Something to Remember

Well, one good thing about having given up Diet Coke: I have ankles again.  I had permanent cankles because of water retention, so it's nice to see some bone again.  That may be the ONLY good thing about it, because I really miss it.  Anyone who knows me knows that I am seriously addicted to Diet Coke.  I gave it up as a New Year's resolution, and although I'm notoriously bad at keeping resolutions, I have kept it up for 5 days now.  I have been drinking more water, so I guess that is good, too.

I wanted to do a 2011 year-in-review, since I haven't written too much about the end of the year anyway.  I got these questions from a socialist website, but I liked them anyway.

1. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes, my friend Martine Houmeau, and my friend Dustin Hulett.  One expected, one out of the blue, and both very sad.  Rest in peace, mes amis.

2. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Will power.  Organization.  Money.  Follow-through.

3. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Hearing Benjamin talk.

4. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My boy's.  He may be a handful, but he learned and progressed so much.  I'm very proud of him.

5. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
This is a socialist question.  Glenn Beck made their list; I don't really have anyone I can say "appalled" me.  I was surprised that Kim Kardashian's marriage lasted only 72 days, but that wasn't really depressing.

6. Where did most of your money go?
Bills.  Medical, phone, cards, services, etc.  They just keep coming.

7. Compared to this time last year, are you richer or poorer?
Poorer.  I'm really bad with money management (another non-specific resolution is to spend less).  Going back to IMC has cut my commute time drastically, so I am seeing some savings in gas money.  That's nice.

8. What did you wish you’d done more of?
Exercising.  Enjoying my afternoons.  Traveling.

9. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Going shopping after work.  It was just so easy to leave early and stop by the District on my way home.

10. What was the best book you read?
Probably U2 by U2 (don't hate!).  I loved reading their story in their own words.  I learned a lot about my favorite Irishmen, and I laughed at many of the pictures.  Bono describes his hairstyle in the early 80's as wearing a porcupine on his head.  Plus, I associate the reading of that book with an important day in Coalville.

11. What did you want and get?
A summer vacation.

12. What did you want and not get?
Not to be gimpy throughout said summer vacation.  I actually had about 12 weeks off work, but many of those were spent with my arm in a sling, and almost all of it was spent sleeping on our ridiculously uncomfortable couch.

13. What was your favorite film of the year?
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2.  What can I say?  I'm a fan.

14. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More money!!

15. What kept you sane?
U2.  I spent a lot of time listening to them, reading about them, watching their videos, attending their concert (which was INCREDIBLE), etc.  They provide a major portion to the soundtrack of my life.  I have to give an honorable mention to the "Because We Also Sing" choir.  Even though I'm not very good, I do love singing, and the rehearsals were just what I needed to forget about everything else for a while and just enjoy creating beautiful music.

16. Who did you miss?
Joyce.  Susan.  Those people who are written on my heart, but who have forgotten about me.

17. Did you know anybody who got married?
My second cousin Katherine.  My entire family was excluded from anything having to do with her wedding, and Sarah was actively disinvited from going.  I have to say I was a little offended; their family may be rich, but I thought they were more down-to-earth than that.

18. Did you move anywhere?
Nope. 

19. What pop culture event will you remember 2011 by?
In MY life, probably the U2 concert.  It was "epic" (I think that's the word of the year, no?).  In the world-view, the Harry Potter movie franchise coming to an end, Breaking Dawn (which I still haven't seen), Amy Winehouse, end of the war in Iraq, etc.

20. Quote a song lyric that sums up 2011.
I think that the song of the year would have to be Adele's "Rolling In The Deep."  I know I'm not the only one who loves it, and it spent several weeks at #1 on every chart there is.  So I think it's appropriate to quote her:

Throw your soul through every open door
Count your blessings to find what you look for
Turn my sorrow into treasured gold
You pay me back in kind and reap just what you sow




I can appreciate the Glee version of many popular songs (like "Friday"--infinitely better!), but I haven't found any version of RITD that I like as well as Adele's original.  Enjoy.

And there you have it: 2011 in a nutshell.  I should probably do a month-by-month recap as well, but this will suffice for now.  I hope your 2011 was something to remember.