2011 in Review

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
I got headhunted and changed jobs. I have changed jobs before, but I was at my last employer for 10 years and this was my first lateral move anywhere. So far, it seems to have been a good decision.

 

I saw Patti Smith perform live for free. Umph.

 

I made bagels. Remember that time I made the bagels?

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

The My 25 was my only real resolution and as I mentioned in my revisionist blog post the other day, I'm going to pretend it was not a goal for just 2011.

 

I'm bad at resolutions. They don't mean much on New Year's, really. You either resolve to make a change or you don't and it doesn't really matter what time of year it is.

That said, I want to keep at it with my running, play around with investments a bit more, renovate either my kitchen or bathroom, get a new roof, and entertain more at home. I already have mental plans for a Derby party in May.

 

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

One of my cousins welcomed her third child in October.

 

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, although a couple of friends lost parents. Which is not easy.

 

5. What countries (or new places) did you visit?

I didn't get out of the country this year, although I need to remember to renew my passport soon because there is talk of a trip to Quebec with Hen's family sometime this coming summer. I visited Philadelphia, upstate New York (Saratoga is lovely) and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin this year. And spent some time in Chicago, too, although that is not really much of a new place anymore.

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

Clarity, ample quiet time, and a real vision for backyard landscaping.

7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

September 6 was the day I started my new gig, so that'll always stand out.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

 

The new job, and finding an interview suit off the rack that worked. Do you know I'd never bought a suit before? Welcome to adulthood, Cookbook. 

 

Getting the word out about the Cleveland Review.

 

Not severely injuring myself in any way. BONUS POINTS.

 

Taking care of a few household projects that needed to be taken care of and not panicking about them!

 

Investing some money.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I think I did a pretty poor job of handling a few things related to my dad's estate this year. It's not that I've flushed money down the drain -- I've been very careful about that -- I just think I could have done a better job of handling some things that have gone down.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

 

No! See above. No broken body parts for me! I did have a burst blood vessel in one of my eyes for a couple of weeks at one point but that's it. And of course this holiday season has brought me two colds, but that has been the extent of my health issues this year.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

I bought boring things this year. I love my new furnace, it's totally energy efficient compared to the old mid-70s Sears model that came with the house (which operated at 70% efficiency, yikes).  I got my first gas bill with the new furnace running almost at full capacity and it's half what it was last year at this time. HALF. Gonna hug that furnace.

 

On a more shallow level, I found boots that fit my giant calves, so that was a fun extravagance.

 

And just for fun, I bought a felted faux fox shrug:

 

 

I haven't found occasion to wear it yet. Maybe for New Year's. I kind of want to wear it to work but I don't quite want to be that weird girl who wears the fake fox around the office. Yet.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

 

I can't think of any one person in particular because I know a lot of pretty decent people, so probably yours did in some way if you are reading this and know me in real life, which you probably do. 

 

I mean, I guess I could say Hen because he really has turned out to be a good boyfriend but that's mushy and no one wants to hear about it.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Not that I was wrapped up in the scandal or anything, but the Anthroholic affair left me with a sour taste. People, it's just a store.

 

There were a couple of stinkers on a personal level, too, but then again there are always.

14. Where did most of your money go?

House stuff, again and always for the rest of my life.

 

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

Cookie Party. And a number of the weddings I attended this year. I like pulling together shower gifts.

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?

 

Wild Flag's "Romance:"

 

 

Or "Crossed Wires" by Superchunk.

 

 

I hate to say it but Das Racist gets a nod too. Guilty pleasure of the year, except I'm pretty sure this song is not from 2011. Well, neither is the Superchunk song.

 

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder? I think I'm happier, although more tired.

ii. thinner or fatter? About the same.

iii. richer or poorer? Richer, I guess?

