you forgot what you meant when you read what you said.
I apparently haven't done the year-end questionnaire thing since 2011, which seems like a huge miss for me, in the sense that I can't look back at literally five years unless I want to muddle through the jungle of my incoherent Tumblr tags.
But! I'm gonna do it now!
Tonight we went to a New Year's Eve party thrown especially by people with kids, for people with kids. They rigged up a balloon drop that they did at 6:45 and we were home by 8, it was nice. Now we're back on our own couch, plowing through more of our third Office re-watch. It's the first episode after Michael left for Colorado and I have cried once a day, over the last several days, as a direct result of this rewatch.
1. What did you do in 2016 that you'd never done before?
I bought a car without having my dad involved at all. I mean, I'm sure he would've been, if I'd asked, but I didn't quite need to? It's a Volkswagen Tiguan and it replaced the car I (/we) bought in 2005 when I graduated college (an Oldsmobile Alero, which I always remember is what Zac Efron drove early on, and they made fun of him, because he was famous and driving it). I broke down on a mountain on I-15 in the old car, and lived, and I had never done that before and never want to do it again.
OH MY GOD EDITED TO ADD THAT WE GOT A DOG, I'VE HAD A DOG BEFORE, BUT AL AND I HAD NEVER HAD ONE ON OUR OWN, I CAN'T BELIEVE I FORGOT THE FUCKING DOG!!!!
Her name is Jolly, this is when we got her/about her!
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
What I wrote in 2011 here was, "I resolve, in vague ways, to quit doing things that are bad for me every single year. I'll just stick with that, probably." Which literally is the basic summation of my resolutions for 2017, so. Everything old is new again. I think the bad things are probably fairly identical, even.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My sister-in-law did on New Year's Eve 2015, so we celebrated my nephew's first birthday today, but that wasn't actually a 2016 birth. I was around a ~regular amount of babies, but none from anyone close to me, I don't think.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, but that's becoming an increasingly large fear I have.
5. What countries did you visit?
England, Canada.
6. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
Impulse control.
7. What date from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I don't know which day it was exactly, so I don't know if it counts, but I got promoted to a director position at work, and just that feeling of like, jesus christ, I can finally settle down for a minute, I am at a place in my career where even if I stopped any upward advancement, it would be fine, even though I won't stop. I make an amount of money that is probably, to be honest, a little much for my age yet, I'm the youngest director in the company (for now), and I'm good at what I do.
And because it seems crass to just talk about work, I'll certainly not forget Flynn starting kindergarten. I'll not forget breaking down in my car on that dumb mountain.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Ahhh, I didn't realize this was literally the next question, so basically the answer to #7. And then also, just like, being a parent. Being a mostly good parent, and a mostly good wife. GETTING A DOG
9. What was your biggest failure?
That complete lack of impulse control over things I would like to have impulse control over!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had a pretty brutal UTI at one point, I think they tried something like three or four different antibiotics. And then also, because I'm old, I get steroid/epidural shots in my lower back every three-four months now.
11. What were the best things you bought?
I bought a vintage Omega Seamaster when I got promoted. I've wanted that watch for about 20 years, because Fox Mulder had an Omega, and I like the Seamasters best. I kind of want another one, which seems insane, but maybe someday. Also my car!!!! But it doesn't feel like I "fully" bought that, because I still have a car payment.
We didn't techincally buy the dog, we adopted her, but, still! Jolly!
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Al's, my kids. But truly, Alphonse. Like, we have fights, but they're always sort of about the same thing, and it's not really a thing that matters, and beyond that, he's just -- like, fuck. He really is a genuinely good person.
13. Whose behaviour appalled you?
Every single person that voted for Donald Trump.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Kids, bills, student loans, online shopping, stupidity.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Every time the kids did something unbearably cute, Once Upon a Time, Star Wars, buying things?
16. What song will always remind you of 2016?
All of Blink-182's 'California,' the entire album and probably, "Bored to Death," the specific song. We saw them twice in concert this year!
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier, but probably close to about the same. I don't really have many complaints, which I feel very grateful for, but also in a constant lowgrade state of anxiety about.
ii. thinner or fatter? I think about the same? Maybe slightly fatter as a result of the holidays, but this probably happened last year, too?
iii. richer or poorer? Richer, I guess. Kids, man. Kids are fucking expensive.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Saving money?? Eating healthier??
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
"Putting shitty things into my body!" is what I wrote in 2011, and I agree with now! Spending money on useless things, too.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it at our house first thing in the morning, then at my parents' for a bit, then over to my brother's new house for dinner.
