This is a Christmas present for a fellow blogger. I'm doing his "thing". Not that "thing" you nasty people! This "thing"... His answers are here.


- What region of the country most disgusts you now?
*Says in best Sarah Palin impression* The unpatriotic regions of the country, you know... like New York and California... *Rolls eyes*
Actually, none really. But it irks me that some people are unaffected and turn a blind eye to the whole global economic crisis thing.

- What single person or action changed your perception of a group or individual?
I'd have to say none on this too. My perceptions of people and groups are as spot on as I'd figured them to be before this year. Although I am more irritated with the restless youth than I was before thanks to some late night pranking.

- What moment confirmed your worst fears about the human race?
Probably the first time I'd heard or caught wind that there had been so much as death thoughts (in the same direction as death threats) on Obama's life because of the color of his skin and wild rampant rumors about his faith. It really reminds me how close minded the human race really is and makes me thankful that I'm not.

- What moment reaffirmed that tiny, hidden glimmer of optimism you pretend not to have?
What glimmer? Where?!? Why wasn't I notified?!? Where's my email??
I'm still waiting on this one folks.

- Name one thing you realized was an exercise in futility this year.
Doing anything. Not that I did much, mind you... but it was pointless to even do those things.

- Who let you down the most this year?
Me.

- If this were the year you were given a “do-over,” would you use it or exchange it for some other year?
Um... sure. I'd take it. So much of this year depended on not knowing what was going to happen next. Since I know now... I could at least be more prepared for it, ya know?

- Was there a book or film that affected you deeply this year? If so, what?
Not really deeply, but it made me see some things I maybe didn't see before. I wish I could elaborate on this... but I don't think that I will. Sorry folks.

- Did anything become an addiction for you this year?
*Maniacal laugh* Hm... Yes. I have a few new addictions this year Thank you very much. ;)

- What if anything about this year do you sincerely hope carries over into 2009?
Um... nothing. My debts can stay here, my lack of self confidence, um... my dirty house can all stay in 2008.

I've always held the belief that everything works out for the best. I'm really not sure why I started this positive blanket statement other than to get out of some teenage hormonal funk. Even in my 20's when we had baby-daddy-mama-drama, the phrase became my mantra. Then again while pregnant during my senior courses in nursing school... Oh, no wait... I was just ready to kill someone at that point.

But I still seem to think on some level it's still true. There must be some reason I've been a stay at home mom with a perfectly good, honorable, bachelor's degree. Right? But it's the nature of the degree that they have to test, poke and prod you to make sure you're prepared to work with the masses and hold their dear fragile lives in your hands. I have yet to take said test for my license. I've been waiting almost 2 months on a NUMBER from the official testing facility. I'm told this is the norm. Maybe there's a reason. Maybe I should have been studying, as I am understandably rusty.

The ironic thing, and perhaps maybe not so ironic, is the fact that we have declined taking the health insurance from Mikey's new job due to the fact that the premiums rival our rent. The sad part is, I doubt we could get coverage for less. I don't want this to turn into a rant about our health care system, I really don't. But we continue to get sick, and each time we pray we don't need a doctor. My parents recently begged me to take my son to his pediatrician, and said they'd foot the bill. He had huge tonsils, but no fever, and was acting like his normal perky self, albeit with a funny sounding voice. (You would too with boulders for tonsils.) Turns out it was nothing, as I suspected. We walked away without even a prescription. The swelling will go down someday and if they become really bothersome, we can decide to take them out. But still, in this case, things just happened to work out.

We did have a nice Thanksgiving. We were thankful that Mikey came home for most of the week. The unfortunate thing is, because Thanksgiving and Christmas fall so close, Mikey isn't due to come home again until December 24th, and won't be home for New Year's. At this point, we're thankful he has a job. Put that down as another tally mark in the "worked out" column.

However. I really have come to realize that things won't work out simply because I want them to, and I'm going to have to sacrifice certain things I haven't been willing to up until this point to start making things happen. What really stinks is that one thing happens to be my kids. Particularly in a time when they need at least one parent in their life and/or available at all times. I have a first grader who requests my contant attention when he's doing his homework, despite him being able to do it well without me. I have a kindergartener who has been flagged for a disability in the speech/language department but is still advanced academically for her age. And a very impressionable 2 year old.

At this point, I hope next year does work out for us and I'm sure that me taking even more of the reigns here at home will help. Maybe my new mantra should be: I am the destroyer of set-backs. Sorta has a Wonder Woman feel to it, doesn't it?