forgotten end of year meme, 2011

I like to do this and keep it somewhere so I can revisit it thoughtfully.

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
Rode a train from OKC to San Antonio, TX.  

2. Did you keep your new years resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t make resolutions on new years. If I think of something I want to change, I try to work on it when I think of it. I did start a daily photo project on January 1st and see it through, though. I always want to do more yoga. I’m still trying to build my 101 things in 1001 days list, too.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.

5. What countries did you visit?
Stayed within the confines of the one.


6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
For all intents and purposes, 2011 was a pretty great year. I guess I always wish for a little more energy to get things done, though.

7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The first couple of weeks of June were pretty memorable, I shot the vow renewals of two couples in my family and got to know my cousin, Andrea, better. 

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Shooting events with confidence, remembering my photographic reasons, cooking lots of healthy dinners, taking better care of myself than I have before.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I wish I was better at keeping up with people.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No. I haven’t been sick or injured (beyond a few sniffles, that I beat with cold-eeze) in about 4 years.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
iPad 2. My productivity has increased in a number of ways because of it. I was afraid I wouldn’t use it, but I use it all the time for lots of things. I keep a better journal with it than I have in years, drawing with a stylus in sketchbook pro is awesome, I can watch netflix while I’m cooking dinner, stream workouts in any room of the house, listen to pandora radio and play mahjongg on the porch, I’ve read tons of classics in the kindle app that I’ve wanted to read for years, I can look up anything pretty quickly, keep up with people a little better and I’m using it to organize my dungeoneering for the tabletop RPG Pathfinder which has been working out fabulously.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I guess I am surrounded by awesome people. Everyone!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Probably someone I read about in a news story. :|

14. Where did most of your money go?
ipad, christmas, india palace once a month-ish. I managed to save really well in 2011. 

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
All of Shaun’s breaks from work. :)

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks played on my pandora a lot.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? hm. happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? same-ish give or take.
iii. richer or poorer? same because it’s just after christmas! but richer in ability to budget and save.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Organizing the office and closets and video game playing.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
worrying about nothings.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Did spend it, at home, with Shaun, tofurky, video games, christmas music, Dark Shadows, warmth, love.

22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
I am always a little more in love with the same fella.

23. How many one-night stands?
zero.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Oh! I have an answer this year (I never do!) Downton Abbey! So wonderful!!

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

26. What was the best book you read?
I don’t know about best, but I really enjoyed the Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger. They’re fun!

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Metric.

28. What did you want and get?
Lots of love, calm and good food.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Evidently I only saw three movies in the theater this year, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Captain America and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. I think Sherlock Holmes wins.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 26. Shaun had to work so I spent the afternoon with my beloved internet and then Shaun took me out to spend my birthday money from his grandma and have some India Palace.

 
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If things had gone better for people I love.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
I-guess-I-look-okay-in-skinny-jeans? or I-am-wearing-clothes-I-bought-when-I-was-15-is-that-normal?

34. What kept you sane?
Shaun.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Uh. RDJ & Jude Law sandwiched, I guess.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Ugh. Just UGH.

37. Who did you miss?
My dad, my chihuahua.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Um. Did I meet anyone new, are you new? You there, hello, yes, you. You then. 

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:
No matter how awful a prospect seems it isn’t as awful as that other thing I have already been through. 

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
My heart keeps beating like a hammer.

(Source: wigglewarily)