Old School Blogging, 2013 Recap

It's time for some Old School Blogging.  Feel free to join in. 

You can link up here.

 

1. What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before?

This will probably sound silly, but I entered some of my pictures in the county fair and won a red ribbon.  Second place!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I gave up making resolutions years ago.  I think they just set you up to fail.  This year, I've set some goals for myself that are hopefully attainable.  We'll see.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes!!  My daughter gave birth to her first child.  She gave her dad and I a beautiful new granddaughter named Haley Jeanette and she is just perfect.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Unfortunately, yes.  We lost quite a few family members and friends, but my stepdad is the one that truly broke my heart.  My own dad died when I was 22 and mom remarried when I was 26.  My stepdad was my "other" dad for 32 years.  He was one of the best men I ever knew and I miss him so much.  He was 91, but you never would have guessed it, if you didn't already know.

5. What countries did you visit?
Just the good old USA!

6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
Time!

7. What dates from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 4....I walked my third half marathon.
August 17.....my husband and I renewed our wedding vows for our 40th anniversary.
September 25....when my stepdad died.
November 2....when our new granddaughter was born.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I think it was celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary.  In this day of disposable marriage, I think it's a real accomplishment to stay married to the same person for 40 years and still be truly happy.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Finishing up the year by gaining weight.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I did.  I have tendonitis and a bone spur in my right foot.  It's a slow process, but it's getting better.  I have finally been released to try exercising again.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
I cannot think of one thing that would qualify as being the best thing I bought.

12. Where did most of your money go?
The usual every day stuff like bills and food.

13. What did you get really excited about?
My 40th high school reunion!

14.  What song will always remind you of 2013?
Blurred Lines.  The most overplayed song ever.

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:
– happier or sadder?  Sadder because of all the people we lost this year, but still very happy. 
– thinner or fatter?   Thinner than last year, but fatter than earlier in the year.
– richer or poorer?   Richer, but not monetarily so.

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Playing!

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Stuffing my face after my injury.

18. How did you spend Christmas?
Christmas breakfast at our house with our kids and grandkids.  Christmas dinner at my mom's with our family, my mom, my siblings and their families.  It was a near perfect day.

19. What was your favorite TV program?
I watch very little tv, but if I watched something purposefully, it was Grey's Anatomy.

20. What were your favorite books of the year?
Awakenings (about Notre Dame football) and rereading The Shack and Heaven is for Real.

 21. What was your favorite music from this year?
I am a new Pink fan.  She is awesome.

22. What was your favorite film of the year?
I absolutely loved Frozen.

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
My actual birthday was pretty low key because it fell in the middle of the week.  The kids celebrated with us on the weekend.  I was 59.  The countdown is on to 60.  Bring it, I'm ready!

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I don't know about immeasurably more satisfying, but I would have liked to travel more.

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
I don't know that I have a fashion concept.  I like what I like and it has to be comfy and casual.

26. What kept you sane?
Believe it or not, it was my family.  Sure, they have their moments when they drive me crazy, but in the big picture they ground me.  They keep me sane.  Without them, I'd be a nut.

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.
This year I truly found out who my real friends are.  Some of the people I thought were my friends really weren't.  I got my feelings hurt, and it was hard, but at least now I know.