Happy New Year's Eve!

I am still recovering from the zombie death virus that struck me down the FIRST DAY of my only full week off of 2010. I guess that is nature's way of telling me to work more? Anyway, I hope you and yours had a happy holiday, I spent Christmas Eve at the CVS Minute Clinic acquiring antibiotics but other than that and leaving my husband alone in Tucson, I had a wonderful visit with my brother in Houston.

I'm trying to get back in the swing of things here, and decided to copy everyone else and do the year end meme that's floating around the blogosphere. Enjoy!

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

One activity I did, and hope never to repeat, is wait frantically in a hospital waiting room while my Mom underwent somewhat emergency surgery. That pretty much set the tone of 2010 (luckily it had a happy ending).
Oh, I also went indoor rock climbing. January 2010 was full of firsts!

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

Well, upon reflection of the resolutions set forth in my Resolution Post I didn't do so poorly. Let's recap...1) Be More Organized - I think I've made great strides with this resolution, at home and at work. With paper and electronic clutter. Let's check it off! 2) Run 400 Miles - HA HA HA HA...I think I ran 4. In my defense I spent a chunk of the year in physical therapy. And the rest of the time watching very important reality tv shows on my DVR. They're not going to watch themselves! 3) Spend Less - well, this was accomplished out of necessity. Still, a win is a win, right? 4) Pay Down Debt - well, we're not quite halfway there. However I am proud of the fact that we've made a sizable dent in revolving debt AND refrained from utilizing credit cards during hubs unemployment. So I categorize this as a win. 5) One Grocery Trip a Week - HA. Failed that one. 6) Spend More Time With Friends - this we were better about as the year wore on. We've spent several weekends at least meeting up for a movie and have ventured out of our hermitage more weekends than not. WIN! 7) See More Movies - done and done! We've been to the movies so much more than previous years and I've even seen a few films I regretted paying admission for! A far cry from the previous year where I missed seeing the Harry Potter film! 8) Home Improvements - I spent 3 days painting the dining room. I'm counting that as an accomplishment! 9) Belle Time - well, hubs has been very diligent about walking the dog once or twice a day. Can I get half credit? 10) Continue to improve my health - I count this as a win, spent some quality time in physical therapy and am now under treatment for PCOS.

Out of 10 resolutions, I count 7.5 as done. A solid C average, passing but I think I can do better in 2011!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Seems like everyone around me gave birth! Just kidding, a lot of friends and family are currently expecting and my pal HilStreet gave birth in November.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Thankfully, no.

5. What countries did you visit?

Does South Tucson count? No? No foreign trips for us, and actually no personal travel outside a very short trip to Houston for Christmas for me. Most of my travel was work-related this year.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you didn’t have in 2010?

Nothing for me, but I'd like for my husband to have a permanent full time teaching position!

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

To be honest, I don't recall the exact dates, but I distinctly remember the days I spent waiting for my Mom to get out of surgery (her carotid endarectomy and later her bypass) and the day Bill was laid off. I also recall the day I got the phone call from my Dr. regarding PCOS (on the roof at work) with amazing clarity.

8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?

Hmmm...this is tough. I have to be honest, 2010 isn't full of fond memories so things like "achievements" aren't at the forefront of my mind. I did achieve some successes at work and got my best performance review ever, and I also painted an entire room on my own. Those were two big achievements!

9. What was your biggest failure?

Being selfish about the hardship of having a spouse out of work - I wasn't always as supportive as I could be regarding that. I also continued to let family members get to me...I've been working on realizing that no matter what I do, some folks will never care or be supportive. Yet I still continue to be disappointed. When will I learn!?

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nothing new - however I did get some diagnoses and get treated for issues that have been going on for quite some time. I had several months of physical therapy for neck/back pain and was diagnosed with PCOS near the end of the year.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Well, there wasn't a whole lot of shopping this year and the thing I'm most excited about hasn't arrived yet. My brother introduced me to Quo Vadis planners and I've ordered a pair for us. I was also proud of the Christmas gifts we did this year on a limited budget (details to come)!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Well, let's keep in mind that my husband has been dealing with a wife who went off birth control way back in March and has had subsequent wacky hormone levels that were only identified in Nov. And all this during his own trials and tribulations of unemployment! My brother gets an honorable mention for always knowing the right thing to say.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

A local school district comes to mind...

