End of Year Meme
I've already watched the ball drop in Times Square at midnight (Eastern Time) - we FaceTimed the family so we could celebrate with them. But it's still 2021 here on the West Coast, so I'm squeezing this in just in time:
1. What did you do in 2021 that you'd never done before?
Handed in assignments mere minutes before the deadlines. :P. Driven the length of the Road to Hana, and also to the top of Haleakala. Worn masks (two masks) on a plane.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I am required to make New Year’s resolutions for TKD. No, I did not keep them. Yes, I’m going to make more (see “required”). I’ll give it my best shot, anyway.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My eldest niece had her second son in June. I’m not “close” to her, but that’s about as close as it’s getting.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Does Betty White count? (Aside from that, thankfully no.)
5. What countries did you visit?
None (aside from our own), but we did at least get to go on vacation this year!
6. What would you like to have in 2022 that you lacked in 2021?
For the pandemic to GO AWAY (or at least reach tolerable risk levels akin to flu). However, that’s going to require a lot of people to stop being Capital-I Idiots.
7. What date from 2021 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 6, for obvious reasons. January 20 for much better ones. July 10, the day I put my father into memory care.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I didn’t fail my classes. :P Prior to that, I earned a modest scholarship which was pretty cool, too.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Keeping up with the workload. This impacted my ability to be more present to my son, as I was always doing schoolwork. :(
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Aside from the (now-standard) Covid-related stress and despair, thankfully, no. The dog injured her ACL, however.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A trip to Hawaii.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Two, for getting into college! MiniPlu for learning to adapt to college life. Both kids, for stepping up and helping out more at home when Will and I had to be in OR (THREE separate times this year).
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Anyone associated in any way, shape or form with MAGA-nation, including anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers (who, I suspect, are mostly Trumpians, although I realize I am generalizing here).
14. Where did most of your money go?
Electronics, airfare, new roof, new dry well.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting vaccinated. Being in Hawaii.
16. What song will always remind you of 2020?
Several songs from the musical Six.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
Sadder.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Slightly fatter.
iii. richer or poorer?
Eh.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Read, paint-nite, travel, sleep.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Spending time in Oregon. (FOUR FREAKIN’ TRIPS, totaling about 5 weeks.)
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
MiniPlu and I ventured to 7:30a mass, which was nice – CA has mandatory indoor masking and people are generally really compliant in the Bay Area, so it felt relatively low-risk. Later we opened presents with my mom, and the kids also opened their stockings. I’d made homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast, too, yum. We had a quiet, relaxing day, then a nice dinner at home.
22. Did you fall in love in 2020?
Stayed in love.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Hardly watched any. Bridgerton S1, Love Victor S2. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The 4 eps of Hawkeye that I’ve seen so far.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Adding anti-vaxxers to last year’s anti-maskers.
26. What was the best book you read?
His Royal Secret; Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library; When Stars are Scattered; Red, White and Whole; She Drives Me Crazy
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Six. Also Thoroughly Modern Milly (I’ve been listening to showtunes on my drives to/from PA.)
28. What did you want and get?
Returning to in-person instruction for TKD once a week! The trip to HI. And a scholarship. I also got a new laptop when mine finally died (it came with free regular AirPods, which means I have finally joined the realm of blutooth earbuds and I love them).
29.What did you want and not get?
An end to the pandemic. :P Black belt class. Continued straight-As. More books for Christmas (I literally got only ONE!)
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Jungle Cruise.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 50. My family got up at 5a to decorate the house like CRAZY since I couldn’t really have any other real celebration. We did go out to eat in a restaurant for the first time in 16 months, eating at a quiet breakfast place on a weekday morning, which was quite enough risk for us.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Same as last year: an end to the pandemic.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2020?
Same as usual: comfortable. Jeans (shorts in summer), t-shirts, sweaters. I dress up a bit when I substitute-teach, but comfort is still the dominant theme.
34. What kept you sane?
Snuggling husband.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I don’t do much with celebrity crushes these days.
I hope we all have a safe, happy, healthy 2022. I mean, we all wished that last year after the hellhole that was 2020 and I'm pretty sure 2021 continued to suck for most people. Ending the year with the death of Betty White did not help at all. But hope springs eternal, right? RIGHT?
