2012 Meme

“For last year's words belong to last year's language 

And next year's words await another voice.” 

― T.S. Eliot

I've done this for the last 5 years (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011) I may as well keep it up another year. If you decide to play along on your blog, leave a comment so I can read your 2012 recap.

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?
I became certified in almost all the Microsoft products and also became a Microsoft Certified Trainer.  I've trained software for a long time, but now I'm official with Microsoft.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I set none for last year, so I guess I kept them just fine!  I don't think I'm going to make any this year, but I'm going to choose a word for the year -- INTENTIONAL.  We'll see next year how good I was at keeping that word.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
The eldest daughter of a dear friend gave birth this month.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nobody close to me died in 2012.

5. What countries did you visit?
None

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Peace

7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I can't think of any red-letter days, but there were plenty of days full of love.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Becoming a MCT was a pretty big achievement.  Another was presenting with Nate at the annual NSA Conference.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Nothing I would share with the Internet :)~

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
More kidney issues. Hoping everything is resolved in 2013.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
I can't think of any outstanding purchases.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My husband, who supports and loves me through everything.



13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I was appalled and depressed by the behavior of a few people.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgages, medical bills

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Trips to the beach and Grand Canyon with my family.

16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
None comes to mind.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
a) sadder; b) about the same; c) about the same

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Travel.  Alone and as a family. 

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying about other people and what they thought and how they felt.  Plan on doing less of that this year, without a doubt.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
We enjoyed a quiet, peaceful day in our home. My kids thoroughly enjoyed the gifts they received and spending time together as a family. We attended Christmas day mass for the first time in a long time (usually we go on Christmas Eve)  We may have started a new tradition by going out to dinner, as our original plans fell through, and I had no groceries since I wasn't planning on making the meal.

21. Did you fall in love in 2012?
I fell deeper in love with my husband -- it's such a cliche but it's true that as the years go by I find new depths of my love for him.

22. How many one-night stands?
None.

23. What was your favorite TV program?
I like Las Vegas (long time Dennis Quaid fan) and Elementary

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

25. What was the best book you read?
I read a ton of books this year.  It's hard to pick out the best -- but reading L.M. Montgomery's compilation of short stories may be near the top of my favorites this year.  Short, sweet, gentle and just what I needed during the period of time when I read them.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I enjoyed Willie Nelson's Christmas album that he released this year.  One of my grandmothers really enjoyed his music, although she always followed that up with the fact she didn't like the way he looked. Not only was it a beautiful album, it reminded me of her.

27. What did you want and get?
I got a new camera for my birthday -- something that I really wanted. For Christmas, I received some gorgeous earrings from my husband.

28. What did you want and not get?
Won't say, but it's something that I have realized I'll never have and I'm getting to the point of being okay with that.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Hobbit (I didn't see many movies this year, but the boys read the Hobbit, and I re-read it, and we saw the movie together. It was fun to share all of that with them.)

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 45 this year. Bo was in Vegas, again.  I worked.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Winning the lottery.  A really big lottery.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Simple (boring)

33. What kept you sane?
A good friend. the Kindle app. my fluffy down comforter.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
No big crushes this year.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
I'm not a big political issue type of person. I have my views, and I keep them quiet for the most part -- doing what I can to further what I believe is important. Nothing stirred me enough to prompt me to post on the Internet about it.

36. Who did you miss?
I missed my grandparents. They've all been gone for a number of years, but I still miss the fact that they truly loved me unconditionally.  Even if there were times they may not have liked me, they never let on and I only felt their love.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
I met someone new this year that helped me grow as a person, even if I struggled with it.  I found myself frustrated at times, but I know I learned some things and in the end, I'm grateful this person was in my life.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
“Change the changeable, accept the unchangeable, and remove yourself from the unacceptable.” 
― Denis Waitley

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

That’s the only way I know
Don’t stop till everything’s gone
Straight ahead never turn round
Don’t back up, don’t back down
Full throttle wide open
You get tired, you don’t show it
Dig a little deeper when you think you can’t dig no more
That’s the only way I know

-- Jason Aldean, The Only Way I Know