1. What did you do in 2021 that you’d never done before?
Survived a global pandemic SOME MORE.
Went on vacation with Scott to San Diego.
Hosted Christmas Dinner.
Participated in a Craft Fair/Holiday Market.
Went to a cat cafe.
NYT Crossword 60-day streak.
Experienced an actual threat of violence happening at my kid's school.
Got an iron infusion.
Visited Jenn on San Juan Island.
Experienced school closures due to flooding.
Went on a Live-Stream as a guest.
Got a tattoo coverup.
Missed work for multiple days because of a jacked SI joint.
Spent the first of many weekends to come in Spokane with my Dad.
Got hearing aids.
Got addicted to My Favorite Murder.
Learned what it is to live in "heat dome." 100% do not recommend.
Had a good credit score.
Watched an entire trial - Derek Chauvin.
Asked my doctor to increase my Zoloft dosage.
Witnessed an insurrection, then witnessed it being denied.
Booked a trip to Mexico!
2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't really make resolutions at this point. I would like to read more this year.
Last year I started taking myself on dates again, which contributed both to self-care and to having time to sit and read again. I would like to continue doing that this year.
I also want to break my 60-day NYT Crossword streak.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
I don't think so.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Betty White, the every-grandma.
5. What countries did you visit?
Lol none. AGAIN.
6. What would you like to have in 2022 that you lacked in 2021?
More dates, with myself and others.
7. What dates from 2021 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May - Trip to Atlanta: My first time travelling since Covid, and spending time with my Mom and her sister.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
I don't think so.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Betty White, the every-grandma.
5. What countries did you visit?
Lol none. AGAIN.
6. What would you like to have in 2022 that you lacked in 2021?
More dates, with myself and others.
7. What dates from 2021 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May - Trip to Atlanta: My first time travelling since Covid, and spending time with my Mom and her sister.
May - Trip to Colville to visit Kira and the girls. See link in question 1.
July 11 - all my most loved ones in one place, Kate and her family, Kira and her girls, me, Scott, the kids, and Mom and Paul. It was the most lovely, heart-filling, fulfilling family gathering.
August - Trip to San Diego with Scott - a real vacation, our first one outside of WA/Vancouver BC. I loved traveling and exploring together.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Having an excellent credit score for the first time ever, at least for a while. Even though it's totally meaningless and an outdated concept.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I think that surviving the second full year of a pandemic and all its challenges means that we had no failures.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I hurt my back at one point, and had to actually take 2 days off work because I could barely walk. So that was a fun new part of aging. I also had catastrophically low iron towards the end of the year, which resulted in having 3 iron infusions, a very interesting experience that magically improved my energy levels after the 2nd one. Figuring out why I'm so anemic is an ongoing process.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Tickets to San Diego, a Mexico vacation, a new laptop... I'm not sure what else!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Doctors, nurses, first responders, morticians, scientists.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
A whole freaking lot of Americans. The "QAnon Shaman"
14. Where did most of your money go?
Living expenses. Not being able to go anywhere was good for the budget, and I finally started a savings account!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing Kira after so long apart.
16. What song will always remind you of 2021?
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
At the beginning of the year, I would have said neither? But now, writing this in February, 100% I am happier than last year due to a change in my brain stuff after having Covid.
Fatter, probably, but who fucking cares?
Richer
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Reading. Volunteering for CTL.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Being in my house.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
We spent Christmas day at home, while a mountain of snow fell upon us. We opened presents and probably watched a movie. We hosted Scott's parents and brother and sister in law for dinner, which was postponed to Dec 26 then to Dec 27 or 28 because of the snow. The ham pan leaked and covered the bottom of the oven in burnt ham juice, and filled the house with ham smoke. But the food was delicious, especially the sweet potato casserole and turkey and cranberries. Scott's mom gave us all personalized cards with sweet messages in them, which was really lovely.
21. Did you fall in love with 2021?
No.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Schitt's Creek, hands down.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Eh. I don't think so.
24. What was the best book you read?
Feminist Werewolf by Katie Anthony
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Lil Nas X and Dua Lipa
26. What did you want and get?
A Covid vaccine.
27. What did you want and not get?
To not have to wear a mask anymore. For people to act like decent humans.
28. What was your favorite film of 2021?
Dune or In the Heights
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 41. The weekend before my birthday I went by myself to San Juan Island and stayed overnight, visited with Jenn, and explored Friday Harbor. I'm not sure why it is, but being on the ferry and in the islands really grounds me and feels like home. The day before my birthday, I took the day off and Kate and I ate delicious snacks and watched Promising Young Woman (finally). One day we had pizza and mom came over and brought me the world's most delicious pecan pie (and I've had a lot of pecan pies).
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2021?
Covid chic? LOL. Jeans, boots, and no more bras forever.
32. What kept you sane?
Scott. Xanax. Minecraft. Painting. Weed. Gin.
33. What political issue stirred you the most?
Probably the Jan 6 treason that people refused to recognize as such.
34. Who did you miss?
My sister Kira.
35. Who was the best new person you met?
Pat.
36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2021.
People will put their desire to not feel "told what to do" ahead of science and ahead of protecting themselves and fellow humans just out of misguided spite.
37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"Spending all your time tryin' to break a woman down,
realer shit is going on, baby, take a look around,
if you thought that I was ratchet with my ass hanging out,
just wait until the summer when they let me out the house,
bitch!"
Rumors . Lizzo + Cardi B
This is my 10th year doing this. It's a fun ritual to answer the same questions year after year and be able to look back.
This is my 10th year doing this. It's a fun ritual to answer the same questions year after year and be able to look back.
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