14. Where did most your money go?

The mortgage, without a doubt. We would have liked to save more, however I am satisfied with our fiscal performance in the face of an unexpectedly reduced cash inflow.

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

Honestly? This year finally ending. It wasn't a great year and I'm delighted to see it go and look forward to good things in 2011. I'm an eternal optimist.

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?

Lady Gaga - between Glee and dancing to it on Dance Central (via Kinect) that will make me think of this year!

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

a) Well, when compared directly to this time last year sadder (but maybe more hopeful about the future?)

b) About the same.

c) HA, poorer for sure!

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

I think I did a good job being more active this past year, I do wish I'd done more around the house and spent more time with my parents.

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

Spending unnecessarily - it just stressed me out. I also wish I'd spent less time worrying about what family members were saying behind my back and being upset about lack of support from key areas of our life...I can't change people, just how I react to them.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

I was in Houston visiting my brother, unfortunately work and funds prevented my husband from going and this was perhaps a mistake. I felt guilty, he felt lonely, and that overshadowed most of the weekend.

21. Did you fall in love with 2010?

Yes. With Sheldon Cooper.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Oh, so many... I love TV. We never missed How I Met Your Mother, Big Bang Theory, The Soup, The Office, 30 Rock, assorted reality tv shows...I think a shorter list would include my least favorite tv programs.

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

I wouldn't say hate, perhaps disappointed...but I don't think there is anyone new to add to the list. However this is an unbloggable topic so I can't get into details.

24. What was the best book you read?

I read a lot of books this year, the Kindle makes it easy (too easy!) to download books. The ones that stick out are the Hunger Games trilogy. Those were the only books I insisted on sending to a friend! I'm also enjoying At Home, by Bill Bryson (big fan of his) which I'm reading right now, and was a fan of the Great and Terrible Beauty trilogy (must read for Victorian era enthusiasts), Never Let Me Go, and Hex Hall...among many others. I need to do a post dedicated entirely to my kindle habit I believe.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Nothing much new this year, the older I get the less time and patience I have for discovering new music and I stick mainly to top 40 and old favorites!

26. What did you want and get?

I've always wanted a snuggie and it was everything I dreamed!

27. What did you want and not get?

An iPad, of course! Maybe in 2011 (hint hint)!

28. What was your favorite film of 2010?

Well, so far I'd go with Harry Potter...however I'm planning on seeing Black Swan tomorrow and I hear excellent things about that.

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

I was 32 and I did the same thing I've done for the past several years...nothing. It's the busiest time at work and I don't think I've actually celebrated a birthday in 8 years now.

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

My husband getting a new job? Getting a new job myself? I think the underlying theme would be feeling more secure.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2010?

Business. Black. Grey. Occasionally jewel tones. For 2011 I'm looking to incorporate my snuggie into casual Fridays though.

32. What kept you sane?

My brother, my dog, chocolate, salt and vinegar potato chips, friends (both "in real life" and "in blog life").

33. What political issue stirred you the most?

HA HA HA...would anyone like to discuss the current state of our appropriation structure and the fact it hasn't changed since the 1920's when budgets were, for all intents and purposes, invented and the fact that there haven't been many changes to that law since? No? I was also mightily irritate by the sudden awareness of continuing resolutions, like they just happened THIS YEAR when it's not even all that late (seriously, I've had a full year CR in the past and the usual date for a final budget is about April) and they occur each and every year. This is a topic near and dear to my heart!

34. Who did you miss?

Same folks I always do, my brother, my extended family in Chicago, friends in OK and WA.

35. Who was the best new person you met?

Well, we never did get to meet face to face but I've gotten to know TUWABVB this year! Missed her when I was in Austin last summer:( I've gotten to know a lot of fantastic ladies via twitter and blogs over the past few years and for that I'm truly grateful.

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

Life moves on. Some people you can always count on. And if your friends (or family) aren't there for you at your worst, they don't deserve you at your best.

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

I will survive!