I read this article with a lot of interest today. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/4046188/A-new-years-resolution-Could-we-be-a-little-more-polite-please.html



What I found even more interesting were the comments included at the end of the article.





2008 Wrap Up



2008 was a really sucky year for a lot of people. So many people I know were affected by the death of family and friends, money troubles, and other hardships. I really have high hopes for 2009 being a better year.



So here is the wrap up of how I saw 2008:



January

A tornado touches down in Vancouver.

Greg turns 44.

I turn 38.

I discover the Knifty Knitter.



February

I make a bunch of hats with my Knifty Knitter.

Carmen turns 6.



March

I boycott pop and make it 42 days without a drop.

Sir Percival Blakeny comes to live at my desk in Gresham.

Julie & I go see The Full Monty.

Leah & I go see Steven Sondheim speak.



April

The Big Flood.

Snow on April 19.

Budget Committee meetings keep me busy.



May

Greg has a pilonidal cyst removed.

Greg & I celebrate our 9th (official) anniversary.

My Auntie Charlene dies. I go to Florida for the funeral.

Sophie turns 8.

My promotion at work becomes official.

I am voted employee of the month.



June

The fathers of 2 of Greg’s best and oldest friends die. Two more funerals to go to.

Big Brown blew the Triple Crown.

Julie, Leah I see Avenue Q and Les Mis in one weekend (Julie even saw Phantom that month).

Zinger turns 1.



July

My grandma dies. Yet another funeral.



August

Baby elephant born at the Oregon Zoo.

I spend 3 wonderful days down at the beach with my letterboxing girlfriends. It is Marm-vana!



September

I pass my 5 year letterboxing anniversary.

I spend 3 wonderful days glutting myself in letterboxing bliss at the We Live & Breathe Letterboxing - A Decade of Obsession Letterboxing Gathering.



October

I do a major shopping blitz.

Endoscopy #1.

Cleo turns 6.



November

Jassmine and Patches stay with us while Mom & Dad are with Roger & Loraine for Thanksgiving.

Endoscopy #2 and a coloscopy.

Sophie gets her teeth cleaned.



December

Artic Blast



I’m just glad 2008 is over. Here’s hoping 2009 will be divine! (I have got to quit coming up with these obnoxious little sayings!)



Okay, so here is the round up on my resolutions from 2008:



1. Read 125 books

Didn't quite make this one. I ended up with 114.

Favorite book of the year? I had several this year. I loved Eragon by Christopher Paolini. I also read the Ungodly by Richard Rhodes which was a fictionalized story about the Donner Party. I really enjoyed the Hollows series by Kim Harrison. In fact, I read a lot of paranormal books this year. I seemed to be on quite a vampire/werebeast/witch/fairy kick this year.

2. Listen to 100 audio books

Didn't quite make this one either. I ended up with 81.

Favorite audio of the year? You Suck by Christopher Moore. This one made me laugh out loud.

3. Find 150 letterboxes

I kicked this one's ass! Okay, most of it was over one wonderful weekend, but still. Huh, when I went to look up how many I found this year, I discovered I haven’t updated my list since June. Oops. I’ll get back to you on this one!

4. Start Flying again!

Uh, no.

5. Finish 2 open craft projects.

Done! I finished several things. A couple of hats, a scarf, and a couple of squares for a joint blanket some gals at work were making.


6. Stop coming to work looking like I rolled out of bed.

Got some new spiffy clothes and shoes and worked hard at actually doing make up and hair.


7. Really, REALLY need to start eating better.

Lost about 15 pounds this year!


8. Finish the damned floors.

Didn't happen.


9. Make the money problems go away.

Didn't happen. I think they got worse.


10. Organize the family room, craft room and office.

Didn't happen. In fact, they got worse.



So for 2009 I'm not making resolutions. Instead I am starting a 101 in 1001 list. More details to come later…like when I finish the list.


Shuffle

I did this a while back, but I thought it fun enough to do again.



RULES:

1. Put Your iTunes, Windows Media Player, ETC on Shuffle.

2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.

3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.

4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.

5. Put this on your journal.





1.If someone says, "Is this okay?" You say?

The Thrill is Gone (Manhattan Transfer)



2.How would you describe yourself?

My Defenses are Down (from Annie Get Your Gun)



3.What do you like in a guy?

Carousel Waltz-Ballet (from Hey Mr. Producer)



4.How do you feel today?

Being Alive (from Company)



5.What is your life's purpose?

Lesson #8 (from Sunday in the Park with George)



6.What is your motto?

Still Under the Weather (Shania Twain)



7.What do your friends think of you?

The Kid Inside (Barry Manilow)



8.What do you think of your parents?

Save Me (Big Country)



9.What do you think about very often?

In the Car (Barenaked Ladies)



10.What is 2 + 2?

I Get a Kick out of You (from Anything Goes)



11.What do you think of your best friend?

Jump (Van Halen)



12.What do you think of the person you like?

Nothing Like You've Ever Known (Sarah Brightman)



13.What is your life story?

Clean the Kit (from The Beautiful Game)



14.What do you want to be when you grow up?

You Take Me Up (Thompson Twins)



15.What do you think of when you see the person you like?

Cherry Bomb (John Mellencamp)



16.What will you dance to at your wedding?

All Star (Smash Mouth)



17.What will they play at your funeral?

Kiss the Girl (from The Little Mermaid)



18.What is your hobby/interest?

Am I Right? (Erasure)



19.What is your biggest fear?

You'll Never Walk Alone (Michael Ball)



20.What is your biggest secret?

Building the Barricade (from Les Mis)



21.What do you think of your friends?

Candlelight Carol (Michael Crawford)