Before I forget 2009...

Stolen from Misty's Popcorn on a Skillet.

Year in review 2009

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Went to grad school, missed my family Christmas

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I kept a big one: do well in school. I also got involved in my community to a great degree. I made a few vague but generally important resolutions for 2010.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My sister-in-law's brother had a his first child.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
He should have been far closer. My grandfather Gravatt died. Read about him here

5. What countries did you visit?
For me, Atlanta and New Orleans are different countries.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
a better functioning car, a summer internship

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 20th, It was cold here and even colder in Washington. Glad so many of my colleagues got to see the Inauguration of a very exciting President.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Becoming a graduate assistantship.

9. What was your biggest failure?
failure to develop more permanent health and leisure habits.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Luckily no.

11.What was the best thing you bought?

The first computer (laptop) I have ever paid for myself. I have had basically cheap hand me downs from family or old jobs for ten years.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The LGBT community of NWA for becoming tighter and more willing to participate with each other.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Congressional Republicans. Honestly we have rarely seen such obstructionism. Anyone who says otherwise is itching for a fight. I kid....they just really don't know what they are talking about.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Well, most of it was not my money, now was it? Most of my student loan money went to paying general living expenses to keep me fully functioning as a student and community member. I did pay off my car though with a big chunk.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to New Orleans and to Atlanta so spend quality time with an old flame.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Okay, this is where I cheat. I am going to put down four songs because they are around different experiences. I suggest you listen to the ones you don't recognize. Check here for 2009 hits.

Taylor Swift's "You Belong to Me"
Black Eyed Peas' "I gotta feeling"


Glee Cast's "Don't Stop Believin'"


La Roux's "Bulletproof"



17. Compared to this time last year, are you
i. happier or sadder?: happier
ii. thinner or fatter?: probably a shade thinner
iii. richer or poorer? richer (GA stipend is all it took!)

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
physical activity, pleasure reading, movies

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Reading of current events, wasting time on the internet, eating fast food during stress or school work

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
N/A next year is way too far away.

22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
I was reminded often of a deep appreciation and devotion to someone.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
"Glee"

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Sort of yes.... I try not to, but it happens.

26. What was the best book you read?
"Shock Doctrine" by Naomi Klein

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
La Roux (see #16)

28. What did you want and get?
Graduate assistantship, and there was this one cute guy I saw at a bar and we totally pursued each other for a little while.

29. What did you want and not get?
A vegetable garden in the yard

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Milk

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
27, but I really don't recall what I did.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
my computer not dying on me last spring.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
budding professor at school, but I never forgot my love of baseball caps

34. What kept you sane?
Long conversations with Joey, griping at Misty about foolish people, and a decent roommate

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Obama's speech writer, Jon Favreau

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Health insurance reform. I think the misinformation from the corporate conservatives borders on treason.

37. Who did you miss?
My colleagues from Georgia and Florida.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
If I tell, it will sound like I am not over him. But he is so much like me that we fought like cats and dogs!

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
You cannot hold the people you love to the standards that you wish the entire world would adopt. You must love them as is and still teach the world about what you value. The people you love might pick up on it and they might not. Hopefully they will understand your passion and support you whether they meet that standard or not.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Been there, done that, messed around
I’m having fun don’t put me down,
I’ll never let you sweep me off my feet,