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Exercise, housecleaning, saving money by cooking at home, entertaining.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Complaining, OH WAIT THAT IS MY MEDIUM.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

 

With Hen's family, minus his sister, who couldn't get home for the holiday. It was nice, even though by Sunday night I was pretty well in the throes of yet another cold. We hung out on Christmas Eve, went to watch Hen's mom sing in the church choir, opened presents on Christmas morning and did some more hanging out. I missed out on a trip to Columbus the day after Christmas -- I was just too sick to make the drive -- and spent the last day of my holiday sleeping, then watching Toddlers & Tiaras on Netflix.

 

I got an iPad and a Le Creuset Dutch oven, so it was pretty much the best Christmas ever in terms of presents.

21. Did you fall in love in 2011?

 

I fall in love every day I see these faces!

 

22. How many one-night stands?

None. I know, bring a book. I'm okay with that.

23. What was your favorite TV program?

I don't watch teevee with any regularity, still, so I'm clueless about what the kids are watching these days. I decided I did not like True Blood after all because it is just about sexy vampires and I do not care for that. If I had cable I would just watch Pop Up Video, that Dr. Drew show, and Beavis and Butthead all the time. I know because that is what I watch when I am at the gym.

 

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

No,but I am sure I am annoyed by a number of people I was not annoyed with this time last year.

 

25. What was the best book you read?

I loved the Hunger Games trilogy, and I am someone who swore she would not ever love a YA book. Sarah turned me on to Veronica Roth's Divergent series. I downloaded the first book onto my iPad just to try it out -- the series and the Kindle app on the iPad. Loving both.

 

I didn't buy as many cookbooks this year as I have in years past, and instead previewed a lot from the library. I don't see myself growing my collection tremendously either. Highlight titles that I actually purchased included the Cook's Country cookbook, Sugarbaby, America's Test Kitchen Slow Cooker Revolution, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home, and Super Natural Every Day.

26. What was your greatest musical (re)discovery?

I really liked playing around on Spotify. It's a good way to discover new stuff, and I am still debating paying for a subscription so I can stream songs places other than my computer. 

 

I got back into Bad Religion. I haven't listened to any of their stuff for a while. 

 

I liked the Wild Flag album a lot although I have to say I am still a Corin girl over a Carrie girl, with Janet trumping all. I really like Mary Timony's stuff on the album more than Carrie's because Mary sings the way I feel. Bored and angry and annoyed with it all but too bored to really try.

 

PJ Harvey's album was also a favorite, along with the Throwing Muses Anthology.

27. What did you want and get?

I got my first piece of Le Creuset. I got a new job which is fabulous.

 

I got an iPad. Love the iPad.

 

28. What did you want and not get?

 

I would have liked a clear picture of what I really want to do with myself, but I think I don't get that every year. I would have liked to have taken a nice long vacation with Hen but our vacation schedules didn't really work out that way this year. Maybe in 2012!

29. What was your favorite film of this year?

I saw a few at the Film Festival again -- although I have to say none really stood out as awesome.

 

I didn't see too many "regular" movies, but I liked the Muppets. Cave of Forgotten Dreams was interesting but mostly for the endless Werner Herzog jokes Christine and I got out of it.

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

I turned 33 in Chicago, as I happened to be there to watch BFF graduate from art school. We had brunch at Earwax in Wicker Park.

 

 

Then I got to ride on the Megabus for 7 hours back to Cleveland, hooray!

 

I took the day after my birthday off and celebrated by doing yard work, then going out for Turkish food and Jeni's ice cream with Hen in a tornado.

 

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

More quiet time.

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

Camoflauging trouble spots.

33. What kept you sane?

My friends. Running on a treadmill. Snarking on people, places and things in private. Cocktail hours/bitch sessions. Writing.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I dunno, I don't really get into celebrities.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?

I've gotten pretty worked up about how much I hate Republicans and how much of a clusterfuck the next election's going to be. I guess I sort of feel that way every year, though.

36. Who did you miss?

My dad, and many friends who are scattered near and far.

37. Who was the best new person you met?

 

Some of my new coworkers are pretty great. It hasn't been a 100 percent flawless adjustment but having lunch buddies etc. has definitely helped.

 

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:

Job interviews aren't really that scary, you just have to convince them you're level-headed and smart.