A Year in Review

Ganked this from my friend, Ember.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
I drove through Utah, Idaho, and Oregon.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My new year's resolution was to read 20 new books and I managed to read 25, plus reread Deathly Hallows and listen to an audiobook. Next year I'm shooting for 25, and I'm also going to try to blog at least 10 times/month.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Kelley and John had this cute lil' bundle. She's the only kid that I insist on holding every time I see her.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Fortunately, no.

5. What countries did you visit?
Ach, I was stuck here! I am definitely leaving in 2009, though.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Sleep. I would like to cure my insomnia.

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
March 22 and May 10. Jen&Doug's and Will&Shan's weddings.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting into my interior design program, I suppose.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not cleaning my carpets.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I am almost constantly suffering illness or injury. Right now, I actually have a vicious cut on my thumb from the Brita pitcher. No lie.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
It was a gift, but I love love love my Flip camera.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I thought that McCain's concession of the presidency was quite humble and dignified. Good on him.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Anyone who is publicly hateful about same-sex marriage.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Wizard rock and happy hour.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Wizard rock, LeakyCon, writing for the Wizrocklopedia, getting into LaRoche, Jen&Doug's and Will&Shan's weddings.

16. What song(s) will always remind you of 2008?
Any Whomping Willows or JFF songs.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier, definitely.
ii. thinner or fatter? I was at my lowest adult weight about a year ago, so at least I'm back to reasonable.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer, I guess. We have less credit card debt, at least.

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

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Obsessing over Seth Rogen, daydreaming, sitting on my ass.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
Christmas Eve with the extended immediate family, Christmas morning at my parents' and Christmas dinner at the Fridy's.

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
I'm constantly falling in love with one thing or another. And also constantly in love with my kittens and JP.

23. How many one-night stands?
Being married has really hindered this.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
I don't think I discovered anything new. Probably Top Chef and Project Runway - they're always good fun.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Sarah Palin, perhaps?

26. What was the best book you read?
Paper Towns by John Green

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Wizard rock, of course!

28. What did you want and get?
A much happier existence.

29. What did you want and not get?
Um, an HD TV, I guess. Not terribly disappointed, though.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Dark Knight, Sweeney Todd, Burn After Reading, and Enchanted were all awesome.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
On the actual day, I went to happy hour at Joe Mama's and dinner at Fuel&Fuddle with bunches of friends. I turned 27.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If any of my far-away friends had moved here.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Cold weather: Jeans, long sleeve tee, boots. Warm weather: Jeans, tank top, flip flops.

34. What kept you sane?
JP and Tim, though they do also drive me crazy at times.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Seth Rogen.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Anything that involves limiting science, whether in school (evolution vs. creationism, abstinence-only sex ed) or research (stem cell research, medical professionals not having to provide services they don't agree with, medical marijuana).

37. Who did you miss?
Steph (especially when she was in Iraq), Tim Scott, Kathleen, Laura, Jen&Doug, Jess&Goat.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Rose, Caity, and the other PAW-ters and the Germans.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
I can do absolutely anything that I decide to do.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
This is never gonna end/It really can't end/Cuz we've made too damn many friends.

Merry Wishes!

In whatever you may do today, I hope it's lovely and just what you want.

I outed myself on YouTube

I made this for the Project for Awesome, a day where we took over YouTube with videos just like this, promoting good causes and trying to decrease world suck. You can read more about it here.

The last 2 minutes are just the logo.



I know Jed Bartlett is fictional, but the information about MS on the West Wing was not.
Here are the links in case you watch it here and not on YouTube:

The Accelerated Cure Project

Accelerated Cure Project's Charity Navigator page

Information on MS

Drama-riffic Internets

I know I haven't updated about the gazillion things I have done since the last vlog entry, and I apologize. I've had a lot both on my mind and my plate recently, and I am epically failing at balancing it all. I am currently working on some sort of system to file my life into the important categories and devote the requisite amount of time to each. But I've kinda failed at that, too. You see, I have a problem. I can't stop dealing with drama on the internet.

I feel like the word "drama" definitely gets a bad rap. I don't mean to say that I am wasting my time or that any argument/disagreement is petty and/or not worthwhile. No one is forcing me to read and write these things. It's just so easy to read about it and think about it and write about it and then read the responses and think about them and then write some more. Sometimes I just wish the internet was like one giant Skype call and I could quick say what I wanted and move on. Since I also refuse to be ripped apart on anything factually related to opinions of mine, I do extensive research to try and justify what I have to say. Today, I reached the breaking point when I read this:

"The Freedom from Religion Foundation wanted in on the action, so there will be a billboard posted that reads 'Religion is but a myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.'"

Actually, what the sign says is this: (from Pharyngula)

"At this season of the Winter Solstice may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."

First of all, it's not a billboard. It's a sign. It's also next to a nativity scene and what they are calling a "Holiday Tree". Apparently, no one has yet requested to have a menorah there, so there isn't one.
I'm sure you can imagine what happened in the comment thread, but just in case, I'll clue you in. Here was the majority opinion:

"i have a big problem with those who try and take away my being able to celebrate [Christmas], i/e Christmas trees in stores and such, just because they dont believe in it. Dont take away what i believe in just because your views are different from mine!!"

Are you joking? That sign is in the capital building. Freedom of religion means that the government cannot favor any particular religion. Since it is a government building, all religions must be allowed to express themselves.
On a further note, I was unaware that Christians spent Christmas at the capital building. How is it even possible that this sign or calling the tree there a "holiday tree" is taking away anything that you believe in? Especially since I'm fairly certain that the tradition of decorating an evergreen was not commonplace during the time of Christ.

Perhaps I have a unique view since I have always celebrated Christmas but have never had any religious association with it. I really could care less if someone says "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" or "Happy Hanukkah" or "Happy Kwanzaa" or "Happy Festivus" or just "Have a good fucking day". That person took the time to be polite and give you a greeting of some sort. In a week where I am spending most of my free time reading people's shitty-ass comments berating each other, I appreciate the fact that someone in real life might be friendly to me and others. So, please, however you are greeted in Walmart or Whole Foods or some sort of center for secular humanists, just smile back and say thanks. I know it may have stemmed from Christianity, but the whole "goodwill towards men" should be on everyone's mind. And not just in December, either.