2017 Year in Review

Not sure why I keep doing this when I've barely blogged all year but here it is again:

1. What did you do in 2017 that you'd never done before?

Rode the Megabus (to/from New Orleans for Scrabble nationals and to/from Houston for a trip with Josh in October)

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

What’s the point of resolutions since I never keep them.  I did meet my goodreads goal of 40 books (only because I changed it fom 45 to 40 a few days ago)

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes – my cousin had a baby

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Thankfully, no.  

5. What countries did you visit?

No countries yet again.  Went to New Orleans for Scrabble nationals and went to Orlando for vacation with Josh.

6. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2017?

More time, more energy, more money.

7. What date from 2017 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Going to Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal studios in October and getting to fully experience Harry Potter World.  It was truly an amazing experience for a Potter nerd such as myself. 

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Keeping my mouth shut at librarian meetings.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not losing any weight this year.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nothing major this year.  Sprained my ankle again in the spring.  Matt shared his cold with me over Thanksgiving. 

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Ravenclaw robes, new wand, and a sorting hat from HP World.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Not sure.  Matt is still a great husband who tolerates me pretty well.  I guess that deserves celebration. 

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Delores Umbridge (code name for someone in our district that I do not care for)

14. Where did most of your money go?

Same as last year:  Bills, Scrabble tournaments, eating out (and Harry Potter World)

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

Entering Diagon Alley for the first time.

16. What song will always remind you of 2017?

Can't think of any.

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

happier or sadder? About the same as last year – generally happy.
- richer or poorer? About the same – got a standard raise, but lost some stipends when I went to a new campus.
- thinner or fatter? Fatter – really, really need to work on that.

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

Studying Scrabble

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

Procrastinating

20. How did you spend the holidays?

New Years (2016) – playing Scrabble at a friend’s house in Austin
Valentine’s Day – with Matt – had dinner at Maggiano’s 

Easter – with Matt - can't even remember what church we went to this year.
4^th of July – with Matt – didn’t really do much – went to Six Flags the day before.

Thanksgiving – Road trip with Matt – up to Amarillo then to Colorado Springs followed by Tijeras, NM and then home.

Christmas – stayed home.  Josh and his girlfriend arrived on the 22^nd.  We went to see Star Wars on the 23^rd at Alamo Draft House with my cousin Rob and his family.  Matt grilled steaks on Christmas eve and we opened presents just before midnight since Josh’s girlfriend had to leave early in the morning. 

New Year's Eve (today) – staying home.  Matt grilled chicken and I made fettucine.  We’re both reading books and not doing too much. 

21. Did you fall in love in 2017?

Still in love with Matt.

22. How many one-night stands?

Do I have to answer this question every year?  I'm a married woman!

23. What was your favorite TV program?

Big Bang Theory is still a favorite.

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

Hate is a strong word.  I dislike Delores Umbridge. 

25. What was the best book you read?

Notable books: A Man Called Ove and The Serpent King.  You can see my list of books here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/15978192?date_added=2017&order=a&page=1&sort=read_at

26. What was your favorite film of this year?

Didn’t really go out to the movies much but I did enjoy the new Star Wars Movie.

27. Whom did you miss?

Friends that live far away and I don’t get to see very often. 

27. Who was the best new person you met?

Some new teachers and staff at Burbank and new Scrabble players. 

29. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2017.

Can’t think of anything major this year.  Life is short – take vacations and enjoy it while you can.