2010 Recap in 38 Questions

Here's to The Palinode and All and Sundry for helping me figure out how to start the new year on this blog. *fist bump*

1. What did you do in 2010 that you had never done before? 

I rode on a scooter. I sold all my belongings and moved into a 16' pull camper. I helped make my dad's famous beef stroganoff pie. I kept two plants from dying. I rode in an illegal Cuban taxi. 

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

I don't make new years resolutions, and I won't make any this year either. I have enough issues, I don't need to set myself up for more failure. 

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My cousin had a baby girl last month. I haven't met her yet.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

My friend Dougal. It was tough, because I was just getting to know him, and then, that was that. 

A few other people that I know/knew passed away this year. I had lost touch with most of them...not sure if that makes it easier or harder when you hear about someone's death.

5. What countries did you visit? 

I went to Cuba for the first time. Other than that, all of my travelling has been done in Canada. 

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?

Money. Confidence. More money. The ability to just relax and let things happen. 

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

December 15th, I quit smoking. November 6th, I left Regina. September 29th and  30th...leaving the apartment. October 26th...last day working at the group home. My JP gave me a kiss on the cheek twice, proving to me that not only does she know exactly what is going on, but that we were buds, and it wasn't all in my head. 

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I didn't do much this year in the way of achievement, but I finally quit smoking, after years of wishing that I could. 

9. What was your biggest failure?

Leaving Regina and not attending to unfinished business.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I hurt myself daily, and luckily nothing serious came of my clumsiness this year. 

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Mod Podge Dimensional Magic glaze....and my beautiful 2007 Ford F-150. 

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

No one that I can think of. 

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Other than my own? Well, honestly, I'm sure they know who they are, and I'm not getting into that here. I've moved on.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Bills. Credit cards. Loans. Rent. Cigarettes. Not necessarily in that order. 

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

Going to Cuba. Our annual Canada Day camping trip. Celebrating my 1st wedding anniversary. Moving away. 

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?

That goddamn horrible "Tic Toc" Kesha song. I fucking hate that ugly talentless blankedy, blank blank. GO.AWAY.

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

a) happier or sadder? This time last year, I was still unaware as to how hard the whole year was going to be. We were rolling in money, and had everything we could want. I think I'm happier now though.
b) thinner or fatter? I think that I'm thinner, but I'm still pretty fat.
c) richer or poorer? Poorer. So much poorer. Ugh. 

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

I wish I would have saved some money when I had the chance. I wish I would have kept in touch with friends, instead of just letting myself fall out of touch. I wish I would have flossed more, because I think I have a couple cavities.

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

Bitching and complaining. Being negative gets you nowhere. 

20. How did you spend Christmas?

My husband and I went to a friends house here in Victoria. We spent the day eating and watching "Supernatural."

21. Did you fall in love in 2010?

I was already in love, with my husband. However I did find love in Mod Podge Dimensional Magic, and I fell madly in love with the ocean. 

22. What was your favorite TV program?

I would have to say Big Love and Glee. This second season of Glee isn't really all that great though. I'm looking forward to Big Love starting up again for it's last season this month. I'm really curious as to how they are going to end it. 

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

I don't hate people. I say I hate people, but that's only because I'm overly dramatic most of the time. Hate is a very strong word. This past year I have grown apart from many, many people that I considered friends. Lost contact with some altogether, both on their end and on mine. I've gotten into fights with family members, but I'm sure that will heal itself in time. Not going to The Pub all the time, and then announcing we were moving, brought out the worst in some people that I had previously thought of as friends. I was shocked and hurt by some of it, but I know that people change, situations change, and you just have to keep on, keepin' on. I am no longer angry with the people who talked behind my back, or didn't support me.  I truly just don't care anymore. 

24. What was the best book you read?

I read a shit ton of books this year. So many, I can't even remember half of them. My friend Jen got me hooked on a couple young adult book series, and my favorite was The Immortals series. I think I got four books in, in about a week. They are most definitely not literary masterpieces, but they were entertaining as hell, and I didn't have to think much to get through them. 2010 was all about finding ways not to use my brain. 

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I re-discovered my love for the band Arrested Development at the Regina Folk Festival in August. The were amazing live, and their set with my hero Buffy Ste. Marie was mind-blowing. 

26. What did you want and get?

I wanted to see Buffy Ste. Marie perform, and I did. I wanted to come to Victoria, and I did that. I wanted to get rid of my credit card debt, and I made that happen. 

27. What did you want and not get?

A huge chunk of money handed to me, no strings attached. Also I didn't get a hover car. 

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

I didn't watch a lot of movies this year. The past couple years I haven't really been interested in going to the theatre very much, and if it wasn't for my husband, or the group home, I probably wouldn't have even rented any. Nothing stuck out in my mind, I actually had to Google "movies from 2010" to jog my memory. Of all the movies on the list I found, I have seen two of them. I have heard about pretty much all of them, but only watched two. So, between Alice and Wonderland and The Runaways, I choose The Runaways as my favorite film of the year. But Alice in Wonderland was a close second. 

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

On January 25th, 2010 I turned 31. My husband and I spent the day getting drunk at a swim up pool bar in Varadero, Cuba, joking with the bartender, a girl from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, and a couple from Chile who didn't know much English, and we didn't know much Spanish, but I learned that when you are drunk as fuck in your bathing suits, you are already speaking the same language. Before we got totally wasted on pina coladas, my husband had made reservations for supper, and got flowers and champagne delivered to our room. Unfortunately, we both kind of blacked out and don't really remember our fancy dinner, but I'm sure it was lovely. 

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

I hate to say it, but if we had more money, and weren't constantly worrying about how to pay the bills, the whole year would have been better. Noticing a theme here yet? 

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

If I wasn't wearing sweat pants and a tank top, I was wearing a summer dress. My entire wardrobe is sweat pants and dresses. 

32. What kept you sane?

Smyrish. Yes, I bug him about driving me insane a whole lot, but if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have made it through this year. 

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

I hate them all equally, but if those Glee kids are on the cover of a trashy tabloid magazine, I'm probably going to buy it. 

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

I don't know if it was a political issue or not, but it really pissed me off when people just stopped caring about what was going on in Haiti after a few weeks. Once the telethons were done, and the celebrities moved on to a different cause, you didn't hear much about what was going on. The people of Haiti have it worse than anyone right now, and they need help. 

35. Who did you miss?

There was a break-up of sorts early in 2010. Our large group of drinking buddies split up into smaller cliques and started going their separate ways. I missed having a large group of friends and acquaintances to spend my days with. Even though I learned who I can trust, who my real friends are....I miss the days of laughing and drinking and singing with 45 of my closest friends. 

36. Who was the best new person you met?

Even though I know nothing about him, other than he likes dogs, Junior, the bartender at The Pub, was my favorite new person of the year. I didn't go there very often, but when I did, he always made me laugh my fool head off. 

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.

You gotta do what you feel is real. 

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

How about a video instead?