2010 Year in Review

Saw this on my SIL Emily's blog. I can not resist these. I love sentence prompts! Filling this out made me realize that 2010 has been a pretty "average-ish" year for us. The kind that makes you sort of shrug your shoulders and say, "Eh." It's been fairly low-key overall for us--nothing spectacular, nothing awful. And we're totally okay with that. Grateful even.

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before? Attended a Michael Bublé concert!
   
   
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Yes, using a "phrase of the year." And yes, I already did.
   
   
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes, my friend Kristie. And I got to be there!
   
   
4. Did anyone close to you die? No. Thankfully, no.
   
   
5. What countries did you visit? We didn't do much traveling other than the beach and my Mom's 70th birthday party.
   
   
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010? I can't think of anything. Oh wait, maybe a kitchen renovation?
   
   
7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
   Aside from the usual ones, not much stands out big time other than going to the beach (wonderful), Jake's diagnosis (I don't think I'll ever forget how my stomach just DROPPED when I heard Kristie's voice on the phone), and Ellie's birth (so beautiful).
   
   
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Helping organize meals, information dissemination, and house cleaning for our friends when their son was diagnosed with leukemia, writing another novel, and just general awesomeness.
   
   
9. What was your biggest failure? Eh, I don't like to think in terms of failure. It is what it is.
   
   
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Again, thankfully, no. Just a couple of colds.
    
    
11. What was the best thing you bought? I don't know. Corkboard tiles for my organizing wall? Books?
    
    
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Kristie's and Jake's.
    
    
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? I plead the 5th.
    
    
14. Where did most of your money go? Mortgages, student loan payments, malpractice insurance, general bills, and retirement.
    
    
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? The beach and the Michael Bublé concert and just our general family and life situation. I'm genuinely happy.
    
    
16. What song will always remind you of 2010? Maybe "Hey, Soul Sister" because we hear it so much or maybe "Don't Stop Believing" since we've recently discovered Glee.
    
    
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
    a) happier or sadder? If it's possible, happier.
    b) thinner or fatter? The same.
    c) richer or poorer? Richer?
    
    
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Again, it is what it is. I'm content.
    
    
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? I suppose endless organizing of lists and emails?
    
    
20. How did you spend Christmas? Here with my beautiful family, enjoying good food and a really nice holiday. Though I was sick with a horrible sinus infection and lost my voice and we didn't get to go to our friends' house on Christmas night. Bummer. But still, all in all, a nice holiday.
    
    
21. Did you fall in love in 2010? Again and again.
    
    
22. What was your favorite TV program? Glee. Discovered it in December, thanks to a great Christmas gift from friends.
    
    
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I honestly don't hate anyone.
    
    
24. What was the best book you read? A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and The Hunger Games series.
    
    
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Tristan Prettyman?
    
    
26. What did you want and get? Desperately, a vacation at the beach. And it was fabulous.
    
    
27. What did you want and not get? I had a couple of things I hoped would work out a certain way that didn't. But it's all good now, I think. ***ARGH. I cannot get this to put a break between #27 and #28. So, imagine it.***
    
28. What was your favorite film of this year? Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1
    
    
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 36 and I spent the day with my family. My family and friends helped make it special.
    
    
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? A maid?
    
    
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010? Branching out. I've started finding clothes that fit me better . . . in the Juniors Department. Don't laugh. I apparently still have a bit of a "short" complex.
    
    
32. What kept you sane? What always keeps me sane? My family, my friends, and therapy skills. Oh, and texting. We like texting.
    
    
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Hmmmm. I spent some time researching Prince William and Kate, but fancy? The same, old stand bys, I suppose -- John Cusack, Michael Bublé, Harry Connick, Jr., etc. I guess I'd add Will Schuester to the list. :P
    
    
34. What political issue stirred you the most? Prop 8 and Healthcare and local economy stuff
    
    
35. Who did you miss? My Dad.
    
    
36. Who was the best new person you met? Ellie!
    
    
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010. Getting together with old friends is so therapeutic. Have them over for a weekend. Play lots of Band Hero and eat lots of food.
    
    
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
    (Well, this doesn't sum up my year, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I felt like this at times watching Jake's struggle with leukemia -- seems horribly unfair for a child to go through that) ------- And I know that it's a wonderful world
    But I can't feel it right now
    Well I thought that I was doing well
    But I just want to cry now (Wonderful World, James Morrison)

(I like this song, too):
Chances are we´ll be the combination
Chances come and carry me
Chances are waiting to be taken
And I can see
Chances are the fascination
Chances won't escape from me
Chances are only what we make them
And all I need
(Chances, Five for Fighting)