Under the Arch

Year end meme up

I found this meme at Red Stapler, and it made me very nervous, which instantly made me want to do it. (of course)

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?

Took an overnight vacation to Chicago by myself (which I really liked, except for the driving)

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I didn't make any last year, and my only resolution for this year is to make more conscious decisions.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

One of my best friends from high school got married and his wife gave birth this summer.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

I don't really know how to answer this question.

5. What countries did you visit?
I barely went anywhere this year, no more than a few hours away, and no new states.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?

A career rather than a gig. More sex, and a stable relationship would be nice.

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

April 2, my 30th birthday, when I found out I was going to miscarry, and April 28, my friend's wedding reception, where I desperately tried to hide how miserable and angry I was about my life.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Surviving mostly intact and realizing that it's OK to be sad if something terrible happens, you don't have to jump back up and keep moving as if nothing happened, even if that would make others more comfortable.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Continuing to allow someone to influence my life.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Not really.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

new clothes for the new me

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My friend Dan was barely a friend before this year, but he really stepped up and was there for me when I needed him.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

My ex, whose "I want you"/"Stay away from me" back and forth I participated in for far too long.

The government and the media continues to appall and depress me.

14. Where did most of your money go?

New apartment, living expenses and new clothes

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Nothing really

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?

anything by A Fine Frenzy

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
 a) happier or sadder?
Way sadder
b) thinner or fatter?
thinner, strange how that works

c) richer or poorer?

about the same

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

exploring my new city

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

hiding in my apartment

20. How did you spend Christmas?

In Mt. Vernon with my family, which was nice, I had a lot of time to think and made some decisions that I had been putting off.

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?

Nope

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Chuck is one of the new ones that I really enjoy and actually look forward to watching every week.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Hate is too strong...it's more like severe disappointment.

24. What was the best book you read?

I read too much to answer this one, but I'm currently reading "Round Ireland with a fridge" by Tony Hawks which is hilarious.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

A Fine Frenzy and Brandi Carlile

26. What did you want and get?

To learn how to knit.

27. What did you want and not get?

Peace of mind. Closure.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix or The Bourne Ultimatum

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

refer to question #7

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Uncomplicated companionship with someone of the opposite sex

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?

a little retro, a little modern, soft swinging dresses and fun shoes

32. What kept you sane?

This assumes that I am sane, and there are those that would argue that point. friends, family (especially my sister, which is a shock), shopping, and work

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Matt Damon (I don't know how you could watch the Bourne Ultimatum and not want to take him home in your pocket for later.)

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

Health care.

35. Who did you miss?

my grandpa, who has been gone for a long time now, but I find myself dreaming of him and my ex who was gone, and then not gone, and then gone again.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

I haven't really "met" any new people this year, but thanks to NaBloPoMo, I have begun a fledgling relationship with some bloggers and I am pleased as punch that they find me interesting enough to read what I have to say.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
Just because you have figured out what you want and where you're going, does not mean the others around you can do the same thing. (you would think that I would be used to this by now)


38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I've been kind of all over the place this year, up, down, and all around, but I guess now you would put me about here....."Hope for the Hopeless" by A Fine Frenzy
You can find the lyrics for the whole song here: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/afinefrenzy/hopeforthehopeless.html

These are the bits that really resonated with me over the weekend:

Making the best of it
Playing the hand you get
You're not alone in this

There's hope for the hopeless
There's hope for the hopeless
There's hope






This meme is courtesy of Linda at Sundry Mourning, who is keeping track of the players. So let her know if you decide to go along for the ride.

All I can say is thank god this year is over, and I'm crossing my fingers that things improve in the new year, I know I'm off to a good start.

