Sunday, December 31, 2017

2017 Saw A Snowstorm, A Penitentiary, And A Wedding

Well, most of 2017 has been uneventful (there are a few exciting developments) as we were still on our dedicated run back and forth across the Southwest, and didn't leave the country on any exciting trips.  But I did get to see snow, which happened at the beginning of the month, and added to my end-of-year joy.  Finally!  Weather that didn't involve retina-searing sun or temperatures above 100.

Generally, though, things were pretty calm in our neck of the woods.  It certainly beat all the personal crap I went through last year.


So let's get started with the year-end roundup. 



1. What did you do in 2017 that you’d never done before?
Well, 2017 work-wise mostly consisted of going back and forth between Arizona and Oklahoma.  Terribly uneventful and quite mind-numbing on the excitement scale, although I did finally (after 13 years on the road!) get to stop and see this crumbling structure.  And, we finally had an opportunity to see Glen Goode's Big People.  And on one of our weeks home, I saw this rare bloom.  In November, our dedicated run petered out and we went back over the road.  We made it to the East Coast just in time for me to see snow!   I was thrilled! But the things I'd never done before?  Well, I had my name mentioned on the dedication page of a book. Toured a penitentiary.  Drove a vehicle that logged ONE MILLION miles on the odometer.  I got engaged!  I went to see The Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall.  I went to the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building (I'd only ever been to the 86th Floor Observatory. 

And...

The highlight of the year...

I GOT MARRIED


2. Did you keep your New Year’s Resolutions, and will you make more for next year? 
I don't seem to be very good at keeping them, but for 2018 I'm going to resurrect the same one I think about (although don't always make) every year - losing weight.  I'm really, really, really going to try this time.  I've been inspired by Lexi and have been following her faithfully on Instagram.  Her transformation is astounding.  So, fingers crossed.  

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.  I'm 50, and thankfully none of my friends are having babies.  Although, an internet friend of mine had a baby and he is TO DIE FOR gorgeous.  I've virtually adopted him and savor every moment of his cuteness.  

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, but one of my friends lost her son to suicide.  He was 25.  It upset me so much because although I didn't know him as an adult, I babysat him when he was two years old and I was sick at the thought of her grief. Another friend of one of my family members also lost her son to suicide.  He was only 15.  It hit everyone who knew them extremely hard.  For those of you who pray, how about you send out a thought for these families?    

5. What countries did you visit?
None.  Again.  Ugh.  

6. What would you like to have in 2018 that you lacked in 2017? 
IPL treatments to get rid of the age spots on my face, more dining out in town (I'd like to try some of the places we haven't been), mini-vacations, snow, more time to read, a decent hair color job, and maybe a hobby.  

7. What dates from 2017 will remain etched in your memory, and why?
July 23, 2017, the day I got engaged, and December 23, 2017, the day I got married.  I think those are memorable enough.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Is getting married an achievement?  If not, I got nothin'. 

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not taking up a hobby and squandering my free time, which I had a lot of. 

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No illnesses or injuries.  Should I knock on wood?

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A huge silver tote bag that I LOVE.  Chanel foundation and concealer that feels and looks amaaazing. And I didn't buy this gift, but it was probably the best of the best - my very first Le Creuset pot!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The Resistance and The Silence Breakers.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? 
I'm going to leave this answer generally the same as last year because I can't think of anyone viler or with behavior more appalling than that of the mentally unstable creature in the White House - the man unfit to be called the President.  He has shown himself to be an absolutely disgusting human being. Actually, even using the word human is too good for him.  I will hope for impeachment (justified) or prison (preferred), any reason to get him out of office.  The sooner, the better.  What I find even more appalling and depressing are the people who support him.  I can't even fathom how a person can listen to the garbage he spews and say to themselves, "That's my guy."  Especially those who call themselves "Christians".  I can't even.  In the words of the orange buffoon...SAD.

14. Where did most of your money go? 
Amazon, Zappos, wedding stuff, retirement funds.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I've mentioned before that I don't get "really, really, really" excited about anything.  I got a little giddy about this rainbow in our yard, and I was looking forward to my wedding, but I can't think of anything else that overly thrilled me.

16. What song will always remind you of 2017?
I can't think of ONE song, can you believe it?  Ed even played songs from 2017 that were popular and I didn't know any of them.  I guess I listened to more podcasts than music this year.  Oh, well. 


17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer?
Happy, fat, and financially in the pink.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Exercise.  Ride my bike.  Practice my DuoLingo.  

