i wrote this up in early january but my wordpress broke so it sat in my inbox all this time. at least minus one email!
1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Did a month of training and public speaking in front of hundreds of people (cumulatively, about 20 a pop. Business travelled like mad, to the point where airport, rental, hotel and restaurant staff recognized me in Sudbury. Both were things I always wondered about, and it was a positive experience (although not something I’d always want to do).
2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I already made a resolution, and I already forgot it. Maybe Maha can remember it, I think I made it in her presence?
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Coworker Jose, who became a good friend, had a daughter in February.
4. Did anyone close to you die? No.
5. What countries did you visit? US (NYC, Buffalo, Savannah (Georgia), Sumter (South Carolina), Charlotte (North Carolina)), Canada (Goose Bay (Labrador), Sudbury (ON), Niagara Falls, Montreal (QC)), Japan
6. What would you like to have in 2009 which you lacked in 2008? More windows. (not computer)
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched in your memory, and why? Is it cheating if I go to Google Calendar for this? The day I found out I passed the interviews for my new position. Actually, that’s a lie, the bigger memory is the first interview for the position. That was awesomely fun and stressful.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Becoming a project manager.
9. What was your biggest failure? Not uploading more of my photographs despite taking them. I have a problem with sharing my work.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Probably some flus, hurt toes, cut fingers, the usual Olya stuff.
11. What was the best thing you bought? I bought: flash for my camera; I got as a present: my Movado gold watch (LOVE), e-book reader (LOVE), and iPod touch (LOVE). Actually I love a crazy amount of things I bought this year. 2 awesome dresses, some wonderful shoes, both will serve me long and faithfully. Awesomely cute elephants in Japan. Cool photo album that I finally put wedding photos into. Our first dining table (tii-iiny).
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Our cats, who have stopped fighting (YES) and started mock-fighting (even BIGGER YES, so much fun to watch).
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? No one! A lot of people made me laugh, though.
14. Where did most of your money go? I’m afraid to check. Probably coffee, and food-related purchases.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Going to Japan.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Ooh, tough one. Probably Vivaldi’s Winter, because I really heard it and understood it, and generally HEARD classical music for the first time this year.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: Happier or sadder? Thinner or fatter? Richer or poorer? Happier, thinner, richer. Wow, now it sounds like I’m showing off.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Taking pictures.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Internet-browsing.
20. How will you be spending New Year’s? I spent it with Tim, and 2 more couples, having an awesome dinner, loads of champagne, and a fun evening.
21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with? Probably one of my coworkers. I don’t phone unless I must.
22. Did you fall in love in 2008? Same person as before :)
23. How many one night stands in this last year? N/A?
24. What was your favorite TV program? Again, TOUGH. Dexter, How I Met Your Mother, HOUSE is definitely probably first?
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Nope. No hate, peace brother.
26. What was the best book(s) you read? Oh too many to list. Probably the Prattchett binge I went on is a good candidate.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Classical! Music! Vivaldi’s! Winter! *dies* It is amazing.
28. What did you want and get? iPod touch, birthday dinner from Tim, dining table.
29. What did you want and not get? I … dont think that happened.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old did you turn? Slept in, enterntained a lot of guests at home, had a romantic dinner with Tim. Turned 25.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Having a hairdresser that lives closer to me. I frustrate a lot that my hair looks bad.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? SKIRTS! JACKETS! My mom rocked my fashion. Silky clothes. Black, grey.
34. What kept you sane? … alcohol? Seriously – Maha, Mom, Tim, Cats. And drugs, of course. :P
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Mmm, Angelina Jolie. I also have an unhealthy interest in Katie Holmes. I just want her to say that she’s actually brainwashed.
36. What political issue stirred you the most? Electrion, duh. (US, duh).
37. Whom did you miss? A lot of people.
38. Who was the best new person you met? My coworkers Sim and Saul, who became great friends and fantastic people that we love to hang out with.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. It’s worthwhile to set goals. Looking at loads of design-type pictures will make you a better design-type person. It is worthwhile to let the bad go, and keep the good. Friends and family are where it’s at.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: no lyrics: http://www.last.fm/music/Antonio+Vivaldi/_/Winter
