New Years Meme from Mommy Wants Vodka

I started a new post that was actually amusing me, but my fingers/brain aren't working well together (typing ph for f, ere for ear, etc.) so I decided my post can wait, and I might as well do this New Years Meme handed to us all on a silver platter by Mommy Wants Vodka. Happy New Year!

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
The 30-hour Famine – a fundraiser to feed the hungry while experiencing hunger.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I hate new year’s resolutions. I don’t do them. BUT this year I do resolve to organize my house.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not close to me…I think they usually do it in a hospital.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
A dear friend from church (while at her daughter's home), and I continue to see “her” out driving around all the time. Also the mother of a friend from Jr. High. Our families were tight back then but we’re now geographically apart.

5. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
A new job, please.

6. What countries did you visit?
In this economy? But you give me an idea that if I have no out-of-country travel to do, I will make it a point to visit Canada or Mexico each year. Just to say I did!

7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why:
2.22. I joined a clinical trial for a new weight-loss program that actually works! It’ll be available to the public in the spring.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Driving in Baltimore…through areas I did not know, without GPS assistance.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Saving money. Nope. All poured into the money pit that is my car.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
A few disgusting days out with a viral infection, and a wisdom-tooth extraction…which is actually a pretty good story!

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My nook. Now I am never caught without something to read!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I love that Aung San Suu Kyi has kept her cool all this time and is finally free. One strong chica!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The NFL players. I know I’m a nerd, but I also love NFL football. But you disappoint me guys! I’m boycotting this season because you’re a bunch of money-grubbing SOBs. In this economy, when so many people live paycheck to paycheck or on unemployment, you decide your millions aren’t enough? Shame on you.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Into my money pit of a car. (see also, no.9.)

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing my brother…just him and me at Mom and Dad’s. He lives with his family overseas, and I haven’t seen just him in FOREVER! Nothing like a big brother to keep you human!

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
I don’t know if it will “remind me of 2011”, but it sure helped in 2011: Laura Story’s “Blessings”

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? About the same. Optimistic about 2012, though!
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner.
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer. That’s what happens when you live paycheck to paycheck in an inflation-prone world.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Working on my thesis.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Vegging in front of the TV.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
Baking 42million cookies. Want some? I can bake some kickin’ cookies!

21. There was no #21. I don’t know why there was no 21.
I’ll make up my own question like everyone else.
What do you feel you missed out on in 2011?
I didn’t get to that concert of Star Wars as narrated by Anthony Daniels, although it was in a city near me.

22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
Ask me later. I recently met someone who appeals to me in that respect…but “on paper” seems wrong for me. I should know by the end of January.

23. How many one-night stands?
Don’t do that. Pulled out of the dating game 2 years ago because dating sucks. (I know that seems to conflict with no.22. What can I say? I can be nothing but myself.)

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Big Bang Theory, but I was becoming a TV-whore watching anything and everything. Canceling my Cable was the best thing I could have done!

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don’t hate anyone, but I have decided to loosen my ties to a couple friends who turned out to be less than friend-like.

26. What was the best book you read?
Got into a bunch of classics. Jane Eyre was probably the one I loved most. Thought I’d read it before but that must have been Wuthering Heights.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
No discoveries this year.

28. What did you want and get?
Freedom from Comcast!

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I watched so many movies this year. “The Help” is the easy answer, but I also was pleasantly surprised by Cowboys and Aliens. …and was The King’s Speech 2011 or 2010?

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I don’t do my birthday. I sent my mom a bouquet of roses on the day, because she did all the work. Months later a friend and I celebrated “our” birthdays by going to the symphony.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Seeing my younger brother and his family.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Not really fashionable at all, but I am in smaller-sized clothes!

34. What kept you sane?
Prayer ...and alcohol.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Don’t think I did…

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
I believe the one I wasted the most breath on was the politicians tweeting career-ending statements that would have been a non-issue had they merely been spoken under one’s breath. Seriously? They had to tweet that?