I'm taking this little break from being DEATHLY ILL to tell you that I have to drive back to my parents house tomorrow for more family togetherness. My parents are having my Dad's side of the family over for Christmas lunch/dinner (linner). I usually avoid these people, who include the crazy grandma that I talked about after thanksgiving, but my Dad is right that she may not have any idea who I am by next Christmas, if she's even around, so for him I'll make the hour plus drive there and back again with a head cold. I am a good daughter. I still have pictures to share and stories, but it feels like the back of my eyes are on fire, so I'm going to leave you with this one.....

Me and my nephew, Hayden making cookies...we are painting them with a food colored egg wash before baking, which sounds gross but looked neat and tasted yummy. He was VERY serious about the whole thing and absolutely delighted to have my whole attention for the afternoon. He's cute as hell and rotten in the way only a four year old boy can be. I'll post pics of the cookies later and tell you about my Mom calling bingo numbers on Christmas and how I resembled a Whoville Who with my Christmas outfit.

note: I'm not dying, I'm fine just pissed about having a cold and feeling like crap when I have so much to do.

Christmas tree #1

Close up on the ornaments....

My mom's favorite....

a gazillion santas in a row (ok, not a gazillion)
Those gnomes in front are older than I am..... this is where I get the collecting gene. She also collects snowglobes and snowmen....lots and lots of snowmen, that I apparently forgot to photograph, gah.

Christmas tree #2

Christmas tree #3

I used a tripod and it's still blurry, damnit.

Up close, though...pretty.

Hello, Santa!

I'm still uploading photos and I have stories to tell, but it's late and I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed. Night everyone! I hope you had as much fun as I did!

I'm sorry, I was delayed a day with car issues which I'll talk about later. My cat is incredibly excited to see me and all is once again right in her world. I'm happy to be home, crossing the poplar street bridge and the Mississippi river, seeing the city rise out of the fog, I got that warm feeling for the first time. I finally feel like I belong here, in this city, it's home for me.

I am going home for the holiday today, home to my parents home in southern illinois. I still have to pack up my stuff and finish wrapping presents. (why oh why didn't I just buy gift bags?) I'll be back sometime on the 26th, but until then, internet access will be sporadic at best. (dial-up and having to fight my little brother for the computer) I'm looking forward to making cookies with my nephew tomorrow and watching movies with my mom, oh, and I'm sure there will be presents of some sort. (hopefully a new pair of shoes are waiting for me under the tree) I am determined to take tons of pictures this year, and I'll share the best ones, whether you like it or not. Merry Christmas everyone!!!

You may recall that the siblings andI were going to buy a DVR for our parents for christmas. We have run into a few problems. First, we found out through the company that it is next to impossible to surprise someone with a product from dish network. So, after MANY phone calls to customer service which consisted of some guy in India not being able to understand my sister and my sister getting increasingly pissed off, she spoke with a local guy who basically said, "Sorry, we can't do that." Shit. So, my sister and I discussed it and even though we didn't want to do it that way, decided that the only way to keep it a surprise from both the parents was to present them with a card christmas morning with a sort of IOU. Second, my brother just called me and said "Why didn't you tell me the DVR was being sent to the house? It came while I was at work!" Only, we couldn't order the damn thing so,.....? Uh, I think christmas is sort of ruined, at least our gift is. (sigh) My brother is going to attempt to be sneaky tomorrow and find out what's going on, but I may have to make an emergency run to the mall for two more gifts. Shit.

While driving to work this morning, I took 44E, cuz with the 64/40 mess, it's actually easier for me to swing around downtown and up to UMSL, my school and work. (pretty convenient that way). For the last couple of months, they have been making improvements to the pavement and recently began restriping, uh....different lanes...because???? I have no idea what or why, but, you know, urban living and all that...I deal. BUT, and this is a big one (not to be confused with my butt, which is big too)um...shouldn't they, I don't know....FINISH the lanes before reopening them??!!!! Since I can't get a pic of this travesty, let me illustrate with a lovely drawing......

