Year-In-Review 2009
Proving that I am a creature of habit, I couldn’t let the year end without completely my one and only meme. For past experiences, go here: 2008 here, 2007 here, 2006 here. The rest I believe have been lost somewhere. Probably for the better, eh?
1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
I got myself a daughter, I watched my daughter go under the knife and defy all odds while I’ve struggled with some serious PTSD.
I’ve sent my second book proposal out with my agents and decided to incorporate and expand my freelancing career.
2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I’ve decided that I’ve put my own life on hold for long enough and that 2010 will be the year that I bring Aunt Becky back. Period. What that means is sort a nebulous “eh.” A constellation of things I’ll do.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes. I had a baby. So did a lot of people that I love.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
5. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
An Empire and a discernible waistline.
6. What countries did you visit?
Unless you count my head, none.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why:
January 28, my daughter’s birthday. February 26, the day she had her surgery to fix her neural tube defect.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I’ve successfully decided what I want to be when I grow up. An heiress.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I clogged the kitchen sink.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Shockingly, few.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My iPhone is pretty fucking awesome.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I’d have to go with Mimi’s, who kicked BRAIN SURGERY in the balls. I mean, how much cooler can you be?
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Okay, this one I can’t answer because it’s mean. If I answer it honestly, I’ll get bitches on my back, and if I don’t, I mean, okay, let’s go with, uh, OH LOOK A CUDDLY KITTY!
14. Where did most of your money go?
Diapers and pink frilly things.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I got excited when I figured out what the hell I was going to do with the rest of my life.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”
(if you haven’t heard it, you really, REALLY should give it a listen. It’s gorgeous)
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier. Much.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Noming on baby toes.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Crying. Because I am very ugly when I cry and I pour buckets of boogies out of my head and really, you’re welcome for that mental picture.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
This is awkward. Christmas is over, Meme. Perhaps you should GET WITH THE PROGRAM.
21. There was no #21. I don’t know why there was no 21.
I’ll make up my own question here, then. Hmmm.
Name one random thing that people would be surprised to know about you.
I am a (former) concert cellist. I know. Who the fuck knew?
22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Only with myself.
23. How many one-night stands?
If you could my Husbands From Television, probably like 4,129.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Glee! And House! And Dexter! And…uh. What else?
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
This seems awfully loaded, doesn’t it? I’m going to go with yes. And then, no.
26. What was the best book you read?
US Weekly.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Glee! I’m a sucker for pop music and a capella groups.
28. What did you want and get?
A direction in life. Also, Hello Kitty Sushi!
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Pan’s Labyrinth. I’m saying this because I seriously cannot remember seeing a movie this year.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 29 this year. I celebrated by… *scratches head*
……
Apparently it was very exciting. So exciting that I can’t remember.
OH WAIT. THAT’S RIGHT. I bought myself a vibrator. That’s really boring. And of course, it’s a crappy vibrator because I cheaped out on it. BAD CALL.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More cowbell. Definitely more cowbell.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
*sniff, sniff* IS THIS CLEAN? *sniff, sniff* CLOSE ENOUGH.
34. What kept you sane?
My Internet. Thank you, my friends.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I dunno. I normally answer with Britney Spears, and I guess that’s probably my answer again.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Shaken or stirred? GET IT? Bwahahahaha! I don’t go political. You should KNOW that, Meme, because we’ve been together since 2005. Which, CREEPY.
37. Whom did you miss?
I still miss my friend Stef, who died in 2007, every. single. day.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
My cadre of Virtual Internet Pimps.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
When someone tells you that you can’t do something, the very best thing to do is to prove them gleefully wrong.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
“I did my best, it wasn’t much
I couldn’t feel, so I tried to touch
I’ve told the truth, I didn’t come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I’ll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah”
–Leonard Cohen, “Hallelujah”
So the rest of the meme calls for tagging, which I don’t do because I’m not A List person, so rather than tag you, I’m going to tag YOU to answer this meme on your blog OR in the comments.
I love this meme. Happy New Year, darling.
Ah now see, I was trying to figure out what to do for my first post of 2010 and now I know! Thanks Aunt Becky!!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! Here’s a beautiful version of Hallelujah by another Canadian, KD Lang – at Leonard Cohen’s induction into the Canadian Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2006…enjoy 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYiMJ2bC65A
LOL – Best book: US Weekly. I love US Weekly too. Happy New Year!
