2016 End of Year survey in Safety Net

I might as well do this now. I don’t think much else is going to change in the next, er, six days. Also, I apparently haven’t written anything since July, so maybe I should do that.

And good riddance to 2016!

What did you do in 2016 that you’d never done before?
~ Got a tattoo (well, started one anyway), bought a gun, got a permit to carry said gun, left a job after a whopping 30 days, befriended my bosses significant other (as in, we actually hang out), lost 55 pounds, got a gym membership, wore eye liner on a daily basis, ate a torta, and probably some other stuff. It’s been an interesting year. I’m sure I’m leaving something else.

Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
~ “The usual. Financial stability. A job I enjoy. Better health. A home away from my grandparents.” Better health, yes. I’m down 55 pounds and I’m determined to lose at least another 25. A job I enjoy… I learned that I didn’t hate my job quite as much as I thought.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
~ No

Did anyone close to you die?
~ My grandpa passed in April. Three grandpa’s in three years. All in April.

What countries did you visit?
~ Does Walmart count? It’s like another world…

Where did you go on vacation?
~ My work paid out my vacation when I left. Then I was back working there a month later. So I didn’t take a vacation this year.

What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
~ The usual. Financial stability. A real career. Better health. A home away from my grandparents.

What date from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
~ I already don’t remember the exact date my grandpa died, but I remember the day well. November 8th… what may well turn out to be the death of my country. And of course several favorite celebrities. Prince, Alan Rickman, and today’s (12/27)… Carrie Fisher. :-( May the force be with you princess.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
~ Hmm… I hate saying the weight loss because I only sort of worked for that. At least it doesn’t feel like I worked that hard. My youngest sister and I have gotten a lot closer this year, but I feel like my other sister and I have drifted further apart. So I’m not sure where that leaves me. I’m struggling to think of something here.

What was your biggest failure or regret?
~ Lost another friend… I’m still not even sure how it happened 8 months later.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
~ I got cellulitis in July. Which was just a cruel joke for the universe to play. The doctor thinks I most likely got it at the gym. It’s a total head game now, but I’ve only been back to the gym twice since he cleared me to go back. I know I have to wipe down the machines BEFORE I use them now, not just after, but I just can’t make myself go back there. And it costs a ridiculous amount to get out of my contract. It’s actually cheaper to just let them keep taking the money every month, so I let them.

What was the best thing you bought?
~ My tattoo. I can’t wait to get it finished.

Whose behaviour merited celebration?
~ My sisters are still pretty amazing. My cousin continues to amaze me as well.

Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
~ Ugh… Dickhead. That’s what I call my step-uncle. That was hard to even type. I don’t like acknowledging that we’re at all related. He inherited everything when my grandpa died, but he’s not supposed to get anything until my grandma died. Unfortunately he’s also executor of the estate. So yeah. Life has been interesting. He’s also the father of the cousin mentioned above. It amazes me every day that she turned out the way she did lol. Also in this category would be Trump, the DNC, Russia, the FBI director, WikiLeaks, all of the idiots that didn’t show up to vote, and all of the homophobic, racist, backwards, phlegm wads who have been all over social media and in people’s faces and hanging up ridiculous signs (even on Christmas Eve in my small town) that think putting some dumbass, reality TV star who’s in debt up to his eye balls and is already planning on defying the Constitution on day one of his presidency in office was a good idea. (Rant over.)

Where did most of your money go?
~ Car (car payment, brakes, tires, gas…), food, medical bills, student loans, cell phone....

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
~ My tattoo, Star Wars, my new cookbook lol

What song will always remind you of 2016?
~ The only thing coming to mind is “I’ve been Everywhere” by Johnny Cash because that’s the song I put in my grandpa’s photo tribute.

Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder?
~ about the same

ii. thinner or fatter?
~ Thinner actually. I started up my migraine meds again (even though I can’t afford them, I can’t afford to miss work either) and loss of appetite is a side effect. When I first started taking them I lost 50 pounds. I’d be okay with that happening again.

iii. richer or poorer?
~ about the same

What do you wish you’d done more of?
~ Nothing. Seriously, I wish I’d done nothing more often.

What do you wish you’d done less of?
~ Working. I need the money but this job is killing me mentally.

How did you spend Christmas?
~ With my sister and her family (at least I will be there…)

Did you fall in love in 2016?
~ Ha! Good one.

