it's got to get better than this

I don't know why I bother doing these, since this year was even more shitacular than last year.

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before? Earned a master's degree in women's studies, lived in rural Indiana.

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Didn't have any and yes.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Nope. Lots of 2008 babies, though.

4. Did anyone close to you die? My matriarchs are gone. Both of them.

5. What places did you visit? Mexico, Orlando, B-N, Ill, Greencastle, Las Vegas, many trips to Madison, South Bend, and I think that's it.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007? Serenity. And possibly, my tribe much closer in proximity.

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Mid-may (graduation week/end), June 25 (the day I left Tucson), October 30 (Grandma died), December 17 (Mom died).

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Surviving (last year's answer works again!), but I would also add graduating and mounting a national job search and securing a perfect-fit job.

9. What was your biggest failure? It's hard to know, there are so many.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Lots of emotional injury and loss.

11. What was the best thing you bought? I just bought some slippers. You'd think I'd have some, but no.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Many of my close family members, and a handful of my very best friends.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? I have never known anyone so willing to kick a girl when she's down. That's all I have to say about that.

14. Where did most of your money go? Car payments, student loans.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Er. Trips?

16. What song will always remind you of 2007? All of Lucinda Williams' "West" album. There's a song on there for everything I've experienced this year, I am sure of it.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? More relieved, yet probably also sadder.
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter. ugh.
c) richer or poorer? I have no idea.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Exercise, pleasure reading, cooking (all still apply!)

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Receiving catastrophic news, losing sleep, feeling physically unwell, losing friends.

20. How did you spend Christmas last year? In Milwaukee and Madison, per usual.

21. Did you fall in love in 2007? Very quickly, and I fell out of it nearly as quickly, too.

22. How many one-night stands? Well....

23. What was your favorite TV program? I am ashamed to say that I have gotten enormous amounts of pleasure from Bridezillas in the last several months.

24. What did you do for your birthday in 2007? I canceled my party, worked 9-9, and attended my grandmother's visitation the next day. It was a swell week, really.

25. What was the best book you read? Eat, Pray, Love.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery? I didn't technically discover her this year, but Lucinda Williams. And the Plain White Ts.

27. What did you want and get? I got a really great pair of earrings from my mom. And I got a great job.

28. What did you want and not get? I wanted to not feel excluded, I wanted to not feel backed into a corner, I wanted to not lose my mother and my grandmother, I wanted to not feel compelled to leave somewhere I called home for a place that may never feel like home, I wanted some understanding and its corollary, some explanation. That about covers it.

29. What was your favorite film of this year? I guess Sicko or Superbad. My film watching was limited.

30. Did you make some new friends this year? Yep.

31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Closure, on so many different fronts.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007? Shit, I can't wear jeans anymore?!

33. What kept you sane? A misplaced sense of responsibility.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Bah.

35. What political issue stirred you the most? I am completely unstirred, though I am looking forward to seeing who gets the Democratic nod in 2008.

36. Who did you miss? Tucson.

37. Who was the best new person you met? It's hard to say--they have all been spectacular in their own ways, at different times.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007. Sometimes, rock solid things are not, so much.