Here I am, once again inviting myself to a party. The New Girl was doing this New Year’s Meme and I couldn’t resist. If you are so inclined, consider yourself tagged…

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?

There are so many things it would take a series of blog posts to cover. The short list includes going through the process of choosing a new location for our family, moving to a new country, travelling across Canada and the United States for a total of over 6, 845km (4 253mi) with 2 young kids, living in by far the biggest city I’ve ever lived in and learning to navigate the city by car, bus, subway and on foot. All of these things were a stretch for me but I’m glad for the experience I’ve gained because of it.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions specifically. But if I did it would probably be something along the lines of learning to think more of others and less of myself when I talk. I tend to coast in conversations (partly due to my own insecurity) and let others ask me questions and I am trying to teach myself to spend more time communicating my interest in other people’s lives (not that I don’t feel it – but I’m just not great at showing it!).

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Last February seems like a long time ago but my friend JB had a baby. And my BFF who visited in October is pregnant with her first which is probably the most exciting news I’ve heard in YEARS!!! Hello! I can’t wait to be an auntie!

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No. But there were some close calls and unfortunately I fear that we may not make it through 2009 unscathed.

5. What countries did you visit?

Canada and the USA. Wish it was more exotic than that, but it’s just not.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

To not deal with bureaucracy of any kind. I know, I know, wishful thinking much?

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

June 30, July 4th, and…oh hell, pretty much the whole months of July and August were pretty memorable what with the cultural shell-shock and living in a big city with so much history for the first time. Despite the hassles, I have great memories of the summer.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Not completely losing my mind through the months of uncertainty of where we were moving and then again through the stress of packing, moving, travelling with small kids, living in one temporary place after another with little more than the clothes on our back and wading through one bureaucratic nightmare after another. I think that’s one effing big achievement and I’m not ashamed to pat myself on the back for it either!

9. What was your biggest failure?

Letting the stress get to me enough that I was not the greatest mom for many more moments than I care to admit in the past year.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Not unless you count mental. If you do, then there was illness a’plenty!

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Well not so much bought as rented, but this view is worth every penny we spend in rent each month:

Not the greatest picture because of the zoom, but we saw seals right out our windows on Christmas Day!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

The American people as a whole, for electing what I hope will be an amazing and historic president! Also? My houseplants.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

People with transit rage.

14. Where did most of your money go?

See #11.

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

See #11.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?

2008 will always be the year of Disney Princess songs in my mind. The kids went to bed to a compilation disc of Disney songs for several months and I can now recognize the strains of “A Whole New World” in a fraction of a second.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? Happier.

b) thinner or fatter? ‘Bout the same?

c) richer or poorer? Considering the hubby was an unemployed student at this time last year, I’m gonna have to go with richer.

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

Laughing.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Crying.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

Digging out from under MOUNTAINS of presents for the kids and the discarded wrapping paper, wrestling toys out of their packaging designed to withstand nuclear holocaust, cooking turkey dinner and (yay!) walking on the beach because it was mild and lovely!

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?

Against all odds, I was able to fall in love with the big city. Or at least certain aspects of it. The history, the lovely old architecture, the pleasure of walking amongst old buildings and knowing their connection to the past, and I even enjoyed living in the midst of it in the summer! Oh, and my husband and kids are pretty ok, too.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

House and How I Met Your Mother.

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

People on the phone at every level of government, the RMV, the Social Security Number Office, hospitals, health insurance, pharmacies, anything to do with medical supplies and school administration. And automated voice messaging systems for all of the above.

24. What was the best book you read?

Sigh…I hate to admit that I read (and enjoyed) all four books in the Twighlight series. Yes, I’m apparently 13 years old. I also really enjoyed Like Water For Chocolate and A Thousand Splendid Suns.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Kindermusik classes sometimes are all they’re cracked up to be – I was skeptical until I tried them out with Kieran this year. He loves it and I have not lost all dignity the way I thought I would.

26. What did you want and get?

My husband to be done school.

27. What did you want and not get?

To own our own home again, and to move back to Saskatoon.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

Nothing especially notable although I did enjoy Across the Universe much more than I expected .

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

An angel of mercy in the form of a brand new acquaintance through the hubby’s work offered to babysit so we could go out to dinner at The Cheesecake Factory (YUM) and to see Mamma Mia.  I turned 28. It was good as far as 28th birthdays go.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

I don’t know how to answer this. All the shallow stuff is, well, shallow! And all the non-shallow stuff…well you change one thing you change a lot of things and despite the difficulties, I’m happy with our choices and experiences in the last year. Perhaps telling the people mentioned in #23 to shove their bad attitude where the sun don’t shine would have made me very satisfied? Yes, I’m going to go with cursing at strangers on the phone for 200, Pat.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

Reduce (the amount of items in my closet), reuse (over the summer we had very limited clothing choices) and recycle (giving away what we no longer wear).

32. What kept you sane?

Is it hypocritical to say that my kids, the source of much of my INsanity, also help me maintain my sometimes tenuous hold on my sanity? And my husband. Also some truly wonderful friends from home who listen to my whining and encourage me to hang in there when things have been really difficult. You people are my anchor!

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

No question, Tina Fey. The whole Sarah Palin spoof was the start of a girl-crush that will likely last a lifetime.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

The Prop 8 issue in California and the realization that the USA is in the dark ages when it comes to the rights of their homosexual citizens.

35. Who did you miss?

Oh so many, many people! But particularly my family in Manitoba and Saskatchewan and all our friends in Saskatoon. I miss you all so very much!!!

36. Who was the best new person you met?

I’ve met so many new people in the last year but I haven’t had the chance to get really close to any of them yet. But Karly has become one of my favourite new blogger friends and y’all should go drop by her place.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

I don’t know if you could say I exactly learned the lesson, but it is this: CHILL.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

As much as I’ve had enough of this song, a lot of it does apply…

A whole new world
A new fantastic point of view
No one to tell us no
Or where to go
Or say we’re only dreaming

A whole new world
A dazzling place I never knew
But when I’m way up here
It’s crystal clear
That now I’m in a whole new world with you

Now I’m in a whole new world with you

Unbelievable sights
Indescribable feeling
Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling
Through an endless diamond sky

A whole new world
Don’t you dare close your eyes
A hundred thousand things to see
Hold your breath – it gets better

I’m like a shooting star
I’ve come so far
I can’t go back to where I used to be

A whole new world
Every turn a surprise
With new horizons to pursue

Every moment red-letter
I’ll chase them anywhere
There’s time to spare
Let me share this whole new world with you

A whole new world
That’s where we’ll be
A thrilling chase
A wondrous place
For you and me