Tag Archives: end of the year survey

Farewell 2016! Don’t let our annual retrospective hit you on the way out.

It’s the return of the All & Sundry survey! I’m not sure if it’s still a going concern over there, but we’re going to do it again here regardless. (Here are 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2015 editions.)

Marsha T. Cat and I like to kick off a new year with a good snuggle.

What did you do in 2016 that you’d never done before?
I didn’t realize it until I started going through my photo files for this post, but 2016 was a year of quite a few firsts for us. I managed to get tickets to a secret Louis CK show, which is something I definitely have not done before. We sent both kids to a week at camp; I was a nervous wreck, but they had a great time. The kids and I rode the Seven Dwarves Mine Train for the first time. The kids entered some stuff into our local fair and brought home some prizes. Pete and I did our first voter-registration drive. And most importantly, we celebrated our first Cubs World Series win.

Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I resolved to make more homemade pizzas last year. That seems like an easy one to keep, and yet I did not manage it. This year I’m going to try to treat myself with more kindness and mercy, and I’m going to try to go out with Rockford more often.

Marsha T. Cat wasn’t very hospitable to our canine pal who visited in February.

Did anyone close to you give birth?

I have a couple of new baby cousins!

Did anyone close to you die?
Let’s not talk about death this year.

I have no idea what was going on with Marsha T. Cat and her list in March.

What countries did you visit?
I did not leave the United States yet again this year.

What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
I’m copying and pasting from last year’s: Willpower in the face of delicious, unhealthy foods and the motivation to work out regularly.

Judging by Marsha T. Cat’s double-blanket napping, we must’ve had some chilly weather in April.

What dates from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 8 wasn’t my favorite.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Man, I don’t know.

Marsha T. Cat is a big fan of sitting on people’s backs, but the only photographic evidence I have of it for 2016 is this picture from May.

What was your biggest failure?
OK, so I had tickets for “Hamilton” in my cart, and then I didn’t buy them because they were so expensive and we’d have to fly up to New York and stay in a hotel and… and… and…

And I’ve regretted not buying them ever since.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing terrible, thankfully.

Marsha T. Cat practiced her Blue Steel in June.

What was the best thing you bought?
We bought a new-to-us car. That was pretty great.

Where did most of your money go?
To the mortgage, as usual.

July was, naturally, when Marsha T. Cat met the Pokemon.

What did you get really excited about?
The Cubs.

What song will always remind you of 2016?
“Go Cubs Go.”

Marsha T. Cat was Poppy’s model for her entry in the Photography contest at the fair.

What do you wish you’d done more of?
I wish we’d taken a few more hikes as a family.

What do you wish you’d done less of?

Worrying about my pants size.

Marsha T. Cat is always curious about the kids’ activities when we start school. This September was no exception.

How did you spend Christmas?
We spent Christmas with my dad, his girlfriend and the Perry Mason family.

What was your favorite TV program?
We started watching “Speechless” as a family this year. It’s our first appointment television as a family, so it’ll always be a little special.

Marsha T. Cat gets cozy in October. Noticing a trend?

What were your favorite books of the year?
I’m going to post my Books of 2016 post tomorrow, so be sure to return for that riveting programming. My favorite book of the year was “West with the Night” by Beryl Markham.

What was your favorite music from this year?

“Hamilton Mixtape” and Tribe Called Quest’s “We Got it from Here, Thank You 4 Your Service.”

Marsha T. Cat and I also enjoy celebrating my birthday in November with some cuddle time.

What were your favorite films of the year?
I didn’t like “Rogue One” as much as “The Force Awakens,” but I did like it quite a bit.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 38 this year, and we went to see “Doctor Strange.”

This December, poor Marsha T. Cat was briefly stalked by a Wampa.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Getting those “Hamilton” tickets.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
I actually have a personal fashion concept this year. I’m trying to be more comfortable with myself, which has lead me to a Jim James Meets Mrs. Roper aesthetic. It’s slightly less wacky than it sounds, although it probably wouldn’t be if I weren’t relying on Dia to send me the appropriate attire. It’s a clothing subscription service for plus-size ladies, and I’ve been very happy with it. Here’s my Dia link if you want to check it out. I’ll get a $20 credit if you sign up.

