2019 Year in Review

Here's my annual post.  I did try to do more blogging this year but it still didn't quite work out.  At least you can look forward to this post each year, right?

1. What did you do in 2019 that you'd never done before?

Honestly can't think of anything new at this time - other than getting the flu for the first time in a very long time.  (On New Year's Eve, no less.)

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

No resolutions and I didn't even meet my Goodreads goal this year.  I planned to read 32 books and only read 21 books.  Next year I'll try for 24 books.  

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Nope - most people I know are still too old.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

My blog friend Jonathan passed away unexpectedly and it was devastating.  I really miss reading his posts.  I tried getting back to posting regularly but just couldn't keep up with it.

5. What countries did you visit?

Still no countries but Matt and I took an extended road trip this summer.  We drove up to Iowa for a Scrabble tournament, then over to Moline, IL to visit some of his family, then to Chicago to go to Six Flags, Marquette, WI to see his university, over to Cedar Point in Ohio for more coasters, then down to St. Louis, MO which was supposed to be more coasters but half of them weren't running when we were there. 

6. What would you like to have in 2019 that you lacked in 2019?

A library assistant so that I could possibly stay on top of things that need to be done.

7. What date from 2019 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

My 50th birthday party.  I told Matt that he had to throw me a party although I did most of the planning.  Had about 35 friends show up for dinner at The Little Red Barn Steakhouse and Matt ordered me a cake in the shape of an Amazon package.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Getting nominated as teacher of the year for my campus.  Voting ends in January so I don't know if I'll be the teacher of the year but this is the first year that our district has allowed librarians to be nominated.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Scrabble wasn't that great this year but I also didn't study much. 

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Got the flu again (a week ago) and still recovering.  I was supposed to rest last week, but we went to Houston to spend Christmas with Josh and Emmalee and her family and then I flew up to Amarillo to see my family.  With all of that, I didn't really get to rest and recover so trying to make up for it this week.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Probably the Christmas presents for my friends Pam and Kirsten that I had made from Snapfish.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

 Matt is still a good husband but can't think of anyone who stood out.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

My cousin's ex-wife.  Appalled and depressed may be strong for me, but she made their split difficult and he's been living with me since April because of it.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Same places it always does - bills, eating out, Amazon, Walmart.

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

I won a giant 50 inch tv at a free technology conference.

16. What song will always remind you of 2019?

Under Pressure (Queen and David Bowie) - at least for the 2nd half of the year.  I've felt like I'm permanently behind at work this year.

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 – still getting a stipend for Academic decathlon.  Working on a plan to be out of debt in 2 1/2 years.
- thinner or fatter? About the same.

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

Reading, house cleaning

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

Procrastinating, shelving books in my library

20. How did you spend the holidays?

New Years  – sick with the flu
Valentine’s Day – at Scrabble club since it was on Thursday.  We went out to dinner on Friday at an Italian restaurant.  

Easter – went to Albuquerque with Josh to visit my aunt Barb who developed pretty severe dementia this year.  We came back though Amarillo on Easter Sunday and ate at Olive Garden so I could have pasta again after giving it up for Lent.
4^th of July – with Matt – at home - we probably cooked out.

Thanksgiving – At home - ordered dinner from Luby's and my cousin and Matt did all the food prep.  We left to go to Houston for a Scrabble tournament the day after Thanksgiving and I eneded up getting sick the last day and on the way home.  Missed two days of work due to stomach flu.  

Christmas – Spent it in Houston with Josh and Emmalee and her parents.  We went down on Monday and did an escape room that night.  Tuesday we went to NASA.  Wednesday (Christmas) was spent at Emmalee's parent's house.  Thursday I flew to Amarillo to see my family since my aunt and uncle came up there for Christmas.  Flew back (in a round-about way) to Houston on Sunday and took Matt to the Texans game (which was his Christmas present)

New Year's Eve (yesterday) – stayed home in bed reading a book

21. Did you fall in love in 2019?

Still in love with Matt.

22. How many one-night stands?

Oh please.... I really should just delete this question.

23. What was your favorite TV program?

Still like Big Bang Theory and also enjoying Young Sheldon.

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

Hate is a strong word.  I still dislike Delores Umbridge.

25. What was the best book you read?

Some notable books this year: Midnight in Chernobyl, The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral Hisotry of 9/11; The Testaments by Margaret Atwood (sequel to The Handmaid's Tale)

Here's my Goodreads list for 2019: https://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/14916584

26. What was your favorite film of this year?

I liked the new Star Wars movie in spite of Josh's irritation with it.  I also really enjoyed Knives Out.  That was probably my favorite this year.

27. Whom did you miss?

My blog friend Jonathan/Andrew

27. Who was the best new person you met?

Can't think of anyone in particular.  Always meet new Scrabble people and teachers every year.

29. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2019.

You never know when some of the people in your life are going to leave you or things happen to them.  Cherish them while you can.