The obligatory new year meme

I like reading these in years to come so I’m going to go ahead and add it below the cut. Feel free to swipe if you want your own meme-age record!

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Honestly I can’t think of a thing. I had a literary agent before or I’d say that. (Although she worked without a contract and after sending her ten copies of my proposal, I never heard from her again. She’s a legit agent, too. This is her and it was for another project about 10 years ago so it doesn’t matter.) How about — signed a contract with an agent! It speaks to the accomplishment and is still factually true.

2. Did you keep your New Years’ Resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No resolutions. For next year I’m going to be happy regardless and grow in faith.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope. no new babies.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No (thank goodness).

5. What countries did you visit?

None. Our only travel was to Portland this past spring.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

Lots of money because 2008 was lacking in funds.

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

No particular date but Portland — the conference, presenting, Madison’s 4th birthday — was significant.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Honestly? Not giving in to my own worst fears. Not letting the stress hurt our marriage. Letting my friends in closer. Working out more than I have in years past.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Argh. Not being able to keep Brett home from work.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing significant. (Again, thank god.)
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My iPod Touch because now I’m no longer chained to my email and can get client messages even when I’m out and about.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Noah whose maturity (especially surrounded by all that IMmaturity) impresses me.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
McCain, who sold himself — and the country — out and lost the election anyway.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Bills bills bills.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting an agent. Landing new clients. Hopes. Dreams. Etc.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Probably the Elbow album Seldom Seen because I’ve been listening to it A LOT.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? About the same but I’m less worried.
ii. thinner or fatter? Same although I should be thinner, by rights, what with the working out.
iii. richer or poorer? We are richer but I feel poorer because Brett is working.

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

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying. Hollering at the kids in my worry.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
Home with the kids.

21. What LJ users did you meet?
I’ll amend this to online users. I met a lot of local people who I used to know only virtually.

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Not to be hokey but the more we get through, the more I fall in love with my husband.

23. How many one-night stands?
This is for the younger blogging set, isn’t it?

24. What was your favourite TV program?
We are Hulu-bound and The Daily Show got me through the election. Seriously. It was my coping mechanism.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No hate but there are friends who were in my life last year and who aren’t in my life now. (Well, there is one friend. I don’t hate her but I do feel bad for her and bad for how things ended.)

26. What was the best book you read?
This year? Oh gosh, I don’t know. I re-read Three Junes and didn’t love it as much, which was heart-breaking.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Elbow.

28. What did you want and get?
An agent.

29. What did you want and not get?
Scads of cash.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
I really loved Children of Heaven at the Wexner Center.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 38. And apparently I was breaking the hell out of my blog.

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

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Going from client to playdate with grace and ease. Or at least ease.

34. What kept you sane?

Weekly potluck!!!

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Not a one and the year was bleaker without an imaginary boyfriend.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Oh my GOD. The election, of course!!

37. Who did you miss?
My kids (because I was running around like a headless chicken) and my husband (when I was mad at him and pouting).

38. Who was the best new person you met?
I’ve met a lot of really great people this year. Too many to mention on blog.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Next time, pay yourself a salary and plan for the checks to show up late.

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

Pink Light by Laura Veirs

Sorry I was cruel
I was protecting myself
Drifting along with my swords out flying
Tattering my own cells then I tattered yours, too
Took you and rocked you around me like a spell

Oh, how the night drags on, oh
But I think I see a pink light and the coming of dawn
Oh, how the night drags on, oh
But in the fading of the constellations, I am growing strong
In the fading of the constellations, I am growing strong
In the fading of the constellations, I am growing strong