1. What was the best thing that happened to you personally in 2008?
Personally? I’m thrilled to still have a job. I’m ecstatic to be healthy. I guess on a personal tip – finding out that my wonky thyroid was the root of all evil was good to know – it definitely cleared things up and I feel a LOT better now.

2. What was the worst thing that happened to you personally in 2008?
I lost a good friend this year and that was really difficult.

3. What was the best thing to happen to all of us in 2008?
I’m pretty pleased with the outcome of the election. I’m anxious to see what the next four years bring us.

4. What was the worst thing to happen to all of us in 2008?
This crappy economy. Paying $4 a gallon for gas? INSANE. People losing jobs, losing houses, losing their retirement savings? That sucks.

5. What was the best gift you receive during the ’08 holidays?
My daughters both made ornaments for me at school. I love those (because I’m a big sap). I also love the video camera so that I can starting making vids and sending them to my dad. Again, because I’m a sap.

6. What was the best gift (most appropriate or best received) you gave during the ’08 holidays?
My mom and her hubby told people “no gifts” – but we gifted them anyway. They had said it because my sibs are kind of struggling financially and they didn’t want anyone to feel obligated. But honestly, they do SO MUCH for us that we didn’t want to not give them anything. It was low key stuff – gift certificates to a bunch of different places, but they were surprised and happy. That felt good.

7. Do you have any regrets about what you did in 2008?
I don’t believe in regrets.

8. Do you have any regrets about what you didn’t do in 2008?
Nope. I don’t believe in them. If I didn’t do it, I’ll toss it on my 101 list and do it in the next 1001 days.

9. Did you meet anyone that became important to you in 2008?
Absolutely. I have made some great friends this year. A big ol *mwah* to them. They’re awesome.

1. Does the holiday season stress you out? If yes, how do you cope?
I can be pretty high strung at times, but I don’t really see that as related to the holidays. I start shopping early which eliminates most of that panic closer to Christmas.

2. Are you ever so busy in December that you have to force yourself to chill?
There are moments, but I think I’m like that year-round.

3. Do you sleep well at this time of year?
I sleep about the same as I do any other time of year.

4. Have you ever taken a sleigh ride? If yes, tell us about it.
No, I haven’t. Oooh, that may be something for my 101/1001 list!

5. Do you live close to the parts of your family you spend the holidays with?
Actually, all of my mom’s family is nearby, and so we all get together Christmas day. It’s a HUGE gathering at my mom’s house. It’s pretty insane – over 30 people.

6. What will you have for Christmas dinner?
I hate Christmas dinner. In our family, Christmas dinner is ham (which I don’t love) and kielbasa (my grandfather is Polish – no Polish jokes please!). Generally, I find a dinner of mashed potatoes is more than enough to make me happy, but usually, I’ll make some chicken or something.

7. Do you diet after the holidays?
No more than any other time of year. Generally, my eating habits are pretty decent. Once I am not on my holiday baking binge, it sort of evens itself out. Somewhat.

8. What’s the best part of the season for you?
I love how excited my kids are right now. It’s really awesome how thrilled they are about the holidays.

9. How many generations of your family get together during the holidays?
Four. Aren’t we lucky?

*Real posts to occupy this space at some point in the near future. Maybe later today. Maybe not*

1. What was the last pill you took?
Does my Vitamin C count?

2. What time of day do you usually feel most energized?
Shortly after tucking the kids in for naps or bedtime. Sad, but true.

3. Who was the last person you hugged?
Pumpkin, shortly after she had a hissy fit about me moving the Kleenex box to a higher shelf.

4. If you had a restaurant serve you the perfect breakfast, what would it be?
Honestly, if I’m not cooking it myself, it could just be toast and I’m good. But I love waffles. So waffles, some fruit maybe, and a cappuccino.

5. What did you do on Thursday?
I did the family thing. ALL DAY. And I survived, so… yay me!

6. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
Oh man. Just one thing. There’s several – but the blog-safe answer for this is my location. I would love to NOT be in Michigan anymore.

7. What is your favorite TV Commercial at the moment?
I have no idea – I don’t pay attention to them. I’m loving the new Pepsi commercials they are showing before movies now, where everyone is falling asleep and then end up all peppy doing that weird SNL/Night at the Roxbury head thing. But I’m a dork, so…

8. Who would you be surprised to wake up and find in your bed?
Damn near anyone other than the people who live in my house.

9. Who is your favorite 80s band?
Oh, I can’t pick just one. There was a lot of good stuff happening in the 80s. A lot that wasn’t so good. But when I think of what I loved most, I think of a lot of one – hit wonder type groups.

1. What did you dream about last night?
I actually remember my dreams – or bits and pieces of them. Hard to explain though. They’ll make sense to certain people.

2. Do you often have nightmares?
Very rarely. I had a weird dream the other night that I was climbing a ladder into an airplane. Just kept climbing and climbing. I couldn’t get there. I don’t know why it freaked me out like it did… but… it did.

3. Do you have any special talents?
No. Probably not.

4. Who is the most talent person that you know?
Actually, lots of people are talented for many different reasons. My best friend is crazy talented with crafty stuff (where I suck), I have friends who sing beautifully, friends who take amazing pictures. I have friends who are amazingly logical thinkers and can work intense-problem solving magic. My dad’s an awesome musician. I’ve kind of purposefully surrounded myself with amazing people.

5. What did you watch on TV last?
Blue’s Clues with my girls.

6. Is there a new TV show that you would recommend?
Nothing I can think of offhand that’s new.

7. Who was the last person you phoned and why?
I have no idea. I tend to not make a whole lot of phone calls because my house is cell phone black hole hell.

8. Who was the last person who phoned you and why?
A friend of mine who was not at the movie last night called to say, “I’m not there.” It cracked me up.

9. What was the last snail mail letter that you received?
Pout. I have NO idea. But that reminds me, I have to write one for the person whose name I drew for Envisage 365. Some of us are exchanging letters for Christmas. The real kind. That’s awesome.