As I've done for the last several years, I'm wrapping up 2013 with a year-end meme. Here we go...
1. What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before?
Got published in an well-respected, world renowned newspaper. Took a 3-day cruise to the Bahamas which was awarded to Ed in recognition of 10-years of safe driving. I got asked to write a column - with Ed! - for a brand new digital trucking magazine. Visited the Outer Banks. Went to Montreal for a week with friends. Bought bikes.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't think I kept any of them, but this year I'm writing my goals down. My friend says that's a surefire way to make sure they happen.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not close to me, but my virtual friend in Italy gave birth to a GORGEOUS little girl - Marisa Caterina Fabio.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no.
5. What countries did you visit?
The Bahamas, for a cruise that Ed was awarded for ten years of safe driving. And Canada. How could I forget Canada?? (Thanks, Marlaina!)
The Bahamas, for a cruise that Ed was awarded for ten years of safe driving. And Canada. How could I forget Canada?? (Thanks, Marlaina!)
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
More time in the mountains and green states - the ones with lots of grass, four seasons, fall. Some time in a boat with Ed because I know he really loves that. And a vacation to do a European River Cruise.
7. What dates from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Meeting and hanging out with Sputter at the Mid-America Trucking Show - because well, she's a trucker, she's a female, and she was in Oprah Magazine! I will remember May 9th, because that's the day we bought our beautiful new bikes and they've been so much fun. I've been wanting a bike for SO long and we finally got them and with them, found and rode some very cool bike trails.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting published in The Guardian - both the print and online version. Actually, my friends were more thrilled than I was. Marlaina is a former journalist and they are both world travelers, so they know the caliber of the publication. It's so great to have that on my writing resume...if there ever comes a time when I need to use it. And the best part is a reader named Linda who I met through my blog and who lives in the UK, has sent me the paper version of every issue. So now I can save them forever! Very awesome.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I can't think of one.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes! I had Sciatica. Holy mother of GOD. I have never felt such pain in my life. Excruciating. No relief. Couldn't sit or stand comfortably. Had to alternate positions. I was pretty miserable. And it IS something I'd wish on my worst enemy.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Well, I didn't buy anything special for myself, but Ed bought me a fantastic 12" Calphalon frying pan and a, a new Chef's knife, and an Aerobie AeroPress to make Keurig-like coffee in the truck. And I bought my mother an iPad Mini. She's in love and so engrossed, she has forgotten my name.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Who?
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
This question should be changed to just "appalled", because no one's behavior ever depresses me, but I'm frequently appalled at how people act. From the corn incident to the moron smoking in the fuel island. There is just an abundance of stupidity out there and it seems I encounter it several times a week. Stupidity and ignorance is what appalls me.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Retirement fund, food, and entertainment.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
This is so hard for me to answer because I don't get so excited about things. The Guardian thing was and still is a bit exciting for me, and I think the opportunities presented to me because of this job are exciting, and I'm definitely following every lead I can!
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
"Electric Feel" by Preston Pohl on The Voice (I love his version), and "She Keeps Me Warm" by Mary Lambert.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer?
I'm pretty much always happy. I'm still no thinner. And I always, always feel rich. I have what I need, often get what I want, and I have Ed. That's the richest gift of all.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Take photos and videos. I might have to deem 2014 the "Year of the Video" because I plan - doesn't mean it's going to happen - but I plan on taking more video of stuff on the road. My new iPhone has iMovie and by golly, I plan on figuring out how to use it!
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Read the comments sections of trucking websites. Talk about ignorance and stupidity.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
At home in Arizona, with my family and trucking friends, cooking like a madwoman.
21. Did you fall in love in 2013?
I'm still lovin' on Steady Eddie, but he's the only person on my list. I tend to love a lot of things - like Amazon Prime - which I use for movies and buying all sorts of things from the comfort of my own home/truck. It's the best way to shop.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Still into Nashville, Scandal and Grey's. I love The Bridge. And I've added Hostages - oh my God, it's fantastic! I'm also all caught up on Downton Abbey - through Season Four - which is truly spectacular. I love it and I'm adding England to my list of countries I must visit.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don't hate any new people, but I have a deep hatred for the dumbing down of our population by idiotic reality TV shows.
24. What was the best book you read?
Didn't do any actual reading, but I did listen to "The Lost Wife" and enjoyed it.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Mary Lambert.
26. What did you want and get?
I got a week in Montreal with my friends. And Ed bought me a new iPhone 5S. And I'm getting eyelash extensions.
