Jan
1
JB gave me an adorable little Canon ELPH camera for Christmas, which was something I’d been wanting for a while. It’s not exactly in the same ballpark as my D70 in terms of picture quality but it has the highly redeeming feature of being small and light and easy to keep in my purse. Plus, it captures movies, which I feel is a handy function to have at the ready, because what if I had one of those alien-abduction experiences and there was no way to accurately document the process of being anally probed? I’d just be another questionable source raving about little green men, instead of a credible journalist sporting irrefutable proof, including length AND girth of the probing materials. Maybe they use special rods, maybe they use giant Oh Boy! Oberto Sausage Sticks — really, there’s no way to know by photos alone, you really want video for this sort of in-depth information.
Anyway, while I remain vigilant for any close encounters, it’s been nice to be able to grab an image or two of whatever we’re out doing. Like dorking around at the library:
Watching the kids riding the various coin-operated vehicles at the mall:
Whiling away time as I wait in the car with the kids:
And driving by a couple of Seattle’s more colorful businesses:
Really, I kind of love this camera. It’s a nice way to detach from my normal fiddly process of trying for the Best Picture Possible and just aiming and hitting the button to create a memory. Very cool present, and one that’s going to get used a lot this year.
Tell me, what was one of your favorite holiday gifts?
Dec
31
Whoomp, here it is, just like in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007.
1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Became the mother of two boys.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Here’s what I wrote last year: I hope I get back in a fitness routine, I hope I take on lots of exciting new writing assignments, and I hope I can embrace the new level of parenting we’re about to experience . . . but I also want to stay sane in the process. I think my only resolution is to try and go with the flow and do my best.
Depending on how you interpret “lots” and “exciting”, I’d say I did okay on those admittedly half-assed resolutions. My resolutions for 2009? I’d like to maintain my commitment to healthy eating and exercise, make an honest attempt to create more meaning in my career, and find the balls to step outside my comfort zone more often.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, my friend Jen had a ridiculously cute baby girl.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
Can we list counties instead? Because not so much with the exotic travel in 2008.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A little more serenity and contentment.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
February 4th, the day Dylan was born.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Being able to (mostly) carve out space in my life for parenthood, work, side projects, exercise, AND US Weekly.
9. What was your biggest failure?
A common theme is emerging where I give the same general answer to this question each year, and here it is again: rather than one particular FAIL, I have myriad regrets for the moments when I have fallen short on the parenting front.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My Macbook Pro, my iPhone, the 30 Day Shred DVD, a membership to a kickboxing gym, and this necklace.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Oh, how about Barack Obama.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Occasionally, my own. But let’s go with Spencer Pratt, just because I so badly want to nad-punch that shitweasel.
14. Where did most of your money go?
The mortgage, daycare, and groceries.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Have there always been that many “reallys” in this question? I’m not sure I got so urine-sprayingly excited about anything to warrant three reallys, but — oh yeah, there was the whole Birth of My Second Child Thing. Although the more accurate term may have been “terrified”.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Gah. Well, maybe that “Paper Planes” song.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier, because I now have my two boys outside my body
b) thinner or fatter? Thinner
c) richer or poorer? Both, I think. More money coming in, more expenses going out.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Staying more fully connected in the moment with my kids.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Snapping at people around me when my patience was stretched too thin.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Here at our house, which is where I hope we spend the holiday next year.
21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Yes, there’s another man in my life, bringing the total to three. OH BABY. Uh, no really: he’s a baby.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Mad Men was my favorite, but also: Battlestar, True Blood, Fringe, 30 Rock, American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, The Wire.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No.
24. What was the best book you read?
Definitely not the best, but maybe the most enjoyably addictive: the first three Twilight books. The fourth one can huff a leprous goat dong.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Ha. “Discovery.” Like I ferreted out some little-known indie band because I’m so hip and shit. I’ll go with Bishop Allen.
26. What did you want and get?
A perfectly healthy, beautiful baby.
27. What did you want and not get?
The world’s most killer pair of tall boots? Nothing major comes to mind, which tells me how lucky I really am.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Just one? Suck it, quiz. Dark Knight, Wall-E, Burn After Reading, Slumdog Millionaire, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which I just saw tonight.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
It was my second day alone with both kids after Dylan was born, and I was nursing a strained back. But I think there was a big-ass chocolate cake. I turned 34.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A stay-at-home wife of my very own.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Reveling In the Weight Loss But Still Pretty Much Clueless About Fashion.
32. What kept you sane?
This blog, as always. Exercise. Laughing kids.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Can I say Clive Owen? I always say Clive Owen. CLIVE OWEN.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The terrifying combination of ignorance and aggression coming from Sarah Palin.
35. Who did you miss?
My kids, at certain times during my work days.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
I’ll say Miss Lucy, our wonderful daycare teacher who is also turning out to be a wonderful babysitter. I also met a ton of very cool people at BlogHer last July.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Having two kids was a fantastic idea. Working out changes my brain chemistry for the better. Never underestimate the power of a blowjob.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Ugh. Well, how about:
“I know more than I knew before
I know more than I knew before
I didn’t rest, I didn’t stop
I feel it all, I feel it all
I feel it all, I feel it all
The wings are wide, the wings are wide.” — Feist
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