The Annual Year End Meme: 2010 Edition
I don’t remember being this excited for a new year in a long time — probably 10 years ago when I was entering my final semester of law school and would finally, finally be entering the “real world” in a few short months. I feel that same kind of anticipation now in the early days of 2011. This past year was one of growth, learning, and clarity for me, and I truly can’t wait to see what 2011 brings.
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: 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.
Pinta, about 20 hours old
1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before? The biggest one that sticks out in my memory is delivering a baby goat – yes, with icky, gooey hands and all. In another huge milestone, I earned more as a freelance writer in one year than I ever have in my life. We also produced our very own olive oil, and I became an Eye on Italy podcast co-host, visited two new-to-me regions of Italy (Lombardia (Milan) and Piemonte (Acqui Terme)); met several online friends in person; trimmed goat hooves; made yoga a daily practice (had dabbled before but never with such regularity); participated in 750words.com, and I’m sure many other things I’m forgetting as it was really a full year.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don’t do resolutions, but I’m happy with my year overall. For next year, I have a new plan – and I will tell you about it shortly. Stay tuned!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes, all my goats and several friends, including one on December 21. Welcome to Calabria, Baby Max!
4. Did anyone close to you die? No one in my immediate family or friends, but an old high school friend.
5. What countries did you visit? Stayed in Italy this year.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010? A book deal.
7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Pinta’s birth (March 22) because I’ll never forget my first goat midwifery experience.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? More than doubling my freelance writing income from last year.
9. What was your biggest failure? Unfinished manuscripts…AGAIN, but I’m already working on that. For real!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? A really nasty cut on my right middle finger knuckle, right down to the bone, all healed now. Also a cold upon coming back from northern Italy — my first in several years!
L'amaca in campagna
11. What was the best thing you bought? Our campagna! And my iMac, which despite looking like it had died has rebounded wonderfully.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My dogs, who accepted a cat into the house with very little to-do.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Most high-profile conservative politicians in the U.S. and Berlusconi.
14. Where did most of your money go? Our campagna!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Our campagna!
16. What song will always remind you of 2010? Bad Romance, particularly this version:
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer? Definitely not sadder or poorer…not sure if happier, thinner, fatter, or about the same. Eh, I’m happy. That’s plenty.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Various personal projects.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Wasting time.
20. How did you spend Christmas? With P’s parents.
21. Did you fall in love in 2010? Yup, with Pinters Magooch a million times over.
22. What was your favorite TV program? I liked several: The Good Wife, Brothers & Sisters, and Being Erica are probably the top three — ah and Lost, may it rest in peace.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I don’t do hate.
24. What was the best book you read? Voices by Dacia Maraini.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? See #16 (hint: not Gaga).
26. What did you want and get? An actual work space.
27. What did you want and not get? An actual kitchen.
Letters to Juliet on Amazon
28. What was your favorite film of this year? Letters to Juliet in all its cheeseball glory, although in my defense, I didn’t see many new movies this year.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 34, and we had a quiet dinner at home.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? See #6.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010? Comfort and goats first.
32. What kept you sane? The girls – goats and dogs.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Gotta be the Bear (same as last year).
34. What political issue stirred you the most? Probably health care once again.
35. Who did you miss? Same people I always miss.
36. Who was the best new person you met? I met several online friends in northern Italy in November. Yay!
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010. Simplicity (I’m still learning).
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
There’s a song that they sing when they take to the highway
A song that they sing when they take to the sea
A song that they sing of their home in the sky
Maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep
But singing works just fine for me.
~Sweet Baby James, James Taylor
Please feel free to fill out your own end of year meme and post the link in the comments!
26 Beans of Wisdom to “The Annual Year End Meme: 2010 Edition”
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[...] thoughts were running through my mind when I saw Michelle’s 2010 Year End meme on Bleeding Espresso, a... ciaoamalfi.com/2011/01/year-end-meme-2010
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[...] for a moment and think of how life changed for us this year. This is why I decided to do the Annual En... kalieta.servhome.org/this-time-last-year
Recipes
Happy New Year Michelle!
Best wishes for a kick butt 2011.
That’s the spirit! Back at you, cara!
Brava!
And bravo to you! Love your meme as well 🙂
That Gaga film is priceless!
You write very well, so I’m sure that book deal you’re hoping for will find it’s way to you in no time.