♥
1. What did you do in 2021 that you'd never done before?
Handed in assignments mere minutes before the deadlines. :P. Driven the length of the Road to Hana, and also to the top of Haleakala. Worn masks (two masks) on a plane.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I am required to make New Year’s resolutions for TKD. No, I did not keep them. Yes, I’m going to make more (see “required”). I’ll give it my best shot, anyway.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My eldest niece had her second son in June. I’m not “close” to her, but that’s about as close as it’s getting.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Does Betty White count? (Aside from that, thankfully no.)
5. What countries did you visit?
None (aside from our own), but we did at least get to go on vacation this year!
6. What would you like to have in 2022 that you lacked in 2021?
For the pandemic to GO AWAY (or at least reach tolerable risk levels akin to flu). However, that’s going to require a lot of people to stop being Capital-I Idiots.
7. What date from 2021 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 6, for obvious reasons. January 20 for much better ones. July 10, the day I put my father into memory care.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I didn’t fail my classes. :P Prior to that, I earned a modest scholarship which was pretty cool, too.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Keeping up with the workload. This impacted my ability to be more present to my son, as I was always doing schoolwork. :(
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Aside from the (now-standard) Covid-related stress and despair, thankfully, no. The dog injured her ACL, however.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A trip to Hawaii.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Two, for getting into college! MiniPlu for learning to adapt to college life. Both kids, for stepping up and helping out more at home when Will and I had to be in OR (THREE separate times this year).
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Anyone associated in any way, shape or form with MAGA-nation, including anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers (who, I suspect, are mostly Trumpians, although I realize I am generalizing here).
14. Where did most of your money go?
Electronics, airfare, new roof, new dry well.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting vaccinated. Being in Hawaii.
16. What song will always remind you of 2020?
Several songs from the musical Six.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
Sadder.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Slightly fatter.
iii. richer or poorer?
Eh.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Read, paint-nite, travel, sleep.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Spending time in Oregon. (FOUR FREAKIN’ TRIPS, totaling about 5 weeks.)
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
MiniPlu and I ventured to 7:30a mass, which was nice – CA has mandatory indoor masking and people are generally really compliant in the Bay Area, so it felt relatively low-risk. Later we opened presents with my mom, and the kids also opened their stockings. I’d made homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast, too, yum. We had a quiet, relaxing day, then a nice dinner at home.
22. Did you fall in love in 2020?
Stayed in love.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Hardly watched any. Bridgerton S1, Love Victor S2. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The 4 eps of Hawkeye that I’ve seen so far.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Adding anti-vaxxers to last year’s anti-maskers.
26. What was the best book you read?
His Royal Secret; Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library; When Stars are Scattered; Red, White and Whole; She Drives Me Crazy
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Six. Also Thoroughly Modern Milly (I’ve been listening to showtunes on my drives to/from PA.)
28. What did you want and get?
Returning to in-person instruction for TKD once a week! The trip to HI. And a scholarship. I also got a new laptop when mine finally died (it came with free regular AirPods, which means I have finally joined the realm of blutooth earbuds and I love them).
29.What did you want and not get?
An end to the pandemic. :P Black belt class. Continued straight-As. More books for Christmas (I literally got only ONE!)
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Jungle Cruise.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 50. My family got up at 5a to decorate the house like CRAZY since I couldn’t really have any other real celebration. We did go out to eat in a restaurant for the first time in 16 months, eating at a quiet breakfast place on a weekday morning, which was quite enough risk for us.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Same as last year: an end to the pandemic.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2020?
Same as usual: comfortable. Jeans (shorts in summer), t-shirts, sweaters. I dress up a bit when I substitute-teach, but comfort is still the dominant theme.
34. What kept you sane?
Snuggling husband.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I don’t do much with celebrity crushes these days.
I hope we all have a safe, happy, healthy 2022. I mean, we all wished that last year after the hellhole that was 2020 and I'm pretty sure 2021 continued to suck for most people. Ending the year with the death of Betty White did not help at all. But hope springs eternal, right? RIGHT?
♥