Personal
1. Was 2009 a good year for you?

I think 2009 was the best year I’ve had since 2002.  I will not miss the first decade of this century do to the heart-ache and loss, but 2009 has made a huge difference in my hopes for the future.

2. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?:

Started the ball rolling to import my goods from Canada.  =)

3. What was your biggest achievement of the year?:

Ending the year more happy than depressed.

4. What was your biggest failure?:

Letting issues at work consume so much of me sanity and not confronting the issues head on.

5. Did you suffer illness or injury?:

I was sickly from time to time.  Less sick than in year past in terms of severity, but still spent too much idle time on a couch or in bed instead of living my life.

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

i) happier or sadder?: happier

ii) thinner or fatter?: same

iii) richer or poorer?: even

7. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:

Surrender yourself  and love more.

8. What do you wish you’d done more of?:

Canadians

9. What do you wish you’d done less of?:

Being a hermit and a recluse in the absence of Bevie.

10. What was the stupidest thing you did this year?

Forgot to live my life year round.  (See #9)

10. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?:

I was 38 and in North Dakota visiting family.

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

Owning the whole cow instead of leasing the milk for 18o days.

12. What kept you sane?:

The internet.  Oddly.

13. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?:

July 28th… She said “Yes”… after saying, “Dear God, not now!”  I’m not sure what to make of that.

Sept 26th… Although not my birthday, my lovely aunts and a few cousins threw a b-day party for me.  I’ve only ever had 3 b-day parties.

December 23rd… Received an email from a niece I once met 12 years ago and have started a new relationship with her.  Hopefully it will lead to getting to know her brothers and also my half-sister.  I’ve only seen my half-sister 4 times in my life for less than an hour in total.

Resolutions
14. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?:

My New Year’s resolutions have always been to not make resolutions.  This year I broke that streak and challenged myself to do more to keep in contact with family and maybe heal the wounds from the past.

15. What are your plans for 2010?

Get married.

Travel a bit during sabbatical.

Live happily ever-after.

16. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?:

A Halloween Party.  No, I’m not hosting.  Our 13th Annual Halloween Party wasn’t possible.

Friends and Family
17. Did anyone close to you give birth?:

She wasn’t close to me at the time of birth, but Beverly’s sister gave birth to a true gift.   I will say after spending time with Bev’s family I do feel close enough to them all to feel as if they are my own family.

18. Did anyone close to you die?:

Yes.  My Uncle Donnie passed away.  Although not my last surviving uncle, he is the last of the 4 men who had the greatest impression on my life.

19. Whose behavior merited celebration?:

My friend Damon.  He’s been an inspiration in so many ways as he continues to raise money and awareness for a disease that one of his sons has battled.  I’ve never seen such love and devotion in the face of adversity.

20. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?:

My sister, sadly.  We haven’t spoken since August 2007 when she declared my other sister and myself were dead to her.  Her choices in how she chooses to push people away have been very consuming of my spiritual health.

21. How did you spend Christmas?:

On the job so that others could spend time with their families.

22. Did you fall in love in 2009?:

I didn’t think it was possible… but yes.  Even more so.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?:

I don’t hate.  I’m not always pleased by the choices and actions of others.  But I don’t hate.

24. Who did you miss?:

My dad.  I really need his advice and guidance.

25. Who was the best new person you met?:

I met a lot of really neat people at Bev’s sister’s wedding.  I really enjoyed meeting Lucas and listening to him since with his daughter Madison.

26. What was the worst lie someone told you in 2009?

“I’m not coming to work tonight.  I’m sick.  *cough cough*.”

27. Did somebody treat you badly in 2009?

Not be directly, but others that I care for.

Events and Things

28. What countries did you visit?:

CANDADA!!!

29. What was the best thing you bought?:

I’m partial to the new TV and Blu-Ray player, but I’m more in love with the entertainment center that came a few months later.

30. What did you get really, really, really excited about?:

Taking Bev to see giraffe’s and Crater Lake.  Oh… and Iced Cappuchino’s and Timbits.

31. What songs will always remind you of 2009?:

Unfortunately… probably “Poker Face”… no thanks to Bev.

32. What were your favorite TV programs?:

“Big Love”, “How I Met Your Mother”, “Two and a Half Men”, “The Big Bang Theory”, “Holmes on Homes”.

33. What was the best book you read?:

Ummmmmm… I don’t read books.  Just can’t get into books.  I did however download a few things on Bev’s Kindle but never made it through any.

34. What was your greatest musical discovery?:

Pomplamoose  (go check out all their videos).

http://www.youtube.com/user/PomplamooseMusic#p/u/1/s_b0I4KVpFk

35. What did you want and get?:

Something probably sexual.

36. What did you want and not get?:

Something definitely sexual.

37. What was your favorite film of this year?:

“The Hangover”

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

Nothing comes to mind.

39. What political issue stirred you the most?:

Heath Care.  I have a really good plan through work, but I was shocked to learn that several of my friends in Iowa pay more than they pay for their mortgage; one couple pays $12oo/month for their family of four.  He is a chiropractor and she’s a RN and both very healthy people.

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

I’ll be the one who stands beside you in the photograph
I’ll be the one that’s in your water when you want me there
I’ll be the one you’re falling over every time you laugh and you say
Shut up, shut up, every time I say

I’ll be the one who keeps you guessing, who swears a lot
I’ll be the one that let your colour in the white wash
You’ll be the one that knocks the man out I was beating up and you say
Shut up, shut up, every time I say it

And you cut my face, I told you so
I’d tear my eyes out for you

Tonight, we throw ourselves away
And we make it every time
When I thought I was ok
You said I was alright
As the night comes crashing down
We catch ourselves a line
Yeah we’re only makin’ out
If we make it out alright

41. What was your favorite moment of the year?

Swarms of mosquitoes, an anxious girl in a hoodie, and the promise of a future together sealed with a kiss and a few tears.

42. Where were you when 2009 began & who were you with?

I think I was alone with Jake & Daisy in the same room we were when 2010 rang in.

43. Where will you be when 2009 ends and who will you be with?

(see above)

44. What was your favorite month of 2009?

July.  Spending time with Bev’s family and making great memories.

45. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2009 and change something what?

I would probably change when I proposed to Bev so that we could have been married by the end of the year.