Awesome. I too struggle with a pretty bad case of PTSD (although it gets better every day thanks to my wonderful hubby) and depression (thank you drug companies!). My year has consisted of losing weight, actually keeping it off, re-addicting myself to yoga, dabbling in Buddhism and realizing that the key to happiness is to live in the moment and be more positive and have an “attitude of gratitude”. I’m grateful that I came upon your site, you rock! (and I am soooooo jealous of your tat!- I have 2, but the phoenix is awesome!) I had a dream last night that I got my nose pierced….mmmmm…maybe 2010…..
I can never sum up a favorite song. But Hallelujah is one that I never tire of hearing.
I wish Bon Jovi would do a cover because that would make it that more awewome. <<<can you tell I am a Jersey Girl now?
Awesome answers! I am going to paste it to my blog. Happy New Year!! BTW, Us Weekly is like my crack!!
Cool year end review! I need to do one of these. But for now, I just finished blogging about our New Year’s Eve party. Hope your New Year is going well so far!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ctNquxzSG4
Whew, that was fast New Years wish!
Now can I see it play with Sambora and Bongiovanni in tight leather pants? It would make it SO much better.
I totally love Leonard Cohen and it sure isn’t for his voice. His words are just..poetry. They are gorgeous and lyrical and flow from one’s heart, off the tongue and float in the air so prettifully (my daughter’s word).
I have his “best of” album and it’s just, well, full of The Awesome!
Hallelujah is one of my favourites, as is Dance Me to the End of Love and Closing Time.
Happy New Year!!!
I’m confused. How is clogging a kitchen sink a greater failure than clogging a toilet?
great answers 🙂
i copied, pasted, and answered myself
Happy New Year!
Dude, I don’t meme or would totally meme this. Probably I should meme but stuff like “What was your biggest achievement of the year?” makes my brain buzz uncomfortably as it tries to extrapolate & compare the data because 2009 was damn monotonous here. And I for one am freaking delighted by that. Monotony might mean nothing super fantastic happened but it also means nothing badly traumatic happened either & I’ll take that trade off. I like a quiet life.
Cheaping out on a vibrator (or anything going near the girly parts) is always a bad bad idea.
Happy New Year Aunt Becky…….and one more question….I’m confused, yes, that’s easily attained. I’m pretty sure you’re going out for Heather’s baby shower……..are you related to her or just really good friends? AND…if you’re really good friends did you first meet by internet or because of blogging???
I would do this meme, but I’d rather not reflect on 2009. It kinda sucked – there was no brain surgery, but it wasn’t pleasant. Nuff said.
Happy 2010!
Rufus Wainright does a hallelujah that can reduce me to a speechless quivering mass.
Dude! I already did this meme… which proves that I am a real cutting edge kind of guy…. or that someone sent me this last year, so I did it this year, too.
Oh – I love this meme – I am so going to use it right now, instead of going to bed.
It has been a powerful year for you – thank you for sharing with us!
Ok, I couldn’t help myself, I had to blog the meme. What can I say, I just wanna be cool like you:)
Happy New Year!
i have a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell.
and while i already knew that you totally rock, that reference just cements your rockingness for all eternity.
One Meme a year? Seems like one too many, but I am weak and have done quite a few this year. I need to follow in your footsteps on this one.
And Glee is the shit!
Come to think of it, the world DOES need more cowbell. I’ll get right on that.
Happy New Year!
If I had more time and energy I’d do this meme. My #21 would be “What was your best blog discovery in 2009?” and my answer would be “Mommy Wants Vodka.”
Seriously.
Becky,
I, too, suffered terribly from PTSD, a few years ago. Between some of my own serious health scares and losing my healthy dad very suddenly…Someone once described it to me as not being able to see any light at the end of your tunnel, hopeless, irrefutable panic that consumes you. I am so sorry. I wish for you that light on your face, again– bright and warm, an awakening to all the good things that lay before you. Here’s to a new year, a new beginning of good.
I am going away for the weekend, so I don’t have any extra time for a meme, but I will answer the one question: Who was the best new person you met?
Easy enough. Aunt Becky! Even though, we’ve only met through the written word, I have so enjoyed your company. As a new blogger, it has been heartwarming to have such a kick-ass, big-time blogger paying little ole me some time and attention.
Your blog has shown me the way. Keep on writing. You, my dear, rock the blogworld.
Here’s a succinct line from the brilliant, brilliant “Hallelujah”, (Leonard Cohen is the master of brilliance in my eyes), that epitomizes your blog:
“There’s a blaze of light in every word…”
Hallelujah, Becky, Hallelujah.