Thanks so much Haley; hope to get to know you better as well 🙂
Your best post Michelle and of course about the goats..he he! Loved learning things about you! Hugs!
Thanks Pam! And happiest of new years to you and Cliff! 🙂
My dear friend, one of the highlights of my year was meeting you in the real. You are a special person, full of beauty (inside and out) with a real sense of humanity. It was very special for me to have you and Sara here; to share real quality time and to just be together. Thank you for that. I wish that all the things that happen this year bring you further down your path, which they inevitably will- I mean it in a good way 🙂 Much love from my hill to your campagna.
Mwah mwah mwah ad infinitum xx
Hi Michelle,
It was great to have met the real life you when you were up here in Milan!
Happy New Year!
Looking forward to hearing about the new plan!
Cheers,
Alex
I’m very excited about this year’s plan indeed…I’ll be sharing it soon!
Ciao! Happy New Year! Great meme!
Thanks Alessandra!
Buon Anno! May you quadruple your income this year! Cristina
Oooh that would be rather nice….buon 2011!
What a wonderful you you have had. Happy New Year-I hope you get the book deal-I will be your PR person in N. America.
Excellent Esme — thanks!
Thanks for the welcome (from Max!) A few of your readers told me about your warm welcome. Hope you guys can meet soon, Michelle!
Yes indeed! Hope he’s packing on the pounds…or grams as it were 😉
I really liked reading this post and I decided to do a shorter version of it myself.
I wish you all the best for 2011, and can’t wait to get to know you and your goats a little better 😉
http://www.indivisualism.com/2011/01/final-recap.html
Love it! So pleased we’ve “met” as well 🙂
It’s great learning so many new things about you!
Thanks FH! And buon 2011!
Though I have known your site for a while I have not actively followed – this year I will. Looks like I have a lot to learn and appreciate from your blog. That’s what I love about the blogging world – you learn, make friends and then as you did, go out and meet them and the world you have learnt about. Happy New year! Seems as though 2010 was very good to you!
Why thank you Marcellina! That’s very sweet…looking forward to getting to know you better as well 🙂
Loved learning a little more about you. Hopefully this year will grant you all your wishes!
Pinta is adorable…
Baci e buon anno
E xx
Thanks E! And back at you 🙂
It was wonderful meeting you in November. I hope 2011 brings you more of the good and less of the bad that 2010 brought. Happy New Year.
Same here, Joanne! Buon 2011!
Mwahahah I love how Being Erica shot to the top of your favorite TV series! We will have to have a chat to debrief on what you’ve seen so far.
Well I’ve seen them all now, and yes, it’s definitely a keeper! Of course it’s also most on my mind since I’ve only been watching it this past month…things that are recent to me tend to make these kinds of lists 😉
Hi Michelle, Your site name intrigued me. What a fascinating life you have! And bold–Italy! I’d imagine that’s a change from Pennsylvania. Thanks again for popping in on my site. All best to you in the New Year!!
Thanks so much for coming by, Laura! And tante belle cose to you as well in 2011 and beyond 🙂
Wonderful meme to close the year out – but also a great way to get to know you!
Thanks so much for stopping by the other day!
Congratulations on a great year and I hope 2011 brings your peace and happiness. Good luck with all your plans.
I did the meme last year, on your prompt, and had forgotten about it until today… I may do it later, although my focus this year is on my art, so naturally my other blog.
Here’s wishing us both book deals in 2011! May it be a “best ever” year for you, Michelle!
I really enjoyed this post. I hope you get your book deal this year. I have to agree about not doing resolutions. I do, however, believe in reflection and goal-setting. Hope 2011 is your best yet.
Thanks so much, Teresa! Much goodness to you in 2011 as well 🙂
oops forgot to pop back and tell you I wrote mine too.
Thanks Sue!
I just stumbled upon your blog. I too am an attorney, though I doubt that is how you define yourself anymore, and Italian. Nonetheless, I am green with envy.
I still pay my dues, so I still call myself an attorney 😉 Welcome to BE!
Ciao Michelle! You’ve inspired me to do my first ever meme! 🙂 Here’s the link: http://www.ciaoamalfi.com/2011/01/year-end-meme-2010/
Wishing you a wonderfully successful and happy 2011! (And get those manuscripts done!) 🙂
Love it Laura; thanks for sharing!