I cannot believe that I have done this seven times, and yet, here it is. I’m too old to be doing something like this, probably, but I can’t NOT at this point, after so many years of completing this stupid survey.

2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004

It’s hard to accurately speak of this year, when the past four months are such a stark contrast to the first eight. I spent much of this year complaining of career angst (“I’m never going to be anything other than a glorified secretary”) and figuring out a way to get to DC. Well, I figured out a way to get to DC, and I miss my glorified secretary job a whole lot, and every single bit of DC has been a struggle. Does four months cancel out eight months? Because for eight months, I was all angsty about my career, but I was happy.

Regardless. I will say this: 2010 was quite a year.

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?

Lived in Washington DC. Performed more feats of IT strength than I ever imagined.

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I don’t believe I made any. But what I wanted out of the year was to get a job and apartment and I did that. I am an incredibly determined person. When I decide to do something, I do it. I almost always manage to find a way to get exactly what I set out to get. The problem is, I get what I want, before I know whether it’s what I want.

3. What countries did you visit? None

4. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?

I just want to be happy. I don’t care the cause.

5. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory?

March 18 – the guys took me out to celebrate my one year and I got tons of well wishes from elsewhere, and I felt very, very loved. Sept 2 – my last day at my old job

6. What was your biggest achievement of the year??

Before moving to DC, 9 months and counting. And I suppose, getting a job/apartment in DC is a pretty big accomplishment. I know I haven’t made much of it, but I think the picking up and moving to a city where I basically know no one and have no built in support system is pretty gusty. At least, for me, since I’m a Hobbesian.

7. What was your biggest failure?

Everything that happened since I moved to DC.

8. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Yes.

9. What was the best thing you bought?

My very pretty bedroom furniture and the couch for our apartment.

10. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My parents. Joe. Brent. Basically all the awesome people in my life – anyone I care about has shown me nothing but support. The people in my life restore my faith in humanity on a near daily basis and I am incredibly grateful for them all.

11. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Some of the people I work with.

12. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Getting a new job and moving to DC. Yeah, about that.

13. What song will always remind you of 2010?

For the second year in a row, Smile (Uncle Kracker) because the same person manages to make me smile at the craziest times. Also “One Step Closer” (Bon Jovi) for March 2010, “Change” (Taylor Swift) for the whole summer of job hunting and set backs, “The Best Day,” also Taylor Swift because I have the best people ever in my life, “Miss you Till I Meet You” (Dar Williams) and “Crazy as Me” (Alison Krauss) because they perfectly described the nonsense of my short foray into dating “Already Gone,” Kelly Clarkson, “I Don’t Like Mondays,” Tori Amos.

14. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?

I was happier at this time last year, but overall, for 2010 I was pretty happy. Really happy, at times.

15. What do you wish you’d done more of?

I wish I’d done more of all the things that I moved to DC to actually do

16. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Less self destructive behavior, less spending.

17. How will you be spending Christmas?

The usual – too much food and bad movie watching.

18. Did you fall in love in 2010?

No.

19. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

No.

20. What was the best book you read?

Last Night in Twisted River, John Irving

21. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I can’t say I had one, but I’ve had the new Taylor Swift single in my head for about a week.

22. What did you want and get?

I wanted a job and an apartment in DC. Once I set my mind on something, I go after it with 100% determination. And I usually get it. Be careful what you think you want.

23. What did you want and not get?

A job at a place I actually wanted to work.

24. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 27 and felt old.

25. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

If I had done any of the things in DC that I set out to do, if I hadn’t relapsed hardcore, if I left my old job for A Dream Job instead of Just A Job.

26. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?

I worked in a fairly empty office from January-August, which means I dressed like a high schooler most of the time. Now I spend a lot of time moving boxes (still) and crawling under desks (yes, I’ve already heard every joke you could thing to make about this) so I don’t bother with nice clothes.

27. What kept you sane?

Brent (for everything), Joe (particularly for Sunday diner trips to discuss career nonsense), Charlotte, David, my internet-stranger-friends, the Message-Board-of-Note, my (old) job and co-workers, West Wing on DVD, and blogging.

28. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Jon Stewart, Christopher Meloni, Hugh Laurie, and Josh Lyman (well, Bradley Whitford as Josh Lyman. But really, Josh Lyman, because I am allowed to have crushes on fictional characters. See also, Christopher Meloni as Elliot Stabler and Hugh Laurie as House).

29. Who was the best new person you met?

30. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010?

Be careful what you wish for?