A Happier New Year’s Post
Leona wants to see a list of my 2006 accomplishments. So here they are.Things I did in 2006:
- Published in many magazines and newspapers
Moved to a new house in Petaluma
Started a writing group with Marcia called the Word Pirates
Went to Italy
Went to Victoria, Canada
Paid off my credit card
Kyle got a big raise
Kyle published a book (which he co-wrote) called Ubuntu Hacks
Planted a garden
Went to my first football game
Knitted my first sweater
Turned 30
Watched friends turn 30
Went to a lot of exciting parties
Went to literary events, from LitQuake to the Book Expo
Went to a Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament
Saw Sleater Kinney’s last concert in Portland, Oregon
Played trivia with the Glitter Ponies
Launched this website
Here is a year-end survey about 2006. You should do it too:
1. What did you do this year that you’ve never done before?
See above list.
2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I kept some and let others slide, which is unusual for me. I will make a few new ones.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth this year?
Among the many people who gave birth this year, Kyle’s cousin Tonya, also maid-of-honor in my wedding, had a little girl, Emma Lyn Palumbo.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Both of my grandparents died.
5. What countries did you visit this year?
Italy and Canada
6. What would you like to have in the next year that you lacked this year?
I would like some things to happen in my career that didn’t happen this year. Other than that, I’m good.
7. What date from this year will remain etched upon your memory - and why?
December 14, 2006– the day I turned 30.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I suppose my biggest achievement was to continue to publish in newer and better markets. I also finished my novel draft.
9. What was your biggest failure of the year?
Not completely finishing my novel. Oh, and I never did learn how to make the perfect loaf of bread.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No.
11. What was the best thing you bought this year?
Man I love my new black dress.
12.Whose behavior merited celebration (a public or private personality)?
My husband continues to impress and amaze me with all he accomplishes.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The President appalls and depresses me.
14. Where did most of your money go this year?
Eating out. Taxes. And some of it actually went into a savings account.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about this year?
16. What song will always remind you of this year?
Eh?
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
- happier or sadder? same
- richer or poorer? richer
- thinner or fatter? same
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
I wish that I had hiked more. I don’t know why I lost interest in nature this year. I wish I had worked harder. I wish I had kept a reading journal and read more in general.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
I probably socialized too much this year, although it was all fun. I also ate out too much.
20. How did you spend the holidays?
New Years–A lovely dinner at Willi’s Wine Bar with Troy and Krista
Valentine’s Day — Made Kyle a buffalo steak, which we ate picnic-style in front of the fireplace of our new house
Anniversary — Kyle and I went to Monterey for the weekend.
Kyle’s birthday — Snakes on a birthday!
Halloween — Had people over and watched Evil Dead II and ate junk food.
Thanksgiving– Went up to my parent’s house in Grass Valley.
My birthday — Kyle and I went out for French food and he gave me a ruby necklace. Various relatives and friends took me out to eat. Then we had a party to celebrate.
Christmas — My mother-in-law came from Kentucky and spent a week with us. My parents came over, and I made fancy food for everyone–Cornish game hens for Christmas Eve and leg of lamb for Christmas.
21. Did you fall in love this year?
I am already in love.
22. How many one-night stands did you have this year?
Yuck.
23. What was your favorite TV program for the year?
The Office, followed closely by Heroes.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate is poisonous.
25. What was the best book you read this year?
Good question. Right now I’m going to go with The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen, but since I didn’t keep a reading journal, it’s anybody’s guess.
26. What was your favorite film of the year?
As in, movies made in 2006? I guess Stranger Than Fiction. Marie Antoinette was also a pretty little film.
27. What albums did you like this year?
This was a great music year! I like the new albums by Neko Case, Regina Spektor, Cat Power, Beck, Jenny Lewis, The Decemberists, The Shins, and Tom Waits. I also discovered Lauryn Hill, Nellie McKay, and DJBC’s Wu Orleans Mash-up. I am still sad Sleater Kinney broke up.
28. How would you describe your personal fashion concept this year?
I tried to dress up more by wearing more skirts and make-up. I got my hair cut short and discovered I liked it. I also started wearing sunscreen.
29. Whom did you miss this year?
All my friends who moved away.
30. Who was the best new person you met this year?
I enjoy the Word Pirates. They are good people.
31. What are some things you would like to do in 2007?
I would like to go to Peru or some other interesting country, hike more, save a lot of money, shoot a gun, get a pedicure, finish editing my novel and start a new one, see an opera, give a reading with the Word Pirates, discover where the hot springs are in Calistoga, celebrate my fifth wedding anniversary, and go to Kentucky to see Kyle’s family. If possible, I would like to see the Kentucky Derby too.