2009 End of Year Meme

I first saw this Year End meme at Sundry Mourning, who originally copied it from Gwen’s Petty, Judgmental, Evil Thoughts back in 2004.

This year’s version follows, and you can also check out previous ones:

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? Bottlefed a baby goat, raised another two baby goats besides, surprised my niece and nephew with a holiday visit to the States, was a finalist in the Bloggies, moved from my first house in Italy, got a blurb in a book, had my most successful freelance writing year to date, met several online friends in person! Yay!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Resolutions aren’t my thing, but I did well with my personal goals, particularly professionally, and yes, I’ll set more again.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes, a few. Welcome to the world, babies!

4. Did anyone close to you die? My 39-year-old cousin of cancer in April.

5. What countries did you visit? Italy and the US.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? A completely furnished house.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? The dates we got the goats. Why? Because they’re my kids!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Once again this year, the expansion of my freelance writing career.

9. What was your biggest failure? Still not completing a novel. Grr….

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nothing too bad, I guess, as I don’t remember anything.

11. What was the best thing you bought? Aside from my plane tickets home, my glorious MacBook.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? P’s, for putting up with my six-week absence while dealing with dogs and goats and house issues, oh my!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Joe Lieberman’s.

14. Where did most of your money go? This trip to the US and the house.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Visiting the US!

16. What song will always remind you of 2009? Beyoncé’s Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer? Happier, fatter (definitely a few pounds more because of the US trip!), richer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Worked on my novel.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Deciding whether to get a Mac. That should’ve been a no-brainer.

20. How did you spend Christmas? Christmas Eve at my dad’s house and Christmas at my brother’s. The whole family was at both.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009? One word: KIDS. Maaaaaaaa!

22. What was your favorite TV program? Uomo vs. Natura (Man vs. Wild)

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

24. What was the best book you read? Just one? The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Boh.

26. What did you want and get? To expand my writing career.

27. What did you want and not get? More of the house to be completed.

28. What was your favorite film of this year? The Men Who Stare at Goats. For obvious reasons, I imagine.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 33, and I think we were supposed to have a cookout but it rained. Maybe?

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Immeasurably more satisfying? Hmmm. I don’t know. I’m pretty happy with this year, although, again, I have to go back to having more of the house done.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? Same as always but now with sheepskin boots!

32. What kept you sane? Furry friends.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Gotta be the Bear. See also #22.

34. What political issue stirred you the most? Don’t get me started on health care.

35. Who did you miss? Whoever wasn’t near me at any given time.

36. Who was the best new person you met? I met two online friends in NYC–both are amazing!

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009. Mindfulness.

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

Rise up this mornin’,
Smiled with the risin’ sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin’ sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin’, “This is my message to you-ou-ou:”

Let me know if you do the year end meme!

21 Beans of Wisdom to “2009 End of Year Meme”
  1. Gil
    12.28.2009

    Glad you included Trader Joe(#13)!!!

    He really deserves all the possible scorn that can come his way….

  2. 12.28.2009

    This is wonderful. I’ll definitely be joining you! Animals have a way of truly working their way into our hearts, don’t they?

    Absolutely. Bestest things to happen to humans 🙂

    .-= jen of a2eatwrite´s last blog ..I Just Have to Write About How Awesome My Husband Is =-.

  3. Bear Grylls! Hah hah! We watch him all the time! I made anchovy zeppole for Christmas Eve, and thought about you! 🙂

    Fun fun! All of it 🙂

    .-= Jenn AKA The Leftover Queen´s last blog ..Christmas Eve – Feast of the Fishes =-.

  4. 12.28.2009

    I was just looking at this same meme when I did it last year! Or was it the year before?
    Whatever… it’s a good one!

    You did have a very nice year, and I’m SO EXCITED that you got to come home for a visit! Or… to the US anyway… I guess you have 2 homes. ;D

    I’ll check out the book, thanks for that, and I can’t wait to hear how it goes when you get back to Italia. I’ll come see you in September.

    XOXOXO
    Scarlett & Viaggiatore

    Yay! September! Just eight months away now 🙂

  5. 12.29.2009

    How fun! I did the meme too. And I suspect we have one new year’s resolution in common from your answers…to write more on our novels!

    Absolutely! Best of luck on that and everything else too 🙂

    .-= Crystal´s last blog ..2009 End of Year Meme =-.

  6. 12.29.2009

    Wow. This is pretty cool. Thanks for sharing! Like you, I also lost a young cousin (three, actually). It wasn’t to cancer, though. Two were killed in a car accident (ages 29 and 36 – separate instances, separate states) and one just didn’t wake up (32 – heart). So, I can totally empathize about the loss of your cousin. I’m so sorry….

