2010 in Review
Dec. 31st, 2010 03:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rms102010 had a lot of ups and downs, but it was good. Here's the usual end-of-the-year meme.
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
Sold something I made for real money.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I flossed, but failed at my ill-defined resolution about uploading pictures to Flickr. I am making more resolutions for 2011, though.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! Quite a few friends, and a cousin.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
NONE. This is the first calendar year since 2001 in which I did not leave the United States.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Boots? Oh my god, I always answer clothing on this question, don't I. Okay, how about people with whom we can trade baby-sitting duties.
7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
December 28, the day Sam took his first steps.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
The alphabet poster.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I didn't get a job, but I'm strangely not categorizing that as a failure. Hm. I should have been more proactive at meeting new people (and re-connecting with others) in the Bay Area.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Neck and shoulder issues.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
The push toy for Sam.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The eeee!'s, for being such an awesome dad and partner. (Same as last year!)
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Oh, goodness, lots of people's, but I don't want to focus on the negative. (Same as last year!)
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, baby, rent. I live inSanta Barbara the Bay Area!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Moving to the Bay Area, watching Sam become more mobile and more engaged with the world.
16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
The song "Say Hey (I Love You)", by Michael Franti & Spearhead, that was ALWAYS PLAYING at daycare when we picked up Sam.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Slightly fatter.
iii. richer or poorer? Dude, babies are expensive. (All same as last year! And yes, I actually am slightly fatter now than I was at 2 months post-partum. You see, when you're breastfeeding, you can eat pretty much ALL THE FOOD IN THE WORLD. And, uh, Sam's fully weaned and I haven't quite adjusted my diet yet.)
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Programming in Python.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Playing silly online games.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
We were at my parents' for Christmas. My brother and his girlfriend were also there, and it was so much fun to have all seven (seven!) of us in the house.
22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
No.
23. How many one-night stands?
None. (Same as last year! Duh.)
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Mad Men, Top Chef, 30 Rock, Sherlock.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
This question annoys me every year, does that count? Oh, actually, I was really furious at Jon Stewart for the false equivalencies he was making in his advertising for the Rally to Restore Sanity. But he redeemed himself by single-handedly influencing the passage of the 9/11 First Responders bill.
26. What was the best book you read?
Blackout and All Clear, by Connie Willis.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The album We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions, Bruce Springsteen. It is SO GOOD. I discovered it when looking for a good version of "Erie Canal". There is just so much joy in these versions.
28. What did you want and get?
To make it to one year of breastfeeding Sam. Housing in the Bay Area within our budget.
29. What did you want and not get?
A JOB. Housing in a more walkable neighborhood.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Oh god, I saw like three movies all year, so I'll say the Harry Potter movie.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 31, and we were driving up the coast to move. It was 108 F (42 C) in spots, and I was sharing the backseat with Sam and Doc. It was a horrible, horrible drive, that we were only making because we'd been told our stuff would arrive at our new place the next day. Late in the day, we learned that no, actually, it wasn't arriving for another four days. AAARGH.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A job? Although this is a fun age to stay at home with Sam, so there are worse things in life than spending a few months at home with him.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
When I was working, I actually had a pretty decent smart casual wardrobe happening! Now, I'm not buying any clothes until I have a job (due to lack of funds, and not knowing what sort of clothes I'll need), so it's gotten kind of boring. Oh, except I discovered scarves this year. (Little-known fact: they're legally required in Northern California.)
34. What kept you sane?
The time in the evenings after dinner when we all hang out and play.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
No one, really.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Oh, Christ, I don't know. I was really annoyed more than stirred.
37. Who did you miss?
Friends we left in Santa Barbara.
38. Best new person you met?
People in the Bay Area.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
Not every day or even every week will be fully balanced between career and self and family. And that's okay.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I don't think there is one for this year!
(Previous years: 2006, 2008, and 2009.)
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
Sold something I made for real money.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I flossed, but failed at my ill-defined resolution about uploading pictures to Flickr. I am making more resolutions for 2011, though.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! Quite a few friends, and a cousin.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
NONE. This is the first calendar year since 2001 in which I did not leave the United States.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Boots? Oh my god, I always answer clothing on this question, don't I. Okay, how about people with whom we can trade baby-sitting duties.
7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
December 28, the day Sam took his first steps.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
The alphabet poster.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I didn't get a job, but I'm strangely not categorizing that as a failure. Hm. I should have been more proactive at meeting new people (and re-connecting with others) in the Bay Area.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Neck and shoulder issues.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
The push toy for Sam.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The eeee!'s, for being such an awesome dad and partner. (Same as last year!)
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Oh, goodness, lots of people's, but I don't want to focus on the negative. (Same as last year!)
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, baby, rent. I live in
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Moving to the Bay Area, watching Sam become more mobile and more engaged with the world.
16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
The song "Say Hey (I Love You)", by Michael Franti & Spearhead, that was ALWAYS PLAYING at daycare when we picked up Sam.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Slightly fatter.
iii. richer or poorer? Dude, babies are expensive. (All same as last year! And yes, I actually am slightly fatter now than I was at 2 months post-partum. You see, when you're breastfeeding, you can eat pretty much ALL THE FOOD IN THE WORLD. And, uh, Sam's fully weaned and I haven't quite adjusted my diet yet.)
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Programming in Python.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Playing silly online games.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
We were at my parents' for Christmas. My brother and his girlfriend were also there, and it was so much fun to have all seven (seven!) of us in the house.
22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
No.
23. How many one-night stands?
None. (Same as last year! Duh.)
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Mad Men, Top Chef, 30 Rock, Sherlock.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
This question annoys me every year, does that count? Oh, actually, I was really furious at Jon Stewart for the false equivalencies he was making in his advertising for the Rally to Restore Sanity. But he redeemed himself by single-handedly influencing the passage of the 9/11 First Responders bill.
26. What was the best book you read?
Blackout and All Clear, by Connie Willis.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The album We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions, Bruce Springsteen. It is SO GOOD. I discovered it when looking for a good version of "Erie Canal". There is just so much joy in these versions.
28. What did you want and get?
To make it to one year of breastfeeding Sam. Housing in the Bay Area within our budget.
29. What did you want and not get?
A JOB. Housing in a more walkable neighborhood.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Oh god, I saw like three movies all year, so I'll say the Harry Potter movie.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 31, and we were driving up the coast to move. It was 108 F (42 C) in spots, and I was sharing the backseat with Sam and Doc. It was a horrible, horrible drive, that we were only making because we'd been told our stuff would arrive at our new place the next day. Late in the day, we learned that no, actually, it wasn't arriving for another four days. AAARGH.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A job? Although this is a fun age to stay at home with Sam, so there are worse things in life than spending a few months at home with him.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
When I was working, I actually had a pretty decent smart casual wardrobe happening! Now, I'm not buying any clothes until I have a job (due to lack of funds, and not knowing what sort of clothes I'll need), so it's gotten kind of boring. Oh, except I discovered scarves this year. (Little-known fact: they're legally required in Northern California.)
34. What kept you sane?
The time in the evenings after dinner when we all hang out and play.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
No one, really.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Oh, Christ, I don't know. I was really annoyed more than stirred.
37. Who did you miss?
Friends we left in Santa Barbara.
38. Best new person you met?
People in the Bay Area.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
Not every day or even every week will be fully balanced between career and self and family. And that's okay.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I don't think there is one for this year!
(Previous years: 2006, 2008, and 2009.)
