How was 2008 for you?

[tabbyphoenix]

I guess it's finally goodbye 2008 and hello 2009 ... even though I'll keep writing the date as '08 for a while ;D

So how was your year? Awesome? Good? Okay? Worst year of your life?

Any moments that changed you and your view of life altogether? Any fun moments?

Share them here!

[dianahawthorne]

Well, I filled out an end-of-the-year meme on LJ, so I'll post the questions and my responses here:
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Went overseas.

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Yes, I resolved to complete NaNoWriMo this year, and I did! And yes, I will make more for next year

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousin Leah.


4. Did anyone close to you die?
One of my sister’s classmates.

5. What travels did you embark on this year?
I went back and forth from Maryland and Colorado, and I travelled to Egypt and Jordan via Germany this summer

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A better job!

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
June 1st, the day I graduated high school; June 8th, the day I arrived in Egypt; August 25th, the day I started college.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting my IB diploma and earning 28 credits before I even started college!!

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not passing my IB maths exam.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Well, I found out that I was allergic to mangoes while I was in Jordan – not a great experience, let me tell you!

11. What was the best thing you bought?
An autographed copy of Julie Andrews’ autobiography “Home”.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The American peoples’, for making the RIGHT choice and voting for Obama!!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
George Bush, Sarah Palin, and most of the American population.

14. Where did most of your money go?
My savings account.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to Egypt and Jordan; starting college; watching TONS of Maggie Smith movies; reading.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
“Valley Winter Song” by Fountains of Wayne – definitely made me miss the East Coast!

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder? happier

ii. thinner or fatter? 5 pounds fatter, but I really needed to gain weight

iii. richer or poorer? richer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Keeping in touch with friends

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastinating


20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With my family (well, most of it)

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
No

23. How many one-night stands?
None!

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Law & Order, The X-Files, The IT Crowd, As Time Goes By

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yes, Sarah Palin.

26. What was the best book you read?
“The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” by Muriel Spark – I’ve read it 72 times to date *blushes sheepishly*; “Design for Living” and “Private Lives” by Noel Coward; “Night and Day” by Tom Stoppard

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Loreena McKennitt!

28. What did you want and get?
Mamma Mia! on DVD; the 6th season of Law & Order on DVD; a new laptop (which I bought myself)

29. What did you want and not get?
Noel Coward’s plays; Judi Dench’s autobiography; Laurence Olivier’s autobiography; Kenneth Tynan’s autobiography

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
“The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie”, as always; “Mamma Mia!”; “The X-Files: I Want to Believe”; “Burn After Reading”; “Hot Millions” (a great Maggie Smith movie!); “Young Cassidy” (another great Maggie Smith movie); and “The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne” (yet another Maggie movie, quel surprise there, huh?)

31. What did you do on your birthday?
I was at school, and my friends sang to me ; then my mom took me around Baltimore. Very boring – and it was my eighteenth, too!

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Staying on the East Coast (I miss it, even though I love Colorado); getting to see “Equus” on Broadway.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Simple, classic pieces, like always.

34. What kept you sane?
Reading.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Maggie Smith, what a surprise; and her younger son, Toby Stephens *swoons*

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The 2008 presidential election, obviously!

37. Who did you miss?
Everyone from high school!

38. Who was the best new person you met?
My friend at Boulder, also named Sarah

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Keep in touch with your friends !

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
“Often I think this sad old world is whistling in the dark.” – “Whistling in the Dark”, from the Julie Andrews movie “Darling Lili”.

[Gifted]

I'm pretty happy that a new year is starting. Hoping that it's pretty good.

It always takes me forever to get use to signing the date with the new year. I always get the dates screwed up. Last September I dated something 1992 which was the year I was born. Gosh, I had no idea how that happened.

[greyeyedgirl]

Dianahawthorne, I stole your questionnaire, because I thought it was cool!

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
I learned to drive! Granted it was a month before I turned 17, but I still got my license at 16!

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No, because I didn’t have a New Year’s resolution last year, but my resolution this year is to be a nicer person. It’s proving to be a little difficult…

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My stepmom (aka: the anti-Christ)

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, and I’m very grateful.

5. What travels did you embark on this year?
I didn’t really go anywhere, just Seattle a few times, but that’s really close to where I live.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
More time to do mindless things, or at least sleep!

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 28th, my first kiss. And I’m 17, so that is just sad…

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting an A or B+ grade in all my IB classes and discovering fanfiction!

9. What was your biggest failure?
Being the understudy for the lead in the musical just because I wasn’t a senior!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No, in fact I didn’t get sick the whole year. That’s not a lie!

