2010: In Words

I like the idea of doing this year-end quiz that is quite popular in the Blogging World. I don’t have one to compare it to for last year, but I plan to still be blogging next year, so I will have one then.

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?

Ran a 5K, had a baby, cooked all sorts of new things.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I don’t remember what I resolved to do last year, honestly. I think “deliver baby” was pretty much the only thing on my mind. And maybe “stop puking” since I was still in THAT phase of pregnancy last New Years.

As for 2011? I have some ideas:

• Get physically active again (which will help with my goal to lose weight, which I refuse to make a resolution).
• Have a weekly vegetarian dinner.
• Take more pictures. Not just of Xander (though this too), but in general. I miss photography.
• Write. Write. Write. While I was pregnant I had thought I’d finish a draft of a book I have mulling around in my head, but obviously I did not do this. So my goal this year: make decent headway on this book. Write a draft of it. Even if it’s a Shitty First Draft (sorry, it’s not MY bad language, it’s Anne Lamott’s!)
• Find a way to get some teaching experience, even if it’s a single adjunct course for a community college. Anything at all.
• Live someplace with an actual, honest to goodness, yard. OK. So I don’t really have a ton of control over this one, but I want to put it down just for the sake of putting it down.
• Get. Out. Of. The. House. I am a TERRIBLE homebody. And as Xander is able to stay awake longer, I want to get out. Go do things. I live in San Diego, for Pete’s sake. Go to free museum day at Balboa Park. Go to the beach. Go. Do. Also: shower.
• Try getting involved in the church JS and I attend occasionally. It seems like a nice group of normal people. And I want to be in a community again. This is a hard one because I’ve been burned, badly and more than once, by churches out here. But….this one seems different (a big thing for me in selecting it is that they perform weddings/civil unions for same sex couples), so I’m going to try again.

It’s not the most ambitious list ever, but I think that’s a good thing. Profound and life altering resolutions are hard to keep and easy to give up on. For the most part, these are all things I can realistically see myself doing.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes! Me! Also my bestie Paula had her sweet baby girl, and a friend from college whom I reconnected with on Facebook had her third (!) little man.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No.

5. What countries did you visit?

None.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?

I’d say a stronger sense of purpose, if that makes any sense. Maybe that means a job, maybe that means feeling more comfortable in my role as a stay at home mom. I’m still sort of feeling out of sorts since leaving my job TWO years ago. And it’s time to stop identifying myself solely with WHAT I do, rather than WHO I am.

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

July 8: Xander’s birth.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Xander.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Hmmm. I…don’t know. I think this one goes back to #6 a bit. I let myself feel lost and adrift rather than finding a way to start my own life.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nothing major. A stomach bug. Morning sickness. A cold. Standard stuff. Thank goodness.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

A doula. Seriously. Best money I ever spent was hiring L to help JS and I out with Xander’s delivery.

12. Where did most of your money go?

Starbucks? Ha ha. Baby stuff and rent, probably.

13. What did you get really excited about?

Xander. Harry Potter.

14. What song will always remind you of 2010?

“It’s a Brand New Day” by Joshua Radin.

15. Compared to this time last year, are you: – happier or sadder? Happier. – thinner or fatter? Both! Fatter than the beginning of the year, but much thinner than right before Xander was born. – richer or poorer? Financially poorer, absolutely.

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Gotten out and enjoyed San Diego more. Explored the city in new ways.

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Worrying and moping.

18. How did you spend Christmas?

Christmas morning at home with my small family, afternoon with at a friend’s house, evening with some extended family.

19. What was your favorite TV program? LOST. Glee. (and I’m not ashamed!)

20. What were your favorite books of the year?

Oh, this is a hard one. How about books I read this year, since I don’t know if they’re ACTUALLY from this year or not, and I’m way too lazy to find out. Room by Emma Donoghue. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Promise Not to Tell by Jennifer McMahon. Graceling by Kristin Cashore.  I know there are others that I’m leaving off….

21. What was your favorite music from this year?

Glee songs (shut up). Mumford and Sons. Joshua Radin. Beth Orton. Bon Iver.

22. What were your favorite films of the year?

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The Kids Are Alright. Toy Story 3. How to Train Your Dragon.

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I had a cold on my birthday this year, so we stayed home with some Panera takeout for breakfast (instead of brunch) and watched some crappy TV. I was 31.

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

Same answer as some of the others: being more comfortable in my own skin and in my life. Being present, in the moment, rather than looking ahead to the future.

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?

Um. Does “elastic waist band” count as “fashion?”

26. What kept you sane? My family. Walking the dog. Reading. Facebook.

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.

Stay present. Enjoy the moment you are in.