Happy New Year!

2008: The year of the general malaise

Linda has put up her annual End-of-the-Year thing again. I filled it out in 2006 and 2007. If I do it again this year, is it officially a tradition? I guess we’ll find out a year from now.

What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Celebrated my son’s birthday.

Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn’t officially resolve to lose weight last year, and it’s a good thing. Because I didn’t do it. I’m not making any resolutions this year.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
I don’t believe so. (And I apologize if you did and I’m not remembering it.)

Did anyone close to you die?
Yes.

What countries did you visit?
Not a one.

What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
I’d like to rediscover the ability to deal with stress. I used to deal with it pretty well — or maybe I didn’t deal with it at all. Whatever the case, it’s causing problems now. And I’d like to get that in hand in 2009.

What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I’m very bad with dates. It’s one of the reasons I scrapbook.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I can’t think of anything.

What was your biggest failure?
I didn’t make it a resolution, but I was hoping to lose weight in 2008. Mostly because it rhymes, but also because I need to for reasons that fall somewhere between health and vanity.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had a terrible stomach virus in October. It was very unpleasant.

What was the best thing you bought?
Rock Band.

Whose behavior merited celebration?
Pete’s. He’s a wonderful, laid-back little guy.

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My own. I haven’t been entirely pleasant to my loved ones this year. (See: Dealing with stress. Also, last year the answer to the “biggest failure” question was that I wasn’t nice to Rockford. This year, I’m just equally mean to everyone. Hm.)

Where did most of your money go?
Pizza and video games. (Not really.)

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Poppy’s enthusiasm over Christmas was pretty infectious this year.

What song will always remind you of 2008?
When I said I was bad with dates? That applies to entire years as well.

Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
I don’t know. I mentioned that I’m having a hard time dealing with things right now, but there seems to be less to deal with right now than there was this time last year. I’m definitely sappier, though. Everything makes me cry.
b) thinner or fatter? Two pounds fatter. Thanks for asking.
c) richer or poorer? Nearly the same.

What do you wish you’d done more of?
Laugh with my family.

What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worry.

How did you spend Christmas?
With family.

Did you fall in love in 2008?
I stayed in love in 2008.

What was your favorite TV program?
2008 was the year of “Battlestar Gallactica” for us.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don’t think so.

What was the best book you read?
“Bel Canto”

What was your greatest musical discovery?
Blitzen Trapper

What did you want and get?
Rock Band

What did you want and not get?
Smaller pants.

What was your favorite film of this year?
I finally saw “Enchanted” a few days after Christmas. I don’t know if it came out in 2008, but that’s when I saw it. And I liked it a lot.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 30 this year. I was recovering from the stomach virus on my birthday, and I can’t remember whether we did anything in particular.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A grand and wonderful vacation.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Did you see the episode of “Seinfeld” where George is wearing sweatpants and Jerry tells him that he’s broadcasting to the world that he’s given up? That’s me in 2008. Sweatshirts and mom jeans.

What kept you sane?
Rockford.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I’m not crazy about any of them.

What political issue stirred you the most?
I got more worked up than usual over the presidential election this time around.

Who did you miss?
Aunt Judy.

Who was the best new person you met?
It’s been a blast watching Pete’s personality develop. I think that counts.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Poppy seems to think I need to be reminded to “Never give up.” But she also calls me Benny when she’s encouraging me. I’m not altogether sure what to make of that. But it’s not a bad lesson, regardless.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

I just want to be OK, be OK, be OK
I just want to be OK today
I just want to be OK, be OK, be OK
I just want to be OK today.
– Ingrid Michaelson, “Be OK”

Reading over this, it sounds like 2008 wasn’t a great year for me. While there were definitely difficult bits, though, it wasn’t all bad. We’re healthy, we’re sheltered, we have plenty of food on the table. I think maybe I have a brain cloud, that’s all.