New Year's post... late, but wev!
First, One Word (from Reverb10 that I never finished, but I liked this one, so I'm doing it again, tweaked current; here's my entry for last year):
December 1 One Word.
Encapsulate the year 2011 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that
word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the
word to be that captures 2012 for you?
(Author: Gwen Bell)
My word for 2010 was upheaval. The word I wanted for 2011 was resolution.
I think, in retrospect, that 2011 was both upheaval and resolution. I mourned my dad (still do), lost my second grandmother, quit my job and moved a few states away for grad school. School was what I expected and then some; I'm missing my friends that I moved away from (but more or less managing to keep in touch) and struggling a bit to find my place here (and trying to be patient). Divorce negotiations remain unresolved (but we're getting closer). So less upheaval than 2010, and significant resolution in 2011... and it's not all doom and gloom. I'm making new friends, I spend a lot of time thinking about stuff (I forgot I liked theory as much as I do. Geek runs deep, apparently!). Learning a lot about myself. Loving where I live. Connecting with family.
So the word I'd like for 2012? Balance.
New Year's Meme (Questions lifted from Flavia, Squadrato, and Belle):
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Got involved (i.e. not just a paying member) of a national archaeology society
Organized a conference session
Made a commitment to engage with other disciplines, met some folks in related fields and committed to presenting archaeology at a history conference
Started doctoral studies
Won a prize in a baking competition
2. Did you keep your 2011 resolutions, and will you make more this year?
Resolutions for 2011 (and 2010): Speak up; Speak out; Do things that scare me; Get out of my head and into the world.
Kept? In general, yes. Still challenging, so keeping the same list for 2012, but adding 2 goals: more physical activity and eating at least two things each day that grew in the ground (friuts/veg).
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Colleagues having babies and expecting all over the place.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My paternal grandmother. I would really like to not attend a funeral in 2012.
5. What countries did you visit?
Great White North.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
A fucking finished book, already.
7. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Quitting my job, packing up all my shit, moving South of the Mason Dixon Line, starting over, and surviving my first semester of doctoral studies (it was touchy there for a bit).
8. What was your biggest failure?
Not really a failure, frustrating: a continued inability/reluctance to let go of a particular circumstance.
9. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Random normal stuff. Several trips to a chiropractor got me moving without pain in the summer; some steriods got me to not look like some deformed monster after a bad allergic reaction.
10. What was the best thing you bought?
My own bed.
11. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Hilary Clinton as Secretary of State and Elizabeth Warren running for MA Senate (almost wish I'd gone to school up there so I could vote for her...)
12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Congress. Pretty much the lot of them, but most especially the Party of No.
13. Where did most of your money go?
Moving, furnishing, and schooling.
14. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
Happier. Don't know about thinner/fatter, but less fit for sure. Grad student.
15. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Dancing.
16. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Not leaving my house.
17. Did you fall in love in 2011?
No.
18. What was the best new book you read?
Margaret Atwood's "In Other Worlds." I didn't read many new books this year (lots of older stuff, tons of school stuff...). I love Atwood's essays, so enjoyed it a lot.
19. What was your favorite film of the year?
Hrm. Really haven't seen movies this year. Hated the new Muppet Movie though.
20. What kept you sane?
Friends. Dancing. Sleeping. Eating right (better).
21. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
I'm stronger than I thought I was. A little anxiety is normal. I need to trust myself more.
