Julie takes a look back at 2009....

~ What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before? Stuck to my diet! I successfully lost 35 lbs. I have regained three of it over the holidays and starting January 1 I'll be back on Weight Watchers to lose this last 40 lbs.  (Oh, make that 43 lbs)  Stay tuned!

~ Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?   I resolve to stop making resolutions. I suck at them. They last about 20 minutes into the New Year. This year, I figure if my resolution is to make no more resolutions, I'm good to go.

~ Did anyone close to you give birth? Like, physically close to me? No, I have not actually witnessed childbirth this year. But some of the young girls I know on the Nest have had babies this year. (Yeah so they are all in their 20's and 30's...it's not like they are teens...but to me they are young girls! You know who you are...stop laughing as you read this.) I also managed to knock several of them up this year...Steph, Trisha, Rhiannon to name a few. I've got my eye on several other Nesties this coming year....watch out ladies!!! For those of you who don't understand this, it's a running joke on the Nestie board that when I go out of town, or when I see these girls at social events, people end up pregnant. I have girls offering to pay for my vacations at this point. However, it also happens that when I walk into a party with them, the crowd parts and I'm only allowed on one side of the room with women who want babies. LOL

~ Did anyone close to you die? Thankfully, no. My Mom is still with us, and to be honest we didn't think she would be, but she's a tough old bird and she's hanging in there.  However I have had a friend for over 12 years now, Ginny Croasdale, who I met on a message board when Jordan was just a little boy.  I never had the chance to meet her in person (she lived in Reno, NV) but we have always been in contact with each other, and she would send Jordan Christmas ornaments and things over the years.  She passed away the day after Christmas this year from brain cancer that was diagnosed back in June.  She was a fun and interesting lady, and I will miss her baudy sense of  humor the most.  Rest in peace, Gin.  My life is better for having known you, my friend.

~ What countries did you spend time in this year? Um, I'm pretty sure I've been landlocked this year. My passport has nothing on it. I can, however, travel anywhere you would like to send me. (Nestie girls, take note.)  I went to Vegas twice this year, and Chicago once, and other than that I didn't do a lot of long distance travelling.

~ What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? A booming real estate business so that I can pay off bills, prepare for helping Jordan with college, and add stamps to my passport. Oh, and I totally logged way too few miles doing the horizontal bop (ok, make that zero miles), so I'd be quite happy to have a dancing partner. (Hey, just being honest!)

~ What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Jordan's graduation day, of course. That was a big event for us this year.

~ What was your biggest achievement of the year? Again, losing the weight. I have never had the self control to stop bitching about being fat and actually *do* something about it. Now I know I can do it, and if I don't lose the rest of the weight it's due to laziness and nothing else.

~ What was your biggest failure? I don't really feel like I had one. So maybe my biggest failure was to have a biggest failure! Yay! I hope every year going forward is like that! Oh wait, probably my biggest failure was missing my Dallas trip to hang with Deb and Jill. That really disappointed me. I should have gotten on that plane even if they had to wheel me on it with an oxygen mask and a stretcher.

~ Did you suffer any serious injury or illness? My ego has been bruised a few times. Other than that I'm pretty healthy.  My three herniated back disks are the same as they have been....no worse, which is good.  Losing some weight has definitely helped.

~ What was the best thing you bought?  My new car this week!

~ Whose behavior merited celebration? My son. He graduated in June, lost 85 lbs this year, pulled a 3.4 in his first quarter of college, and he makes me proud every day to be his mom.

~ Whose behavior made you appalled and/or depressed?  Nobody I know personally.  But for God's sake...Jon Gosselin?  He just needs somebody to smack the shit out of him. It's pretty bad when he started out being the henpecked husband of a controlling bitch and by the end of the year he was the world's biggest douchebag and public sympathy was with Kate for ever being married to that Ed Hardy wearing asshat in the first place!

~ Where did most of your money go? Credit card bills. And Starbucks. I have an addition to iced caramel macchiatos, skinny, upside down. Two points, baby.

~ What did you get really, really, really excited about? Watching Jordan conquer this weight problem this year. I always knew he'd get there one day, and as I watched the pounds melt away I got more and more excited for him, and what his future holds.

~ What do you wish you'd done more of?   Really?  Do you need to ask??  I wish I'd done more of that thing I haven't done ANY of.  Sigh.  Maybe next year..  Takers?  Anyone?  Bueller?

~ What do you wish you'd done less of?  Worrying.  And sitting on my ass on the couch when I should be breaking a sweat.  I could have lost all the weight I wanted instead of just half of it.

~ Did you fall in love in 2009? No, but it's only Dec 31st. I have plenty of time. You know I'm a last minute  kind of gal.

~ How many one-night stands? Dammit this question was a zero last year too! I so wish I had a number to plug in here. Unfortunately, I'm not a one-nighter kind of gal.  I'm starting to think however, that in 2010 I should become one!

~ Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? I don't hate. That level of internal poison causes wrinkles that I can't afford to have!  I strongly dislike the whore woman who helped break up my marriage, but I finally realized that karma will be a far bigger bitch to her than I could ever be.  Some day, one way or another, she'll pay the price for her part in it.  So I've let that one go, and left it up to destiny to even the score.  Meanwhile, for me, living well is the best revenge!. 

~ What was the best book you read? Oh this one is easy. Bastard Husband: A Love Story. (Click on that link to go to Amazon and buy your own copy!) Even if I didn't know Linda Lou personally, I would have loved this book. It reminds me in so many ways of my own BH. But knowing the author makes the book that much better to me. Seriously, you need to read it. Click the damn link right now and go buy one. And then buy some for your friends too.

~ What did you want and not get? Botox. And Restylane. Hey, I'm being honest. My face has fallen further than Obama in the polls.

~ What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Well I was 48 on my birthday in March, and I have no idea what I did! I think it was a Sunday and I vaguely recall having lunch with my sisters, and I believe Jordan and his then-girlfriend made me dinner.

~ What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? As much as I bitch about being dateless, I do have a very satisfying life. Would I like to have someone to share good times with? You bet. But I have figured out that I have to make myself happy first, and then share that happiness with another when he comes along. Maybe this year he'll buy himself a faster car and get here quicker. LOL

~ What political issue stirred you the most? Don't get me started. We are all entitled to our opinions, but I don't force mine down your throat and I'd really appreciate you not forcing yours down mine. Thank God for the delete button in emails.

~ Who did you miss? I miss my sister all the time. So many things I want to share with her. I want her to see Jordan and be as proud as I am. Life is just not the same without her.

~ Who was the best new person you met? I was so lucky to spend time in May with blogging buddies Linda Lou and Darlene!!!!! They are no longer blog friends, they are lifelong girlfriends. We had the best time in Vegas and I fully intend to see both again this year. I really hate that I missed the Dallas trip with Deb and Jill but I plan to meet them both this year. Party at Myrtle Beach, right ladies?

~ Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009. Anger and bitterness ages you faster than anything. This year I have really let go of my past, forgiven those who wronged me, and started looking forward with excitement and anticipation.

~ What sums up this year? (a word, a quote...?) Meets, but does not exceed expectations!

Happy New Year, readers! My wish for you all is that 2010 brings you more joy and happiness than any other year, and that you have a healthy and prosperous New Year!!! Thank you for the light you shine into my life and I hope that I bring something to yours as well.