2014 in review

The last time I did one of these, I called the post, “Goodbye 2012, you and your bitch face” and then I didn’t do one at all in 2013, so I guess I had a rough few years? But hey, now that 2015 is here, what better time to recap 2014?

1. What did you do in 2014 that you’d never done before?
Took an improv class, performed in an improv show, ran 500 miles, watched the Seahawks win the Super Bowl.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t think I made any resolutions. I did try to drink 80 oz. of water a day and eat one salad a day and I did pretty well at that, actually. I set a goal of running 500 miles, which I achieved. For this year, I’d like to incorporate more yoga into my life. I don’t need to be doing headstands and shit, but I’ve been practicing for over 10 years and I still only go to yoga maybe once a week. I know (and I know enough yoga) I can do more on my own.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! Chris’s best friend’s wife and Chris’s cousin’s wife. Two beautiful baby girls (my favorite brand of baby, though I may be biased.)

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.

5. What countries did you visit?
None. I haven’t visited a country since 2009 and that was just Mexico, so let’s go with states. In 2014, I visited Washington, Hawaii, Oregon, and Nevada.

6. What would you like to have in 2015 that you didn’t have in 2014?
A finished kitchen.

7. What dates from 2014 will be etched upon your memory, and why?
I am so bad with dates, I actually forgot Chris’s birthday. So. None of them are etched upon my memory, clearly.

8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?
I got into the pay grade I wanted to be in. I ran 500 miles. I enjoyed my marriage (not that I’ve not enjoyed it in years past, but I especially enjoyed it last year.) I finally figured out a small piece that was missing in my life (improv, although I don’t know that that’s specifically what was missing, but it’s definitely helping me figure out my path.)

9. What was your biggest failure?
I need to put my phone down after, say, 8pm. I really improved on not bringing my phone out during family time, but once LG and Chris are in bed, it’s total zombie phone time. No bueno.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No! And considering 2013 was The Year Of Ailments, this was quite the treat.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Airplane tickets to Hawaii.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
LG’s! She is always so amenable when we have big life changes going on. Being yanked from school to home with me full time to being back in (a different) school…She just takes it all with ease.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The whole Ferguson thing, and everything stemming from or related to that, was appalling.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage, daycare, food.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Our Hawaii trip!

16. What song will always remind you of 2014?
Oh geez, who knows. Was it on NPR? Then I didn’t hear it.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: A) happier or sadder? B) thinner or fatter? C) richer or poorer?
A) Happier!
B) Fatter, probably. Who the fuck cares?
C) Richer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Read more at night.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Sweeping the floor.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
My parents came over on Christmas Eve and we ate a big dinner and drank A TON of champagne and then spent Christmas morning watching LG enjoy all her spoils.

21. Did you fall in love with 2014?
Sure, why not? It was a damn good year.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Homeland, Sons of Anarchy, The Americans, The Affair, all the Real Housewives.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nope.

24. What was the best book you read?
I guess Life After Life. That was quite the thinker.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I’ve enjoyed Sam Baker a lot.

26. What did you want and get?
A family vacation!

27. What did you want and not get?
A finished kitchen!

28. What was your favorite film of 2014?
Preeeeeeetty sure I didn’t go to the movies at all and I cannot remember any that I saw, even on tv. We got something out of the Redbox, but I can’t remember what. I watcher Her on the flight home from Hawaii and it was WEIRD.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Chris and I went to San Francisco and had a blast JUST THE TWO OF US (as nature intended.) I turned 31.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I really can’t think of anything. Maybe a new car?

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2014?
Swans and pineapples. I have also decided to get back into novelty socks. I don’t know why I thought giving those up for plain black socks was the thing to do.

32. What kept you sane?
Running, yoga, crossword puzzles, friends, my mom and dad, and Chris.

33. What political issue stirred you the most?
I have steered clear of politics this year and it is glorious!

34. Who did you miss?
All my family I don’t get to see enough.

35. Who was the best new person you met?
I met some cool people at my job and also some cool people at improv.

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014.
Fuck ’em if they can’t take a joke.

37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
“…And this is All Things Considered.”