2008 Year End Meme thing. And hello, there. Don't you look nice today?

So you may have noticed that the last time i posted, it was regarding Facebook.  And that may be all the explanation you need for why i haven't been posting since September.

Well, it's obviously more complicated than that, but that's a pretty good first clue as to what I've been doing since the end of September... being a voyeur.  No, it's true.  I am "friends" with more ex-boyfriends than i can shake a stick at and it's kind of entrtaining to see what they're doing with their lives.  Whether they've gone and gotten married or are actually STILL SINGLE since I've  broken up with them.  It's truly fascinating to watch from afar.

There's also been some awful stuff going on in my life, which of course is usually my number one reason for steering clear of this place - there doesn't seem to have ever been a real break from the awful stuff over the course of me having this blog, but hey - what the hell.  Welcome to the story of my life.  It's a real barn-burner.

Numero Uno is, of course, that The Boy was laid off in at the end of October.  This is not the first time that I've been the only working member of our little family, but this time, it does seem to be a more unfortunate time to be unemployed.  The market sucks, which i don't think is breaking news, but it sucks SO BAD that there has only been one company interested in his resume since OCTOBER.  He started talking to them in early December and then the company realized that it was holiday time and told him that they're not going to hire anyone until January.  So now we wait.  I'M SO GOOD AT WAITING IT'S LIKE THIS MONTH JUST FLEW BY! 

It sucks, is what.

The Boy has perfected his Unemployment Beard, and has taken over the children's new XBox 360, so you know, he's doing fine with all this time off.

And, now that you've been properly updated, i think it's time to do Sundry's New Year's Quiz:

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?

Did the Dim Sum thing in Chinatown (NY) with a group of strangers, asserted myself to the boyfriend's mother, joined Facebook and reconnected with some really good friends that I'd lost touch with.

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

I'm so predictable.  Last year it was lose weight, just as it was the year before.  I think i can safely say that i really tried harder this year than i had before, but of course, i fell off the wagon once my school semester started back up again in the fall.  Stupid school ruins everything.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

No.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Not exactly "close" in a friends and family way, but proximity-wise, yes.  Our next-door neighbor's teenage son was killed in a car accident in August and it was awful and tragic and there must have been 300 people at the wake.  I'm still not sure how to interact with my neighbors because it was all just so awful and i don't know what to say.  He was such a great kid and it was the last thing i was expecting to hear when his mother rang my doorbell that day.  Ugh.  Awful, awful, awful.

5. What countries did you visit?

None.  It's been kind of a lean year..

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

More money, please.  I would like TheBoy to have a good job that he loves, that doesn't expect him to work like a crazy person 60-80 hours a week for very little money, with an hour-long commute like this last job did.  I would like to continue to clean up my credit card debt because it feels really good to stop getting a bill from WaMu (whom i hate, btw, with a fiery passion.  I'll give you a 34.89% APR.  Right up your stupid, unhelpful asses, WaMu).

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Unfortunately, i don't know if there are any.  This wasn't such a great year.  Seriously.  I'd just like to forget it ever happened, please.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Cleaning up that credit card, i think.  It's been killing me for the past 2 years or so, and i'm really glad to be done with it.  I hate credit cards, i really, really do.  Oh, also getting straight A's.  That's pretty awesome, too.

9. What was your biggest failure?

That day that i didn't go to the gym.  Because it was the first day in a long series of days that i didn't go to the gym.  It's sort of still going on right now.  I suck.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No, thank goodness..

11. What was the best thing you bought?

I didn't buy much this year, i'll tell you that.  But probably my yoga membership.  That was really great for a long while, until my school schedule prevented me from going anymore.  I'd like to start that up again, too.  Because yoga?  It kicked my ass.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

MINE.  I didn't freak the fuck out when i got the "I've been laid off" phone call.  Sure, i sobbed into the phone a little bit, but i picked myself right back up and made sure he was ok and did what the hell ever else you're supposed to do when you're a "supportive girlfriend". 

Oh, and Barack Obama.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Sarah Palin.  COME ON people.  What were you thinking...

14. Where did most of your money go?

The mortgage, credit card bills, the usual.  We didn't go on any extravagant VACATIONS or anything, god no.

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

The election.  I was glued to the television.  It was like a soap opera and i loved every minute of the election coverage.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?

No Sunlight - Death Cab for Cutie.  I had the album on heavy rotation for awhile this year... The first half of the record is really catchy.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Honestly?  I think i'm actually happier.
b) thinner or fatter? Probably fatter.
c) richer or poorer? And mystery of mysteries, probably a little bit richer.  I learned how to save this year.

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

More saving.  I wish the nest egg were a little bigger for when the severance checks stop coming in...  Also, i wish i had had more fun.  I was in a really bad place at the beginning of the summer and I wish I had said, "fuck it," and done more of what i wanted to do.

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

Stressing out.  It doesn't help.  It just makes your hair fall out.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

At mom's again, Christmas Eve and Day, with the family.  It was perfectly lovely.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?

Uh, no.  Well maybe "in love again", but that sounds cheesy as hell, and i wouldn't want to even suggest something that skin-crawly.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

I love "How I Met Your Mother".  LOVE IT.  That and "The Office". 

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

My answer from last year still applies: I'm a little less dramatic than that. If i hate someone it's usually a bitter, resentful relationship forged over an extensive period of time. My hate takes a good long time to mature, like a fine wine.

24. What was the best book you read?

Oh, dear 35lb Accounting Textbook.  How I love thee; how your embrace kept me warm at night.  How I wished that our love was not forbidden....

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

The Pernice Brothers.  Not new, but new to me.  "Working Girls" is a great song (but the quality on that video sucks).

26. What did you want and get?

A new coffee pot that does not suddenly open up and spout hot coffee all over the kitchen floor while brewing.

27. What did you want and not get?

A decent raise.  Enh.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

Forgetting Sarah Marshall, i think.  I just love Judd Apatow.  Oh, and also Dark Knight because i got to see it in IMAX.  And you haven't seen a fast action movie until you've seen it up way too close and in your entire field of vision.  It hurt my neck and made me dizzy, but in a totally awesome way.

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

My birthday is worth an entire post, but i'll just say that I was at TheBoy's family reunion and i was not pleased. It was a large event at a fancy-dancy catering hall and TheBoy's mother brought a cake so that her family (all 150 of them) could sing happy birthday to me.  I wanted to die, but instead I turned 28. 

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

Money?  Hello?  Come visit!  Stay awhile, ok?

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

Heh.  I'm just a simple girl.  I wear business casual pants and turtlenecks.  But this year, i've gone a little crazy and started wearing some more noticeable jewelry.  Watch out, world.  Claire is accessorizing.

32. What kept you sane?

My friends.  I'm grateful that i've reconnected with my Cousin G.  She's been sort of my rock this year.

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

Jim? I heart you. Call me.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

See #15.  I was ENTHRALLED by the election this year.  I was almost a little upset when the coverage stopped.  I was watching the news everyday all day long if i could.  I thought i may never see Sarah again and her expensive suits and lipstick-on-a-pitbull-ness.  And then Thanksgiving came.  Like a gift.

35. Who did you miss?

Some friends who i haven't seen in awhile. 

36. Who was the best new person you met?

New school friend, Tracey.  She was in both my classes, but now that she won't be in my classes next semester, i'm pretty sure we'll never speak again.  I need to be better at keeping in touch with people...

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

Just when you think everything sucks, it gets better.  And then suddenly it gets way, way worse. 

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Uh, no.