things that made my year – 2015

Happy 2016!

I’m starting the year with a list, because lists are my favorite. Okay, really I just enjoyed doing this last year, so here’s my “Things That Made My Year” for 2015. Sticking with fifty:

1. Nephew Johnston
2. Disneyland
3. playing in the ocean at Laguna Beach
4. being in California in March while it was blizzarding here
5. The Great British Bake Off
6. finding a great YouTube channel for yoga
7. playing WoW with Darren
8. seeing a lot of touring Broadway with Rebekah
9. Hotline Bling parodies
10. cinnamon & clove coffee
11. cinnamon & clove everything (ok, really just coffee and applesauce)
12. Jon & Anna’s moment of fame
13. when I saw that kid snuggling with his cow at the State Fair
14. quote from Darren that made me cry laughing: “I don’t wear underwear, just a baby sock.”
15. our 5th wedding anniversary ❤
16. Pluto!
17. marriage equality
18. Grace & Frankie
19. my super fun awesome 30th birthday
20. Darren’s new job
21. new ornaments full of symbolism for our tiny Christmas tree
22. Boots Botanics products
23. my brother keeping me from losing my mind on more than one occasion
24. and letting us borrow his truck for a couple weeks. Who knew I’d enjoy driving it so much?
25. homemade sweet potato soup
26. drinking on the stoop with the good neighbors when our power went out
27. quinoa lasagna
28. Tyler & Kim’s wedding/mini HS reunion
29. that picture of a bald raccoon
30. spacetaco
31. the Caroll Spinney (Big Bird) reddit AMA
32. I started playing World of Warcraft early in the year and I am surprisingly into it (see #7)
33. binge watching all of Master of None in one night… two Fridays in a row.
34. so much more on Netflix: Tig, two John Mulaney specials, Aziz… it was the year of comedy.
35. re-reading some favorite memoirs
36. end of the year Star Wars marathon
37. Penguin the Magpie
38. donations to Planned Parenthood
39. being able to make monetary donations occasionally without totally freaking out about our budget
40. tumblr
41. guided meditation, even if I’m not very good at it
42. Sufjan Stevens’ newest album, Carrie & Lowell
43. If Stanley Tucci Were Your Boyfriend
44. The Small, Happy Life
45. not being sick during my Christmas break for once
46. Gaelic Storm at the State Fair
47. making Darren a penis cake for his 30th birthday, because he asked me to
48. dog snuggles, aka snuggz.
49. Tim’s “Made My Year” list
50.  A Brief for the Defense, which I found on Tim’s list. I’m not generally into poetry, but this one is unreal.

2015!

Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I think I forgot to make resolutions. I’m fine with that.

Did anyone close to you give birth?

A coworker, a coworker’s wife, many FB friends, but most importantly Jenna birthed Nephew Johnston!

Did anyone close to you die?

Grandma. ❤

What countries did you visit?

Just this one, but at least we made it all the way to the coast.

What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?

More money, as per usual. Ooh, also 100% healthy and cavity-free teeth plz.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?

No babies in 2015! Finally went on a proper vacation. Paid off some debt too, so that rules.

What was your biggest failure?

I dunno, probably not paying off even more debt. Also, getting our rental car towed. I am still embarrassed about that.

What was the best thing you bought?

A new TV stand. Thanks IKEA! Our living room looks so much better.

Whose behavior merited celebration?

All the badasses at Planned Parenthood, fighting the good fight.

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

I CANNOT EVEN WITH SO MUCH BULLSHIT COMING FROM SO MANY DIRECTIONS with the Trump and the guns and PP doesn’t “sell baby parts” omg

Where did most of your money go?

It’s a toss-up between my dentist and the car.

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

DISNEYLAND

What song will always remind you of 2015?

Hmm. Something by TSwift, probably. Maybe Shake it Off, even though it was released last year.

Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or Sadder?

I mean right this second my face totally hurts so I’m probably sadder, but over all… same?

Thinner or fatter?

Maybe thinner? Maybe the same.

Richer or poorer?

Probably about the same.

What do you wish you’d done more of?

Adventure!

What do you wish you’d done less of?

Worrying.

How will you be spending Christmas?

Christmas Eve with my family, Christmas Day with Darren’s. Hopefully D doesn’t have to work Christmas Eve.

Did you fall in love in 2015?

Yes, with California.

How many one-night stands?

I have one night stand. It holds many things.

What was your favorite TV program?

Law & Order: SVU. I caught up on several seasons and regret nothing.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

My teeth. I turned 30 and they were like HAHAHAHA FUCK YOU AND YOUR FLOSSING AND YOUR FLUORIDE MOUTHWASH WE DON’T GIVE A SHIT ENJOY SOME PROBLEMS

What was the best book you read?

The Doctor is In: Dr. Ruth on Love, Life, and Joie de Vivre

What was your greatest musical discovery?

Sufjan Stevens’ newest album. So good. So sad.

What did you want and get?

Maybe I should answer this after Christmas. Kyle got my name in the drawing and I know he’s getting me something off my list!

What did you want and not get?

A million dollars.

What were your favorite films of this year?

I seriously cannot remember the last time I went to a movie. Maybe we’ll go see Star Wars.

What did you do on your birthday?

I threw myself a party at home and it was the beeeessssst!

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2015?

Neutrals 4 lyfe.

What kept you sane?

Yoga. I confess I haven’t been to the studio in months though. Thanks, Lesley Fightmaster!

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

ADA Rafael Barba. In the non-SVU world you may know him as Raul Esparza.

What political issue stirred you the most?

WHAT DIDN’T OMG

Who did you miss?

The fam.

Who was the best new person you met?

Nephew Johnston! Literally a new person, and also the best.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015:

Listen to your dentist.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

I can sleep in ’til noon anytime I want
Though there’s not many days that I do