    I also got goats this year! 😀

    Hooray for goats! I’m sorry for your losses…too, too young 🙁

    .-= Michele´s last blog ..Holidays & Homelessness =-.

  7. 12.29.2009

    Michelle! I was just looking at my meme from 07 when I saw yours so I updated mine for this year also . What a great year we have had…here is to a kickin 2010!!!
    Felice Anno Nuovo!

    Woohoo! I’m with you there 🙂

  8. 12.30.2009
  9. 12.30.2009

    Hi there! I enjoy stopping by your blog, although I don’t comment. However, I did join in this meme and posted it tonight. Thank you for your inspiring blog and looking forward to reading more! Happy New Year!

    Thanks so much Linda! Happy you commented 🙂

  10. suzie
    12.30.2009

    Ciao Cara,
    wishing you all the best for 2010 !!!
    Saluti e salute
    Suzie

    Thanks! Same to you, Suzie 🙂

  11. 12.30.2009

    Mine is up. Thanks for the inspiration.
    http://italianmamachef.wordpress.com/2009/12/30/year-end-meme/

    Oh, I found your blog after losing the link in my last pc crash. I am so glad to have found you again. I learned how to properly pronounce bruschetta from here!

    Haha, glad you found me again too 🙂 P.S. Get a Mac!!!!! 😉

    .-= michelle´s last blog ..Year end meme =-.

  12. 12.30.2009

    I just posted my version of this MEme!

    Yay! Thanks for letting me know, Lori!

  13. 12.30.2009

    Joe Lieberman? GREAT answer!

    It’s the first thing that popped into my mind, and I couldn’t come up with anything better to replace it 😉

    .-= Mama Zen´s last blog ..Review: Rosarita Salsa =-.

  14. 12.31.2009

    This is very similar to the end-of-the-year meme featured at Sunday Stealing last week: http://www.jhsiess.com/2009/12/27/sunday-stealing-the-final-week-of-2009-meme/

    Congrats on your “kids,” as well as your enjoyable visit to the U.S., and continued writing success. Hope 2010 brings you everything you want, including a fully furnished house & published novel! 🙂

    JHS

    Thanks so much, and thanks for sharing your answers! They’re great 🙂
    Colloquium
    .-= JHS´s last blog ..Wordful Wednesday =-.

  15. 12.31.2009

    Hi Michelle, I did it too, thanks for the idea, here’s the link: http://www.luculliandelights.com/2009/12/end-of-year-meme.html

    Fabulous! Thanks Ilva!

  16. 01.01.2010

    I just did the meme, too. Thanks for reminding me. Happy New Year.

    Hope you have a fantastic 2010, Grace!

    .-= Grace´s last blog ..2009 End of Year Meme =-.

  17. 01.01.2010

    Love your list & the goat pic. Hope you get your furniture.

    It’s taken me all day, but I’ve just published my list.

    Thank you, and thanks for letting me know you played along 🙂

  18. 01.03.2010

    Stumbled here, glad I did. I find your life fascinating and know that I would never be strong enough to actually move far away from home…
    I knew I *had* to comment when I read the Marley lyrics.
    <3 it!!
    Look forward to coming back 🙂

    Thanks for coming over and commenting! Hope to see lots of you ’round these parts 🙂

  19. 01.06.2010

    Ohmigosh I made the list! I made the list!
    Hugs from New York

    You did, you did! I don’t like to broadcast OPB (other people’s business) but since you came out…yes! I finally met the infamous Frances of She Who Blogs! And it was mahvelous 🙂

    .-= Frances´s last blog ..The much coveted outlet seat =-.

  20. 01.21.2010

    I love The Miracle of Mindfulness, great book!

    I played along: http://callistasramblings.blogspot.com/2010/01/end-of-year-meme-2009.html

    Thanks for the post idea.

  1. Pingback: Where will the new year take Wanderlust Women? | Travel Dreams and Moonbeams
    [...] first saw this year end meme at Pownall Chronicles, who got it from Bleeding Espresso, who originally c...
Michelle KaminskyMichelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived. 

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Recipes

 

Homemade apple butter
Green beans, potatoes, and pancetta
Glazed Apple Oatmeal Cinnamon Muffins
Pasta with snails alla calabrese
Onion, Oregano, and Thyme Focaccia
Oatmeal Banana Craisin Muffins
Prosciutto wrapped watermelon with bel paese cheese
Fried eggs with red onion and cheese
Calabrian sausage and fava beans
Ricotta Pound Cake