Bleeding Espresso

28 December 2009

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 »

21 beans of wisdom to “2009 End of Year Meme”

Gil on 28 Dec 2009 at 7:27 am #

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

He really deserves all the possible scorn that can come his way….
jen of a2eatwrite on 28 Dec 2009 at 4:03 pm #

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
Jenn AKA The Leftover Queen on 28 Dec 2009 at 6:13 pm #

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
Wanderlust Scarlett on 28 Dec 2009 at 10:52 pm #

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
Crystal on 29 Dec 2009 at 1:08 am #

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
Michele on 29 Dec 2009 at 2:57 am #

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
Paola on 29 Dec 2009 at 4:51 am #

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
Jana on 30 Dec 2009 at 1:57 am #

I played along–very fun!
http://pilgrimgirl.blogspot.com/2009/12/what-amazing-year-its-been-meme-for-you.html

Great Jana! Thanks

Jana´s last blog ..what an amazing year it’s been! (a meme for you)
Linda on 30 Dec 2009 at 9:49 am #

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
suzie on 30 Dec 2009 at 1:01 pm #

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

Thanks! Same to you, Suzie
michelle on 30 Dec 2009 at 2:48 pm #

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
Lori on 30 Dec 2009 at 4:32 pm #

I just posted my version of this MEme!

Yay! Thanks for letting me know, Lori!
Mama Zen on 30 Dec 2009 at 9:25 pm #

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
JHS on 31 Dec 2009 at 6:04 am #

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
ilva on 31 Dec 2009 at 1:00 pm #

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!
Grace on 01 Jan 2010 at 12:27 am #

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
travelingsuep on 01 Jan 2010 at 8:38 pm #

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
lovenursing on 03 Jan 2010 at 4:42 am #

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
Frances on 06 Jan 2010 at 4:59 pm #

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
Where will the new year take Wanderlust Women? | Travel Dreams and Moonbeams on 14 Jan 2010 at 8:14 am #

[...] first saw this year end meme at Pownall Chronicles, who got it from Bleeding Espresso, who originally copied it from someone else, and so on and so on. I thought it was an interesting [...]
Callista on 21 Jan 2010 at 1:15 am #

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.