Goodbye 2011... 25 questions (and answers) about this odd year

Yesterday I posted the photos... today will be the information. In the spirit of my 25x25 Challenge, here are 25 questions about the year two thousand and eleven.

1.    What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?

a.    One of the most exciting things – Watched ALLLL of the Harry Potter movies back to back. It equated to over 18 hours. It was awesome.

     - I survived the harry potter movie marathon

b.    My 25x25 challenge had me trying and experiencing a bunch of new things. Items include: donating a whole bunch of clothes, making new foods, trying new restaurants, and stayed off Facebook for almost a month.

2.    Did you keep your New Year Resolutions?

a.    Well, I have to admit, my New Year Resolution for 2011 was to complete my 25x25 by January 28th. Will I finish all of it? No. I do, however, have one more month. Yay for my procrastinating self. 

3.    Did anyone close to you give birth?

a.    Oh yes, this was the year of babies. My sister and her hubby welcomed their first new baby together (Grayson), and two of our favorite couples (and good friends) the Brumbach’s and the Leigh’s welcomed their new little ones into this world as well. 

4.    Did anyone close to you die?

a.    My grandfather. Although we lived so far apart, through constant communication with my grandparents, they were only a phone call or email away. What do I miss about him? His smile. Oh, and his determination. He would often send me emails about my blog posts as well. I miss that too. I do have to say, it was quite special to have the entire family together when he transitioned from hospital to home, and then his transition from earth to heaven.

     I will never forget leaning over his bed during his last day here and grabbing his hand and telling him I loved him. He hadn’t been too responsive since that morning, but he breathed back, “I love you too.”

5.    What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

a.    Even more adventures! I am never too fond of odd years. Not sure why, just the way I have always been. 

6.    What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

a.    There are many days actually, some super fabulous, some absolutely horrible. Most I have blogged about... to aid in remembrance and to share for years to come. There are others, though,  that aren't worth sharing - that I plan to keep in my 2011 memory vault where they can stay and fade away. Much better for me that way.

7.    What was your biggest achievement of the year?

a.    Stepping into the role as a Nurse Educator. Although it took some time to get my feet wet, I believe I made some small but great improvements in our unit and how people receive much needed information. I am sooo excited about what 2012 will bring for my position and for my fellow co-workers.

8.    What was your biggest failure?

a.    Staying in touch with far away family and friends. I have come to the realization that EVERYONE’s lives are busy, and it is about how much effort one is willing to put in those relationships to make them successful and flourish. I don’t want any lost friendships to happen this new year because I was “too busy.”

[Honesty Alert: Being “too busy” is just to cover up that one simply didn’t try.]

2012 will bring more visits, more phone calls, more communication, I know it!

9.    Did you suffer illness of injury?

a.    An infected toenail from a 19.99 pedicure. No kidding. It was angry, red, and swollen with pus oozing out from underneath the nail. My doctor said that although I appear to be a budding podiatrist (I did surgery on my own toe) I was lucky I didn’t lose the nail - or the toe.

10.  What was the best thing you bought?

a.    Speakers to connect to our recordplayer. Last year my grandparents gave us several records and then we received a record player last Christmas. Only thing missing (after I figured out I had to take the plastic off a needle that I didn’t know was there) ? Speakers. 

     This year has been filled with lovely sounds that can only be produced by a record player. And there is something to say about listening to music on a device for which it was created… i.e. Frank Sinatra did not know his music would be put on CDs or MP3 files. 

11.  Where did most of your money go?

a.    House payments and fast food. The hubby and I are going to work on the fast food part. 

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

a.    Really, really, really excited … and SAD about the official end to the Harry Potter Series. I am pretty sure I have spent most of the year thinking about it.

13.  What song will remind you of 2011

a.    Party Rock Anthem. I secretly, not so secretly love this song.

14.  Compared to this time last year, are you...?

a.    happier or sadder- Happier

b.    older or wiser- Wiser

c.    thinner or fatter- Fatter.. ugh!

d.    richer or poorer- About the same.

15.  What do you wish you'd done more of?

a.    Worked out

16.  What do you wish you had done less of?

a.    Ate out

17.  How did you spend Christmas?

a.    With my family in Tybee Island, GA. A little sun and ocean air can make anyone refreshed!

18.  What was your favorite TV program?

a.    Ohh… this is a hard one friends. Ilove so many for so many different reasons.

19.  What was the best book you read?

a.    So this year I read a lot AND listened to a lot (thanks to Audible). Yeah, I can’t just choose one… although I did enjoy Delirium, The Maze Runner, The Blood Oath, and Heaven is for Real.

20.  What was your greatest musical discovery?

a.    Greatest musical discovery? That I still can’t sing. Accidentally dialed my mom while driving into work one day. Her phone recorded two minutes of me singing a song that apparently I didn’t know the words to… or the tune. It brought my family much entertainment that day.

           21.  What did you want and get?

a.    There were plenty of lovely items I was blessed with this year. I do have to admit though, one of my favorite presents was a Garmin (because I have a horrible sense of direction) and the “Last Nighton Earth” Zombie Game. Before you scoff, it was rated as a top ten board game of all time... you just have to get past the 30 page instructional booklet first.

           22.  What was your favorite film of the year?

a.    I am not sure I even have to answer this question… but I will. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II… and the redemption of Snape.

b.    I also enjoyed Angry Bosses. It made me laugh when a lot else didn’t.

           23.  How old were you on your birthday?

a.    I was (and am) twenty five. 

           24.  What kept you sane?

a.    The knowledge that there will always be another day. Things seem less overwhelming this way. 

           25.  Tell a life lesson you learned.

a.    I learned that the best of plans go awry. (Although life would be pretty boring if we could plan it from start to finish.) I also learned that no one’s life is a fairy tale. If everyone you know are independent thinkers, unfortunately life is not going to work out just like you thought it would, wanted it to, ect. 

     But it is because of this reason we grow as a person, during those fun moments and during the ones that are not so pleasant (and just down right suck.) You are not the first, you will not be the last, live your life to the fullest and you will have a blast :)

Good bye 2011.. may 2012 be so. much. better.