Sunday, December 23, 2018

Sunday Stealing


Welcome to Sunday Stealing. This feature originated and published on WTIT: The Blog. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. (Past hosts include: Our first - Judd Corizan, Mr. L, Kwizgiver and Bud)  Cheers to all of us thieves!
 
This isn't stolen from anywhere in particular, but it is a questionnaire I have tried to answer each year....maybe it originated with Sunday Stealing; I don't know.  But maybe you'd like to look back on 2018 as well.


What did you do last year that you had not done before?
Lost all of my muscle strength!  (Fortunately it's back now)

Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions/goals for the year and will you make/set more for next year? What are they? What are your new ones?
I never make resolutions because I'm so bad at keeping them.

Did anyone you know give birth? Or become pregnant? Or adopt?
Not that I can think of.

Did anyone you know die? Or have a serious illness/injury?
Walt and I both had minorly seriously illnesses.  Surprisingly, I can't think of anyone who died.

What places have you visited?
Because of our weird afflictions, only Santa Barbara, for Tom's birthday.

Any new pets? Lost a pet?
We conferred with Polly and she let it be known that she is VERY happy as an only dog, running the house, so no.

What would you like to have next year that you lacked this year (doesn't have to be a physical thing i.e. love, job security, peace of mind...)?
No health concerns for anybody

What date from last year will remain etched in your memory and why?
Obviously since I can't think of one, none will remain etched in my memory.  I remember EVENTS, but not dates.

What was your biggest achievement last year
?
Driving!  I drove for the first time in six months this week.

Did you get sick or injured?
Bad reaction to a statin drug, that drained my muscle strength.

What was the best thing you bought?
A $9 anti-bark thingy that has ended Polly's barking.  And to think I've up up with it for 10 years!!

Where did most of your disposable income go (money leftover after you pay for food, medical care, basic clothing, transportation and shelter)?
Sponsorship for Compassion kids, and Kindle books.

What song will always remind you of last year? Doesn't have to be a song released last year.
I worked to learn the score to Hamilton in case I actually see it some day.  "The Room where it Happened" is often an ear worm now.

What do you wish you would have done more of?
reading!!

What do you wish you would have done less of?
going to doctor visits.

What was your favorite new TV program? Movie? Album/Songs? Or if you didn't pick up any new ones, what are you still watching/listening to? Any recommendations?
I can't remember if it started this year but I'm loving Young Sheldon and also the new medical shows that started this year.  And, of course, the new season of Outlander is wonderful.

What was the best book you read this year? How many did you read?
I usually read 50-60 books a year, but this year I have only finished 15.  I just have not been taking time out to read.  Probably the best was "White Houses," the story of the relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickock.

What did you do on your birthday and how old were you? Did you feel differently?
The school shooting in Florida happened on my birthday, so I spent most of the day watching TV and crying.  Two days later, Walt and I went to San Francisco for dinner and to attend a taping of our favorite radio show.  As far as feeling the difference between 74 and 75, no.

What political or social issue stirred you the most?
Oh Lord....all of them.  But mostly the separation of parents and kids and the thousands of "leftovers" who are still in baby jail

Who was the most interesting new person you met?
We haven't met face-to-face, but I now have an audio pal with whom I exchange audio recordings.  It's been about a year now and it's fun.

What changed at your job?
Nothing.  I'm still retired.

What changed in your home?
Ned, the white tornado, came in and started organizing and straightening.  Everything looks much better now, even if I'm constantly looking for where the whatsit or the whosit is now.

Describe how a relationship changed.
Ned had become much more directorial, realizing that Walt and I are aging and that he and his siblings will have to sort through the house after we are gone.  He's very efficient.

Do you think you are still the same person that you were at the beginning of the year? How so?
Probably.  The muscle thing sidelined me a bit, but not seriously.

Summarize the year in three words or less. Bonus points for doing it in one word. Explain.
Kaiser!!!!  We spent so many weeks at doctors' visits, follow-ups, lab tests, procedures, and emergencies for Walt, for me, and for my mother, that this has to be the year of Kaiser.

How have people around you changed?
My mother's dementia is worse.  Lacie, age 7, has become an avid reader (e.g., read "Harry Potter").

What have you learned throughout the year? (Other than crafts)
Nobody wants to discuss politics, which is frustrating when you are so angry all the time!

What was your favorite outfit for warm weather? Cooler weather?
I pretty much wear the same things year-round -- black pants, t-shirt and if its cold, a sweatshirt.  On my feet Birkenstocks with socks (even on rainy days).  This is California, after all.

Did you learn any new crafts or techniques? What was your favorite thing you made?
My favorite things are always journals.  Not sure I learned anything from them, but I do enjoy putting a journal together to share with someone.

What changed about your physical appearance? (Hair? Wrinkles? New makeup style? Etc)
Nothing except this "thing" on the bridge of my nose, which will be removed next week.

What are your hopes and dreams for the new year? (Some suggestions-family, travel, work, lifestyle, hobbies, pets, appearance)
I actually have no personal hopes and/or dreams for next year, as I don't see anything really changing, except possibly my mother, who is pushing 100.  On the wider stage, I hope that we find a way to rein Trump in without making Pence president. But I am not hopeful.

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