It’s The All & Sundry Annual Year-End Meme Thing!

What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?
Flew solo with a baby. And then, a few months later, I flew solo with a toddler! It was easier to keep her occupied when she was a baby, but I had to carry more stuff on the later flight. So it’s a toss-up.

Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t like to call them “resolutions” (too much pressure), and I can’t remember whether I made any goals last year. If I did, it was probably much like this year’s: Lose weight. In which case, no I did not keep it.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
Um … I don’t think so. (If you did and I’ve forgotten, I’m so sorry!!)

Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no.

What countries did you visit?
Ugh. Holland. It wasn’t fun, and I don’t want to talk about it.

What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
Less chaos would be nice.

What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
August 15 was Poppy’s first birthday!

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Coming home.

What was your biggest failure?
Agreeing to go over there in the first place.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
The whole family was leveled by a stomach virus in January. It brought about my first ride in an ambulance. I could’ve skipped that, thank you very much.

What was the best thing you bought?
Plane tickets from Amsterdam to Atlanta.

Where did most of your money go?
Oh gosh. Rent, most likely.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The new season of “Lost.” (Which was/has been pretty disappointing.)

What song will always remind you of 2006?
Really, I have a terrible memory. There’s no way I’ll remember what I was listening to this year.

Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? That last question? Where I said I can’t remember anything? I wasn’t kidding. I don’t remember how I was feeling this time last year.
b) thinner or fatter? About that same. I don’t need to remember that. I have photographic evidence.
c) richer or poorer? Roughly the same, I think.

What do you wish you’d done more of?
Exercising.

What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eating cake.

Did you fall in love in 2006?
Yes. (Cue the sappy, la-la-la music.) With Rockford, all over again. Cheesy but true.

What was your favorite TV program?
I wanted it to be “Lost,” but that didn’t pan out. “The Office” rarely fails to make me laugh.

What was the best book you read?
“Gilead.” “Peace Like a River.” “The Quiet American.”

What was your greatest musical discovery?
Cat Power

What did you want and get?
Contentment. Happiness. A home that feels like home.

What did you want and not get?
A digital SLR camera. Trust me, the what-I-wanted-and-got is so, so much better. I can handle not having the fancy-pants camera.

What was your favorite film of this year?
We didn’t see a lot of movies this year. I enjoyed “Stranger than Fiction” quite a bit.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I spent my birthday with my sister-in-law and her family. We had cake for breakfast, and then some of Chloe’s friends came over for dinner. We had tacos and soup and salad, and it was an all-around lovely day. I was, and remain, 28.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Do I have to answer this? OK, fine. Not moving to Holland. That would’ve helped tremendously. It would have alleviated so much stress.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Ha! Ha ha! My “personal fashion concept”? How ’bout: Things That Fit and Don’t Touch Me Too Much. Oh! And I added bling to my repertoire this year.

What kept you sane?
God’s grace.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Ack. Can I say none of the above? None of the above.

What political issue stirred you the most?
I’ve been too wrapped up in personal issues to get all that stirred over politics.

Who was the best new person you met?
I haven’t met many new people this year.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.
The events of 2006 have made me determined not to fold in the face of my dear, sweet husband’s ironclad stubborn streak.

. . . . . the end . . . . .