37. Who did you miss?
Grandma, who died near the end of 2010.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
I went to a Christopher Moore book-signing, does that count? No? I didn’t actually “meet” the new mid-management person, but got to know her better and find that we have much in common.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:
Don’t spend time with people who bring you down.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
“Blue canary in the outlet by the light-switch, who watches over you?” Doesn’t exactly “sum up” the year, but food for thought, no?
—————-
The rest of the meme says I should tag some people but, if you can read this, consider yourself tagged!

My New Blog Title

"Doesn’t Speak Klingon"
It’s true. I don’t. A guy I went to college with did, though. Well, I don’t know if he simply memorized the Klingon dictionary or if he learned all the grammar and idioms to be conversant in it, but really, who would he be conversing with? In Klingon?...I wonder what he’s up to now, and if he goes to Star Trek conventions and stuff…

Okay, so tangents will happen here. Frequently. I refuse to stop my wandering mind in this forum.
BUT, to the point…

I don’t speak Klingon, but I do speak Trekkie. I don’t claim to BE a Trekkie, you understand. I enjoy watching it when it’s on – Scotty and Bones are my favorite characters…especially in the latest movie that was made. (Karl Urban was a FANTASTIC Bones!) There was a whole group of us in college who would get together nightly for Star Trek: The Next Generation, and it was grand fun. But I’m no Star Trek purist. Much as I like Captain Kirk and the Enterprise and all that is The Original Series, I can’t quote the episodes, so I wasn’t offended by the [SPOILER ALERT!] little time-warp trick they used in the new movie to create a parallel universe. (although really: Spock and Uhura? Seriously? Come on.) I just like the concept. And the movies. Most of them.

So I speak Trekkie. …btw, I would embrace the title of Trekkie – I wasn’t trying to imply that being a Trekkie would be a bad thing – I just know that if I tried to call myself a Trekkie, genuine Trekkies who know their stuff would label me a wannabe. Which may be true.
Back to the point…

I also speak Star-Wars. Fluently. I am fanatical about Star Wars. I can quote it backwards, forwards and inside-out, including the background and the commentaries. If pressed, I guess I’d have to say, based on my greater knowledge of Star Wars Lore, that I’m a bigger fan of SW than of ST, but really, with SW there aren’t all the TV episodes to know, and fewer movies than ST. I enjoy them both, and refuse to take sides, although again, I know Star Wars to an impressive degree. ...Why do we not have a label? Trekkie is such a cool label, but what – “Warsie”? “Star-Warsian”? I AM one of those, but we have no name. Ah well.
To the point…again…

I don’t know why, but as I was considering starting a blog, and what I wanted it to be/have…besides an outlet for the raving lunacy of my very random but highly intelligent brain…one afternoon while out shopping it suddenly occurred to me that “Doesn’t Speak Klingon” is the PERFECT title for my blog! Here’s why:
1. It’s true. And I cannot lie. I don’t know if it’s a personality flaw or a superpower, but it is impossible for me to lie.
2. It’s gender neutral. For a while I thought I’d try to be completely neutral, although my gender will become obvious in no time. I just don’t want to classify myself by gender.
3. It immediately conveys my nerdiness. My nerdiness is sometimes a sticking point with people who don’t expect it. (read: men who try to date me.) I don’t look particularly “nerdy” but after knowing me for more than a day, you will see that I fly my freak flag high!
4. THEREFORE (see 3.) I may attract the more appropriate audience who will appreciate my bizarre ramblings. I’m not a mommy, although I enjoy a few so-called mommy-blogs. I’m not suburban, although I’ve been there and understand those blogs too. I’m not dedicated to posting about arts and crafts – or really any subject. However, my words will often bleed into the realm of subjects that the nerdy-set are likely to appreciate.
5. I’m pretty sure it’s an otherwise unused blog title. (It didn’t come up in any search-engine I tried.) Being unique is good.

So, welcome to “Doesn’t Speak Klingon”! I have no agenda and no precise point of view except that it’s my own point of view. Ask me anything; comment or don’t; there are no rules. I’m not inviting family, so I have no one to protect from whatever happens here.