2009 in Review

So I did this last year, and I really liked it. I think it is good for self reflection, and an interesting way to document part of my life, which is the point of a Blog after all.
What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Went to Europe, whooooo! Took like 1000 pictures of Paris, stayed on an aritforce base, visited a real castle, several in fact. Stepped down from a job, simplified my life, found new joy. Applied to Grad school

Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Nope, still have last year’s ten pounds too loose.
For this year, I would like to be a nicer person.
To find peace inside myself and focus on developing character.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
Hilary has a beautiful baby boy, and I’m shockingly jealous. Nearly all the woment I work with had babies this year.

Did anyone close to you die?
Todd’s Grandmother, still miss my mom, as always.

What countries did you visit?
Germany and France, sadly no new ones on the agenda for this year, maybe Todd and I will have to plan a road trip to Canada, I have visited a new one every year for the past three or four years, and I don’t want to let it go.

What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Wow, this one is hard for some reason, I think I’m happy, I have lots of plans for the new year and our future but no feeling that I lack something.
But I got last years Eiffel Tower that I purchased myself in Paris.

What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory?
The happy feeling I had when Todd told me he wanted to quite his job and go back to school. It was kid on Christmas morning kind of happy.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Downsizing my life. I changed my job and went back to teaching looking for something simpler and less stressful. I tried to emphasize who I am outside of my job because I felt that it defined who I felt I was too much, and I looked for a different kind of joy. I’m used to pushing hard and achieving things moving forward being how I define success, it was challenging and different to set goals that involved going back, slowing down, finding joy. I think that it changed my life philosophy a bit. And realizing that I still have a lot of work in this department.

What was your biggest failure?
I have thought about this for a while and im not sure. I have lots of things about my life that I want to be different but I see these more as works in progress than failures. But I kind of have a love hate relationship with failure because, of course I like to be successful at things and do well in my life, but I learn a lot from the failures in my life. Its like angry feelings, my angry feelings are great red flags for the things in my life that I need to step back from and look at how I can do differently. When I have a failure or angry emotions that I just can’t shake it’s because I need to look at making some changes in my life, and in a really weird way, I like that.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Actually been a bit healthier in general, I did have to get my nose x-rayed, cus I swear it was broken after being hit a few times by one of my residents but luckily only scratches and bent glasses came out of the whole thing, and a bit of wounded pride I suppose.

What was the best thing you bought?
Hum, love my new phone and the new car, because it has seat warmers and keyless entry. Which consequently is now for sale because Todd went back to school, a good trade I think, even though I love, love, love that car.

Whose behavior merited celebration? Todd’s, as always, for making me a better person and being brave enough to go back to school. A co-worker that showed me though example that it is possible to be exceptionally kind and still get a really hard job done. That being stressed, frustrated, and under pressure all the time does not need to make you frazzled and short tempered. I know this seems like a simple lesson but it has had a big impact on me to see it done so well.


Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
A co-worker I used to respect who let the job get to them and destroy many relationships they had spent years developing, who was frazzled and short tempered and fear full and suspicious. Then let that become back biting, petty, and unapproachable. Which I hated because it was someone I used to genuinely like and respect. Who I learned from because I could see so much of myself in and in comparison to the co-worker and see from the outside how it impacted others, and decide to work very hard at being something else.

Where did most of your money go?
Todd’s school, cars, travel, and craft supplies. In that order.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to Paris. I actually squealed like a little girl when I saw the Eiffel Tower!

Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier, much happier
b) thinner or fatter? The same, but I don’t really put any effort into changing, I just like to think that I do.
c) richer or poorer? Poorer, but Todd is in school so happy.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Attending cultural events, plays, concerts, independent films, art museums and such, same as last year. Saved up for Todd’s school before he left Latitude. Cleaning, cooking, finding my own happiness. Gotten into Grad School. Gone with the flow.

What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worry, be stressed and short tempered.

What was your favorite TV program?
Oooo, way too many here. Still Project Runway, but contenders include Dexter, Modern Family, Cougar Town, Castle, Big Love, Weeds, The Tutors, The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency and The Office. Who ever invented the DVR should get a house on the beach in Hawaii FREE because they made my life better.

What was the best book you read?
Maybe Janet Evonivich, not sure. I liked Stiff and went to see the author speak wich was cool. I also discoversed Philipa Gregory who wrote “The Other Bolyn Girl” and about eight other books about the wives and children of Henry the 8th So if you every want to read 12000 pages on the subject I recommend her. I know I enjoyed it, and as an added bonus I can now keep all of Henry’s wives straight in my head. Here is the list of everything I have read in 2009. Almost a book every two weeks, not quite as much as I would like. I kind of enjoyed keeping track on my blog though. It was a good habit and I think that I will keep it up.
Fingerlicken’ Fifteen
The Geography of Bliss
New Moon
Fearless Fourteen
Plum Loven'
Lean Mean Thirteen
The Boleyn Inheritance
The Virgin's Lover
The Queen's Fool
Under the Banner of Heaven
The Other Boleyn Girl
Stiff
Bonk
The Amber Spyglass
Craft Inc
Sin in the Second City
The 19th wife
The Subtle Knife
Four Souls
When you are Engulfed in Flames
Twelve Sharp
Atlas Shrugged


What did you want and get?
Less Stress, Todd to quit his job and go back to school. A trip to Europe and an Eiffel Tower I bought on the streets of Paris, about 1000 pictures of lampposts.

What did you want and not get?
A house, A masters degree, a baby.

What was your favorite film of this year?
Nine, Sunshine Cleaning, Julie / Julia

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
29, spent it in Rapid City, South Dakota on a marketing trip. Maybe 2010 will be better.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Todd getting through school.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? I’ve tried to add color and some fun and funky accessories to my wardrobe. I have a secret inner desire to be one of those funky artsy people buck lack the bravery.

What kept you sane?
Creating things, sewing, sleeping late.

New nick names?
No but it seems I will never loose “Miss Amy” at work, even if I am and have been married for my entire teaching career so was never a “miss” or leave the classroom and become an administrator. Not even the CEO gets a Mister so why am I Miss?

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
To step back and not feel like a failure, what direction I want my life to move in, how to find a little more peace and joy.


Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Hum so not a lyrical girl how about the life motto I adopted last year. “Listen, seek knowledge, gain understanding, go confidently, live the dream.” I am still working on listening and seeking knowledge, but I feel I have more understanding and a direction for my dreams to go confidently in.