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1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?
Hmm. I got fired by email. That was fun. I went to Wisconsin. I met Perfect Husband’s grandmother. I also got awarded employee of the year, for reasons which remain unclear to me.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn’t make any last year. Clever girl. I may make some for next year, but I will try to make clever ones that can’t be broken, like, “I will gain weight” and “I will grow older.”
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My friend with the baby who sleeps. In case you missed it, her baby? She sleeps.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My Aunt Helen, in May.
5. What countries did you visit?
The States. A lot of the States. Multiple cross-border trips for cheap produce and shipping, and those trips to Vegas and Wisconsin.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
A million dollars. Time. A clean house. Maybe another child?
7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Etched? I don’t think anything in 2012 was etch-worthy.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finding a job where I am treated like a valuable and likeable human being? Training people’s dogs and getting paid for it? Teaching Owl English?
9. What was your biggest failure?
Let’s go back to that fired by email thing, hey? Probably a lot point. Also, teaching Beloved Dog to read was not overly successful.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Only to my self-respect, although I think that is slowly healing.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My new video camera, probably!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Owl’s, for sure. He’s such a cheerful, chatty little kid. He makes me laugh constantly, he’s never a speck of trouble when we’re out (in fact, he’s helpful for dragging grocery baskets and such), and he potty trained within a week at the age of 27 months. I think I’ll keep him.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My former boss. The man is an idiot, and for all he came off so sweet, he’s a bad person.
You know what I learned from the kennel lady at my current work? He paid that little old woman less than minimum wage – just $300 a week, and she was there cleaning cages and setting up for his surgeries from first thing in the morning until close every day, and came in on weekends to check on the boarding animals. When her husband died and she asked for a raise to help keep house, he said no. I’m so glad I’m shot of that whole nasty place, and working with the people who walked out on him instead.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Debts, food, and that summer trip to Vegas/Wisconsin.
15. What did you get really excited about?
That night to myself. Damn, that was good.
16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
Gangnam Style, and Call Me Maybe, because Owl loves that damn song so we ended up playing it a lot.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
– Happier or sadder? Happier!
– Thinner or fatter? Fatter.
– Richer or poorer? Income-wise, richer by a significant margin, and yet somehow we still seem poorer. It seems like no matter how much extra I make, we never have any more money. It all goes into our debt.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Writing in my diary. I NEVER do it any more and I miss it.
Also, video editing. I miss that.
I also miss The Sims, but I don’t actively wish I had done more of it. It is fairly low in my priorities.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eating. Spending money.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Here in Vancouver, without my parents for the first time in my entire life. It was good, but strange.
21. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Not with anyone new. I remained in love. I think that’s better.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Firefly and Better Off Ted.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No, hate is a waste of time and people have been mostly good to me.
24. What was the best book you read?
Hmm, I don’t know. I haven’t picked up many new books, and I’m assuming that old re-read books don’t count.
I started the Game of Thrones books this year, but I feel very conflicted about them, so I can’t call them The Best. Definitely NOT Fifty Shades of Grey. I haven’t even blogged about THAT experience yet.
Maybe Terry Pratchett’s Snuff? It’s no Thud, which is my favourite Vimes book, but it’s growing on me. I Shall Wear Midnight was a bit of a let-down, so not that.
YES, I’m picky.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Pfffff… I don’t make musical discoveries. I like certain songs on the radio, but nothing life changing.
26. What did you want and get?
A NIGHT TO MYSELF. A new video camera. Books. Owl speaking English. Approval from coworkers. Writing jobs. Dog training jobs.
27. What did you want and not get?
A million dollars.
A clean house.
Thinner.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Wreck It Ralph. Wow, and I haven’t blogged about THAT yet, either, have I? Damn, I’m behind.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 30. My friends helped me de-hoard my house and then we went out to dinner.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Becoming a wealthy author who doesn’t have to work (because writing doesn’t count as work).
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Scrubs/peed-on scrubs.
32. What kept you sane?
Sunshine. Nice coworkers. Owl being adorable. Perfect Husband being helpful.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I… don’t think anybody.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Occupy movement, the American election. You know – politics of a country that is not my own.
35. Who did you miss?
My family. My friends, including local ones who I never seem to see any more. My life has become too busy.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
Probably a girl at my work who I identified as a geek due to her D20 earrings. We’ve discovered a mutual love of Terry Pratchett and board games.
She and her boyfriend came over for a game of Ahnk Morpork last month and they’re coming over again next week for a game of either Small World or Munchkin Quest.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
When planning future children, do the math. We didn’t realize until too late that we had probably missed a window for having a second child, and now Owl will be three or more before we have our next one.
Also, I need to pay more attention to my dog.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Nope, I give up. I’ve got nothing.
If By Yes 