2006 in review...via a meme of course!

Knowing how fond I am of memes and all, you should not be at all surprised that I am choosing to start 2007 with one. I found this one at And then there were two!, a blog I have recently started reading. I can't not read a blog where the son is called Liam, which just happens to be my favourite boys name for the last 19 years.

**EDIT ALERT** I really should re read beforeI publish. I missed an entire question and since I cut and paste from the other site it remained as someone else's answer. So for number 37 I did not go to a wedding.

1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?

I can't think of anything. I'm sure most things I did I had already done.

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

My New Years resolution was the same ol, same ol...lose weight. I didn't realize (or was in denial) that I was already pregnant so that sort of screwed that. I lost for a while after Sophie was born, but the month of December always messes me up and I'm pretty sure I put on at least 5 lbs. I'm scared to weigh myself though. What else? I planned on being more organized. Yeah, not so much. I hoped not to yell at my kids. Didn't work.

All my resolutions are the same again. Broken 2 already...I am eating the leftover chocolate and whatnot when I know I should just throw it away. I screamed bloody murder at Taylor and Liam tonight because they just would not. shut. up. and I was losing my mind. Ah well, there's always tomorrow. I did go apologize.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Well, there's the lovely but tempermental Sophie delivered by none other than yours truly. Two of my friend's had babies, Jen had Bennett in May and Sue had Carter in December. William's step daughter had a girl in September. Oh, and my ex sister in law, who I used to be close to, had a girl in November. I sent a gift and can you believe she didn't even call and say thanks?

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Not this year, thankfully.

5. What countries did you visit?

Countries? Feck sakes, I don't think I even left the city limits. That's a lie, I went to Devon. Obviously not the English Devon.

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?

My sanity?

7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

January 19- the day I discovered I was pregnant.
January 23- the day we found out William's visitor extension had been turned down and he had to leave. Also, the day the Liberals lost their minority government. I didn't think the Conservatives would last this long. Damnation.
February 3- the day William and Saoirse went to Australia.
April 30- the day they came home.
August 6- the arrival of Sophie.

There are others but those are the biggies.


8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

The fact that Taylor and Liam have not yet been tortured by my hands. I was close some days. A happy, healthy Saoirse. Sophie. Even though, once again, my body was a failure when it came to going into labour and delivering a child I certainly had no problems getting pregnant (in 2006 technically) and I am thrilled to have her.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I think it was not going with my gut instincts and insisting on waiting that extra week to see if Sophie would arrive. I also regret the c-section. I will always wonder if she would have eventually arrived naturally, be it through induction or not.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

If I had a proper doctor (not the Irish quack) then I am quite sure I would have been sent for a chest xray to see why I have a persistent smokers cough, even though I have never smoked in my life. Other than that, it would just pregnancy related sciatica and other stuff. I'd have to go to the other blog to see what I whinged and whined about and I know there was plenty! It's amazing how quickly you forget.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My leather sofa that still has not arrived. My Dixie Chicks concert ticket. All my Stampin' Up stuff. Every Christmas present that was given. I just love shopping.
The days I hit Old Navy when all the clearance was 50% off. The 8 shirts I bought for a baby shower for $12. A friggin deal. Even better was the day I sent William in with a receipt to see if they would price adjust two items and one full price shirt had gone to $3.99. I loooove sales.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Ummm...not mine. Not William's. Not Taylor's. Nor Liam's. Not any of us for laughing at Saoirse's naughty behaviour even though it really is adorable. She's going to be a wee devil that one.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Well, that 8 week fight with William was pretty fucking depressing. He mentioned it tonight, that he needs to calm down, to not get so worked up about things. Here's hoping. I suppose I could just ask my brother to keep him in a steady supply. Hardly ideal though. My behaviour in regards to Taylor especially is pretty appalling. Counselling required? Most definitely.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Towards my desire for things I don't really need.

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

I don't think I got very excited about anything other than Saoirse and William arriving home. I can admit I was not really, really, really excited about being pregnant. It was terrible timing, just awful. I was excited to have her of course, I love the child like mad. I wouldn't give her up.

16. What song will always remind you of 2006?

Every James Blunt song, because that was my most listened to CD. Hehe. I'm almost embarrassed to admit to my love of James Blunt. Biggest regret of 2006? Not going to his concert, which I hear was fabulous.

