1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
I parented a two-year-old.  As if that wasn’t exhausting enough, people keep telling me the 3’s are even more challenging.  I don’t mean to be negative, though.  I also parented a hilarious, smart, opinionated 2-year-old, and I’d never had that pleasure before.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No, I’m afraid I didn’t.  My resolution last year was to finish the book I was working on, and I didn’t get that done.  I’ve also been stalled out on a short story I’ve been working on for months.  I seem to be having trouble with follow-through lately.  I wonder if it could be related to the fact that I never have more than about 40 consecutive minutes to concentrate on anything.

As for this year?  I resolve to do stupid stuff more thoughtfully—that is, I won’t do stupid stuff because I can’t think of anything better to do, but rather because I actually want to do it.  I like how this goal is very vague.

3. did anyone close to you give birth?
Nobody super-close, no.

4. did anyone close to you die?
Same as above.

5. what countries did you visit?
Just the U.S., but a decent chunk of it.  We hit California, Colorado, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Illinois, and did a variety of things in those places.

6. what would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
An additional human baby would be nice.

7. what date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I’m not very good with specific dates.  One of the more memorable days, though, was when Denny and I went whale-watching.  I think it was in early July.  We saw so many whales, humpbacks and blues, pretty close to the boat.  It was amazing.

8. what was your biggest achievement of the year?
I learned to stop being bothered (mostly) by things that are out of my control.  This is primarily stuff related to my job.  Sometimes you just have to stop worrying about it.

9. what was your biggest failure?

10. did you suffer illness or injury?
I had a bout of what I think was food poisoning while in northern Wisconsin at a trivia contest, and that was horrible.

11. what was the best thing you bought?
Tickets to Puerto Rico for our trip this June.  Denny would probably say the new windows for the house.

12. whose behavior merited celebration?
Directly copied from last year, because it hasn’t changed a bit:  Miles, Miles, always Miles.  We clap and say “YAY!” a lot.  He can say so many words, dance with such energy, laugh so jolly-ly.

Denny, for being virtually ‘tude-less.

13. whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I don’t want to pull a dooce here.

Additionally, the people in charge of the U.S. immigration system.  I’ve been following the case of my friend and high school classmate Emily and her husband, and it’s really horrifying.  Pedro was brought to the U.S. (illegally) from Guatemala by his mother when he was a little kid, but when he grew up he went through the proper channels and stayed legally on work visas.  Over a year ago, his aging mother applied for permanent resident status, and in so doing accidentally stated some inconsistencies that led to immigration authorities bursting into the home of Emily, Pedro, and their toddler son’s home in the middle of the night.  They dragged Pedro away in handcuffs, and he has been incarcerated and separated from his family ever since.

Emily has been fighting for Pedro’s release, but an overloaded court system and an apparently unwavering judge has made the situation frustrating and hope-crushing.  Pedro, a non-violent man who has spent his life as a contributing and almost exclusively legal member of the American community, is taking up prison space that could be used for violent criminals.  Are you proud that your tax dollars are serving that purpose?

14. where did most of your money go?
So far, probably the windows.  We’ll be shelling out more for a downstairs remodel project, too.

15. what did you get really, really, really excited about?
Whales!  Miles!  Pretty much anything that ends with -les.  Shingles?  Pringles?  Apples?

16. what song(s) will always remind you of 2010?
Maybe that mashup of Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” with the theme from the Andy Griffith Show.  I jogged to that a lot this year.

17. compared to this time last year, are you
i. happier or sadder?:  Happier, probably, though I think I was pretty happy last year at this time too.  But life is good.
ii. thinner or fatter?:  Slightly fatter.
iii. richer or poorer?:  About the same.

18. what do you wish you’d done more of?
Cooking new recipes.  I feel like I cook the same 10 things over and over.

19. what do you wish you’d done less of?
Picking my cuticles.  I really need to stop that.  Maybe that would be a good new year’s resolution.  Or maybe that could count as one of the stupid things I should only do if I decide I really want to do it.

20. how did you spend Christmas?
We dodged all over the state, hubbed in Ames.  We hit Des Moines, the farm down near Greenfield, Storm Lake, and Albia

22. did you fall in love in 2010?
Daily.

23. what was your favorite TV program?
Lost.  Did that end in 2010?  I think so.

24. do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
My opinion has shifted in a negative direction of a few, but hate is a word I try not to use with people.

25. what was the best book you read?
I just read Every Last One by Anna Quindlen, which I don’t recommend if you don’t like devastatingly sad books, because that’s what it was.  It was very well-written and compelling, though.  Right now I’m reading Franklin and Eleanor:  An Extraordinary Marriage by Hazel Rowley.  It’s not as well-written as the former, but it’s really interesting subject matter.

26. what was your greatest musical discovery?
I don’t think I had any, sadly.  Oh, maybe Julieta Venegas, but I don’t know if that would count as a true discovery.

(I don’t know what happened to 27 and 28)

29. what did you want and get?
This cool cupcake/regular cake carrier I’ve been wanting.  I’m so excited to bake things and then transport them.

30. what did you want and not get?
I can’t think of anything.  Well…maybe a potty-trained child.

31. what was your favorite film of this year?
I saw Harry Potter, Tangled, Inception, and maybe something else.  I still want to see a couple more before the Oscars, like The Social Network and Black Swan, but I don’t know if that will happen.  I think my favorite was Inception.

32. what did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 33.  I think I might have baked myself a failure of an almond tart.  I hope we went out to dinner or something.

33. what one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Less depressing outcomes for the mid-term elections.

34. how would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Oh, you know.  Sweaters.  Dress pants.  Shirts.  Skirts now and then when I feel wacky.  Jeans when I feel lazy.  I’ve been trying to wear more of the lovely jewelry I have, thanks to Denny.

35. what kept you sane?
The Internet, early bedtimes (for both Miles and me), regular exercise.

36. which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Tim Gunn has been pretty funny this year.

37. what political issue stirred you the most?
I was so disheartened by Iowans voting out our Supreme Court justices based on one issue (gay marriage).  How would you like it if you could get fired from your job for doing one thing your boss disagreed with?

38. who did you miss?
I missed a lot of my friends.  I get so busy, and I’m a natural introvert so I need a lot of quiet time alone to rejuvenate myself, but that means that a lot of times I neglect friendships.  That’s uncool.

39. who was the best new person you met?
Did I meet anyone new this year? See, I need to get out of the house more.   Ooooh, I met the Iowa Board of Regents, including former gubernatorial candidate Bonnie Campbell.

40. tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:
Make him think it’s his idea.

41. quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
From “Limón y sal,” by Julieta Venegas

Sala tenerte cerca
Siento que vuelvo a empezar
Te quiero con limón y sal
Te quiero tal y como estás
No se falta cambiarte nada

It’s salty having you near
I feel like I’m starting over
I love you with lemon and salt
I love you just the way you are
There’s nothing you should change