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My yorkie-poodle dog Olive!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Tina Fey’s for her killer Sarah Palin impression!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Obama (just at one little tiny point, I love him) for saying he did not support gay marriage, that really shocked me.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Into my shoe collection. I love heels…

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The sixth HP movie coming out… then it didn’t! Ok, and turning 17 so I could go see R rated movies.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
I Kissed a Girl, because it was played so much! I really don’t like that song anymore.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder? happier

ii. thinner or fatter? A little fatter, but I am thin, I just have curves as well.

iii. richer or poorer? richer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Reading books, I rarely had time to read and when I did it was mostly fanfiction…

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Stressing out

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With my mom on Christmas eve and my dad on Christmas.

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Yes…

23. How many one-night stands?
None, I am the prudiest of the prudes. Come on, first kiss at 17!

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Pushing Daisies!!!!!!!!! Please don’t be cancelled!

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No

26. What was the best book you read?
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Celine Dion. I knew of her, but I never had listened to any of her songs except the Titanic one. I love her! And it isn’t my fault, because I get my taste for cheesy love songs from my mom.

28. What did you want and get?
An iTouch

29. What did you want and not get?
World peace

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Role Models, Mamma Mia, and Australia

31. What did you do on your birthday?
I went to see Role Models with my friends, it was actually pretty low-key.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not needing sleep to function

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
A collection of stylish things that appeal to me.

34. What kept you sane?
MMAD

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
James Marsden *sigh*

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The election

37. Who did you miss?
No one

38. Who was the best new person you met?
My new little sister Kate, even if she is the spawn of Satan.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Don’t pick a vice-presidential candidate just because she is an attractive woman.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
“Now I’ve had the time of my life…” lol, couldn’t resist!

[Katheryn Mae]

I stole Diana's LJ thingy too.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Had fun at SSUNS..

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Uhm ... no - I forgot it. But I'll try to make one.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope ...

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Meh ... kind of close.

5. What travels did you embark on this year?
Canda, and the East Coast.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Possible job ...

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Nov. 4th - I live in the USA. 'nuff said.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Completing a fic - which I then proceeded to lose from the hard drive.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Losing that fic.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Bruised a bone that made me limp/hobble around from July to October.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My iPod ...

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The American peoples’, for making the RIGHT choice and voting for Obama!! (didn't have to change a thing. Diana's right.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
People - mostly friends.

14. Where did most of your money go?
My savings for the digital camera that I lost ...

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
MMAD - writing

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
"Everything Changes" - by Staind - It just will.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder? happier

ii. thinner or fatter? no idea

iii. richer or poorer? richer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? keeping in touch, writing

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastinating


20. How will you be spending Christmas?
with family

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Meh

23. How many one-night stands?
None!

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Reba - Full House

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yes, Sarah Palin.

26. What was the best book you read?
“The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” by Muriel Spark - or "Speak" by Laurie H. Anderson (again ...)


27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
NotePad software! You can write your own songs.

28. What did you want and get?
Meh ... nothing really. Except a gift card/

29. What did you want and not get?
New iPod seeing both the ones I had were used. One was stolen and the other never works ...

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
“Mamma Mia!”

31. What did you do on your birthday?
I was at school, and had my Science Final. Then we walked to Friendlys' and ate ice cream.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Getting more time to write

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Simple, unique.

34. What kept you sane?
Writing, MMAD.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
...No idea ... Amy Diamond maybe ...

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The 2008 presidential election, obviously!

37. Who did you miss?
Everyone from WW!

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Uhm ... Kristen or Lee. Can't decide.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Keep your friends close. (Didn't someone say that in HP?)

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
..."Out of the doubt that fills your mind/You finally find/You and I collide" - Collide by Howie Day

[mmadforever]

Let me see, 2008...I made tons of new friends, met a famous actress and got to talk to her, passed all my classes in school, tryed out for a play (even though I didn't get the part, I still would never try something like that), was asked out and now dating this great guy, I could go on for hours. I think, overall, I had a good year and now I'm ready for 2009!

[mmadcrazyfan]

Absolutly horrid.
I lost so much weight in 2007, and last year I gained it all back and then some.
My friends ditched me, I had a really bad breakup, my grades were awful, and a bunch of people got sick.
Im just so ready for this year to be much better.

But there were good aprts too, dont get me wrong.

[MinervaMcGonagall]

Well, I filled out an end-of-the-year meme on LJ, so I'll post the questions and my responses here:
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Went to Atlanta and won a national competition.

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Several of my classmates did

5. What travels did you embark on this year?
Atlanta

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
I would like to be healthy. I've had a ton of infections and a chronic injury.

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Nov 4th- Obama elected, Dec 9th-the governor arrested

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
1st at NLC

9. What was your biggest failure?
Nothing really. Yeah,t here were things I could have done better, but I didn't injury or harm anybody.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes. I've had some tooth infections. In November, I got injured with tendonitis. It's March, and I'm still in pain. It's all I can do to get through work.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
a new car...I needed it for practicum

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Patrick Fitzgerald (US attorney who arrested the gov.)

