I'm not dead yet, thanks for asking...

I've had a few people comment on my lack of posting. All I can say is that the ideas are there, some posts are even begun and some are full of photos and no words, but I've been lacking a very important factor: motivation.

It is my birthday month, and like last year at this time, it might as well not even exist. We are very busy (doing what, I have no idea, but the days go *poof!*) and life is happening and that is all there is to it. I know that I've waited way too long to post when Brian drops me from his blog log.

Also on his log is Kim, a friend of his whom I have never met. I occasionally check out her site and have found that she tells it how she sees it and doesn't waste her breath...um...fingers, which is nice. This is made more apparent by the title of her blog: Talk Less, Say More. She just restarted her blog again, so there's not much there yet, but in the past Thursdays were meme day. I have no idea if this will continue, but this one I found interesting, so I decided to do it.

Yes, I know this isn't original, but hey - my answers are my own, so that has to count for something.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
I had a baby and took care of one and I explored some of Houston that we'd previously ignored.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any, as I was extremely busy being pregnant, moving, and having said child. I want to get into shape this year. I'd love for my child to sleep through the night, but that would be her resolution, would it not?

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
In 2008? I don't think so, but I am a walking zombie, so forgive me if I am wrong.

5. What countries did you visit?
I was living in Spain, walked over to Gibraltar, and moved to Houston via France, if that counts.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Time with my husband, time to sleep, time to create some schedules/traditions/family activities, time for me to get some things done, both required and those that I would simply like to do for fun. TIME.

7. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I did not really achieve anything - I've been swamped with the little one. Proof of this is that I don't blog lately. OH, WAIT. I did manage to post every day in November...although only a handful of people read it - does that count as an achievement? I'm guessing not.

8. What was your biggest failure?
Staying on top of things. This is to be expected when one has a baby is my guess, so I don't know that it counts as a failure. I am also really bad at correspondence, and even more so now that, [record skipping] baby, baby, baby.

9. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope on the illness. I had runner's knee when I attempted to begin running in the fall. Go figure.

10. What was the best thing you bought?
We bought a lot when we moved: automobiles, house, baby stuff, furniture...I think the best item we bought were webcams for the grandparents.

11. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My Mom - she came to help with the baby and aside from being Guga, she cleaned the house and cooked. And she really hates to clean. Seriously hates it. Like me.

12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Um, my own when frustrated and defeated and tired from, once again: la bambina. Again, though - I am pretty sure everyone to an extent acts like a crazy person after baby arrives because hello - no sleep.

13. Where did most of your money go?
Towards all of the new things from this year: bills, house, cars, baby, education plan, retirement plan, etc. etc. etc.

14. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Nada. No, wait. I was really excited to travel for a long weekend with my husband to Sevilla and Ubrique in Spain. We also took a day trip to Cordoba that had me pretty excited.

15. What song will always remind you of 2008?
(I love you) A Bushel and a Peck, as sung by Doris Day. LMIB loves it, and it was used in a slide-show for my Granny's 80th birthday.

16. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer?
(a)I wouldn't say happier, but I definitely wouldn't say sadder either, so neither and/or mixed bag.
(b)I'm not fat. I am post-baby and I've got some more weight/inches to lose, hence the resolution.
(c)Richer in so many ways, poorer in a few as well.

17. What do you wish you’d done more of?
I wish I'd had more time with my husband; all of us as a family.

18. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Less stressing/worrying about silly things that I have no control of. For example: when baby sleeps in first couple of months, and whether or not she sucks her thumb; they are what they are.

19. How did you spend Christmas?
My parents, Guga and Papa Jim, came here for the week leading up to Christmas Day, then left to see my brother's family. We then traveled the weekend after Christmas to southern Virginia to see my Dad's extended family, whom we had not seen in three years. Good times.

20. Did you fall in love in 2008?
If having a child and loving her counts, then yes. Also, if finding a new TV show that I missed while in Spain counts, yes.

21. What was your favorite TV program?
I started watching Bones and it is my new favorite. Still love me some NCIS, though.

22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Seriously? This is one of the questions? Who has time for that?

23. What was the best book you read?
Oh, how I miss reading. OH HOW I MISS READING! I am pretty sure I read the new J.D.Robb book from her "in death" series. Mindless fun.

24. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Simply for the calming effect it has on Rootin' Tootin' Cowgirl, A Bushel and a Peck.

25. What did you want and get?
I wanted a healthy baby and that is what we've got.

26. What did you want and not get?
I wanted to do a little more traveling before we left Europe and we so did not get that. Also, see above question regarding wanting more time for things - all of those things.

27. What was your favorite film of this year?
Oh, jeepers. I only saw a couple of them...The Dark Knight was good as was Mama Mia.

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 29. I did nothing. We were in the middle of moving and acquiring everything we needed to live here, so no time for the birthday...and those of you who know me realize what a total bummer this was as I normally enjoy celebrating my birthday month. I think that little tradition has pretty much been shot down for the foreseeable future.

29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Oh, I dunno. Many things could have been different. We were so busy that we didn't have time to enjoy anything really, so maybe that could have been different. Then again, maybe not.

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Maternity clothes and comfortable shoes followed by maternity clothes and/or whatever fits and sneakers.

31. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Fancy? I dunno.

32. What political issue stirred you the most?
My answer isn't really an issue as much as it is the way that the country responded to voting this year. People who in the past didn't take action got up of their tuckus and made their voice heard. The fact that the younger, previously more apathetic generation got so involved is especially encouraging.

33. Who did you miss?
People I met in Spain.

34. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
I don't know that they are life lessons, but here you go:
Babies make you stoopid.
My life is not about me ever.

35. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I love you a bushel and a peck
A bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck
A hug around the neck and a barrel and a heap
A barrel and a heap and I'm talkin' in my sleep
About you, about you
'Cause I love you a bushel and a peck
You bet your purdy neck I do

A doodle-oodle-ooh-doo
A-doodle-oodle-oodle-ooh-doo

I love you a bushel and a peck
A bushel and a peck though you make my heart a wreck
Make my heart a wreck and you make my life a mess
Make my life a mess, yes a mess of happiness
About you, about you
'Cause I love you a bushel and a peck
You bet your purdy neck I do

A doodle-oodle-ooh-doo
A-doodle-oodle-oodle-ooh-doo

I love you a bushel and a peck
A bushel and a peck and it beats me all to heck
It beats me all to heck, how I'll ever tend the farm
Ever tend the farm when I wanna keep my arm
About you, about you
'Cause I love you a bushel and a peck
You bet your purdy neck I do

A doodle-oodle-ooh-doo
A-doodle-oodle-oodle-ooh-doo
A-doodle-oodle-oodle-ooh-doo
A-doodle-oodle-ooh-doo-doo