Looking Back on 2006

I completed the following meme because:

(1) I saw it on some of the blogs I read and love, and I’m a copycat at heart;

(2) Since I only started blogging in December, this can fill you in on the rest of my year in just 39 (!) simple questions;

(3) I don’t have anything else remotely interesting to say today (not to insinuate that this is interesting, but at least it’s something).

Like to hear it? Here it goes.

1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before? Started a blog, got my first translating gig, made Thanksgiving dinner all by myself, jarred hot peppers stuffed with anchovies and capers, became an Italian citizen, watched Italy win the World Cup, improved my Italian immensely, and learned to follow along a conversation in Calabrian dialect.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I’ve never done resolutions, but maybe I will this year. Maybe I’ll make a resolution to do resolutions. Probably not though.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? In February, my favorite Wisconsinite (baby girl Dorothea) and, in June, P’s sister-in-law in Perugia (baby boy Matteo). Auguri!

4. Did anyone close to you die? Thank goodness, no. But holy crap, I’m really going to miss Peter Boyle, and not just because we shared a birthday. He reminded me so much of my own grandfather. Brilliant.

5. What countries did you visit? Only the one I’m in.

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006? More assignments.

7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Wow, this is kinda sad but July 9, the day of the World Cup win and Headbutt Heard ‘Round the World. Nothing else comes to mind.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Losing the weight I gained in law school.

9. What was your biggest failure? Not sending out my niece and nephew’s Christmas gift on time. We’re going to do a combination Christmas/Valentine’s Day package, I think.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nothing serious this year, no. Now that you mention, though, I do feel a sore throat coming on. Thanks meme.

11. What was the best thing you bought? My new laptop. I heart her. Hard.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My doggie Luna. She has taken extremely well to being kept on a leash except for our long runs. And she only barks and snaps at shady-looking men now, a trait of which I’m exceedingly proud.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Tie between most, if not all, members of the Bush administration. So tough to pick just one. And recently Donald Trump. What’s up the Comb Over’s bum anyway?

14. Where did most of your money go? Internet and phone bills (but so worth it).

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? My digital camera.

16. What song will always remind you of 2006? Sei nell’Anima by Gianna Nannini or Shakira’s Hips Don’t Lie–everyone (except me and P) had this as their ring tone this summer.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer? Well I’m thinner, but I’d say just about as happy and as economically challenged.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Walking with Luna.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Worrying about the small stuff.

20. How will you be spending Christmas? P and I spent it together eating and watching inappropriate Christmas films.

21. Did you fall in love in 2006? With P and Luna over and over (blech), but definitely with I Filippi.

22. How many one-night stands? Of what?

23. What was your favorite TV program? Lost, Prison Break, Veronica Mars, and RIS: Delitti Imperfetti, like the Italian CSI.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I don’t hate anyone, just strongly disagree with many.

25. What was the best book you read? Nice Work by David Lodge.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery? Gianna Nannini. She’s like the Italian, oh, Stevie Nicks or Carly Simon or something. The woman’s got pipes and touching lyrics to boot.

27. What did you want and get? See number 15.

28. What did you want and not get? I’m still waiting for Sky TV (that’s a whole lotta channels in English for those who don’t know), but that just may happen later today. Fingers crossed.

29. What was your favorite film of this year? I didn’t see anything brand spanking new (the cinema is not a normal activity here), but, as I’ve mentioned, I really liked The Italian Job, which I only saw recently.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? P brought me breakfast in bed (cappuccino and cornetto) and then made me dinner (not immediately thereafter). And I turned, ahem, 30.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? If someone in my family or close circle of friends would have visited or if I would’ve been able to go home.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006? Fully American, i.e., function over fashion (as opposed to the spike heel boots, skinny jeans, and cropped faux-fur collared jackets that many Italians around me wear). Although I do manage to keep the baseball cap wearing to a minimum.

33. What kept you sane? The Internet, fellow expats, blogs, emails, and frequent phone calls.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Oh geez, I think it was this guy from RIS, Lorenzo Flaherty. Purrrr.

35. What political issue stirred you the most? Iraq. Don’t get me started.

36. Who did you miss? My family, and in particular yard-saling on Saturday mornings with my mom, sister-in-law, niece, and nephew.

37. Who was the best new person you met? It’s a tie between two lovely ladies that made their ways to Calabria—Susanna (and her lovely family) and Lisa. Online I’ve “met” many interesting people, especially those at Expats in Italy.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006. No matter where you go, there you are.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. Two choices. First, trusty Gianna as mentioned above (my loose translation):

Sei nell’anima
E lì ti lascio per sempre
Sei in ogni parte di me
Ti sento scendere
Fra respiro e battito

You’re in my soul
And there I’ll leave you forever
You’re in every part of me
I feel you go down inside of me
Between breath and heartbeat.

The second is more a forward-looking answer than a looking back, but it fits nonetheless: I’d like to think the best of me is still hiding up my sleeve.

And how was your year?

8 Beans of Wisdom to “Looking Back on 2006”
  1. guinness girl
    12.30.2006

    Yay for this meme! I loved it. 🙂 Happy 2007!

  2. Christine
    12.31.2006

    Happy New Year!

    And can I say I have bit of an internet crush on you? I attribute it to frequent mentions of food and my fat-assery. Because I thought immediately upon your birthday happenings, not “Oh how cute is P!” but rather “MMM cornetto. Wonder if it was with marmalada?” in my best Homer Simpson.

  3. sognatrice
    01.02.2007

    To solve the great mystery, the cornetto was chocolate (Nutella really), but I’m not married to that flavor. I like to change it up, and marmalade is definitely in the rotation 🙂

  4. 12.29.2008

    I’m listening to ABBA and reading your year end meme’s : ) Is that sick??
    I’m trying to muster up the courage to go out in the very very cold and get on a bus.
    This is so much more fun : )
    And I used to think ABBA was lame until I came to France and watched MamaMia in French…
    I love the puppies too….your archives are so good and lovely.

    Oh I don’t think it’s sick it all, but I could be biased…I *love* knowing when people read my archives 🙂

    And I hear you on psyching yourself up to go out…it doesn’t even have to be very very cold for *me* to need psyching up to go out and catch a bus!

  5. 07.28.2011

    On #8, how did ya take it off….any suggestions!

    Pam, really the old-fashioned way — eating less of the stuff I knew was bad for me, more of the good stuff, and moving a whole lot more. It was a lifestyle change for me, and I’m happy to say I’ve been able to keep that extra weight off (with minor fluctuations of course!) for several years now 🙂

  6. 07.30.2011

    A BIG congrats to you! xx

    Thanks Pam!

  1. [...] first copied from Gwen’s Petty, Judgmental, Evil Thoughts back in 2004. I filled it out in 2006 an... bleedingespresso.com/2008/12/2008-end-of-the-year-meme.html
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. 

Calabria Guidebook

Calabria travel guide by Michelle Fabio

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