I’m late with this, but here it is. Thanks, Michelle at Bleeding Espresso.com, for the reminder!

So, astute reader, if you’re in the mood, why don’t you do it, too? You can email me your responses privately OR if you’ve blogged it, I’ll link to your entry on my blog.
Here goes:

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
 I gave a creative writing workshop for a big company and it was way too much fun.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and did you make more for 2010?
 I don’t make resolutions on the new year, but I do try to be a better person every day. (Some days it’s a bigger challenge than others.)

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
 A friend’s darling daughter had a darling little girl. The baby’s in the hospital now, and needs your prayers.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
 Our beautiful chow, Puddin’, crossed the rainbow bridge this week.

5. What countries did you visit?
 Only Italy. But stateside, also Charleston, Savannah, Silicon Valley, Miami, San Francisco, the Monterey Peninsula and yes I’m cheating because I kind of live in that part of California, too, so it’s not really a “visit”.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
 Sold real estate. A book agent. A manuscript and proposal.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
 July 15, the day M. and I remarried. And the day he arrived in Tampa after we hadn’t seen one another for 27 years.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
 Quitting a job I’d been done with for years at a company whose management I’d ceased to respect.

9. What was your biggest failure?
 Not doing it sooner. Staying too long is always a mistake. And failure to sell the Pacific Grove place.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
 Small things and I hope it stays that way. Besides the hearing issue, but then that’s minor in the scheme of things. I’m grateful. Neurotic, but grateful.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
 I can’t think of a thing I bought that merits the term ‘best’. Maybe the Kindle. Love not carting all those books I bring on every trip.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
 My husband’s.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Strong words, not sure they apply. But a few people’s behavior was sad. They know who they are. Oh: Sarah Palin appalls me. Dick Cheney, too. Shrub. You know, the conservative cabal.

14. Where did most of your money go?
 Mortgages on my two houses and travel.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
 My husband and getting remarried. Quitting my job. Teaching. The workshop. Writing. Reconnecting with old friends. Being with existing friends. And every day, Riley.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
 Jump, Jive and Wail.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
 a) happier or sadder? 
b) thinner or fatter? 
c) richer or poorer?
 I’m always happy. As for the rest, well, a lady never tells.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
 Exercise.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
 Indulging.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
 With my fabulous husband and pets.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
 I did. All over again.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
 We watch them all on Netflix. Grey’s Anatomy, hands down. Army Wives, The Closer stand out.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
 I don’t hate. It’s a waste of energy.

24. What was the best book you read?
 No single book. I read a lot of memoir and a lot of it’s good.As for most entertaining, I have to admit that Kathy Griffin’s memoir was way better than I’d expected.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
 Swing music.

26. What did you want and get?
 My husband.

27. What did you want and not get?
 I always get what I want. (quoting my husband, now.) But the sale of the PG condo is something that eluded me.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
 Films today are a vast wasteland. I did, however, see a very sweet and charming romantic comedy on Netflix the other night, called Serendipity. Cute, cute, cute.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
 Dinner with friends and I’m old enough to not to want to tell.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
 A household staff.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? This is a joke, right?

32. What kept you sane?
 Genetics, really. But also Riley. My friends. My husband.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
 I don’t “fancy” any celebs. But Hugh Jackman is a multi-talented guy who’s also easy on the eyes.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
 Racism aimed at the President by elected officials and others who were publicly rude to him.

35. Who did you miss?
 Bill Clinton. Every day.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
 My students.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
 There is a God and He makes dreams come true. Even when you don’t know you have them.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. “I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now.”

And now, how about yours?