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
the gov, my parent's, Casey Anthony's mother, many other peoples, Bella Swan's

14. Where did most of your money go?
Savings and car...I was off for 6 weeks so I lost wages too. Medical expenses as well

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
NLC, voting in my first election

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Idk

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder? Stressed and in pain

ii. thinner or fatter? About the same

iii. richer or poorer? poorer. Between medical expenses etc,

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Been wiser about my health

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastinating, spent time worrying


20. How will you be spending Christmas?
N/a
22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Yes

23. How many one-night stands?
None!

24. What was your favorite TV program?
I don't watch TV

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I hate my arm

26. What was the best book you read?
Beedle the Bard, The Cat who Series

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Taylor Swift

28. What did you want and get?
A car, oh yeah a raise

29. What did you want and not get?
gift cards to Wal-Mart

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I dont watch movies

31. What did you do on your birthday?
Did homework

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
my parents to stop the freaking drama

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Simple, classic pieces, like always.

34. What kept you sane?
music

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Sean Biggerstaff

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The 2008 presidential election and the gov.'s arrest

37. Who did you miss?
my cat

38. Who was the best new person you met?
my BF

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
ASK FOR HELP

[mercifulheavens]

I used the questionarre...sorry if anyone is offended =)

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Published my first book.

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Yes and yes

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. What travels did you embark on this year?
Chiang Mai and Bangkok!

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Better health. My health is continuing to decline though...allergies, asthma and of course nerve damage

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
August 5th. My best friend left the country.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I finished my book!

9. What was your biggest failure?
I have no clue...sorry

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Four months of off and on being bedridden and I suffered two concussions.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
a new Macbook. He works wonderfully

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
President George W. Bush. Everyone hates him and he deserves better from America.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Obama, Clinton, Biden... need I say more.

14. Where did most of your money go?
My computer... odds and ends

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My first book signing

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?


17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder? happier

ii. thinner or fatter? Same

iii. richer or poorer? about same

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
spending time with my friends

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
being alone

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With my family!

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
No, I was already in love

23. How many one-night stands?
None! I am a virgin and proud of it!

24. What was your favorite TV program?
I don't watch TV

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is a strong word...Obama maybe... not hate, maybe just really annoyed at

26. What was the best book you read?
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Dido

28. What did you want and get?
A new computer

29. What did you want and not get?
an iPod

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Murder by Death

31. What did you do on your birthday?
I was delirious in bed

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
My health being better

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
good...

34. What kept you sane?
My best friend and my kitty, Lovely

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Maggie Smith!

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The 2008 presidential election... I wept for an hour

37. Who did you miss?
My best friend

38. Who was the best new person you met?
no one new I guess

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Distance cannot separate good friends.

[MinnieQuill]

I'm stealing your quiz thing as well, Dianahawthorne!

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?

Moved from my hometown to start at a new university. Started a new degree.

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I never do the resolution thing because I always break them and then feel bad for ages. It's much easier to have none at all.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes, my cousin had twins.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, though a close friend of my father's died.

5. What travels did you embark on this year?

I just moved cities. This year I want to come over to America and teach at the summer campls.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

Less stress.

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

November 6 - the day of the move.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Having the guts to say 'I hate this' and change my degree to do what I really wanted.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Losing a friendship though I'm getting over very quickly that as I discover more things.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I had a cold, but other than that I was fine.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

I didn't buy my new cat, per-say, but I got one.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Dad and I for not killing mum's parents.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

A rumour-mongering supposed friend.

14. Where did most of your money go?

This year, I actually bought some new clothes and I always have ongoing purchases of films and books.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Seeing my friend who I haven't seen for two years. She's still a lovely, lovely nutcase.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?

I'm choosing three.

1. The Winner Takes It All - Meryl Streep
2. Sleep - Azure Ray
3. Viva la Vida - Coldplay

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder?

Erm, the same, though I would definitely say that I've discovered just how depraved some people are. On that note, I've also found out how wonderful others are.

ii. thinner or fatter?

Fatter after Christmas but I'm on the fail-safe shake diet for a fortnight so I'll be fine.

iii. richer or poorer?

Richer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Reading and letter-writing.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Stressing, caring what people thought.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

With family.

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?

No.

23. How many one-night stands?

None.

24. What was your favorite TV program?

Brothers and Sisters

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

Hate is a strong word. Hate? No. Disappointed? Incredibly.

26. What was the best book you read?

Sophie's Choice

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Meryl Streep and Azure Ray.

28. What did you want and get?

A new degree.

29. What did you want and not get?

I've got most things I actually need. Wants don't tend to bother me a great deal anymore.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?

Mamma Mia and Doubt.

31. What did you do on your birthday?

Went out to dinner.