"Lullaby" by Dixie Chicks. It's my song for Sophie and she is the only one who likes to hear me sing. I love the way she stares so intently at me. I'm sure one day she too will tell me to stop that terrible singing.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier I think. Hard to say...I was always seem to be in a state of turmoil. But right now, things are pretty good.
b) thinner or fatter? Well, my jeans are still a bit loose. That may not last if I am not careful. I tend to start gaining at about this point after having given birth.
c) richer or poorer? Richer. For a poor person lol. Though this will all change once William is a permanent resident and can work. I will be claiming our relationship (which I can't wait to do!) and that will drastically lower my Child Tax benefit. I'm not purposely scamming the system, just so you know, but when I had Saoirse I called that agency and explained the situation and the girl I talked to told me just to leave him off because he isn't here legally and has no income to claim. So I did. Sorry all you Canadians whose tax dollars are going to me. But if you have to be a "single" parent, this is the country to do it in. At least in North America. In Australia, you can get paid to stay home until your kids are 16!! Even I think that's crazy.

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

Spending one on one time with each of the kids, especially Taylor. I wish William and I had had more time together. It's definitely a strain on your relationship when there's a baby- or two- sleeping in between you. Reading. God, I miss reading.

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

Yelling. Eating crap.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

It's over and done with. We spent the morning at home, then went to my mum's as per usual. Since she had visitors this year (my aunt and cousin from Vancouver and my aunt's friend from Weston-super-Mare) there was no room for us to stay the night like we normally do. We were all home by 10, with the exception of Taylor who stayed over and was up until 4am.

21. Did you fall in love in 2006?

With my Sophie-ba-dophie. Yep that's what I call her. Silly I know. On Christmas Eve, I even had a chance to fall for William again. It was a shitty few weeks, but I really do love the guy. Christmas Eve reminded me why.

22. How many one-night stands?

Not a one. Happily. There was one very bad year in my past where the answer would have been atrocious.

23. What was your favorite TV program?

Oh my God. What wasn't my favourite? Let's see... Cold Case, Desperate Housewives,
Justice (where or where are you Justice?), the Nine (again WTF happened to this show?) Ugly Betty (LOVE IT!), Grey's Anatomy. Oh, there's so many. Amazing Race. Survivor. CSI. I should have put down that I watched too much TV this year.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

No. I spent some time pretty angry with some people, but I'm not a grudge holder.

25. What was the best book you read?

Although I said I didn't read enough I still read a lot. It just wasn't 3 or 4 books a week like it used to be. I can't think of just one book.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I'm no talent scout. Nothing. Though I managed to avoid listening to a full Justin Timberlake or Black Eyed Peas song and that scores highly in my books.

27. What did you want and get?

I didn't know I wanted Sophie but I was happy to get her. I got my 4 bedroom house, which also makes me happy.

28. What did you want and not get?

I did not get my scrapbooking room which makes me very sad.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?

Film? In a theatre like? I think I saw Pink Panther and Cars. Of the two, Cars. In rental world I really liked You, Me and Depree. Though I spent the whole movie saying I wished I was that skinny.

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

God, it was only just over 2 weeks ago and I can't remember. Went to my mum's for lunch. Got my portable photo printer. Can't remember what we did in the evening. Probably watched Cops or something equally exciting. I was 33, which may explain why nothing too fun happened.

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

Knowing that William was allowed to stay. That would have taken away a lot of stress. Having his court case dealt with. That would have been satisfying for him, which would have pleased me. Knowing that the man who abused him is still walking free kills him.

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

Jeans and a long sleeved tshirt. That's me. Very dull.

33. What kept you sane?

I'm pretty sure I wished for sanity in 2007.

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

Fancy? Is this English? I fancy Neil Patrick Harris, even if he is gay. I fancy Gerard Kennedy as far as politicians go. I sorta fancy Scott McKay but the fact that he is a Conservative is a huge drawback. I've just watched Freaks and Geeks and Seth Rogan is kind of cute. I like chubby.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?

I'm pro gay marriage so having Conservatives in power was a big concern, thankfully it appears they are leaving it as is. It was a big year here... a new Liberal leader and a new premier in Alberta. Not thrilled with him, but he's gotta be a thousand times better than Ralph Klein and way better than one of his opponents. Would not have liked Ted Morton at all.

36. Who did you miss?

Saoirse and William during the 3 months they were away. Painfully. I miss my family in England and the friends that seem to be disappearing now that I have two babies instead of one. Maybe it's just me.

37. Who was the best new person you met?

This year I met two people who stand out...William's niece Vicki who came back from Australia with him and stayed for a month and my neighbour Tanya who moved into my old house. She's so freaking nice it is scary. There are a few other new people in the neighbourhood who are great for the amount of gossip they can provide the gossipy people like me with. Nothing exciting like illicit affairs mind, just tales of how very dense they are.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.

I learned to love the unexpected.

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

How long do you want to be loved? Is forever enough? Cause I'm never, never giving you up.

That's what I sing to Sophie every day. And I include Saoirse, Taylor and Liam in the sentiment. William too, we made it through a totally shitty time, I don't want to give him up. Ah, corny.