The whole month of December just flew by. I worked almost every single day, I had a bunch of on-call shifts and a couple of volunteer days at Benji's school, and car drama (I totaled my car on December 3rd), Christmas cards and gifts and stuff hanging over my head. I was exhausted. I am still recovering, and I'm not sure that my current 'vacation' will be all that restful. It hasn't started out that way, with Benji refusing to fall asleep in Las Vegas (there were lots of tears involved in that one), and Allen taking off today to drive to some museum south of Tucson, so he was MIA for about 10 hours. I have gotten a fair amount of reading done; I'm working on "The Casual Vacancy" by J.K. Rowling. I was hoping for something Harry Potter-esque, but this was Jo's first big project away from the world of Muggles and Magic, so with all the subtlety of a recent high school graduate, she went quite in the opposite direction. The writing is excellent, but definitely R-rated.
We are currently in Phoenix, to help Dave & Lexy with baby #4, who is due next Sunday. Lex is sooo uncomfortable and has a cold on top of it all, so with her being so miserable, I'm thinking she'll go early. I hope so, anyway! I can't wait to meet this new little friend!
Well, Christmas went in such a blur, with nary a picture taken, I think we'll just skip a post devoted to the holiday. Let's go to the Year-In-Review post instead, eh? This is fairly similar to the one I did last year, and the year before that, and the year before that, but it's actually from this blog. I won't really review what went on in the world, but as far as big news stories go, this is a pretty good run-down of 2013.
What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before?
Total my car. I have been in small fender-benders before, but none that have caused me this much grief. Goodbye, Silvano. I miss you.
Total my car. I have been in small fender-benders before, but none that have caused me this much grief. Goodbye, Silvano. I miss you.
Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Well, I resolved to be fabulous. The result? Not so much. Of course I do have more resolutions and plans for 2014, but I'm notoriously bad at keeping them. I need real motivation, and I think I may have found it. {More on that later.}
Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not really close. Lex is going to pop any moment, so that should be fun!
Did anyone close to you die?
My dear Ann. I miss her. A lot.
What countries did you visit?
Does 24 hours in Idaho count?
What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
The courage to actually do what I need to do.
What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory?
I don't remember the date, but our last trip to Bear Lake was kind-of a big deal. Also, Friday September 13, as the date my parents left for their mission in Peru.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I don't really have one. This year has kind-of sucked that way. I guess it could be the back-handed achievement of a goal to own a car built in the same decade in which I am living. Of course, I don't own it (I haven't even driven it yet . . .), but I suppose it's mine. The payments will be, anyway.
What was your biggest failure?
My total rejection from P.A. school. I was a little too confident with my application and telling everyone about it, and I didn't even get an interview. That really sucked.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
Thankfully, no.
What was the best thing you bought?
My suitcase. I got it for 70% off at Target, and it's awesome. I've never owned luggage that doesn't have an IHC logo on it.
Whose behavior merited celebration?
Benji has made some progress this year. He has regressed some, too (he rarely uses utensils to eat, and he's pretty much back in pull-ups full-time). But he is getting better at listening, and he can obey some simple commands. That's something!
Where did most of your money go?
Bills. Gas. Food. A few concerts. Gifts. And did I mention gas?
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I think the highlight of my year was going to the Keane concert in Boise last January. I was also very excited about receiving an iPad mini for my birthday. I also got a little too excited about the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary.
What song will always remind you of 2013?
I'm sure I listened to the whole album "Babel" by Mumford & Sons more than anything else this year, but particularly "Ghosts That We Knew." As far as popular songs go, I believe I shall do Mary's Top 10 popular songs of 2013 here. No judgement.
10. tied: "Catch My Breath" by Kelly Clarkson and "Royals" by Lorde
9. "Thrift Shop" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
8. "Sail" by AWOLNATION (though the song almost always reminds me of this video--LOL!)
7. "Carry On" by fun.
6. "My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark" by Fall Out Boy
5. "Ho Hey" by The Lumineers
4. "Gone Gone Gone" by Phillip Phillips
3. "Miss Jackson" by Panic! At The Disco
1. "Hopeless Wanderer" by Mumford & Sons
Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? Sadder.
Thinner or fatter? Fatter. It sucks.
Richer or poorer? Poorer. Can you see why this has not been my best year?
What do you wish you’d done more of? Exercising. Spending time with my boy.
What do you wish you’d done less of? Staying up too late.
How will you be spending Christmas?
Next Christmas? Not sure. Probably in Logan.
Did you fall in love in 2013?
With a certain time-travelling alien who has two hearts.
Who were your best friends?
Peggy, Allison, and my siblings.
What thing did you do that was meaningful to others?
I would hope that the whole Christmas card ordeal means a little to the people to whom I send them. They are a lot of work! This is what they looked like.
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| {front} |
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| {back, in black & white} |
What were your favorite TV programs?
I became a Whovian this year, and spent a lot of time with the Doctor. Other than Doctor Who, I watch Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife, HIMYM, Glee, Grey's Anatomy, The Mindy Project, Super Fun Night, The Following, and Broadchurch. It's a little ridiculous.
Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Um, Miley Cyrus?
What was the best book you read in 2013?
I haven't read a lot this year, but "The Heretic's Daughter" by Kathleen Kent and "Inferno" by Dan Brown were standouts.
What was your greatest musical discovery?
Mumford & Sons. Not a real 'discovery,' but more of a realization of how much I like them.
What did you want and get?
An iPad. Of course, it was expropriated by the boy, and the cracked screen is only held together by an Otterbox. We call it his iPad. I did want an iPhone, and I got it. That has been nice.
What did you want but did NOT get?
An interview with the University of Utah Physican's Assistant Program. And a trip to New York.
What was your favorite film of this year?
Probably "The Great Gatsby" or "Star Trek Into Darkness." Other movies I saw in the theater? "Iron Man 3" (meh), "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" (awesome, especially as a double-feature after "The Day of the Doctor"), "Man of Steel" (meh), "Monsters University" (love!), "Gravity" (amazing!), and Lee Daniels' "The Butler," (fascinating). I started reading "City of Bones," but I couldn't even finish the book, so I never saw the movie. And I probably never will.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 34. This is the account of the day.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A housekeeper. The house being a mess seriously stresses me out, and I'm the only one who cleans. Since I don't do that very well, and since I'm up too late and have too much to do and not enough energy, I have a lot of stress. Self-induced, I'll admit, but a lot nonetheless.
What kept you sane?
I'm going to plead the 5th on that one.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
David Tennant. LOVE!
What political issue stirred you the most?
Gay marriage. Or, I should say, marriage.
Who did you miss?
My family. Dave & Lexy moved to Phoenix in April, Rach & Wow moved to Logan in August, and Mom & Dad went to Peru on a mission. So none of us are as close (physically or otherwise) as we used to be. That makes me sad.
Who was the best new person you met this year?
Benji's new teacher Jacque. She's awesome.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.
I am the only one standing in my way.
Quote that sums up your year:
There are many. I will take a verse from "Holland Road" by Mumford & Sons.
"But I still believe though there's cracks you'll see,
When I'm on my knees I'll still believe,
And when I've hit the ground, neither lost nor found,
If you'll believe in me I'll still believe."
*sigh* That's all for now, folks. Not my best year, all in all. I do have high hopes (and actual plans and motivations) to make next year count. Out with the old . . .
