2011 in 35 questions

I’ve never done this questionnaire before, but Janet posted her responses, and I thought I’d play along this year.

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1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
Take a weight-lifting class, take a cycling class; travel to Salt Lake City and Nashville; attend 2 college national championships.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I was a dismal failure at completing my 11 projects (depressing recap to come), but yes, I am setting goals for next year (optimistic post forthcoming).

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Friends in the blog world and my book club had babies, but no one in my immediate circle had a baby. Next year, however, will be very different.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
JG’s grandma Mimi passed away.

5. What countries did you visit?
I only flew domestic this year.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you didn’t have in 2011?
A big fat vacation! We are booked for Seattle in August!

7. What dates from 2011 will be etched upon your memory, and why?
October 15, when my sister had The Wedding of the Century!

8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?
I finally figured out how to exercise consistently with my (not so) new work schedule.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I failed at balancing work, exercise, time with JG, projects, and writing. I feel like I can get most of them balanced, but not all. Writing is the big loser right now, and I hate that it’s getting the shaft.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Other than a bout of whooping cough, I was fine all year.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Half of Teddy showing up at my sister’s wedding.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
JG’s, for being so super patient during an insane year.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Jerry Sandusky.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Wedding presents and travel.

15. What did you get really excited about?
Delaware playing for the national title! My sister getting married!

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
“Raise Your Glass,” by Pink, because we danced to it at almost every wedding.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
Happier, thinner (even though I weigh the same), and richer. Woo!

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

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Being irritated so easily.

20. How will you spend Christmas?
We saw both sets of family this year, which is rare. We spent time in the Pennsylvania Poconos and then Queens, New York.

21. Did you fall in love in 2011?
Yes, with my smartphone and Twitter. (Okay, and I still love my husband, obviously.)

22. What was your favorite TV program?
How I Met Your Mother, but I finally caught the Modern Family hype.

23. What was the best book you read?
My absolute favorite book this year was In Zanesville, by Jo Ann Beard. I really need to buy a copy so I can re-read it and then lend it out to everyone I know. I just loved the heroine so much. I wanted to hug her the whole time.

24. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Andrew Peterson.

25. What did you want and get?
A pair of brown leather boots. Does that make me super shallow? I had been hunting for months, I swear.

26. What did you want and not get?
A vacation. I know, I am harping on this. But I really wanted one.

27. What was your favorite film of 2011?
I don’t think I watched any new movies in 2011. I can only remember the second to last Harry Potter movie, which almost put me to sleep, so…

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 28, and I (pause to consult the blog) got my nails done while I read a book, watched Modern Family DVDs, and ate barbecue ribs.

29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A lot more writing time and output.

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2011?
Skinny jeans, flats, cardigans, and scarves, so basically, the same as ever. I feel like I got a much better handle on wearing bright color and patterns. Later in the year, I latched on to the sock bun with a vengeance, and now I’m figuring out more interesting ways to work with my longer hair.

31. What kept you sane?
JG being patient and Ted being cute.

32. What political issue stirred you the most?
Hm. Probably not a good sign that nothing is springing to mind.

33. Who did you miss?
In May, JG and I left our church and started attending a new one, and that was a big, good change for us. But I miss seeing and having closer relationships with our friends at our old church.

34. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
Be better; feel better.

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

Could it be that the many roads
You took to get here
Were just for me to tell this story
And for you to hear this song?
And your many hopes
And your many fears
Were meant to bring you here all along.

- Andrew Peterson, “Many Roads”