the happier things only make the sad, unblogged about things all the sadder and harder.

ii. As far as expendable income, much poorer, as far as getting a grip on handling that, richer.


21. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Reading.

22. What do you wish you'd done less of?

I wish I could do less thinking about the complex and bleakly unbloggable thing behind 20i, but I do not see that happening.

23. How will you be spending New Year's Eve/Day?

I think Eve will be a very small family party, and Day will be games and snacks with the HG and her husband and the rest of the family, except Jenny who is visiting a lonely friend.

24. What was an unexpected surprise?

Strider.

25. Did you fall in love in 2009?

with the new grandbaby.=)

26. What was the best concert you've been to this year?

I do not think I went to a concert.

27. What was your favorite TV program?

I don't watch it, except on DVD. This year some favorites on DVD were Stargate, Eureka, Firefly, and Monk.

28. Do you dislike anyone now that you didn't dislike this time last year?

Personally? No. Oh, wait. There is a person I find tedious in the extreme, and I complicate that frustration by feeling incredibly, horribly, terribly guilty and ugly about finding said person so unspeakably, impossibly, wretchedly tedious, and I dislike feeling guilty about people so it's a vicious cycle.

29. What was the best book you read?

Psalms. The picture books Pelle's New Suit and a Day's Work. Also The Quotidian Mysteries.

30. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Doc Watson=)

31. What did you want and get?

I know you all expect me to say grandbaby, and while it is true that I have looked forward to the day I would be a grandmother, and am perfectly content with what we have, I would have been equally content with our lot in life if we'd had to wait longer. Either was good. I am deleriously happy that the HG is married to somebody who loves her and appreciates her as she deserves, that is something I have long desired for her because I know she has long desired to be married. Had she been perfectly happy as a single, I would have been content to have her continue in that state.

32. What did you want and not get?

Lots of nonphyiscal things I have no intention of discussing. In the physical realm-
A shelf to replace the broken one in my refrigerator (the one that covers the meat and cheese drawer and holds the now removed fruit and vegetable drawers and renders all attempts to organize and use the fridge an exercise in a deep state of general malcontentment and tears).

33. What was your favorite film of this year?

I can't really think of one.


34. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I was 47, and I don't really remember. I assume it was a quiet family birthday at home, but I don't recall what we ate or what we did.

35. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Paying off the van, or getting a functional shelf back in that refrigerator.


36. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?

Comfort.

37. What kept you sane?

Sanity is highly over-rated.

38. What political issue stirred you the most?

The fact that neither party reads the bills they vote on, and the permanent ruling class we have.

39. Who did you miss?
Old friends from old places

40. Random Memories from 2009?

Houseguests, new grandbaby, more houseguests, and wedding stuff (which involved yet more houseguests). And a housefire, which, of course, involved more houseguests.