Happy New Year

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?

Finished grad school, went to Scotland and Wales, bought a house.

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

I don't think I had any resolutions this year. I probably should make some for the coming year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

A lot of people I know gave birth, and one of my close friends is scheduled for a c-section on January 5.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Thank God, no.

5. What countries did you visit?

The UK

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

A full-time position at UF.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

November 17 we closed on our house. June 10-July 8 we were in Britain. July 1 was our 2nd anniversary.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Getting my master's.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Letting worrying about things take away some of the fun of life.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Not really. I had a stomach flu for a day over the summer, but I think that was it.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Our house!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My husband is such a stand-up guy, and is always able to think of the right thing to do in sticky situations when I'm usually at a loss. On top of that, he's a really thoughtful person and always does things he knows I'll like. If that doesn't deserve celebration, I don't know what does.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

I thought the way some people acted about the election was appalling and depressing. I knew a lot of people who were able to discuss the issues in a mature and dignified manner, but there seemed to be so many people who couldn't talk without calling names and basically being jerks.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Down payment on the house.

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

Our trip to Britain, buying the house, finishing grad school, my sister getting engaged.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?

Probably Salsa Celtica's "El Agua de la Vida." I listened to it a billion times and tried to find the band when we were in Edinburgh.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier.
b) thinner or fatter? About the same.
c) richer or poorer? Probably about the same. We have less cash in the bank, but now I have a job, so it kind of balances out.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Just relaxed and quit worrying so much.

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

Spent too much time in the editorial office trying to get my thesis through. I wish those people had been remotely cooperative so I could have not devoted hours and hours of my life trying to fill out paperwork the right way.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

With my family.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?

Stayed in love.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

The Office.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

No. Actually, there are some people that I like better this year than last year.

24. What was the best book you read?

Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Salsa Celtica.

26. What did you want and get?

I got to stay in Gainesville, and I got to be comfortable with that decision.

27. What did you want and not get?

Nothing I want to discuss on this blog.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

I didn't go to the movies much this year. Probably the most fun I had in the theater was when I saw Sex and the City.

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

I rode the train from Edinburgh to York to Stalybridge, took a hike in the Pennines, and ate dinner at a pub with friends. I was 24.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Less fretting, more doing.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

Whenever possible, be classy.

32. What kept you sane?

God, my husband.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

John Krasinski, Tim Tebow.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

No particular issue. Just wishing people would think for themselves.

35. Who did you miss?

I didn't get to see my traveling buddy much, so I missed her.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

Probably Gram and Hannah Alsobrook. They're way fun.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

Cary says this all the time, from Fraggle Rock, of all places: "There are no rules. Those are the rules."

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

This is so corny, but I think about it a lot. From the soundtrack to "White Christmas:"

When I'm worried and I can't sleep

I count my blessings instead of sheep

And I fall asleep counting my blessings