1. What did you do in 2017 that you\u2019d never done before?<\/p>\n
Turned 40, Tweeted (a fair bit), Got Laid off, Filed for unemployment, Got a new job, quit that job, Got a new new job<\/p>\n
2. Did you keep your new years\u2019 resolutions, and will you make more for next year?<\/p>\n
I don’t remember if I made resolutions, but I probably didn’t keep them. My 2018 is to Do Better.<\/p>\n
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
\nMy sister in law had my awesome nephew A. With any luck I will meet him someday!<\/p>\n
4. Did anyone close to you die?<\/p>\n
One of my sorority sisters passed away. We weren’t close (I don’t think I saw her since midway through my college career), but we were Facebook friends and her death shocked me. She left behind a 20 year old son, whose father died not even a year prior. I just don’t understand how that is at all fair. What 20 year old in 2017 should have to bury both of his parents?<\/p>\n
5. What countries did you visit?
\nBelgium and France<\/p>\n
7. What date from 2017 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?<\/p>\n
January 24 (?), the day that Big Payroll laid me off (?), January 26, the day I got my New Job, August 14, the day I quit my New Job (first) and accepted my New New Job when I went back to Big Payroll<\/p>\n
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?<\/p>\n
Losing a job, gaining a job, quitting that job after getting recruited out of nowhere. It all feels a little magical even if it also feels undeserved. (If I got the job I thought I deserved, I’d be unemployed).<\/p>\n
9. What was your biggest failure?<\/p>\n
Taking the New Job and not holding out for something greater. I think my heart was in the right place (I didn’t want to be unemployed for long)<\/p>\n
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
\nNothing that even needs to be thought about. My neck hurt a tiny bit after my car accident, but it was temporary.<\/p>\n
11. What was the best thing you bought?<\/p>\n
I bought a really cute pair of rose quartz earrings. Ooh, and the VW Golf. I don’t get to drive it much but even if I walk past it I greet it enthusiastically, “Hi Baby!”<\/p>\n
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?<\/p>\n
Mine, dammit.<\/p>\n
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?<\/p>\n
My former colleague, the Payroll Troll. #1 reason when my old team-lead texted me “Do you want a job?” I immediately said “YES PLEASE”. I kind of wish I’d had an exit interview so they could ask why I was leaving and I could say that her shitty attitude sucked the joy out of my life for 8.5 hours a day, bookended by a an hour long commute each way only to be criticized all day. Ugh.<\/p>\n
14. Where did most of your money go?<\/p>\n
Gas (I guess a 2 hour commute adds up even in my Golf!)<\/p>\n
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?<\/p>\n
Going to LA for work.<\/p>\n
16. What song will always remind you of 2017?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?<\/p>\n
Happier<\/p>\n
18. Thinner or fatter?<\/p>\n
Fat, fat, fat.\u00a0I am now a land whale who doesn\u2019t even walk to the mailbox daily.<\/p>\n
19. Richer or poorer?<\/p>\n
We\u2019re doing OK.<\/p>\n
20. What do you wish you\u2019d done more of?<\/p>\n
I wish I’d spent a tiny bit more time unemployed and I wish I’d visited Indiana and Arkansas.<\/p>\n
21. What do you wish you\u2019d done less of?<\/p>\n
I wish I\u2019d spent less time driving.<\/p>\n
22. How will you be spending Christmas?<\/p>\n
Xmas 2017: at home, just Gene and I and the dogs.<\/p>\n
23. Did you fall in love in 2017?<\/p>\n
No, but I am always reminded about how happy Gene makes me and how much I love him.<\/p>\n
24. Any one night stands?<\/p>\n
Dude, I can’t afford any furniture!<\/p>\n
25. What was your favorite TV program?<\/p>\n
Catastrophe. Bojack Motherfucking Horseman. The Crown.<\/p>\n
26. Do you hate anyone now that you didn\u2019t hate this time last year?<\/p>\n
No one new<\/p>\n
27. What was the best book you read?<\/p>\n
I finally read\/listened to Pride and Prejudice. It was really lovely.<\/p>\n
28. What was your greatest musical discovery?<\/p>\n
My greatest musical discovery in 2017 was the full album option on YouTube. It’s so nice to listen to music I love while I work without trying to figure out exactly what app or whatever all of our music is squirreled away on.<\/p>\n
29. What did you want and get?<\/p>\n
A car I can drive whenever I please. It’s not just your car it’s your freedom, yo.<\/p>\n
30. What did you want and not get?<\/p>\n
A fucking Belgian waffle in fucking Belgium.<\/p>\n
31. What was your favorite film of this year?<\/p>\n
I enjoyed Guardians of the Galaxy, but it’s mostly because I want to adopt Baby Groot.<\/p>\n
32. What did you do on your birthday?<\/p>\n
OMG my birthday sucked!\u00a0I worked all day at the new job because I couldn’t take the day off. It was a very lonely day.<\/p>\n
33. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?<\/p>\n
If the voters of America hadn’t done that bad, bad thing in November 2016. Please note that I’m not necessarily wishing for Clinton presidency, round 3, I just wanted a better option than the guy in office. And I didn’t vote for either of them, but I am most likely NOT making that mistake again!<\/p>\n
34. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?<\/p>\n
January-August: decently put together (although not dressed as a Clown Hooker like one of my bosses, who dared to criticize my choice in footwear, what is wrong with you lady?). August-December: ::sniff, sniff:: yeah, these 3 day old sweat pants can make it another day.<\/p>\n
35. What kept you sane?<\/p>\n
Slacking off, in tiny increments.<\/p>\n
36. Which celebrity\/public figure did you fancy the most?<\/p>\n
37. What political issue stirred you the most?<\/p>\n
I have obviously reached a “Bitch Eating Crackers” level of frustration with all of them. I was glad to see Doug Jones win office in Alabama. Could this undo the horrors that have been visited upon us?<\/p>\n
38. Who did you miss?<\/p>\n
I miss the Boo.<\/p>\n
39. Who was the best new person you met?<\/p>\n
So far, I like my coworkers at the New New Job (Big Payroll II: Electric Payaloo).<\/p>\n
40. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2017:<\/p>\n
Believe in yourself.<\/p>\n
41. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:<\/p>\n
I was looking for a job and then I found a job,<\/p>\n
But heaven knows I’m miserable now<\/p>\n
(The Smiths, Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now)<\/p>\n
(PS: I’m actually not miserable now, Morrissey! But if you’d asked me in early August, that would have been my answer!)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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