Can We Chalk 2008 Up to Error?

Happy New Year and good riddance to 2008. It felt as though karma finally came back around this past year and kick this world’s ass. Let’s hope as a global community we can look back on our mistakes and learn from them. It frightens me to think of what might be if we don’t.

Instead of ringing in '09 with a celebration, I quietly and contently relaxed with a glass of wine in my flannel pajamas snuggled on the couch between my husband and animals. The highlight of the evening being when Kathy Griffith yelled obscenities about penises at a Times Square drunk. Truly hilarious!

A fellow blogger over at http://divulgencesny.wordpress.com/ published this great new year’s quiz. I thought this would be a great way of sharing my reflections of this past year instead of recapping the highs and lows of '08 in long drawn out paragraphs (which no one would want to read).

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? My husband and I adopted our first puppy from Stray from the Heart. It has turned into one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Actually yes - from starting a book club to curbing my sweet tooth to working out more. Unfortunately perfecting my Spanish fell to the waste side, which I’ve added to my '09 resolutions.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? This was the year of babies! So many of my friends and acquaintances had little ones this year. Maybe next year we’ll join the list, who knows!

4. Did anyone close to you die? No, and I thank whoever above for that gift.

5. What places did you vacation? Europe and explored our homeland some more too.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? More space. As are most New Yorkers, we are on the search for the perfect apartment.

7. What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year? Finding my professional calling and making it to my 1 year anniversary (they say the first year is the toughest right?)

8. What was your biggest failure? Not giving more to charity.

9. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nope! And I’m keeping my fingers crossed for '09 too.

10. What was the best thing you bought? Our pitbull Winnie. We didn’t buy her from Stray from the Heart (we did donate to this incredible organization though). Haven’t we all learned that living extravagantly put the US in this position anyways?

11. Whose behavior merited celebration? My brother’s willingness to donate to charity instead of receiving gifts on his 18th birthday. This was extremely commendable. He is far beyond his years, as I was drunk and insane on my 18th birthday.

12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Bush and his friends on Wall Street. So f’ing disgusting. How many pardons do you think he'll hand out?

13. Where did most of your money go? Bills and my inflated Manhattan rent.

14. How did you spend Christmas last year? Running between my family and the in-laws.

15. Did you fall in love in 2008? I fall in love over and over again every time I see the man I married.

16. What was your favorite TV program? Swingtown. Oh how I miss thee.

17. What did you do for your birthday in 2008? Takeout, video games, and movies.

18. What was the best book you read? Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen

19. What did you want and get? A dog and a new job. I got both.

20. What did you want and not get? A bigger apartment.

21. What was your favorite film of this year? Wall-E. This movie just makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

22. Did you make some new friends this year? Absolutely.

23. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? A bigger apartment. Have I mentioned this already?

24. What kept you sane? Photography.

25. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Living: Anderson Cooper. Dead: Eddie Adams.

26. What political issue stirred you the most? The election. Check out some of my previous blogs and you’ll see just how much I was wrapped up in this.

27. Who did you miss? My grandparents.

28. What is a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008? You can’t rush life. There will always be things you want and need, but if you only focus on these you might not see those tiny beautiful moments that happen everyday.