21. How will you be spending New Years?
I am spending it right now!
22. Did you fall in love in 2016?
I think probably more deeply/meaningfully in love with everyone I already love! They're pretty great! AND THEN ALSO WITH THE DOG, GOD I CAN'T BELIEVE I FORGOT THE DOG THROUGH THIS ENTIRE HTING
23. How many one-night stands?
None, although Al apparently had a dream the other day that I cheated on him and so dream-him kicked me out and then real-fucking-life me got mad enough to be like, okay obviously we wouldn't live together, but TO BE EXTREMELY CLEAR, if in some insane universe I did cheat on you, you absolutely would not be able to take my kids away from me, I have a good job, and no criminal record, etc etc etc, and then I had to stop and be like, this is a crazy thing to be worked up over.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Once Upon a Time, ugh. And then tbh Miraculous Ladybug.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No?
26. What was the best book you read?
My mom (or brother?) got Flynn this book called, 'Rosie Revere, Engineer' and honestly that book, and reading it to Flynn was probably the best.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The new Blink album! I think Catfish and the Bottlemen was this year, but maybe not.
28. What did you want and get?
The continued health and happiness of my family, a promotion at work. Cleveland to win a national championship (basketball). A DOG
29. What did you want and not get?
A giant amount of money in a savings account. Cleveland to win a national championship (baseball).
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Rogue One, I think.
31. What did you do on your birthday?
I don't actually remember! I think I spent it just at home, and then I do remember that Al bought me a bunch of Sprinkles cupcakes, but so did my team at work, so I had just an insane amount of Sprinkles cupcakes.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I wish we'd have taken an actual vacation together as a family, like on an airplane and stuff.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
Slouchy prepster cool mom.
34. What kept you sane?
Al; my mom. The internet. The TV. Which is what I wrote in 2011, too.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Colin O'Donoghue.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The election.
37. Who did you miss?
I miss my college friends, my pre-baby friends, just like, friends that for whatever reason aren't as immediate now.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I met a Tumblr friend (Kristen!) in person for the first time this year, I think?? THE DOG, JOLLY
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016.
No one is going to fix it for you.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Break me into bigger pieces
So some of me is home with you
but maybe just a lot of bits of 'dance yrself clean'??? or a lot of 'all my friends,' too! This period of my life is marked by a deep and abiding kinship (...I guess is the word???) with LCD Soundsystem songs.
But! I'm gonna do it now!
Tonight we went to a New Year's Eve party thrown especially by people with kids, for people with kids. They rigged up a balloon drop that they did at 6:45 and we were home by 8, it was nice. Now we're back on our own couch, plowing through more of our third Office re-watch. It's the first episode after Michael left for Colorado and I have cried once a day, over the last several days, as a direct result of this rewatch.
1. What did you do in 2016 that you'd never done before?
I bought a car without having my dad involved at all. I mean, I'm sure he would've been, if I'd asked, but I didn't quite need to? It's a Volkswagen Tiguan and it replaced the car I (/we) bought in 2005 when I graduated college (an Oldsmobile Alero, which I always remember is what Zac Efron drove early on, and they made fun of him, because he was famous and driving it). I broke down on a mountain on I-15 in the old car, and lived, and I had never done that before and never want to do it again.
OH MY GOD EDITED TO ADD THAT WE GOT A DOG, I'VE HAD A DOG BEFORE, BUT AL AND I HAD NEVER HAD ONE ON OUR OWN, I CAN'T BELIEVE I FORGOT THE FUCKING DOG!!!!
Her name is Jolly, this is when we got her/about her!
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
What I wrote in 2011 here was, "I resolve, in vague ways, to quit doing things that are bad for me every single year. I'll just stick with that, probably." Which literally is the basic summation of my resolutions for 2017, so. Everything old is new again. I think the bad things are probably fairly identical, even.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My sister-in-law did on New Year's Eve 2015, so we celebrated my nephew's first birthday today, but that wasn't actually a 2016 birth. I was around a ~regular amount of babies, but none from anyone close to me, I don't think.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, but that's becoming an increasingly large fear I have.
5. What countries did you visit?
England, Canada.
6. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
Impulse control.
7. What date from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I don't know which day it was exactly, so I don't know if it counts, but I got promoted to a director position at work, and just that feeling of like, jesus christ, I can finally settle down for a minute, I am at a place in my career where even if I stopped any upward advancement, it would be fine, even though I won't stop. I make an amount of money that is probably, to be honest, a little much for my age yet, I'm the youngest director in the company (for now), and I'm good at what I do.
