New Year's Memes

(All from Allison)

#1
1. Will you be looking for a new job? God, I hope not!

2. Will you be looking for a new relationship? Not a romantic one.

3. New house? I'm not moving out of this house until we move out of this state.

4. What will you do differently in '10? I'm not making any firm plans anymore. They have seem to have gotten scuttled a lot this year. Fugeddaboudit.

5. New Year's resolution? Don't make 'em.

6. What will you not be doing in '10? I hope not to watch anymore old friends (in the elderly sense of 'old') die.

7. Any trips planned? Vegas in January. After that...no plans. See 4, above.

8. Wedding plans? Doubtful, but not impossible, I suppose.

9. What's on your calendar? Birthdays, meetings, haircuts, dr's appts., church stuff....

10. What can't you wait for? Next fall's high school football games.

11. What would you like to see happen differently? I gotta do better about meals....

12. What about yourself will you be changing? My weight (I hope).

13. What happened in '09 that you didn't think would ever happen? Honestly, my mom's death.

14. Will you be nicer to the people you care about? Well, I hope so. I'm hopeful that my (teenage) son will try being nicer to his parents more consistently, too.

15. Will you dress differently this year than you did in '09? Not intentionally.

16. Will you start or quit drinking? Allison said, "I might drink more." I think that's likely in my case as well.

17. Will you better your relationship with your family? Status quo.

18. Will you do charity work? About as much as I do now.

19. Will you go to bars? Like I do now: twice a year or so. ;-)

20. Will you be nice to people you don't know? About like usual.

21. Do you expect '10 to be a good year for you? I think, I hope, I'm due.

22. How much did you change from this time last year til now? Exernally, not much. Internally, there is a lot going on percolating through the silt.

23. Do you plan on having a child? That is NOT happening.

24. Will you still be friends with the same people you are friends with now? If they'll have me.

25. Major lifestyle changes? I hope not. I like they way I live now.

26. Will you be moving? Only in the ambulatory sense.

27. What will you make sure doesn't happen in '10 that happened in '09? We.Are.Going.On.Vacation.Together.As.A.Family.This.Year. No more skipped years for vacations.

28. What are your New Years Eve plans? This, plus entertaining FIL, probably watching stuff on TV.

29. Will you have someone to kiss at midnight? The three Ts.

30. One wish for '10? The end of the war in the Middle East.

#2
1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year? The mission trip with the high school youth group at church.

2. What was the most challenging thing that happened? My mom's situation, between her broken leg, the bedsore, and then her decision to stop eating.

3. What was an unexpected joy this past year? My extended family (of origin) has the ability to rock, BIGtime. Such a good thing.

4. What was an unexpected obstacle? Well, there was that week in June where we thought Beast was going to lose his job.... And then trying to find a job for Sparky has been a trial.

5. Pick three words to describe 2009. Roller-coaster, breakneck, vicissitudinous

6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2009 (don’t ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you). Sad, eyesore, lazy.

7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their 2009 (again, without asking). Travel, executor, home-office.

8. What were the best books you read this year? Just After Sunset, Columbine, The Thirteenth Tale...among others.

9. With whom were your most valuable relationships? My mom (finally), my father-in-law, my new boss.

10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year? Trying to get a handle on my stupid eyes.

11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally? Oh, good Lord, I still haven't processed all of that.

12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually? I'm pretty burned out at church. It's cyclical, and I'm sure I'll be fine. Me & God are ok.

13. In what way(s) did you grow physically? I did grow. Unfortunately. Also, my eyes are better than they were.

14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others? Keeping my mouth shut seems to be helpful.

15. What was the most enjoyable area of managing your home? Ignoring chores is enjoyable.

16. What was your most challenging area of home management? When I finally cave in and stop ignoring the chores.

17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year? Facebook. Nothing else even comes close, not even blogging. ;-)

18. What was the best way you used your time this past year? Developing patience.

19. What was the biggest thing you learned this past year? Dignity matters.

20. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2009 for you. Go with your gut.

The Three Threes
1) Three things that have changed since the beginning of the year: new eye doctor, becoming an orphan, new boss.

2) Three things that didn’t change: how much I like my job, my love of family & friends, being a Packer fan.

3) Three things you want to change next year: my cholesterol numbers, my tendency to worry, my procrastinative tendencies.

#4
In 2009, I gained: weight. Sigh.

I lost: my last parent.

I stopped: caring about a lot of things.

I started: playing with stats.

I was hugely satisfied by: my son.

And frustrated by: my son.

I am so embarrassed that I: blew off so many things.

Once again, I: have a pile of crap on my desk here at home to handle.

Once again, I did not: finish the family archives.

The biggest physical difference between me last December and this December is: orphanhood.

The biggest psychological difference between me last December and this December is: not tolerating shoddy medical treatment.

I loved spending time: online.

Why did I spend even two minutes: worrying. [another one I stole from Allison]

I should have spent more time: sitting in the sun.

I regret buying: some stupid clothing choices.

I will never regret buying: this laptop.

I worried: a lot in the middle of the night, as usual.

I didn’t: read enough books.

Breaking in the new director just about drove me crazy.

The most relaxing place I went was bed. And online.

Why did I go to the same eye doctor over and over and expect different results.

The best thing I did for someone else was being present at the moment they needed someone.

The best thing I did for myself was being present at a time and place where it was eminently necessary.

The best thing someone did for me was to let me do what I needed to do.

The one thing I’d like to do again, but do it better, is most of this fall's youth group stuff.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!