How many one-night stands?
~ Just the one. It’s blue and quite loaded with junk. I should probably clear it off one of these days.

What was your favourite TV program? ~ We get like 2 channels out in No-man’s-land. I don’t watch TV.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
~ I didn’t really like Dickhead before, but I definitely hate him now. I don’t use the word hate in regards to people generally.

Who is someone you will probably never see again after this year?
~ Well my grandpa would be the obvious answer.

What was the best book(s) you read?
~ All the Light We Cannot See.

What was your greatest musical discovery?
~ Nothing really.

What did you want and get?
~ Part of my tattoo (I would have liked all of it, damn cellulitis) and my Glock.

What did you want and not get?
~ A winning lottery ticket.

What was your favourite film of this year?
~ I haven’t seen it yet, but it came out in 2016 so I’m going to say Star Wars. (Lol I just changed the year from last year.) That I’ve seen…Hmm… Captain America: Civil War. Not my favorite of the Avengers movies, but I could watch Chris Evans all day long. :-)

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
~ I remember I didn’t have to work…Wait, it’s coming back to me. Some good friends were staying with us after my grandpa’s funeral (my grandpa was like a father to him and he and his wife stayed with us for a few weeks to help get my grandma settled in a new routine). We went out for Chinese. One of my cop buddies gave me pepper spray. My mom got me daisies in a cute piano mug. It was a pretty good day.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
~ A year with nobody dying would be nice.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
~ Khaki or black pants and a Navy uniform shirt.

What kept you sane?
~ Define sane.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
~ Chris Evans. Although Chris Hemsworth is pretty good too. I’ve been on a superhero kick this year.

Who did you miss?
~ Family

Who was the best new person you met?
~ Most of the new people I’ve met have been pretty crappy.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016:
~ People still suck.

Tell us something you’ve learned about yourself:
~ I like jobs where I only have to be responsible for myself. I don’t like having to worry about who’s going to clean the bathroom or scoop the snow in the parking lot. I like being able to go in, do my thing, and leave.

If you could relive any day from 2016, which would it be and why?
~ None. I’m not a huge fan of the past couple of years. We either need to go back a bit more so I can change stuff or keep moving forward.

Did any of your predictions for the future come true in 2016?
~ I figured it would be more of the same

What was the funniest thing that happened to you (or the funniest thing you did) this year?
~ Hmm… The tattoo artist saying I had a better pain tolerance than him. He couldn’t believe it was my first tattoo. Or the cops giving me pepper spray. Or my permit to carry class. I did a women only class thinking there’d be less ego. The other women were super catty and didn’t like me. The instructors were ex-cops and loved me. I was the only person in the class that passed. My state requires a shooting component. I was the only person that passed.

What was the worst thing that happened to you this year?
~ My grandpa dying, his dickhead son, two of my three cops left for the big city, feeling the need to have to protect myself.

What was the best thing that happened to you this year?
~ My dad and I are trying to be more involved in each other’s lives again. We were both struggling after my brother died. I’m not defending him. He’s always been lousy at being around. Unfortunately, the two of us are entirely too similar. I also knew he was the best person to help me with some problems I was having last spring. We’re trying. It’s a start.

What was the hardest thing you did this year?
~ Forcing my mom to get a job. True she’s working with me again, but she’s working.

A new food that you were introduced to:
~ Tortas!

What traditions were started?
~ Christmas brunch at my cousin’s (then we’ll go to my sister’s)

What traditions were broken?
~ Most of my traditions have already gone out the window over the past couple of years.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
~
So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell, blue skies from pain.
Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?

Did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
Did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?

How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We’re just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have we found?
The same old fears.
Wish you were here.

Did you save any Chinese fortune cookie fortunes from this year, what do they say?
~ I didn’t save any.

What is something you have vowed to never do again?
~ Weigh what I did before.

Headlines in the news from this year that you’ll remember most:
~ Syrian refugees, Trump, everything is Obama’s fault.

In 2016, what did you realize you had previously taken for granted?
~ My job

Are there any memorable slogans/sayings that describe and/or are from this year?
~ Make America Great Again (Made in China), or my choice, FEEL THE BERN!!

What will you be doing this New Years’ Eve?
~ I will be working

Where were you last New Years’ Day (2016)?
I’m guessing I was working.

Last updated December 27, 2016