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

A different job.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

I've kind of gone for brand names which I never thought would happen. So I look very 'upper-class' now. lol.

34. What kept you sane?

Friends, film and books.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Colin Firth.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

All of it.

37. Who did you miss?

My cousin.

38. Who was the best new person you met?

My new neighbour.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

Friends can be very easily lost and are extremely hard to gain.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

The game is on again.

An odd year now I think about it ...

[Isabelle]

And to be completely unoriginal, I'm going to borrow as well.



1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
took a roadtrip to Seattle, went to the top of the Space Needle, hugged a Sitka Spruce tree in the Hoh National Rainforest

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I never make them because I know I can't keep them.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, my cousin, Michelle had the most beautiful and tiny baby girl


4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. What travels did you embark on this year?
A two day drive each way from Minnesota to Montana and back again, and the best Thanksgiving roadtrip to Seattle and the west in general!

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
To be certain of the choices I make

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Dec. 13--my birthday. Had the most wonderful evening planned out-going to see The Nutcracker for the first time in about six years, then caught the instant Norovirus that had been going around campus two minutes before showtime--literally, and spent the night becoming more acquainted with the toilet than I really ever wanted to...

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Making up my mind about what I wanted to do in life which meant transferring to a new university, but leaving good friends behind.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Being impatient and still is...

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Noro on my birthday and a lovely allergic reaction to mosquito and deer fly bites--my ankles were the size of softballs so I couldn't walk for a couple of days

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My new laptop-and I love it so! And of course, all the 25 cent clearance books that have been on my book list for ages! I added about 100 different books to my library this year!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
A friend who is not a friend anymore! Let myself know I shouldn't waste my time and energy trying to keep up when the person really didn't care

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
That friend who is no more, who put on the act as though they were my friend for my whole college career and found she was backstabbing me the whole time and ecstatic when she found out I was transferring

14. Where did most of your money go?
Fixing my car and into my new laptop.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Finally figuring out what jazzed me up to decide what I want to do with my life: be a Wildlife Ecologist/Wildlife Rehabilitator!

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
"Take me home, country road"--John Denver and the rest of the "Seattle Mix" which includes Gaelic Storm, Rusted Root, Bon Jovi, The Killers, Jack Johnson, and Jump5 to name a few!

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder? Both: happy that I've figured out what I want to do with my life and sad that I have to leave my best friend to reach my goal

ii. thinner or fatter? thinner--a lot of stomach issues where I can't stand to digest anything thicker than broth

iii. richer or poorer? poorer on the account of my laptop and my car

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
paid attention to signals and body language

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
worrying and stressing out


20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With family on both sides-should be interesting

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
sort of...

23. How many one-night stands?
None!

24. What was your favorite TV program?
I don't have a TV to watch anything, but when I'm home I love Good Eats on the Food Network. Alton Brown is a man after my own humor...and heart and stomach!

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate, no. Disappointed and annoyed, yes, by the friend who didn't have the guts to tell me she didn't like me to the face instead of putting on the "I'm your best friend act"

26. What was the best book you read?
Very difficult decision. There's a couple: "World Without End" by Ken Follet; "Memoirs of a Geisha" by Arthur Golden (read it a couple times!); "Unbowed" by Wangari Matthai

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Yann Tiersen--someday when I get my hands to cooperate with me, I'll be able to play the main theme from "Goodbye Lenin!"

28. What did you want and get?
A rock climbing harness--finally! Bought with my birthday money

29. What did you want and not get?
a peaceful christmas with mom's side of the family, everything was forced until it finally exploded

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
"Grumpy Old Men" and "Grumpier Old Men"--these two are the classics in our family!

31. What did you do on your birthday?
See memorable date above ^

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
not having to face reailty

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
same as its been since high school: laid back, ultra comfy, with the occasional inspiration to dress up, i.e. khakis and a nice blouse-like shirt

34. What kept you sane?
Going for hikes up Mt. Helena to sit and gaze out over the valley and sketching

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I go through phases..last one was Meryl Streep, but the ones who remain constant are Robert Redford, Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, and Katharine Hepburn

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
People outside the Great Lakes Watershed wanting to tap into our water for their own use!

37. Who did you miss?
Megan, who I found out loves "Grumpy Old Men" as much as I do. Ox and Nag are the norm for us to call each other now!

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Nichole-my new roommate and Gary, my rock climbing buddy

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Never be afraid to take a chance if you leads you to your dream, even if it means leaving behind those you love

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I don't think I can pick just a lyric, rather a song: "Two of Us" originally done by the Beatles. However I like the Aimee Mann and Micheal Penn version from the movie "I Am Sam" better. You have to listen to the whole song to get feel of it, but in any case, here are my favorite lines:

Two of us wearing raincoats
Standing solo in the sun
You and me chasing paper
Getting nowhere on our way back home