Happy New Year! (2010 Year in review)
Jan. 3rd, 2011 08:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
valancy_janeMy two weeks' vacation back in Texas was both renewing and hectic. It's been years since I actually took two weeks straight off, and the brain-refreshing aspect is just incredible.
But probably the most incredible aspect was coming home. It was such a pleasant shock. I looked around and was amazed at how lovely our home was. For the first time in a while, I didn't see all the things undone, but everything we've accomplished.
In the past year, we bought a house, moved into it, and filled it with five new pieces of furniture, four of which were purchased at lengthy auctions we attended in the hopes of acquiring beautiful pieces for low prices. We got a new dog. We put in a new heater and fixed the A/C (thrice). We scientifically studied our soil, corrected it appropriately, and put in a hugely successful, albeit small, garden. We started composting. We began slowly but surely to decorate the house, including setting up the guest bed and bath. We hosted well over 30 guests, some of whom stayed for weeks. We made a firm commitment to do thank-you notes and winter holiday cards and followed through. We got our finances in order, including finally combining accounts after years together. We put in wood floors. We researched and signed up for a new phone plan. We even bought most of our Christmas gifts on time and shipped about half of them out on time and put up a Christmas tree.
For myself, I had two business trips, two weddings, and two just-for-fun visits home. I researched and decided on my next computer and made a decision on my next big selfish-fun purchase (an iPod that can track my workouts). I started running regularly. I started a new journal. Geez and wow. Life is good.
And now the year-in-review quiz that I stole from Romie!
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
Moved to New Mexico to live in a home I just bought, got a dog, bought lots of furniture, got domestic.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I can't remember last year's - I think it was exercise more, which I did. My vow this year is to stop taking sugar in my coffee, at least on a regular basis. My teeth can't take it. It would also be nice not to spend any more NY's eves apart from C, but I'm hesitant to commit to too much. I'm taking it easy this year. We just about killed ourselves last year!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth or die?
No, though I'll never forget learning my neighbor's daughter had died in a car crash when a thief was driving recklessly in an attempted getaway. Just heartbreaking.
4. What places did you visit?
Costa Rica in a blurry, dizzyingly quick visit for Kim Faith's wedding, as well as innumerable hidden treasures in New Mexico, and California for business. Seeing Enchanted Mesa out near Sky Pueblo, that whole surrounding area, is one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Hauntingly gorgeous.
5. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 12, 2010, when I arrived in New Mexico at our new home.
6. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Starting a new life and finally feeling like a grown-up. After mourning the health I never even really had, I'm realizing the thirties have actually been pretty amazing so far.
7. What was your biggest failure?
Reflection's Edge. I just couldn't hold it together anymore. At least we closed out in style.
8. Did you suffer illness or injury?
My jaw injury from late 2009 carried over and just got worse. I've finally accepted it will never be the same, but it was a hard thing to come to terms with.
9. What was the best thing you bought?
I don't like to think of it as buying, exactly, but technically we did pay the dog rescue a fee for Koko. Even with all his crazyness, we love him to pieces.
10. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Romie, for holding it together even when things were stupid, moved cross-country, and never stopped doing incredibly fabulous creative endeavors (film, novel, shorts, songs). Catherine, who made tough choices and came out stronger for it. Maddy, who did brilliant slam poetry in public for the first time and started a very clever blog. Christopher, for writing more music and for being so supportive of me. Koko, for learning how to sit, stay, jump on command, and for getting over his fear of most moving objects, stairs, and his leash. :)
11. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing, though to be honest, I don't see how I could have crammed any more living into last year.
12. How did you spend Christmas?
Morning with Dad, where I was moved by all the prep he'd done for our little get-together, especially the dozens of wheat-free goodies he'd baked for my sister (who is dangerously allergic to wheat), then raced over to that sister's house, who was horribly ill with a kidney infection, followed by Xmas night with C's family. I spent a lot of time with my sister while she was sick, which was actually quite nice for me, if not for her!
13. What was your favorite TV program, movie, and book this year?
Friday Night Lights (closely followed by Supernatural)
Inception
The Golden Compass (Finished it on NY's eve.)
14. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 31. I can't exactly remember what I did on my birthday, but on my birthday weekend I went to a wine festival, which was excellent.
15. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Getting published. (Would have helped if I'd submitted. At least I started writing again after the close of RE!)
16. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
I've finally begun embracing trends that have been around for years - ankle boots, skinny jeans, layers, occasionally even straight hair. I guess "updated," with a side of glam. (Unlike most people who work at home, I took this as an excuse to dress up more.)
17. Who did you miss?
Everyone. I spent most of this year battling loneliness.
18. Who was the best new person you met?
It's a tie between Jessie & Rebecca, both of whom I hope to see more this year.
19. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
I finally learned it's really not helpful to anyone to beat myself up on a regular basis. It also didn't help I spent so long mourning my life in Dallas this year; it was literally in December when I realized what I was mourning doesn't even exist anymore. Most of my Dallas friends have moved, half the places I was missing have turned out to be closed or bulldozed (or just not the same), and my grandparents passed on years ago; I'm missing the Dallas of ten years ago. (This would be more profound and impressive if my best friend hadn't gone through the same realization last year. I'm slow.) If I could do one thing better in 2011, it would be to enjoy my wonderful new life more - and finally live in the present.