A cellist? Really? I AM shocked.
Happy New Year, Aunt Becky, and my wish for you is that nothing happens in 2010 which will cause you to have to use any initials except for WTF.
Love…Ms. Moon
Happy New Year, I like your Meme a lot. That doesn’t mean I’ll do it, b/c I don’t. But, you know what I’m sayin! 🙂
I held it together until the “cowbell, definitely more cow bell” then I laughed so hard I let out a little wet fart. This was golden! Your meme, not my fart. Happy new year!
#5 and then the cheap vibrator- thanks for the laughs!
You have an award over on my blog.
Happy New Year!!!
Maybe there’s a god above, but all I ever learned from love was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya.
You wouldn’t want me to answer this Meme, Aunt Becky — it would be hellishly boring for you, and I’m sure you have approximately one trillion better things to do online. On the other hand, I am now going to compare and contrast your 2009 meme with the previous years you link to 🙂
Ok – US Weekly is a great escape, I am a proud subscriber since 2007. Are the Stars really like us? I do need to know.
I love the song “Hallelujah”, but by Brandi Carilisle. I would sing it and dance with my baby girl all of the time. She even now yawns when I sing it to her.
You rock, Aunt Becky.
This is a great read! Happy 2010!!
Happy New Year!! 🙂
Glee is probably one of the best musical shows EVER! I drive my husband nuts with all the music I have from that show. My current ring tone is “Defying Gravity” with Lea Michelle (Rachel) performing. Can you say AWESOME?! (I’m really letting my band geek self show here. Former piccolo/flute player.)
Cool – I’ve been doing this since 2005 🙂
Bravo. Bravo! We made it. We crushed 2009 balls (the zeros…get it?) Bring it on 2010 You and your one crushed ball (see the 1 is a crushed ball….get it?)
This is one of my favorite new blogs – I left you an award at my blog if you get the time to check it out! 🙂
Happy New Year! 2009 sounded like a good year for you for the most part. Thank to you Ooce again I now have something to post on my blog. A good meme indeed..
Turned 29, damn, some days I wish I was 29 again. Actually 40 is pretty decent. Nice meme, I might have to give it a go.
the cast of Glee needs to do a version of Hallelujah, and then 2010 will be even more awesome.
I did the meme on my blog (click on my name). Thanks for making me remember 2009 🙂
A concert cellist seems like a really cool thing to be. I’ve always wanted to be able to play a stringed instrument.
I’ve been wanting to do a Meme but this one seems pretty loaded, so I dunno. I liked your answers, though. Mimi DOES kick ass, seriously!
Oh I love this! Your answers had me giggling like a dork. 😉
Happy New Year! 🙂
Dear Aunt Becky:
Awesome women should NEVER suffer through a CHEAP Vibrator! EMAIL me and I will hook you up with a toe curling, eyeball popping, curtain climbing toy woman!
Several actual belly laughs. Happy New Year, my dear.
[…] in the footsteps of dear Aunt Becky! I decided I didn’t want to do a giant year in review thing after my earlier attempt, but I […]
I haven’t filled out one of these things in ages! So I did it. And posted it. And I am very pleased with myself! And it’s a few days late, I know.
Oh, I love that song. I actually heard someone sing it live last night. Le sigh.
crap. I’m already trying to come up with answers to another meme 🙁
Thanks for the Aunt B insight!
I am so glad I found you! 🙂
So’s you know, I am pomping you out on a regular basis. You are delightfully pimpable!
Here is to lots of Cowbell this year!
Great answers, once again 😉 Since I have absolutely no blog drive, I should grab this meme and run with it. Maybe later…
I have the attention span of a gnat so I confess I didn’t read the whole meme however Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah did jump out at me and I completely agree, one of the most beautiful songs ever. Oh, an Pan’s Labyrinth = excellent movie.
Now I feel guilty for skimming, I shall go back and read the whole meme.
Hello Kitty Sushi? Awesome.
[…] to the future. And the new year is certainly a good time to do that. I, like many others, had read Aunt Becky’s year in review and considered copying it for some inspiration. Then I read Maggie’s decade in review and […]
How did I forget that you do this meme each year? I must not be your biggest stalker. (Maybe in lbs….,)
Anywhoo, I did this the other day but never posted because of the distracting chaos and voices in my head.
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I’m so glad I met you in 2009.
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