2011 in Review - DJ

Questions provided by Queen of Carrots.

1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?

Pretty much skipped my birthday, due to Sara being long-term sick and me being short-term sick.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I don’t usually make resolutions, and I don’t remember making any specifically last year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth or get pregnant?

Not in my immediate family. Several in Sara's.

4. Did anyone close to you get married?

No one really close, although again, Sara's family and friends had some action on this front.

5. Did anyone close to you die?

No.

6. Travel?

A very fun family trip up to Maine and Nova Scotia this summer. We went by train and had a fantastic time.
Also lots of work travel, which is kind of fun for me but no fun at all for the five left at home.

7. Did you move anywhere?

No. After moving the last time (almost 10 years ago now), Sara and I decided that we didn’t ever want to move again. And that was with only one child and less than two years of marriage to accumulate stuff.

8. What was the best month?

June, with the trip North.

9. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

A healthier family.

10. What date(s) from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

I really can’t think of any particular dates.

11. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I did a case in California from beginning to end, and won! That was a blast.

12. What was your biggest failure?

The church that we’ve been attending for 6 years had to stop renting the space we’ve had because we aren’t growing. No, it wasn’t just my failure, but as one of two families who helped start it up, it feels bad. So now we’re meeting in a home, which I’m not at all a fan of, at least long-term.

13. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Oh, my, yes. Many, many colds for everyone; Sara’s 3 week bout with fever; Stuart was sick with a fever for about 2 or 3 weeks. It was not a nice healthy year.

14. What was the best thing you bought?

Dungeons and Dragons. We’ve had a lot of fun as a family playing together.

15. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Sara, for getting several articles published and GETTING PAID FOR THEM! Yay, Sara!

16. Whose behavior made you appalled and/or depressed?

I try to avoid being political on my blog, but I’m not sure whether I’m more appalled or depressed at the current executive and legislative branches of our federal government. Probably both words apply depending on the day.

17. Where did most of your money go?

Housing and food. Not in the bank. And regarding the money that is in the 401(k) plan, thankfully not much of it went anywhere. Flat is better than plummeting.

18. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Going to a worship leader conference. Winning a case.

19. What song will always remind you of 2011?

“Mean” by Taylor Swift.

20. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
ii. richer or poorer?

i. Hmmm. Good question. I would say probably sadder, due to the afore-mentioned church move.
ii. Thankfully, a little richer. Mostly due to Sara’s doing the budget. She’s really good at it.

21. What do you wish you'd done more of?

House repairs. I’m not at all good at them, so I tend to do what Dad and I call our “ostrich act” – just bury our heads in the sand and ignore them.

22. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Eating. I’m still the same weight I was last New Year’s (ok, I lost 2 whole pounds over the course of the year, but it’s basically the same).

23. How will you be spending New Year's Eve/Day?

We spent them enjoying my vacation from work. I took two whole weeks off, and that was great. And dinner with the Shaw family included homemade pasta, which is terrific.

24. What was an unexpected surprise?

Getting to go to the HSLDA National Conference for the first time in 10 years. My legal assistant leaving on short notice. The Virginia earthquake.

25. Did you fall in love in 2011?

Nope, but stayed in love with my best friend Sara. Marriage to her gets better every year.

26. What was the best concert you've been to this year?

None that I can think of, but Matt Maher is coming to this area soon, and I hope to go see him.

27. What was your favorite TV program?

Heroes, Season 1. Loved it!

28. Do you dislike anyone now that you didn't dislike this time last year?

No.

29. What was the best book you read?

I think probably Spellbound by Larry Correia. David Weber’s Out of the Dark was pretty good too.
For non-fiction, Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana. Many thanks to Will Estrada for recommending it to me.

30. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Taylor Swift.

31. What did you want and get?

A new cross necklace for Christmas. Better organized at work.

32. What did you want and not get?

A new minivan. Maybe this year?

33. What was your favorite film of this year?

X-Men:First Class and Captain America were top notch. I also really liked The Three Musketeers.

34. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I was 38, and I got sick. It was not a stellar birthday.

35. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

More time to spend with Sara.

36. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?

Fashion? Ha! I don't really care enough to have a "fashion concept," I'm afraid.

37. What kept you sane?

Reading and going out for drives BY MYSELF WITH NO LITTLE VOICES TALKING TO ME.

38. What political issue stirred you the most?

The national debt crisis.

39. Who did you miss?

Sara and the kids, when I was on business travels.

40. Random Memories from 2011?

Having a great time with Addi and Stuart at Virginia’s inclusive homeschool convention. Sitting in a welfare office for 2 hours waiting for my case to be called. Driving a bright yellow car called Ferdinand, listening to Modern Scholar CDs. Our tenth annual All Saints Day party. Getting to meet with some good friends in person instead of just talking over the phone. Flying to Los Angeles and then immediately coming back, because the hearing got postponed while I was in the air. Listening to a CD of "yellow songs" that my friends the Morgans made for me to listen to while driving my yellow car.