B’s year in review.
Dec 30th, 2007 by B.
- Wow, did we travel a lot, and all with two kids in tow.
- After swearing I’d never get caught up in the whole texting craze I’m now completely addicted and believe it can (and should) replace talking altogether.
- Season 2 of Dexter suffered a serious sophomore slump. Bummer.
- On the other hand, season 3 of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia was brilliant… unlike me it continues to improve with age.
- Sydney’s Asthma has forced me to learn & care about things like clean air and global warming. I’m Al Gore without the prestige.
- I learned first-hand that socialized medicine is unbelievably cool.
- My hair started turning grey… I blame Robyn.
- I spent way too much time watching tv and not nearly enough reading.
- That said I still managed to read over 30 books this year.
- Mentally & emotionally speaking, 2007 has seen me at both my strongest and weakest points ever.
- I’ve become so disgusted with American politics that I can’t even muster enough outrage to bitch about it anymore.
- I embraced my German keyboard/laptop… which turned out to be fairly easy even though I made a huge deal of it.
- I discovered how sexist German culture can be. As a woman you’re often treated like a second-class citizen.
- I decided that watermelon & butter popcorn Jelly Belly jelly beans were my new religion.
- I realized I’m not as tough as I claim to be.
- But I’m also not as fragile as I feared.
- According to my iTunes stats I listened to Bob Dylan more than any other artist this year - by a huge margin. I’m not surprised.
- “I love you, Peter Nincompoop” became (and remains) my favorite new phrase.
- I managed to accomplish most of the goals I set for 2007. I’m pretty proud of that fact.
- I did a lot of things that were outside my comfort zone. Some I’m better for having faced down, others still traumatize me.
- We took 5,763 photos in 2007 - that’s an average of almost 16 per day.
- I realized being friendly is hard work. I’m not always convinced it’s worth it.
- Over the past year I’ve laughed more than I’ve cried, which (as Jack Nicholson said in Mars Attacks) ain’t half bad.
- Finally, I’ve read blogs that have inspired me, shamed me, challenged me, entertained me, scared me, educated me, helped me to feel not so alone, and… best of all… set the bar just a little higher. Thanks to all of you for sharing just a little bit of your life with me… I really am grateful.
On this day..
- Magically delicious! - 2006
- On Saddam's hanging- - 2006
Wow, moreso than in other countries? I wonder if German women share that perception with you, or whether it has something to do with your Ausländer status as well.
Oh, I get that. I sacrifice Juicy Pear and Dr. Pepper (oddly with the fabled period on the website) most piously whenever I get the chance.
B-
I for one, found the courage to GET ON THE PLANE thanks to your blog and some others…as only one ex-pat can share to another, the blogs I read prior to getting here, made me feel like I had cyber friends waiting. A little stalkerazzi, perhaps-but-in the long run made my getting to Germany that much easier.
Happy New Year wishes from Heidelberg!
Good for you, I set no goals nor did I make any resolutions. I’m glad you find Germany socialized medicine good, I also heard that. Ours here in Canada is unfortunately not so good. I think because in Germany you have both private and socialized. I asked my German girlfriend about the sexist thing, she didn’t seem to think it was true. On the other hand, she is a top exec at some top company so maybe she is insulated from that. I’m glad you laughed that is a good thing…Happy New Year:)
Thanks for you, B. I’ve been reading your blog now for quite a while and have lived vicariously through your stories and pictures. There’s no one who enjoys the thrill of new things more than me, and I’ve wished so many times that I could be in your shoes and see all those great places you write about. Living in Vegas has dampened my sense of adventure and excitement, as strange as that might sound. I find this place totally boring after living in Tokyo.
There have been times when you’ve stretched my mind (and maybe bent it a little), times when I’ve felt your frustration, and times when I’ve learned something wonderful about places I’ve never been to.
From what you’ve written before, I think our paths may have crossed a few times in the U.S. as I’ve lived from New Jersey to California, and Seattle to Tucson.
Anyway, I wish you and yours a 2008 filled with many more adventures!
AT