1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
I swam with dolphins.  That was pretty cool.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
If I made one, I don’t remember it.  Maybe I should make one so I have something to write in this space next year.  Okay, my resolution is to finish my current book in ’10.

3. did anyone close to you give birth?
No one terribly close to me, but I keep pressuring my girlfriends to get on it.

4. did anyone close to you die?
Fortunately not.  I only went one funeral in ’09, a well-aged relative by marriage whom I didn’t know.

5. what countries did you visit?
The U.S. and the Bahamas.

6. what would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Job satisfaction.  Things are kind of frustrating right now.

7. what date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
If I had to pick something tied to a date, I would go for February 14.  It was Valentine’s day.  I was working on the film, and the process was making me absolutely miserable.  I was freshly back at work after being home with Miles for a year, which was hard enough, and then I was spending all my free time (many evenings, all weekends) on this film.  It was overwhelming and stressful, and I missed Miles so much I thought I was going to barf.

On Valentine’s day weekend, we had to be on location, which meant the film people put us up in a motel (nice of them).  It was kind of a crappy motel (not their fault—small town, the only thing available).  I was seriously not looking forward to spending my Valentine’s day that way.  But Denny and Miles met me there and spent the weekend with me, and Denny brought me Valentine’s day presents even though I don’t think I had the wherewithall to get anything for him.

I love my guys.

8. what was your biggest achievement of the year?
I feel like I haven’t achieved much, personally.  I guess the greatest achievement isn’t really my own—Miles sleeps well more often than not now.  That was a long time coming.  He knows the whole alphabet (uppercase and almost all the lowercase letters).   He can, in his own funny way, count to ten.  He is good at personal hygiene.  Those aren’t all my doing, but I guess I can take partial credit.

9. what was your biggest failure?
I made a few mistakes, but I learned from them.  I don’t believe in dwelling on the past, so I’ll cease the discussion there.

10. did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing serious.  I had a 104F fever a few weeks ago, but it was short-lived.

11. what was the best thing you bought?
New appliances for the kitchen.

12. whose behavior merited celebration?
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.

Many of my coworkers, for being awesome in these tough times.

13. whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Um…the Iranian government?

14. where did most of your money go?
I think the largest single expenditure was the appliances.

15. what did you get really, really, really excited about?
I was really psyched about introducing Miles to the ocean on our Bahamas trip.  We rented this lovely condo just steps from the beach with a beautiful pool overlooking the ocean.  Miles mostly wanted to play on the stairs.  We did get him to enjoy the sand toward the end of the trip, though he never really liked the sea.  It was a little rough for him.

16. what song(s) will always remind you of 2009?
Embarrassing but true:  “Music Again” by Adam Lambert.  I stand by my assertion that this is less embarrassing than a certain male, 33-year-old friend of mine’s Miley Cyrus Pandora station.

17. compared to this time last year, are you
i. happier or sadder?:  Happier, so much happier.  Last year at this time I was dreading going back to work, dreading leaving Miles with a care provider (though that part was fine).   Now we’re all adjusted and doing well.
ii. thinner or fatter?:  Same, I think.
iii. richer or poorer?:  About the same.

18. what do you wish you’d done more of?
Writing books.

19. what do you wish you’d done less of?
Reading dumb websites.

20. how did you spend Christmas?
We were in Ames with my family.  Our travels got reduced a little due to inclement weather, but we still managed to see most of the family we hoped to see.

22. did you fall in love in 2009?
Every day, Miles and Denny do something that makes me fall in love with both of them again.

23. what was your favorite TV program?
The Office, probably, or 30 Rock.

24. do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nah. I had an increase in some dislike levels, but I don’t hate anyone.

25. what was the best book you read?
I hardly remember what books I read, though I read every night.  Right now I’m working on Trainspotting. It’s okay.

26. what was your greatest musical discovery?
Adam Lambert, which counts as a discovery because I never watched American Idol.  I just stumbled upon his music.

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

29. what did you want and get?
Some nice gloves.  I lost my beautiful gloves Denny got me for my birthday in Rome, but fortunately I got some replacements.

30. what did you want and not get?
A trip to the British Virgin Islands.

31. what was your favorite film of this year?
I saw The Fantastic Mr. Fox, Up, and The Time Traveler’s Wife.  I think I saw another but I don’t remember what it was.  I’d give the edge to Mr. Fox.

32. what did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 32 (whoa…question 32 and I turned 32).  I need to keep better notes because I really don’t remember what I did.  I just looked through my blog archives, and it looks like I dealt with a poor sleep situation with Miles, and we went out to dinner at our favorite spot.

33. what one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More sleep, I guess.  But that’s getting better.

34. how would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Way cuter than 2008, which was all about the jeans and fleece.  The best part of going back to the office is the opportunity to wear my outfits.  Business cazh, kiddos.

35. what kept you sane?
Meal planning, many crossword puzzles and Sudoku, Miles’ laugh, Denny’s general pleasantness.

36. which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Michelle Obama, maybe?

37. what political issue stirred you the most?
The legalization of gay marriage in Iowa.  I was (and continue to be) really proud to be an Iowan because of that.

38. who did you miss?
Miles, mostly, when I was working on that film.  Also my usual missees:  Sarah, Sara, Ruby, Emily; Granddad and Maw; Tyler, because I don’t see him as much as I used to.

39. who was the best new person you met?
Dr. Thomas Cook of the College of Public Health is a really stand-up guy.  He’s been instrumental in helping convey medical knowledge to under-resourced health care providers in developing countries.  I’ve been bitching about my job, but knowing the technologies I support are actually enabling people like him to save lives is very satisfying.

40. tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
Sometimes it’s smarter just to ignore the problem and go about your business.  Not every problem requires a solution.

41. quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
From “When I Grow Up,” by Michelle Shocked

In the summer we’ll sit in a field and watch the sun melt
In the winter we’ll sit by a fire and watch the moon freeze
Me my old man and a hundred and twenty babies
Me my old man and a hundred and twenty babies
I said, me my old man and a hundred and twenty babies
Oh, when I grow up I want to be an old woman