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| My mother's cat, Dexter. |
Wow. 2024 is gone. Whoosh! Just like that. It's been a very light year for us. We've only worked for five months - January to May - because Ed tore his ACL in the first week of June. So we've been home since then, Ed doing PT, me doing whatever else.
Here we go....
1. What did you do in 2024 that you’d never done before?
Well, we finally went on that cruise to Alaska, which we'd been talking about for years. And it was a blast! We met so many people on this group that we actually hung out with. We had meals a few times with one group we met but mostly, every evening from ten to midnight, we gathered in the mid-ship lounge and did karaoke. So. Much. Fun!
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| Cruising through Glacier Bay |
We visited Graceland and actually went to tour the house this time. Pretty interesting.Took a spin around the track at Talladega.
Went to a Gladys Knight concert. In Shipshewana, Indiana of all places!
Viewed a solar eclipse in the path of totality.
And...
2. Did you keep your New Year’s Resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't technically make any resolutions, but the standby "diet and exercise" one actually worked its way into our lives this year. Because we were home with Ed's torn ACL and he had to do rehab, we decided to do a plant-based diet. And it worked. We both lost weight and our "numbers" look great!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
Just Canada this year.
6. What would you like to have in 2025 that you lacked in 2024?
More travel!
7. What dates from 2024 will remain etched in your memory, and why?
June 4th, when Ed tore his ACL, and November 15th when I was told that a family member had cancer.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Losing 42 pounds.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not losing 50 pounds. LOL
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had a little flu-like episode after we got back from our cruise. There were lots of people and tons of germs. I must have touched a contaminated surface.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I have a new tote bag (I know, exciting) and a gold chain for some tiny pendants I haven't been wearing because I didn't have the right size chain for them.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Mine, because I stuck to this food program and made incredible progress. I made delicious vegetable-based meals, creative salad dressings, sweet desserts, and even a burger and fries!
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Oddly, I can't think of a thing.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Grocery shopping and Amazon. Being home for seven months, on a plant-based diet, had me buying a LOT of produce. And because we were home to receive packages, I bought a lot more on Amazon than I would have if I were on the road in the truck.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Our Alaska cruise since we've never been on one. We wound up having a great time and made a few friends which truly enhanced the entire trip. And my cousin's wedding in Philadelphia. My cousin and I connected through a family tree program and had been corresponding for a couple of years. We met once in person and the second time was going t be at the wedding. I was the ONLY person from her father's side of the family (my grandfather and her grandmother are siblings) to represent the family and she was thrilled. The wedding was one of the MOST amazing I've ever been to and I was excited about it from the minute I heard where they were holding it. What a great time it was!
16. What song will always remind you of 2024?
Probably "Good Luck, Babe!" by Chappel Roan. Even though I recently told someone I didn't know any songs by this chick, I realize I've been hearing and singing this song for most of the year. Only now, looking it up for this post, did I know it was by her. Seems I'm officially old.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer?
A little sadder, 42 pounds thinner, and about the same financially.
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| A meal from Charrovida, a local plant-based restaurant. |
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Read. But now that I have a new iPad with access to magazines and news sites that you'd normally have to pay for individually, I see more reading in my future. And I can't even believe I'm going to say this, but I wish I did a smidge more exercise.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Dishes. Holy shit, I do a lot of dishes. And when I have company, the amount of dishes grows to a jaw-dropping amount. Pot scrubbing is the worst. Anyone can feel free to take that task away from me.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
With friends and family. My brother, his wife, and two of his three boys, my mother, Ed's father, my brother's in-laws, and my friends Marlaina and MacG. And Ed decorated our yard, turning it into a little wonderland of lights. Because I didn't get my shit together to send Christmas cards out, I turned the photo of the yard into a digital card. It's beautiful.
21. Did you fall in love in 2024?
Kinda. With hummus and this salad dressing, which I add tahini to.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Being home with Ed's torn ACL, we watched a lot of TV. Not that TV watching for us is unusual, we just did more than normal. During the day we never "watch" TV, we usually just have it on in the background. And what we typically watch are walking tours in foreign countries on YouTube. These three are my favorite YouTub channels: Still Wanderer, ProWalk Tours, and HP Walking Tours. My other absolute favorite channel to watch is Milan On Trend. I'm convinced that no one has a better style than the Italians.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No.
24. What was the best book you read?
I have not completed any books this year but I've started a few. One that I've loved has been Barbra Streisand's memoir, My Name Is Barbra. She reads it herself and listening feels like you're sitting at her kitchen table having her tell you the story of her life. It's personable. Funny. Interesting. Real. And having been a lifelong fan, it's special to me. I'll get back to it in the new year when we get back on the road.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Jazz singer, Stacey Kent. I love jazz and many female jazz vocalists. One of the reasons I like this one is because she does a lot of Bossa Nova. And I love Bossa Nova.
