Year in review

So, this end-of-the-year questionnaire of Sundry's is becoming something of a tradition, so even though I'm not sure if she's doing it this year (edited to add: she posted hers at almost the exact same time that I posted mine; here is hers), I think I'm going to go ahead and continue the pattern on my own. You can see answers from 2008 and 2007, too.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Moved across the country. Got a dog of our own. Bought a house. Had weight-loss surgery.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Last year, all I said is that I wanted to get one or two nice pieces of art to hang on our walls. And actually, though this wasn't what we were thinking at the time, we did purchase a couple gorgeous photos of Colorado that we need to get framed and hang. So, that's close enough, right? I do have a couple of actual resolutions for this year, for once, but those will come in a separate post.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No. Except now I'm paranoid that I'm forgetting someone.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.

5. What countries did you visit?
Just Germany this year.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Wow, looking back at my answer to this question from last year, I got a lot of what I wanted this year (namely, a house in Denver, a dog, and a car). I did not get a housekeeper or a meeting with this lady. I'm going to go ahead and cut the housekeeper thing off the list, because, well, that's just not going to happen next year. But I will add a new one for 2010: a baby, or progress toward one.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
We did a lot of big things this year, but the two where the dates clearly stand out in my memory are March 5, when we got Montana, and May 14, when I had lap-band surgery.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finally managing to make everything happen that we'd been working on for so long. Namely, moving to Denver and getting a dog and a house. And remaining very happily married in the process.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Hm. This was a pretty successful year for me. I think one thing that I do want to work on is not getting frustrated about things that aren't happening, and instead focus on enjoying the things that are happening. And yes, I am talking about babies, thanks for asking.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No, unless you count my surgery, which I don't.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Our house.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Torsten's. He is awesome, and supportive, and ambitious, in the best possible ways.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
A couple of Colorado State Senators of whom I had never heard until we moved here. One, Scott Renfroe, made a lovely comment comparing gay people to murderers on the floor of the legislature, and another, Dave Schultheis, said that he doesn't believe in mandatory HIV testing for pregnant women because they deserve to watch their babies die as punishment for their promiscuity. There are so many things wrong with this that I don't even know where to begin. (See here for more details.)

14. Where did most of your money go?
Toward our house. But there are no regrets there.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Moving to Denver! Getting a dog! Buying a house! Having weight-loss surgery! Are you sensing a theme throughout this questionnaire yet?

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Um. I don't think there is one.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
b) thinner or fatter?
c) richer or poorer?
Happier, thinner, and richer. Though I must qualify the "richer," because we are richer in terms of assets, but poorer in terms of money in the bank.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Becoming an awesome DIY person who can make her house look fabulously decorated and only spend $10 at Michael's to do so. But I'm pretty sure that's just a pipe dream.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Umm. Working? While still earning the same amount (or more), of course.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
In our house here in Denver, with my parents, my sister, and my sister's family.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
I'm going to repeat last year's answer here: Only more so, not for the first time.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
House. And American Idol. I know, so passe, but I can't help it. I like it.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No.

24. What was the best book you read?
I know it's a little premature, but I really enjoyed Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. She is just slightly extreme for my taste, but she has so much experience and so many important things to say. I learned quite a bit from reading the book and now I have a ton more questions for my midwife.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Hm. I know this wasn't her first year on the scene, but I started loving Sara Bareilles.

26. What did you want and get?
A house in Denver. A dog. A lap-band.

27. What did you want and not get?
A baby.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
I don't know, really. I just saw Avatar and thought it was awesome.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
We had just gotten back from a weekend in Glenwood Springs. On the day of, I worked, and relaxed with Torsten, and went out for dinner. I turned 25.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Well, a baby, kind of, because I have insane baby fever, but also not, because the timing wouldn't have been right. So really, nothing. It was a great year exactly as it was.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Denver is so casual. Plus, no more work clothes were required. Lots of jeans and sweaters. And boots! Both Uggs and nicer slouchy suede boots.

32. What kept you sane?
Torsten. Amidst all this change and upheaval, it was immeasurably grounding to have such a stable force in my life.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I have to say, despite the challenging first year that he's had, I'm still a big fan of Obama.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Well, cliche as I'm sure it is, health care. If this bill passed and all it did was block insurance companies from denying you coverage based on pre-existing conditions, I'd already be thrilled.

35. Who did you miss?
Most of my friends and family, since pretty much all of them live far away now.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
We met so many great people this year when we moved to Denver, it's hard to even remember them all. The ones that come to mind right away are Jeni and her husband, Rosie and her fiance, Kath, and Penny. Plus our next-door neighbors. And a bunch of other people I'm sure I'm forgetting.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
Well, this is something that I didn't exactly learn this year, because I kind of already knew it, but this year certainly confirmed it. I know now that if you know something is right for you, then it's fine, even if other people find it shocking or wrong. So, if someone thinks you're insane for moving to a state you've never even visited before, or tells you that you shouldn't have weight-loss surgery because don't you know that it's all about calories in vs. calories out? They can talk, but it doesn't matter, because I have faith in my own decisions. And honestly, people's opinions about your choices are really reflections on them, not you.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
For the third year straight, I'm going to go ahead and say no, I refuse. Happy New Year, everybody!