Year in Review

This post has nothing to do with living in Japan! It's my year in review. I decided to take stock in survey form, so here it is. Enjoy or skip it!

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

Moved to Japan

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

Yes and no. I resolved to stop biting my nails, as usual. FAIL! (I really don’t think I will ever kick this habit. Do we even need to talk about the fact that Anthony already bites his? OY.) (Also, I am currently biting my nails as I write this, even though I vowed again to stop this year. Yeah.) However, I also resolved to stop being a doormat, once and for all, and I think I succeeded. I must admit that part of my strategy involves being evasive and passive-aggressive, but it’s better than getting sucked into other people's drama and bossiness.

3. Did anyone close to you become a parent?

No, but Ross is going to become one this year, and that makes me excited and also want to die simultaneously.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No.

5. What countries did you visit?

Canada, although that hardly counts. And Japan, extended visit!

However, I also got to travel a ton this year, all of which was amazing. Road trip from Washington to Louisiana, a weekend trip to San Francisco, and a crazy excursion to Lummi Island, Washington, in April, where we got to stay in a ridiculous hotel and eat the most amazing meal I've ever had. http://www.willows-inn.com/

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?

Day-to-day stability.

7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

The day we left Oak Harbor (June 22); the day we left Baton Rouge (September 7); December 14th.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Keeping my shit together for a month in the Navy Lodge. That doesn’t sound like much when I see it there, written down, but it was hard.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I feel like I failed left and right at parenting last year. Disaster, from start to finish. My kids are lunatics, and I'm pretty sure it's my fault. Yay, mommyhood!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No.

11. What were the best things you bought?

Rain boots, nespresso machine

12. Whose behavior warranted celebration?

A friend who has been dealt a shitty hand of cards but is handling it with grace and humor.

 

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Young navy sailors who do stupid shit in Japan that make us all have curfews and not be allowed to drink after 8 PM outside of our homes. Get your shit together, people!

14. Where did most of your money go?

I honestly think most of it went towards all the traveling and moving, which is just sort of to be expected.

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

Finally, at long last, moving into our place here in Japan after months and months of upheaval.

16. What song will always remind you of 2012?

"Home" (Edward Sharpe) - I know this didn't come out on 2012, but it has definitely been on repeat for me during this massive move.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? happier

b) thinner or fatter? thinner (but not by much... working on it)

c) richer or poorer? same

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

Spending time by myself

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

Caring what people think

20. How did you spend Christmas?

With immediate family at home. It was great because Adam was off for 3 days in a row. A lovely, do-nothing kind of weekend.

21. Did you fall in love in 2011?

No. Unless you count Joshua Jackson on Fringe. AGG!

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Fringe (WHY WHY WHY is it ending?! I am already depressed about this!)

Last Resort (don’t judge me)

Parks and Recreation (still amazingly funny)

So You Think You Can Dance (yesterday, today, and tomorrow)

24. What was the best book you read?

The Wednesday Wars (Gary D. Schmidt)

Revolution (Jennifer Donnelly)

1Q84 (Haruki Murakami)

These were great books, but I didn't read anything that changed my life last year. I feel that both reading and music (see below) took a way back seat last year, and I would like to change that this year.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

OK this might have to go under biggest failures of 2012 as well. I feel that I have been in a musical void for the last year. All my music has been on repeat since 2011. The ONLY thing I can say I heard that I had not heard before was Big Sam at Jazz Fest. He is smokin' hot, and his music makes me want to dance my face off. http://bigsamsfunkynation.com/

26. What did you want and get?

Nespresso machine (*angels singing*)

27. What did you want and not get?

Inner peace

 

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

Errrrr... i didn't see that many movies. I did really like "Moonrise Kingdom", and I saw "50/50", which I thought was really well done.

29. What did you do on your birthday?

I have no idea. I really don’t!

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

Less poop. Sorry, but it’s really, really true. This is THE WORST PART OF PARENTING EVER. I hate it so much I want to stab myself in the eye with a fork everyday.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?

I finally started wearing grown-up clothes occasionally. I still spend a good portion of the week in gym clothes, but I finally started putting on actual clothes more often than not. It was kind of a big deal!

32. What kept you sane?

I’m not sure if I was sane last year. I’m trying for more of that this year. If I had to guess, what kept me barely sane was working out. At least I feel somewhat normal after I do that.

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

Joshua Jackson, no contest. Yeah, I’m pretty sure I had a few inappropriate dreams about him last year.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

Well, the entire year has been overshadowed by the school shootings last month. So, right now I would have to say gun control.

35. Whom did you miss?

Everyone. all the time.

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.

It sounds so lame, but I guess the fact that life is short and unpredictable. I am finally beginning to understand that you absolutely must life inside each moment as it happens. This is extremely hard for me, but I think I finally get it.

We only have the time that is in front of us at any given moment, so we gotta make the most of it.

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

...I'll follow you into the park,
through the jungle, through the dark
I've never loved one like you
Moats & boats & waterfalls,
alley ways & pay phone calls,
I've been everywhere with you
Home

Let me come home
Home is wherever I'm with you...