26. What did you want and get?
I have been toying with the idea of buying a new iPad for quite some time but keep talking myself out of it - "Do I really need a new iPad?" Well, toy no more. Ed bought me an iPad Air for Christmas! And I LOVE it!
27. What did you want and not get?
A trip to New York to do genealogy research. I need at least a week to go to a few places in person to research what I'm interested in. Maybe I'll be able to squeeze it in next year.
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| A totem pole along the Totem Trail in Sitka, Alaska |
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
We really liked My Old Ass. Don't let the title put you off, it's funny and charming. I also enjoyed Música. It was a very creative love story. And, The Idea of You. Yes, I'm a lover of cheesy movies.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 57 this year. I didn't do anything exciting - ran errands and went to lunch with Ed.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Having a regular cleaning lady. I have one come in once in a while when I really don't feel like doing the house, but I would have loved to have taken advantage of having someone here on a regular basis just to do the stuff I don't like to do. Next time we are home for an extended period of time, I'm doing it.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2024?
Dresses. Leggings with tunics. And Tabi socks. I wear flip-flops year-round, especially in the house, but lately, my toes have been cold. I tried to wear regular socks and squish the thong part of the flip-flop into my sock, but that's annoying because the little indentation doesn't stay there once you pull your foot out of the sock. Then I found these. They're fun colors, work just as I wanted them to, and I bought a pair for everyone at Christmas.
32. What kept you sane?
I don't really have a history of being insane or feeling insane, so I don't really have to "right" myself to the sane lane. But, if we're talking about what you do to just chill, then my iPhone keeps me there. I can listen to music, or a podcast, research something, text someone, read emails, or scroll through Instagram or Pinterest. It's a chill activity and it's something I enjoy. And frankly, couldn't live without it.
City Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Barbra Streisand. I've loved Barbra my entire life. I've been listening to her music for as long as I can remember and I've been singing her songs since I was a child. I even performed in front of a senior crowd at my grandparents' vacation spot. I think I was seven at the time.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
I'm still going with the demonization of immigrants. I live in a border state, in a town that's almost 43% Hispanic or Latino, and have never had a problem with these people ever. NEVER. EVER. The ones I have worked with, socialized with, have done business with, or have had any kind of interaction with have always proven the same thing - they are hardworking, family-oriented, kind people who are just doing their jobs and living their lives like everyone else.
This was an election year and Donald Trump, people like him, his supporters, and the right-wing media continue to relentlessly stir up fear and hate towards the Hispanic and Latino population. They cause this community of people harm. One of the reasons I know this is a predominately racist issue is because no one seems to be screaming for a wall on the Canadian-US border.
35. Who did you miss?
My grandparents. I've been doing a lot of family tree research the last few years and I've come across many items that I know could have been explained by my maternal grandmother. Names, dates, connections. She was really good at that, had a great memory, and because my maternal grandfather was an amateur photographer, we have albums full of photos that I could use a little explanation of.
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| My maternal great-great-grandparents |
36. Who was the best new person you met?
Tami and Justin and their three kids. This family lives in our neighborhood just one street over but they tore their house down to rebuild and during the build time, they rented the house next door to us. After renting for a few months they decided to buy it. I don't know their plans for this house once the new one is completely built, but we've had the pleasure of their company while they've been here. They are an absolutely lovely family. The kids are polite and charming, and I feel we've made new friends for life. Can't wait to see their new house once it's complete!
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2024.
Things often don't go as planned. I'm a planner. I like knowing what I'm doing, where I'm going, what I need to pack, and what time I need to be somewhere. I make lists. I prepare. But, that doesn't always work. When Ed tore his ACL, that changed the whole year for us. We had to suspend our vacation plan for Europe, we had to fit three days of physical therapy into our life, and I had to adjust to a new way of eating when we started the plant-based diet which meant WAY more prepping and cooking than I usually do which meant more work for me. Good thing I'm flexible though, because I just shifted gears and got shit done. Yay, me!
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"I belong with you, you belong with me. You're my sweetheart." From the song, "Ho Hey" by The Lumineers.
It's been Ed and me all year long. And it's us two going forward. I belong with you, you belong with me. You're my sweetheart.
And my slogan for the New Year...
As the sun sets on 2024, I wish you a very happy, very healthy, and very prosperous 2025!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2023; Adéu, 2023. Bon Dia, 2024!
2022: Ending The Year Intentionally Unemployed
2021: Christmas All Day And All Night
2020: Contained
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: The Most Exclusive Rooftop
2017: Cell Block 8
2016: The Price Of American Made
2015: Sunset In The Brick City
2014: The King Of Light
2013: The End Of WiFi???
2012: Through A Canopy Of Oaks
2011: Clap Your Hands
2010: Wishing For A Blizzard But Will Settle For Flakes
2009: A Hideous Thief Exposed
2008: Southwest Sunset
2007: Subtlety Is SO Not His Middle Name
2006: Bridging Chicago
2005: Oxymoronic Holiday