And because it seems crass to just talk about work, I'll certainly not forget Flynn starting kindergarten. I'll not forget breaking down in my car on that dumb mountain.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Ahhh, I didn't realize this was literally the next question, so basically the answer to #7. And then also, just like, being a parent. Being a mostly good parent, and a mostly good wife. GETTING A DOG
9. What was your biggest failure?
That complete lack of impulse control over things I would like to have impulse control over!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had a pretty brutal UTI at one point, I think they tried something like three or four different antibiotics. And then also, because I'm old, I get steroid/epidural shots in my lower back every three-four months now.
11. What were the best things you bought?
I bought a vintage Omega Seamaster when I got promoted. I've wanted that watch for about 20 years, because Fox Mulder had an Omega, and I like the Seamasters best. I kind of want another one, which seems insane, but maybe someday. Also my car!!!! But it doesn't feel like I "fully" bought that, because I still have a car payment.
We didn't techincally buy the dog, we adopted her, but, still! Jolly!
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Al's, my kids. But truly, Alphonse. Like, we have fights, but they're always sort of about the same thing, and it's not really a thing that matters, and beyond that, he's just -- like, fuck. He really is a genuinely good person.
13. Whose behaviour appalled you?
Every single person that voted for Donald Trump.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Kids, bills, student loans, online shopping, stupidity.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Every time the kids did something unbearably cute, Once Upon a Time, Star Wars, buying things?
16. What song will always remind you of 2016?
All of Blink-182's 'California,' the entire album and probably, "Bored to Death," the specific song. We saw them twice in concert this year!
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier, but probably close to about the same. I don't really have many complaints, which I feel very grateful for, but also in a constant lowgrade state of anxiety about.
ii. thinner or fatter? I think about the same? Maybe slightly fatter as a result of the holidays, but this probably happened last year, too?
iii. richer or poorer? Richer, I guess. Kids, man. Kids are fucking expensive.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Saving money?? Eating healthier??
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
"Putting shitty things into my body!" is what I wrote in 2011, and I agree with now! Spending money on useless things, too.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it at our house first thing in the morning, then at my parents' for a bit, then over to my brother's new house for dinner.
21. How will you be spending New Years?
I am spending it right now!
22. Did you fall in love in 2016?
I think probably more deeply/meaningfully in love with everyone I already love! They're pretty great! AND THEN ALSO WITH THE DOG, GOD I CAN'T BELIEVE I FORGOT THE DOG THROUGH THIS ENTIRE HTING
23. How many one-night stands?
None, although Al apparently had a dream the other day that I cheated on him and so dream-him kicked me out and then real-fucking-life me got mad enough to be like, okay obviously we wouldn't live together, but TO BE EXTREMELY CLEAR, if in some insane universe I did cheat on you, you absolutely would not be able to take my kids away from me, I have a good job, and no criminal record, etc etc etc, and then I had to stop and be like, this is a crazy thing to be worked up over.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Once Upon a Time, ugh. And then tbh Miraculous Ladybug.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No?
26. What was the best book you read?
My mom (or brother?) got Flynn this book called, 'Rosie Revere, Engineer' and honestly that book, and reading it to Flynn was probably the best.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The new Blink album! I think Catfish and the Bottlemen was this year, but maybe not.
28. What did you want and get?
The continued health and happiness of my family, a promotion at work. Cleveland to win a national championship (basketball). A DOG
29. What did you want and not get?
A giant amount of money in a savings account. Cleveland to win a national championship (baseball).
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Rogue One, I think.
31. What did you do on your birthday?
I don't actually remember! I think I spent it just at home, and then I do remember that Al bought me a bunch of Sprinkles cupcakes, but so did my team at work, so I had just an insane amount of Sprinkles cupcakes.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I wish we'd have taken an actual vacation together as a family, like on an airplane and stuff.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
Slouchy prepster cool mom.
34. What kept you sane?
Al; my mom. The internet. The TV. Which is what I wrote in 2011, too.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Colin O'Donoghue.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The election.
37. Who did you miss?
I miss my college friends, my pre-baby friends, just like, friends that for whatever reason aren't as immediate now.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I met a Tumblr friend (Kristen!) in person for the first time this year, I think?? THE DOG, JOLLY
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016.
No one is going to fix it for you.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Break me into bigger pieces
So some of me is home with you
but maybe just a lot of bits of 'dance yrself clean'??? or a lot of 'all my friends,' too! This period of my life is marked by a deep and abiding kinship (...I guess is the word???) with LCD Soundsystem songs.