27. What did you want and not get?
A real vacation, just Ed and I, away from the world. Looking forward to that happening in 2014.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
It's never easy to pick one, so I'm listing several. I love to laugh, so I really liked "The Heat" - Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy make me pee my pants. "Identity Thief" - again, Melissa McCarthy and one of my favorite actors, Jason Bateman. "The Internship" - typical Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, kinda funny. "Admission" with Paul Rudd. "We're The Millers". "The Way Way Back". And not that you asked, but worst movie? "Gravity".
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
We were in Port Townsend, Washington for my birthday. I turned 46 years old. We explored the area, ate at a few local restaurants, took pictures, and enjoyed our parking spot on the water.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I don't think there's much. I was very satisfied this year and didn't really want for anything. So nothing, really.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
When you spend a majority of your day on the road, "fashion" becomes less important as time marches on. In the truck, I like comfort, so yoga pants and tank tops or t-shirts. When we go out to dinner, or shopping, or visiting, I have some easy flowy tops and capri pants with little leather ballerinas - black and silver are my staples.
32. What kept you sane?
Self-entertaining (podcasts/movies/music/TV/books) and naps.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I'm kinda diggin' Pope Frank this year. I'm not one for liking religious figures, as they're all charlatans in my opinion, but for a Catholic, Pope Francis is really teaching the Christians how to be Christ-like. And even without the red shoes, he's pretty popular.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Guns. The fucking guns. WHAT is the deal?? How many people need to die? We need to get rid of them. Soon. Too many people are dying, and the mass killings are becoming a footnote rather than important news that should be altering the way we live our lives.
35. Who did you miss?
My father. This year, with all the cooking I did for both Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I really missed my father. He was my first phone call for cooking chat. I also missed my father's side of the family - my grandparents and my Aunt Jennie and Uncle Lawrence. They were the last great cooks in the family. I did call on my aunts and mother, but it's not the same. It's just not the same.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
People. I've met people. All through my blog. The first is Linda from Irlam, Manchester in the UK - she's the one sending me all the Guardian articles - who found me because she made a transition from the job she was doing into getting her C&E to drive a lorry (big rig) around the UK.
The second is Mick - who found me through the Guardian articles - and who lives in Keswick, Cumbria in the UK - he and I share a connection to the Catskill Mountains in New York which I found out about when he started reading about me on my blog and told me the places he's been and where his family had businesses, etc. Both him and Linda have graciously extended invites to Ed and I to visit if we're ever in their neck of the woods. What they might not count on is the fact that we might actually plan to be in their neck of the woods just to get the British Grand Tour!
And the last, which I think I might have met prior to 2013 but don't remember, I just know we've been connecting a little more frequently this year, is BA Norrgard. She has overhauled her life to live in a tiny home and she's all over the place lately telling people about it. You can follow her through her blog, A Bed Over My Head.
The second is Mick - who found me through the Guardian articles - and who lives in Keswick, Cumbria in the UK - he and I share a connection to the Catskill Mountains in New York which I found out about when he started reading about me on my blog and told me the places he's been and where his family had businesses, etc. Both him and Linda have graciously extended invites to Ed and I to visit if we're ever in their neck of the woods. What they might not count on is the fact that we might actually plan to be in their neck of the woods just to get the British Grand Tour!
And the last, which I think I might have met prior to 2013 but don't remember, I just know we've been connecting a little more frequently this year, is BA Norrgard. She has overhauled her life to live in a tiny home and she's all over the place lately telling people about it. You can follow her through her blog, A Bed Over My Head.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.
Wake up happy. I always wake up happy. My mother says since I've been a little girl. I was always joyful in the morning, chatty, arms up and ready to get out of my crib, talking non-stop once I could talk. Just pure happy. I'm still that way. Granted, there is a tendency to go downhill after that, getting annoyed or arguing with my sweet Eddie (going to work on that in 2014) and others I love. But I still always wake up happy. And often, when Ed is still in bed, I will blast this tune and dance around the truck in my underwear.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I don't know how I came across this, or why it was this year, I think it might have been a song I heard on one of the singing shows and when I went to look it up I found the versions by Fantasia and Jennifer Hudson. They are both amazing. I'm Here evokes such emotion in me. Fantastia does that to the song. It makes me want to cry and shout for joy at the same time. I don't need a ballad to know I'm beautiful - I just know - but it's always nice for one to have a reminder that they're HERE.
And my slogan for the New Year...DEVOTION.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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
I believe I have inside of me
Everything that I need to live a bountiful life.
With all the love alive in me,
I’ll stand as tall as the tallest tree.
And I’m
Thankful for each day that I’m given,
Both the easy and hard ones I’m livin’.
Everything that I need to live a bountiful life.
With all the love alive in me,
I’ll stand as tall as the tallest tree.
And I’m
Thankful for each day that I’m given,
Both the easy and hard ones I’m livin’.
And my slogan for the New Year...DEVOTION.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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