20. Quote a song that sums up your year:
Say if I only could,
I'd make a deal with God,
And I'd get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
With no problems...
But probably the most incredible aspect was coming home. It was such a pleasant shock. I looked around and was amazed at how lovely our home was. For the first time in a while, I didn't see all the things undone, but everything we've accomplished.
In the past year, we bought a house, moved into it, and filled it with five new pieces of furniture, four of which were purchased at lengthy auctions we attended in the hopes of acquiring beautiful pieces for low prices. We got a new dog. We put in a new heater and fixed the A/C (thrice). We scientifically studied our soil, corrected it appropriately, and put in a hugely successful, albeit small, garden. We started composting. We began slowly but surely to decorate the house, including setting up the guest bed and bath. We hosted well over 30 guests, some of whom stayed for weeks. We made a firm commitment to do thank-you notes and winter holiday cards and followed through. We got our finances in order, including finally combining accounts after years together. We put in wood floors. We researched and signed up for a new phone plan. We even bought most of our Christmas gifts on time and shipped about half of them out on time and put up a Christmas tree.
For myself, I had two business trips, two weddings, and two just-for-fun visits home. I researched and decided on my next computer and made a decision on my next big selfish-fun purchase (an iPod that can track my workouts). I started running regularly. I started a new journal. Geez and wow. Life is good.
And now the year-in-review quiz that I stole from Romie!
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
Moved to New Mexico to live in a home I just bought, got a dog, bought lots of furniture, got domestic.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I can't remember last year's - I think it was exercise more, which I did. My vow this year is to stop taking sugar in my coffee, at least on a regular basis. My teeth can't take it. It would also be nice not to spend any more NY's eves apart from C, but I'm hesitant to commit to too much. I'm taking it easy this year. We just about killed ourselves last year!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth or die?
No, though I'll never forget learning my neighbor's daughter had died in a car crash when a thief was driving recklessly in an attempted getaway. Just heartbreaking.
4. What places did you visit?
Costa Rica in a blurry, dizzyingly quick visit for Kim Faith's wedding, as well as innumerable hidden treasures in New Mexico, and California for business. Seeing Enchanted Mesa out near Sky Pueblo, that whole surrounding area, is one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Hauntingly gorgeous.
5. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 12, 2010, when I arrived in New Mexico at our new home.
6. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Starting a new life and finally feeling like a grown-up. After mourning the health I never even really had, I'm realizing the thirties have actually been pretty amazing so far.
7. What was your biggest failure?
Reflection's Edge. I just couldn't hold it together anymore. At least we closed out in style.
8. Did you suffer illness or injury?
My jaw injury from late 2009 carried over and just got worse. I've finally accepted it will never be the same, but it was a hard thing to come to terms with.
9. What was the best thing you bought?
I don't like to think of it as buying, exactly, but technically we did pay the dog rescue a fee for Koko. Even with all his crazyness, we love him to pieces.
10. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Romie, for holding it together even when things were stupid, moved cross-country, and never stopped doing incredibly fabulous creative endeavors (film, novel, shorts, songs). Catherine, who made tough choices and came out stronger for it. Maddy, who did brilliant slam poetry in public for the first time and started a very clever blog. Christopher, for writing more music and for being so supportive of me. Koko, for learning how to sit, stay, jump on command, and for getting over his fear of most moving objects, stairs, and his leash. :)
11. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing, though to be honest, I don't see how I could have crammed any more living into last year.
12. How did you spend Christmas?
Morning with Dad, where I was moved by all the prep he'd done for our little get-together, especially the dozens of wheat-free goodies he'd baked for my sister (who is dangerously allergic to wheat), then raced over to that sister's house, who was horribly ill with a kidney infection, followed by Xmas night with C's family. I spent a lot of time with my sister while she was sick, which was actually quite nice for me, if not for her!
13. What was your favorite TV program, movie, and book this year?
Friday Night Lights (closely followed by Supernatural)
Inception
The Golden Compass (Finished it on NY's eve.)
14. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 31. I can't exactly remember what I did on my birthday, but on my birthday weekend I went to a wine festival, which was excellent.
15. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Getting published. (Would have helped if I'd submitted. At least I started writing again after the close of RE!)
16. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
I've finally begun embracing trends that have been around for years - ankle boots, skinny jeans, layers, occasionally even straight hair. I guess "updated," with a side of glam. (Unlike most people who work at home, I took this as an excuse to dress up more.)
17. Who did you miss?
Everyone. I spent most of this year battling loneliness.
18. Who was the best new person you met?
It's a tie between Jessie & Rebecca, both of whom I hope to see more this year.
19. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
I finally learned it's really not helpful to anyone to beat myself up on a regular basis. It also didn't help I spent so long mourning my life in Dallas this year; it was literally in December when I realized what I was mourning doesn't even exist anymore. Most of my Dallas friends have moved, half the places I was missing have turned out to be closed or bulldozed (or just not the same), and my grandparents passed on years ago; I'm missing the Dallas of ten years ago. (This would be more profound and impressive if my best friend hadn't gone through the same realization last year. I'm slow.) If I could do one thing better in 2011, it would be to enjoy my wonderful new life more - and finally live in the present.
20. Quote a song that sums up your year:
Say if I only could,
I'd make a deal with God,
And I'd get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
With no problems...
(no subject)
Date: 2011-01-07 09:08 am (UTC)