The Year In Review-A Survey

Do you remember that TV show “The Incredible Hulk” where at the beginning Bill Bixby would say, “Don’t make me angry. You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.”? Well I’m the same way, only not with anger but with being bored. I cannot stand being bored, and so if I can’t find anything external to interest me, I’ll go off into the far reaches of my mind and make something up.

Sometimes the results are very cool, like a fun blog post or an inspiration as to how I can completely reorganize the entire house in one afternoon. But sometimes it results in my “casting a spell on myself” and then seeking out my poor, unsuspecting husband, who then has to deal with a wife who is utterly distraught over something she just made up in her head (“nobody loves me”, “I’m doing everything wrong”, “We have no money and we will end up living in a box on the street”, etc.) (Because, at least then I’m not bored!)

Boredom has unfortunately been kind of a problem lately, ever since the Cold And Flu Of Death exploded upon my person at 2:30 am Christmas morning. So I really haven’t had a lot with which to occupy myself, other than to wonder where the &%$# all of this SNOT is coming from (I mean, I know I have a big head and all, but COME ON!)

Fortunately there are a lot of different blogging memes floating around the blogosphere as the year draws to a close, so I’ve been able to find a few things to do. One of my favorite bloggers, Christina of The Patent Princess, did this one a few days ago, and so I decided to give it a whirl myself.

1. Where did you ring in 2006?
On the couch, suffering from undiagnosed bronchitis. Do I know how to party or what?!

2. What was your status on Valentine’s Day?
Continuing to expand my status as, “really cool wife”, I told my husband a couple of years ago that I really wasn’t into celebrating Valentine’s Day. I had this whole diatribe against made-up holidays that cause unnecessary suffering, but I think all he heard was, “Woo Hoo! I’m off the hook!”

3. Were you in school (anytime this year)?
Does the school of life count? Actually, I did finish my certification program and am now officially a certified life coach.

4. How did you earn your keep?
When I could find a few moments to spare from performing my duties as “She Who Feeds Us” and “Official Doorman For Creatures With Attention Spans Smaller Than That Of A Gnat” I tutored high school kids in Spanish.

5. Did you ever have to go to the hospital?
No, but I did have to go to the “Doc In A Box” Immediate Care Center three times where I learned the following interesting fact. Shots in the ass: they’re not just for children anymore.

6. Have you ever encountered the police?
No. (See: Being An Uptight Goody-Two-Shoes, Things At Which I Excel)

7. Where did you go on vacation?
In October I got to go out to the Pacific Northwest to see 2 friends I’ve known since I was a little girl, and be reminded of just how much embarrassing stuff they know about me.

8. What did you purchase that was over $500?
Under the category of, “You Know You’re An Adult When…”, we had to replace the transmission in one of our cars. In the fun category: a trip to the beach, books, and more than likely-soda.

9. Did you know anybody who got married?
Yes, my brother, and we were totally unprepared for just how much physical endurance it would take for us Americans to participate in the joyous celebration that is a Polish wedding.

10. Did you know anybody who passed away?
I don’t think so. My grandfather scared us by going into the hospital for a knee replacement and then ending up having to have emergency quintuple bypass surgery, but I just saw him over Christmas and he is doing great now.

11. Have you run into anybody you graduated high school with?
Oddly enough, I was in a Starbucks in Charlotte (NC) at 9 am on Christmas morning and suddenly the woman next to me said, “Jenny? Jenny Dinsmore?” And it was someone I went to high school with who I’d not seen since graduation day 16 years ago. I told her I was really impressed that she’d recognized me and she said, “Oh, you look exactly the same!” I haven’t yet decided if I think that’s a good thing or not.

12. Did you move anywhere?
Physically, no. Elsewhere, I moved into much greater alignment with the power of humor and how it can help me in using my powers for good.

13. What sporting events did you go to?
None. But I do need to give a shout out to my alma mater, Wake Forest University, usually known as “A School With One Of The Worst Football Teams EVER”, who this year won the ACC Championship and are actually going to a REAL bowl game. (When I was a student there they went to a “pity” bowl game, one which I believe was called the “Pullen Weed Eater Bowl”. It was awkward.)

14. What concerts did you go to?
Live concerts make me feel like I am about to suffocate from all of the people standing around me, sucking up all of the air. So now I stay home.

15. Are you registered to vote?
Yes I am.

16. If so, did you do your patriotic duty on Nov. 7?
Yes I did, despite suffering from undiagnosed pneumonia AND my husband quizzing me on my voting choices and then telling me that I did them all wrong. THAT’S dedication.

17. Where do you live now?
Duluth, GA.

18. Describe your birthday.
Visiting my friend, Jen, out in Seattle and becoming addicted to Starbucks’ Chai Tea Lattes.

19. What’s the one thing you thought you would never do but did in 2006?
I learned that I can actually do what this quote describes: “Love is the ability and willingness to allow those that you care for to be what they choose for themselves without any insistence that they satisfy you.” –Dr. Wayne Dyer

20. What is one thing you regretted this year?
Coke suddenly stopped making C2 and my life has just not been the same since.

21. What’s something you learned about yourself?
I have a much stronger, deeper, wider, grander capacity to love than I ever imagined possible.

22. Any new additions to your family?
A Nintendo Wii 😛

23. What was your best month?
Actually, I really enjoyed them all.

24. What from pop culture will you remember 2006 by?
How Tom Cruise, who was once the epitome of “hot guy” during the “Top Gun” era back when I was in high school, is just so not cool anymore.