Year In Review

Pilfered from Feet Firmly Planted.

1. What did you do in 2007 that you have never done before?
Navigate the [dangerous] streets of Brazil successfully.

2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I prefer the term "goals" over "resolutions," and yes, I did make them...and did not achieve all of them...but will likely take a stab at the whole goal-setting thing one more time.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, two or three people.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Sadly, yes.

5. What countries did you visit?
Italy, China, Germany, Brazil, and the island of St. Martin.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
More Me Time!!

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
February 1 (loss of a dear friend and relative).
December 6 (the realization that my life needed a major overhaul--stat!)

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Surviving a very difficult work year with much of my self-worth still intact despite countless attacks to the contrary.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not sticking to the diet and exercise plan.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No, thank god (and I'm continuing to knock on wood).

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A fantastic Italian leather handbag from one of Florence's leather markets.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My SIL who has made a huge effort to be friendlier.
My boss who has made a huge life change with only a mild amount of (weird) repercussions for the staff.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Britney Spears, Jamie Lynn Spears...hell, the whole Spears family (with the exception of the mild-mannered brother who seems to avoid the limelight like an intelligent guy).

14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage and credit card bills plus a few car repair bills that were slightly ginormous.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Crush's return.
My island vacation.
Some plans that may take effect in early '08.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
See The World (Gomez)
Clark Gable (The Postal Service)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? MORE MELACHOLY, BUT HAPPIER OVER ALL b) thinner or fatter? THE SAME c) richer or poorer? POORER

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Spending time with friends, saying no, visiting the gym

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Traveling.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With family, lavishing Diva Niece with fantabulous prezzies, hugs, and kisses.

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Much to my chagrin, no.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Biggest Loser and Ugly Betty -- and if we can just give those writers their online dues, maybe I can go back to enjoying scripted programming again.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is a strong word. Dislike? Then the answer is yes. Just one. And hopefully it will be resolved on its own soon.

24. What was the best book you read?
Just one? Impossible! But I will cite Stolen Voices, The Washington Story, A Thousand Splendid Suns, and Eat, Pray, Love.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Guts, Golden Shoulders

26. What did you want and get?
Good health...and to finally visit Italy.

27. What did you want and not get?
To meet Prince Charming.

28. What was your favorite film of the year?
SuperBad was pretty great. So was Knocked Up.

29. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
Went to dinner with Rafferty to celebrate my 33rd year.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More money. It's a shallow answer, but a truthful one.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Classically, tastefully simple.

32. What kept you sane?
My friends--especially those who are slightly more off-kilter than I am.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Greg Kinnear continues to age with such grace. I'm also oddly fascinated with Seth Rogen and am happy that he is back after an extended absence after "Freaks & Geeks" met its demise.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Healthcare and reproductive rights

35. Who did you miss?
Stephen (and I still do miss him)

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Though I met her at the end of '06, I really got to know Rachel this year--and as a result have a new-found camaraderie with and respect for her.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
Just because it looks like chocolate and smells like chocolate doesn't mean it is anything close to chocolate.

The Penultimate Day of the Year

On this, the second to last day of 2007, I have found myself looking back and wondering just how well I succeeded in accomplishing some of the goals (not resolutions) I set for myself at the end of last year. A peek into the past 364 days has shown that even though I may have seeemingly forgotten about most of them, my subconscious was keeping score after all.

In the Wins column:

* I did take advantage of my travel opportunities and had the good fortune to spend extra time in Italy in March, taking a nice little minibreak to Florence. I also made it back to St. Martin for what was yet another fabulous island vacation.

* My inner domestic goddess was nurtured to the hilt. I cooked more than ever and found that my specialties include pies, quiches, and lasagna.

* Reading remained a big part of '07. My daily train rides to work and back make it possible to knock out a minimum of one book per week.

In the Losses column:

* Getting settled was but a pipe dream. More than 1.5 years into living in my condo and it still looks as though I recently moved in. A big clean-up/unpacking effort needs to take effect soon before I decide to just start pitching things in what I will surely later term a regrettably psychotic episode.

* Budget? What budget? In what has turned out to be an unfortunate turn to the other side, I find myself in a debt-laden life. Best to nip this in the bud in '08.

In the It's Still Happening (I Think) column:

* I'm continuing to try to work at those things I love.

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Brother, SIL, and Diva Niece officially move at the end of January. Bro's going-away party was last night, and I think he's actually viewing the entire move from a bittersweet standpoint. He and SIL left today for a week in San Diego to find a place to live "for the time-being." Diva Niece is currently residing at g'ma and g'pa's house, where she is whirring around like a mini-hurricane. I'm relishing spending time with her this week, as this will likely be the last opportunity for a long time. It's apparent just how attached we are, and I have a feeling the separation will be equally hard for the both of us. My heart should not be allowed to break like this.

Another Hollywood Marriage BItes the Dust

And I really thought Sean and Robin would be the example of how to have a strong, happy marriage in Hollywood. Silly me.

I'm A Better Giver

This was the year of the really good gifts. I like to think I'm an above-average gift-giver and this year I really nailed some of the must-have's. There's something about seeing the look of surprise or happiness cross one's face that makes the actual act of giving that much more fulfilling.

Upon returning from my fabulous island vacation, I learned the horrendous news that dear little Diva Niece was leaving me for a sunnier state. My brother's promotion came through, so he's packing up the family and heading to San Diego by the end of January.

Now, let's face it, there are far worse places to move (or visit), and I can't fault him that all of the pieces fell into place and he decided to make the move. But to tear me away from my mini-me? Devastating.

The only things that could even begin to repair this state of awfulness were web cams. One for Diva Niece and one for grandma and grandpa--and of course one for me! And though that was only the start of some good gifts, I would say that those were the ones that went over amazingly well. Well, at least for the adults. Diva Niece? I'm sure she would say her grocery cart and 117-piece fake food collection were much better gifts....for now.

Brit's Sister Plays Catch Up

Why does this news not surprise me? Saddens me? Yes. But it's a far cry from surprising. I'm sure Mama Spears is so proud.

Brazil-Bound

My two-week travel stint (and last business trip of 2007) begins this evening with a week in Sao Paulo. My year of hard work is about to see fruition. If I can get out, that is. The snow is falling at a pretty quick pace and I can only hope that O'Hare is able to keep up their end of the clean-up process.

There has been way too much going on with The Crush these days and though I am loathe to admit it, this trip is just the distance I need to put between us given the amount of bs drama that is surrounding us. I never thought I would embrace another business trip to Brazil, but the timing of this one makes this most certainly the case.