What a difference a year makes!! 2011 - bring it on!
1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?That's all pretty negative and I'll keep the details to myself - in short, though, I have felt disappointment in people at levels I never thought possible.
2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?No, but I optimistically make them every time!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?Yes, though it was technically toward the end of 2009 and we are sadly no longer close. I am still thrilled for her and her family.
4. Did anyone close to you die?Yes.
5. What countries did you visit?No foreign travel in 2010.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?I want a permanent, full-time job; I want to spend more time with people I love; I want to travel more; I want to make every moment count.
7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?7/31/2010 when I learned of Rich's death
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?Moving Mom to Boston with me - which essentially means I've settled somewhere I intend to build a life and a home - that's big.
I was also very proud that the Boston gathering for the AIDS Walk turned out so well - I met so many new people cross-forum wise - and I'd like to make it a regular event!
9. What was your biggest failure?There are countless small failures; I cannot think of enormous ones; there were a few key times that I wasn't there for family as quickly as I should have been...decision paralysis, I suppose.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?No; I am thankfully very very healthy - I just need to lose a few pounds...few/fifty same diff, right?
11. What was the best thing you bought?Sleep-type sofa furniture for my studio so friends can sleep over, again, eventually.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?There was much good done this year; it's hard to choose a single person. I will go with my cousin Chris, who I am learning that despite not fully understanding one another, he can be relied upon in his own way.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?This takes me back to question 1 and I just don't want to go there. I'm not ready.
14. Where did most of your money go?Living and keeping those I love living.
15.What made you really really really excited?I'm thrilled Ronny is getting back involved with his music!
16.What song will forever remind you of 2010?Mary Chapin Carpenter -
Why Walk When You Can Fly?17. Compared to this time last year, are you:a) happier or sadder? happier
b) thinner or fatter? same
c) richer or poorer? same
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?I wish I'd been more proactive and more assertive; I have more in me than I use effectively. And of course time, spening more time with my loved ones; it's never enough.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?Worrying about things that are out of my control...
20. How will you be spending Christmas?I had many Christmases - two weeks ago, we celebrated with Ronny's family. Christmas Eve itself, I went to hear the band play and danced my patootie off (see blog for patootie definition
). And today, we had my family Christmas - Mom, Chris, Ronny, me, with Billy on speakerphone. It feels like one of the best holidays ever.
21. How will you be spending New Year's?New Year's Eve, Mom and I are watching Bogey westerns, like
High Sierra and
Sierra Madre. New Year's Day, I plan to take a long hike and then hear R's band play with a good friend - there should be much dancing (and muscle-pulling).
22. Did you fall in love in 2010?Sometimes, like tonight, it seems like I fall in love all over again. But it's more correct to say that I remain in love.
23. How many one-night stands?None.
24. What were your favorite TV programs?Paul has introduced me to
Glee and
Modern Family. I catch episodes of
Bones,
The Closer, and
Castle on Hulu when I can.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?Hate is a very strong, negative word; I'd rather phrase it 'extremely disappointed'.
26. What was the best book you read?I'm ashamed to say I didn't do much reading at all this year; nothing comes to mind of any substance.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?hunh...no new music either...what have I been doing?!
28. What did you want and get?I have everything I need.
29. What did you want and not get?I have everything I need.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?So far,
Love and Other Drugs - a bit fluffy, but fun and an overdue Jakey success! I loved
A Single Man also, but that could have been last year.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?I was 42, but for the life of me I don't know exactly what I was doing. I know that around that time, Paul, Ronny, Andy, and I went out to dinner at a local restaurant.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?A job where I feel as if I am making the contributions I have within me - I'm searching again and this time I'm only considering non-profit, environment, energy, social sectors...defense work is officially off the table.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010? 
I'm pretty sure that sweats and jeans and whatever sweatshirt or t-shirt is at hand isn't worthy of 'fashion concept'. If I need to dress up, though, I usually choose a long skirt and wear my black cowgirl boots.
34. What kept you sane?My friends
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?No one comes to mind, again...
36. What political issue stirred you the most?Homelessness, and I'm not through stirring.
37. Who did you miss?It's a long list. I will just try to focus on who I was lucky enough to see.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:Time is short. Brokeback was supposed to teach us that lesson, yet we (I) need to learn it again and again.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year (any song from any year):[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3rt30oFJGM[/youtube]
In this world there's a whole lot of trouble, baby
In this world there's a whole lot of pain
In this world there's a whole lot of trouble
But a whole lot of ground to gain
Why take when you could be giving, why watch as the world goes by
It's a hard enough life to be living, why walk when you can fly
In this world there's a whole lot of sorrow
In this world there's a whole lot of shame
In this world there's a whole lot of sorrow
And a whole lotta ground to gain
When you spend your whole life wishing, wanting and wondering why
It's a long enough life to be living, why walk when you can fly
In this world there's a whole lot of cold
In this world there's a whole lot of blame
In this world you've a soul for a compass
And a heart for a pair of wings
There's a star on the far horizon, rising bright in an azure sky
For the rest of the time that you're given, why walk when you can fly
