End Of The Year Survey

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before? I swore off men this year. I needed to focus on my own life. I didn’t date or pursue any fella. I was focusing on no emotional investment, because I find I waste a lot of energy on guys who could totally care less about me. It really helped with the whole life perspective thing.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Not really, but this year I resolve to commit to finishing my senior project, completing all my math classes and do more yoga and meditation.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Not this year! Next year I’m gonna be an aunt for the first time.

4. Did anyone close to you die? No, and I’m grateful.

5. What countries did you visit? Pretty much stayed in California. Too poor to go anywhere.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? Better focus on things that are important to me.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Of course, the events of November 4th put a little boost in my step.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Academic achievement – Getting an A on my research paper that I worked really hard on. Personal achievement – I finally let go of a really dysfunctional relationship and I don’t ever plan on going back.

9. What was your biggest failure? This seems like the first year in a long time that I haven’t had any big giant failures…just lots of little failures.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Um…no. Sore knees from running, but that’s why I’m gonna do yoga.

11. What was the best thing you bought? My education, which I’m gonna be paying for, for a long time.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Those who voted for Obama. They make me proud to be an American.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? The usual suspects. (i.e.: Bush et al.) Those who voted Yes on Prop 8. (There is no good reason for homophobia) That bitch that made my life hell when I worked at the movie theater. (Get a fucking life, asshole, you’re not in high school.}

14. Where did most of your money go? School, coffee, food and gas.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? President elect, Barrack Obama. The upcoming birth of my nephew. My new found focus for my senior project.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Lovely Day by Bill Withers and Paper Planes by MIA.

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

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? I wish I took more classes, so I could be done sooner.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Eating unhealthy food and watching so much TV.

20. How will you be spending Christmas? I was at my sister’s place in Santa Barbara. It was nice.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008? Yep, with a certain Mr. Paul Rudd.

22. How many one-night stands? None.

23. What was your favorite TV program? 30 Rock (the Oprah episode is a must see)…and the guiltiest of guilty pleasures, One Tree Hill.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? I don’t hate anyone. Strongly dislike, that’s another story. But no, not really.

25. What was the best book you read? Fiction – Rant by Chuck Palahniuk . Non-Fiction – Bitch: In Praise of Difficult Women by Elizabeth Wurtzel. Poetry – Anne Sexton.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery? M.I.A rocks my world.

27. What did you want and get? Perspective.

28. What did you want and not get? A smaller ass, but there’s always next year.

29. What was your favorite film of this year? I liked Religulous, Milk and (super duper guilty pleasure) Zack and Miri Make a Porno.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I went to dinner with my friend Jen and I turned 32.

31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Being done with school, but with the current economy I’m kinda glad to be in the safe embrace of academics.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Whatever fits my ever expanding hips.

33. What kept you sane? My friends, all those movies with Jen, my mom, coffee, my puppadoodle, Gwennie.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I fell in love with Paul Rudd, Nathan Fallon’s ass and Jon Stewart (always and forever).

35. What political issue stirred you the most? I actually got into the election. I’ve never been that politically minded, but this year was so damn exciting that I was sucked in. I’m even thinking about becoming an advocate for victim’s rights.

36. Who did you miss? I missed my friend Steve, who I mean to call, but…

37. Who was the best new person you met? Dr. Jen Yaffee

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008: So many… Rewriting your history is impossible so it’s better to put your energy into moving forward.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: I can be alone, yeah I can watch the sunset on my own. – Merry Happy by Kate Nash.