2012 in Review
Dec. 30th, 2012 10:15 pm1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
Learned to crochet.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I did not exactly keep my New Year's resolution about calling out concern-trolling, but it turns out that plenty of people were doing that (especially when it came to health care, etc.). However, about halfway through the year I made a resolution to be better at finishing things -- whether it's a final editing pass on a document or weaving in ends on something I've crocheted or wiping off the counter after washing dishes. I've gotten a lot better at it, but it's something I still need to work on. So it is my on-going resolution for 2013.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! Friends, family, and meeeeeee!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes -- my grandmother and two aunts.
5. What countries did you visit?
Norway (to visit my brother) and Germany (to visit a friend). With a toddler, yo.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
A shorter commute.
7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 6 -- election day and Leo's birth day!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Some of this is luck, but finding a new job relatively quickly while unemployed and visibly pregnant.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I'm not really sure, actually.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had a pretty easy pregnancy until the last month, when my round ligament pain was so bad I could barely walk. I also had a third-degree tear and a postpartum hemorrhage during/after childbirth.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Honestly can't think of anything.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Sam has been difficult the last few nights, but overall he was a trooper with us moving, him starting preschool, him getting a little brother, and going through potty-training.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Most of the GOP's.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent and daycare.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Having a second kid.
16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
I can't think of one in particular. I don't listen to tons of music, actually. Oh, probably one of the songs that Sam has picked up at preschool.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier but more stressed.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter. I am 7 weeks postpartum here, people.
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Like last year, I'm pretty happy with how I spent my time this year. I have a job, we spend a lot of time together as a family, and that doesn't leave me with much time to "waste".
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I really can't think of anything.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
We stayed at home, and my in-laws were here. Poor Sam had a bad cold.
22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
No.
23. How many one-night stands?
None. (Same as last year! Duh.)
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Parks and Rec, Downton Abbey, Community, Sherlock, Nashville.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Of course not.
26. What was the best book you read?
The Red Garden, by Alice Hoffman. Loved it.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Didn't have one this year.
28. What did you want and get?
A JOB. A completely intervention-free labor and delivery. Success breastfeeding.
29. What did you want and not get?
A magical solution to our Oakland-Stanford job split.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I only saw three movies this year, so I suppose Moneyball was my favorite of the three.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 33, and I can't remember what we did. I was really pregnant, and we were getting ready to move . . . it was all kind of chaotic.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I'm not sure. There was a job at UCOP that I was in the running for and didn't get, but I very much like the job I have now.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Maternity clothes in a business casual environment! It is as boring as it sounds.
34. What kept you sane?
Caffeine.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Chip Esten, who I've loved FOREVER and is currently killing it on Nashville.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Health care and reproductive rights.
37. Who did you miss?
Extended family.
38. Best new person you met?
Sam's preschool teachers are the best.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
Working hard pays off in ways that you can't necessarily predict.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Don't have one. This was a year of massive change -- new jobs for both me and Eli, a short stretch of unemployment for me, a move, and a second kid. Good god, I'm tired again just thinking of it. (Also, haven't had a 5-hour stretch of sleep in over a week.)
Learned to crochet.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I did not exactly keep my New Year's resolution about calling out concern-trolling, but it turns out that plenty of people were doing that (especially when it came to health care, etc.). However, about halfway through the year I made a resolution to be better at finishing things -- whether it's a final editing pass on a document or weaving in ends on something I've crocheted or wiping off the counter after washing dishes. I've gotten a lot better at it, but it's something I still need to work on. So it is my on-going resolution for 2013.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! Friends, family, and meeeeeee!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes -- my grandmother and two aunts.
5. What countries did you visit?
Norway (to visit my brother) and Germany (to visit a friend). With a toddler, yo.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
A shorter commute.
7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 6 -- election day and Leo's birth day!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Some of this is luck, but finding a new job relatively quickly while unemployed and visibly pregnant.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I'm not really sure, actually.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had a pretty easy pregnancy until the last month, when my round ligament pain was so bad I could barely walk. I also had a third-degree tear and a postpartum hemorrhage during/after childbirth.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Honestly can't think of anything.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Sam has been difficult the last few nights, but overall he was a trooper with us moving, him starting preschool, him getting a little brother, and going through potty-training.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Most of the GOP's.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent and daycare.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Having a second kid.
16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
I can't think of one in particular. I don't listen to tons of music, actually. Oh, probably one of the songs that Sam has picked up at preschool.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier but more stressed.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter. I am 7 weeks postpartum here, people.
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Like last year, I'm pretty happy with how I spent my time this year. I have a job, we spend a lot of time together as a family, and that doesn't leave me with much time to "waste".
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I really can't think of anything.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
We stayed at home, and my in-laws were here. Poor Sam had a bad cold.
22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
No.
23. How many one-night stands?
None. (Same as last year! Duh.)
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Parks and Rec, Downton Abbey, Community, Sherlock, Nashville.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Of course not.
26. What was the best book you read?
The Red Garden, by Alice Hoffman. Loved it.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Didn't have one this year.
28. What did you want and get?
A JOB. A completely intervention-free labor and delivery. Success breastfeeding.
