Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010

As I was thinking about what to write for my last post in 2009, I stumbled on this meme from Lucullan Delights who found it on Bleeding Espresso and thought that it would be an interesting way to end the year.  Happy New Year and all the best for 2010!

What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? 
I wish I could say skiing but I didn't try anything new in 2009 or at least I can't remember if I did.

Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I kept some of them but most were, as usual left unresolved so this year, I'm only going to make a couple and try harder to keep them.

Did anyone close to you give birth? 
Not this year.

Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully no.

What countries did you visit?
U.S., England, France and Switzerland.

What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Patience.

What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? 
My daughter's first birthday in October.

What was your biggest achievement of the year? 
Being listed in Saveur's Best of the Web list

What was your biggest failure? 
Not being able to find a way to get us to Las Vegas in time for Christmas.

Did you suffer illness or injury? 
Thankfully no.

What was the best thing you bought? 
iMac.  Now, just waiting for my iPhone.

Whose behavior merited celebration? 
My children who have grown with leaps and bounds.

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? 
Someone who has treated my husband unfairly.

Where did most of your money go? 
Travel and trying new restaurants.

What did you get really, really, really excited about? 
Itineraires restaurant in Paris and having their fantastic prix-fixe menu.

What song will always remind you of 2009? 
The Black Eyed Peas "I Gotta Feeling"

Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer? 
happier, (hopefully) thinner and richer

What do you wish you’d done more of? 
More traveling.

What do you wish you’d done less of? 
Less worrying.

How did you spend Christmas? 
At home in Marbella since our plans to spend it in Las Vegas with my sisters and mom were foiled when we were refused boarding at London Gatwick for holding non-biometric passports.

What was your favorite TV program? 
Brothers and Sisters.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No one new.  Still the usual suspects.

What was the best book you read? 
Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Travelers Wife which I put off for so long because I thought it was far-fetched and Nancy Mitford's The Pursuit of Love.

What was your greatest musical discovery?
Does a rediscovery count?  It would have to be iTunes for downloading lots of 80's music to make a High School playlist.

What did you want and get? 
After searching for a long time, a pair of knee high boots that don't squash my calves.

What did you want and not get? 
The Goyard St. Louis.  I was going to buy them as Christmas presents and was all set to buy four until I asked if they would give me a discount and they refused.

What was your favorite film of this year? 
Slumdog Millionaire.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Spending Christmas with my mom and sisters in Las Vegas.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? 
Same as previous years - French preppy.  Lots of J.Crew, Antik Batik and Gerard Darel.

What kept you sane? 
Actually who, rather than what - A who is always there for me.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? 
No one that makes an impression.

What political issue stirred you the most? 
Politics depresses me.

Who did you miss? 
I miss my friend T who moved back home in October.

Who was the best new person you met ? 
Come to think of it, I didn't meet anyone new this year.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009. 
Sometimes, even with the most careful planning, things just don't work out as you imagined and that's life.