2006 The List

1) What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before? I found my backbone, I stood up to the Slug, I got sole custody of my girls, and I took control of my life. In the process I drove to Ohio with the kids to visit my dad.

2) Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don’t know if I made any resolutions last year. So, if I did, I don’t think I kept them. Oops!

3) Did anyone close to you give birth? Uh, no, not that I’m aware of.

4) Did anyone close to you die? Yeah, the sitter’s husband, and the supervisor of the body shop at the car dealership where I used to work.

5) What countries did you visit? Countries? Yeah, I can’t afford to pay attention, you think I’m a world traveler?

6) What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006? More $$, but really, I’m not sure, exactly. What I lacked in 06, I’m working towards getting right now.

7) What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? August 2, the day I met Batman, August 14th, the first time we said I love you,

8) What was your biggest achievement of the year? Getting custody of the girls.

9) What was your biggest failure? The relationship with my son, but I’m working on that so that it won’t be a complete failure.

10) Did you suffer illness or injury? Nope, pretty healthy,

11) What was the best thing you bought? My Nikon D70 from Mel. I love it, and next year (07) I hope to explore my photography even more, and hopefully do something with it…..

12) Whose behavior merited celebration? Mine! I have been through hell this year, especially the last have of the year, and I stood firm, I didn’t crumble, I didn’t break down. I found strength I didn’t know I had, and I have not only survived, I’ve triumphed.

13) Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? C1, and The Slug, oh, and the Heifer, and ExBIL

14) Where did most of your money go? Apparently out the freakin’ door, to other people. Hope they enjoyed it. I miss it.

15) What did you get really, really, really excited about? The way things started to fall into place for me.

16) What song will always remind you of 2006? I have a whole sound track for this year……

17) Compared to this time last year, are you
a) happier or sadder? Happier about some things, sadder about others
b) thinner or fatter? Truly, about the same.
c) richer or poorer? Uh, I’m not sure, probably pretty damn close

18) What do you wish you’d done more of? Explored my photography,

19) What do you wish you’d done less of? Worrying

20) How will you be spending Christmas? I spent Christmas Day with my kids, and on the phone several times with B, and family and friends. I will have Christmas with my mother/brother/sister and families on Friday

21) Did you fall in love in 2006? I most certainly did, I am still in love with him,

22) How many one-night stands? None.

23) What was your favorite TV program? NASCAR on the weekends, Cardinals Baseball when they played and How I met your mother and Two and a Half Men.

24) Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Uh, nope, still hate the same people, pretty much.

25) What was the best book you read? I’ve read so many books, I can’t tell you the best one, I don’t remember them all.

26) What was your greatest musical discovery? Puddle of Mudd, All American Rejects, and the best of the best, was Back to Basics.

27) What did you want and get? Sole custody of my girls and permission from the courts, and The Slug, to move this summer to start over, fresh. In essence, I got my life free from him. Finally.

28) What did you want and not get? I don’t know that I won’t get it, but as of today, I don’t officially have Batman back in my life.

29) What was your favorite film of this year? I’m not sure. Didn’t do that many movies this year, at least not that many I can remember.

30) What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? (how sad is it that I had to go back in the archives of my blog to see what I did for my birthday this year? Pretty damn uneventful) I turned 38 in July, and I went to a bar-b-que with a friend from my past.

31) What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? It’s turning out to be pretty damn satisfying the way it’s going to end.

32) How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006? Whatever works.

33) What kept you sane? My family, my blog, my journals, and at times, Batman. He was/is the calm in my storms, he’s home to me.

34) Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Uh, what? I don’t know….

35) What political issue stirred you the most? Because of the politics of my family, I try to stay out of it.

36) Who did you miss? I’m not sure.

37) Who was the best new person you met? All of Batman’s family. Princess loves so completely, with her entire heart. And feeling her little arms wrap around my neck heals my hurts, dries my tears, and makes me smile. Scooter is an amazing kid, who is smart as hell, courageous beyond words, really cool, and all around great guy. Mimi could have been/will be a dream of a MIL. She’s funny, she’s loving, she’s caring, she’s honest. She knows how much I love B, and she loves me and my kids. Mr. E (B’s dad) is a dream. I could talk to him for hours/days and never grow tired or be bored. He’s smart, and witty, and charming as hell. And the best damn cook I’ve ever met.

38) Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006. I learned that sometimes you have to let go of the wheel to end up right where you belong. That control is an illusion, and the more you try to control life, and those in it, the less likely it is you will get the results you want. I’ve also learned that the results you want may not always be the results you get or the results you deserve or the best possible results. I learned seeing isn’t always believing that what you see isn’t always what you get.
39) Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. Every long lost dream led me to where you are. Other’s who broke my heart, they were like northern stars. Pointing me on my way, into your loving arms. This much I know is true. God bless the broken road that lead me straight to you.