1. What did you do in 2021-2022 that you’d never done before?
Had COVID, bought a new house because I wanted to (as opposed to having to due to a work related move).
2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Just keep swimming.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
I’ve purchased baby gifts for coworkers, but I think that’s it.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
The longtime friend of a coworker died in late 2022. I’d only met her a couple times but I idolized her. She was single, childfree and had the funds and the wherewithal to call all the shots in her life. Sitting at her memorial service, I realized she’s mostly the exactly same age as my parents, which is troubling.
5. What countries did you visit?
None, but 2024 is gonna be different!
7. What date from 2021-2022 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
September 25, 2022, the day I saw Harry Styles perform live. I am absolutely still chasing that high.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the years?
Still zero felonies!
9. What was your biggest failure?
I couldn’t stop the re-election of a real shit in the Governor’s mansion in Austin.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had COVID in early September 2022 and a few random jacked up backs, ear infections, etc.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
The tickets to see Harry Styles.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Mine, dammit.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Republicans. All of them. And if you’re a Republican and reading this, Fuck You!
14. Where did most of your money go?
The new house.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The new house. The concert tickets. Changing my blog host (FU HostLatte!)! Vacation planning!
16. What song will always remind you of 2021-2022?
17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
Happier!
18. Thinner or fatter?
Fatty fatty bo-ba-latty
19. Richer or poorer?
Same.
20. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Travelling.
21. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Trying to log into my blog on my work PC.
22. How will you be spending Christmas?
Xmas 2023: At home.
23. Did you fall in love in 2021-2022?
Just with Sunflower, our new doggo.
24. Any one night stands?
No nightstands but we bought a new house!
25. What was your favorite TV program?
Still Ted Lasso.
26. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No one new
27. What was the best book you read?
How High We Go in the Dark. It was beautiful and sad and every word was perfect. Also Empire of Pain, about the Sackler family and how they ruined great swaths of this nation with Oxycontin.
28. What was your greatest musical discovery?
29. What did you want and get?
Our new house, our new dog, and of course, the Harry Styles tickets.
30. What did you want and not get?
I am the luckiest person you know. That said, I would really like to renovate our bathrooms in the new house.
31. What was your favorite film of this year?
What’s a movie?
32. What did you do on your birthday?
We had a dinner with two other couples at the Melting Pot.
33. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Harry twice.
34. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2021-2022?
I am busily plotting my wardrobe for two vacations.
35. What kept you sane?
Harry Styles. We bought Alexas for our home offices and being able to croak “Alexa play Harry Styles” is immeasurably satisfying.
36. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
See above. And also Don Henley, obviously. Some things never change.
37. What political issue stirred you the most?
Abortion. I’m 46 years old and no babies here, but I appreciate having the option if everything went to hell. For me, for my nieces, for some perfectly normal woman who never thought she’d need one until she needed one.
38. Who did you miss?
I miss my friends. I’m not great at keeping up with them and I’m sorry about that.
39. Who was the best new person you met?
My massage therapist is hilarious.
40. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2021-2022:
41. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
42. (New Question for 2020) Hey Elaine, are you going through a midlife crisis, what with all of this pop music performed by a 29 year old?
Yes, I think so. But, the lady on Instagram who calls herself the Queen of the Harries is a grandma, so it could be worse.