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Read Twitter.  It's equally addictive and infuriating.  Although, I do live for Proud Resister.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
At home with friends and family.  Since we got married on the 23rd, our out of town friends - Gary and Sue - were still here on Christmas Eve, so they joined us.  And on Christmas Day we hosted our friends Marlaina and MacG, Ed's parents, my brother and his family, and my mother and two of her friends from her townhouse complex.  The food was abundant and delicious.  I may never eat again.  I'm still stuffed. 

21. Did you fall in love in 2017?
I fell more in love with This Is UsTHE. BEST. SHOW. ON. TELEVISION.  I can't even breathe when it's on, it's that good.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Well, This Is Us, for sure.  NCIS, as always. And I still watch Nashville, Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, and How To Get Away With Murder even though I still don't have a fucking clue what's going on with that show.  Ed and I also love Aerial America

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
This time last year I didn't necessarily hate anyone, but I was pushed.  45 put me over the edge.  I never knew I could so despise someone so profoundly.  But at least I'm not alone...at least 197.1 million other people in the country are with me (that's 61% of the population), and the rest of the world isn't far behind.

24. What was the best book you read?
I didn't finish any books this year.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Sam Smith.  I didn't really know much about him until I saw him on Carpool Karaoke with James Corden and then I realized not only did I know his songs, I reallllly liked them.

26. What did you want and get?
Chanel makeup, a new tote bag, snow, and a trip to New York.

27. What did you want and not get?
A great dye job for my hair. 

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Hidden Figures.  I came out at the end of 2016, but I saw it this year.  Fabulous movie. 

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I had dinner at Charro with Ed, my mom, and my friend Kim to celebrate my 50th birthday.  FIFTY!!  

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A real vacation.  We had a lot of time off but couldn't really leave to go anywhere because of the dedicated run we were committed to.  

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2017?
Black straight-leg pants, tunic tops, ballerina shoes - which is what I wore almost every time I left the house.  When I'm driving, I wear yoga pants or pajama pants, a t-shirt, and flip-flops.  I'm all about comfort.  For my wedding, I wore Spanx-like underclothing (which didn't make me less fat, it just smoothed everything out) and a very low-cut, push-up bra.  I was so squeezed into that shit, I felt like I was wearing a scuba suit.  I may consider the spanxy stuff for another outfit since it does do a nice smoothing job, but the bra needs to be burned.  It's a torture device. 

32. What kept you sane?
My innate ability to relax.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
This year I've been especially interested in the Royal Family, past and present.  And now....Meghan Markle is joining them??  Shut the front door!


34. What political issue stirred you the most?
I'm still bothered by the immigration issue, but this year I think obvious racism and hate crimes was the biggest problem.  Charlottesville, the Alabama election, racist outbursts videotaped in stores, on subways, in schools, hate crimes and assault against Muslims, racial incidents on college campuses, and more.  

35. Who did you miss?
Because I got married this year, I missed the people I would have loved to have had there - my father, my step-father, and my grandparents.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Our neighbors, John and Susan.  Although they've lived two houses away for 22+ years, I've never met them.  For the past 13-plus years, Ed and I have been on the road and we didn't really socialize with anyone when my mother owned the house.  Prior to that, I didn't always live here and never really made a point to talk to anyone.  But Ed is social when it comes to neighbors (and likes making new friends) and has ventured into the cul-de-sac to talk to people.  They've invited us for drinks at sunset in their AMAZING backyard, Ed has gone running and cycling with John, and we even invited them to our little wedding!  Hands down, the best human discovery this year! 

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2017.
Less is more. Although I have a house to decorate, I'm really compelled to keep crap to a minimum.  Tchotchkes collect dust, and although I see so many things I love and want to buy, in the back of my head I'm thinking, do I want to dust that?

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

"I'm going to do
Just as I want to anyway
And I don't care what people say"


I like this Miki Howard version of Billie Holiday's (or if you want to go way back, Bessie Smith's) song, "T'ain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do".  See the full song lyrics HERE.

And my slogan for the New Year...DO WHAT PLEASES YOU!



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: 2016 Has Ended And It's Time To Breathe Again
2015: The Sun Sets On 2015
2014: Thanks, 2014. For Everything.
2013: I Am Gonna OWN You, 2014!
2012: Wrapping Up A Year Of Making My Own Sunshine
2011: Later, 2011!
2010: That’s A Wrap!
2009: Out With The Old
2008: Another Year, Another 365 Days
2007: All Good Things Come To An End
2006: The Symphony Of A Thousand Saws
2005: Suicidal Firewood

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