29. What did you want and not get?
A magical solution to our Oakland-Stanford job split.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I only saw three movies this year, so I suppose Moneyball was my favorite of the three.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 33, and I can't remember what we did. I was really pregnant, and we were getting ready to move . . . it was all kind of chaotic.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I'm not sure. There was a job at UCOP that I was in the running for and didn't get, but I very much like the job I have now.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Maternity clothes in a business casual environment! It is as boring as it sounds.
34. What kept you sane?
Caffeine.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Chip Esten, who I've loved FOREVER and is currently killing it on Nashville.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Health care and reproductive rights.
37. Who did you miss?
Extended family.
38. Best new person you met?
Sam's preschool teachers are the best.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
Working hard pays off in ways that you can't necessarily predict.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Don't have one. This was a year of massive change -- new jobs for both me and Eli, a short stretch of unemployment for me, a move, and a second kid. Good god, I'm tired again just thinking of it. (Also, haven't had a 5-hour stretch of sleep in over a week.)
Books and Movies, 2011
Dec. 31st, 2011 09:12 pmBooks:
Re-reads:
Abandoned Books:
Movies:
- The Golden Gate, Vikram Seth
- The White Queen, Philippa Gregory
- Half a Crown, Jo Walton
- The Red Queen, Philippa Gregory
- The Last of the Tribe: the Epic Quest to Save a Lone Man in the Amazon, Monte Reel
- Bossypants, Tina Fey
- At Home, Bill Bryson
- The Secret Lives of Dresses, Erin McKean
- Packing for Mars, Mary Roach
- The Death and Life of Great American Cities, Jane Jacobs
- Spoiled, Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan
Re-reads:
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J. K. Rowling
Abandoned Books:
- Rapture Ready: Adventures in the Parallel Universe of Christian Pop Culture, Daniel Radosh
Movies:
- Inception
- Richard III
- Toy Story 3
- Amadeus
- The Adjustment Bureau
- The Other Boleyn Girl
- Hot Tub Time Machine
- The Right Stuff
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
- Exit Through the Gift Shop
- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
- Bridesmaids
- Helvetica
- The Muppets
- Bill Cunningham New York
- Midnight in Paris
2009 in review!
Dec. 31st, 2009 03:36 pm2009 was quite a year! (I'll do a wrap-up of the decade later, maybe.) Here's the end-of-the-year meme, which I also did in 2006 and 2008. I know that the answers will be heavily on the family side, but I did spend the entire year either pregnant or taking care of a newborn.
( 2009 )
Happy New Year, everyone! May 2010 bring you lots of wonderful times.
( 2009 )
Happy New Year, everyone! May 2010 bring you lots of wonderful times.
2007 books
Dec. 31st, 2007 06:46 amHere goes the list for 2007, which can't possibly be shorter than the 2006 list. But we shall see.
(Last updated 10/15/07)
First-time reads:
Re-reads:
Abandoned books:
(Last updated 10/15/07)
First-time reads:
- Kitchen Confidential, Anthony Bourdain
- The Boleyn Inheritance, Philippa Gregory
- When We Were Orphans, Kazuo Ishiguro
- The Pirates! In an Adventure with Communists, Gideon Defoe
- Wickett's Remedy, Myla Goldberg
- Farthing, Jo Walton
- Close Range: Wyoming Stories, Annie Proulx
- The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy
- The Sirens of Titan, Kurt Vonnegut
- Family Romance: A Love Story, John Lanchester
- Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits, Laila Lalami
- Innocent Traitor, Alison Weir
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
- Longitude, Dava Sobel
- The Namesake, Jhumpa Lahiri
- Microserfs, Douglas Coupland
Re-reads:
- Doomsday Book, Connie Willis
- The Long Winter, Laura Ingalls Wilder
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling
- The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Good Omens, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Abandoned books:
- Apartment Therapy: the eight-step home cure, Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan
- Winter's Tale, Mark Helprin
- Weight, Jeanette Winterson
- Four Queens: The Provencal Sisters Who Ruled Europe, Nancy Goldstone
- One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
- Hocus Pocus, Kurt Vonnegut
Books of 2006
Dec. 31st, 2006 08:50 pmHere are the books I've read so far in 2006 (last updated 12/31/06):
( First-time reads: )
( Re-reads: )
( Abandoned books )
It's a pretty short list, especially as it's only half the number as 2005. My favorites were:
2007 is going to be a crazy year for me -- trying to get a job, finish my PhD, move to a place, and start a new job, all by October at the latest -- so I don't expect it to go much better, reading-wise. I think I'll try to pick books by what I'm in the mood for, and not worry about reading enough classic fiction or non-fiction or whatever.
( First-time reads: )
( Re-reads: )
( Abandoned books )
It's a pretty short list, especially as it's only half the number as 2005. My favorites were:
- The Voyage of the Narwhal, Andrea Barrett
- The Remains of the Day, Kazuo Ishiguro
- The Commitment: Love, Sex, Marriage, and my Family, Dan Savage
- Into Thin Air, Jon Krakauer
- Sweetness in the Belly, Camilla Gibb
- Gaudy Night, Dorothy L. Sayers
2007 is going to be a crazy year for me -- trying to get a job, finish my PhD, move to a place, and start a new job, all by October at the latest -- so I don't expect it to go much better, reading-wise. I think I'll try to pick books by what I'm in the mood for, and not worry about reading enough classic fiction or non-fiction or whatever.