Ok, my photoshop drawing skills are not the best, but you get the idea. How is this ok? You literally lose your lane and have to quickly pick a new one going 60+mph and pray that there isn't another car that wants that lane too. HELLLLOOO!!!!! Seriously?

Everything is covered in, well, magic. And I don't even like snow. But, there's something about living in the city, not having to worry about 3 foot drifts, having no where to be, and food in the fridge that.....isn't so bad. Happy first snow, St. Louis!!!!

Remember how I was having problems with the whole stockinette thing?

Huh?

You know, I would get to end of the row and totally forget what stitch I had been doing? And I was all frustrated because it looked awful?

Ok sure.

Well I figured it out.....

Wait. What did you figure out?

The stockinette stitch.

The stocka what?

Stockinette. S.T.O.C.K.I.N.E.T.T.E.

But it sounds like Stalk Annette.

Yeah.

So...you're Annette's Stalker?

(sigh) Yes I am.

Rock on.

The beginning of Mom's scarf...I asked her what color she wanted and my conservative, dresses like a stereotypical middle-aged woman, prefers to live in the background , Mom said she would like a yellow one. Sunny yellow. Who knew?

Please! Please, for the love of all that's holy in the universe, come up with another ad campaign for your fucking store!!!!! I hate you and your stupid commercials! I would rather hear a marathon of Kay Jewelers ads from now until monday than hear one more "He went to Jared!!" Seriously, I'm gonna lose my shit. I'm not even gonna post a video, it will make you bleed from the ears.

Last week, I was explaining to the piercing guy at my local tattoo parlor why I would not be getting my tongue pierced as my friend had. You see, I have a freakishly strong gag reflex and the idea of having a metal rod constantly touching my tongue makes me want to gag. He stood there in stunned silence for a moment as I worried that I had overshared with this total stranger, only to say, "Well. You'd never make it in Hollywood, would you?" No, piercing guy, I would not. SNORT!

I haven't really paid any attention to the referrers from my counter thing in a while, and on a whim decided to see what had brought some recent visitors to this page. 3 out of the last 10 were here for this...

They were doing a google search for Bitten, Sarah Jessica Parker, or Houndstooth coat with one or both. I love this coat. Pink puffy heart love it. I bought a hat, scarf, and glove set from Target to go with it and I'm stylin, for cheap. If you have a Steve and Barry's in your area, check it out. I bought my brother's Xmas gifts there a couple of days ago (he asked for novelty t-shirts, and they have tons 2/$15), and ended up leaving with a t-shirt for my grandma, stuff for my nephew, and a couple of baby things for my friend's little girl, Mela. I love this store, it makes my bargain loving heart happy. (my previous post about the Bittten line)

For anyone confused by the previous entry, the winter finale of Heroes was on last night and they killed Nathan Petrelli, McHotty. It's possible that his daughter's blood can save him, but it was still upsetting.

This is a commercial that cracks me up and disturbs me at the same time. His mom rocks so hard! Hee. That's awesome. Youtube didn't get the whole thing, but it's for gamestop if you were interested.

They killed Nathan! Those bastards! And I have to wait til January to find out what happens, IF the writers strike is over before then.

Excuse me, please, I need to go kill my tv. (sob)

"Oh. My. God. Did you have me on speaker-phone?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Could the girl at the window hear me?"

"I doubt it. I didn't even hear you.....why?"

"Because I just called you a fucking crackhead!"

"Oh. Well, yeah, that might have been awkward."

"Can you imagine? Out of nowhere a disembodied voice calls you a fucking crackhead and all you're trying to do is your job, giving people their stupid food in their stupid cars......"

"Yeah. That would suck."

"There's something seriously wrong with you."

"What? I'm hungry."

I heard my cat in the bedroom about to lose her shit about something, and being the nosy creature that I am, I went to investigate. This is what I found......

I don't know what he was doing, but if cats could open windows, he would have been toast. Or, possibly, my cat could have been hiding under the bed, the jury's still out on that one.