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2015 and 2016 Q&A
Jan. 7th, 2016 12:56 pmWhat did you do in 2015 that you'd never done before?
Did the Walk to Fight Arthritis. Underwent eye surgery.
Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more?
I don't really do resolutions but I do have a couple of goals for 2016. One is to learn more about Muslims (particularly Muslim women) and the Islamic faiths in general. The other is to explore art therapy and journalling therapy.
Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes - my daughter.
Did anyone close to you die?
My mother-in-law. A close friend's mother. A few others who weren't super-close but their deaths were still a bit of a shock.
What countries did you visit?
I didn't travel outside the country or even outside Ontario and Quebec.
What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
More energy and better eyesight.
What dates from 2015 will remain etched on your memory and why?
April 21, 3:30 AM (when we got the call about my mother-in-law) and all day May 27 and 28 (when we looked after grandchildren #1 and 2 and awaited the arrival of #3)
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Probably integrating two 13-year-old cats into our family.
What was your biggest failure?
I'd say the failure to divest myself of some of my excess possessions and organize the rest, and maybe the failure to update my will, PoA, etc.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing life-threatening, but I did experience a resurgence of my arthritis and a problem with my left eye that required surgery.
What was the best thing someone bought you?
If it has to be something bought, then possibly... a yoga mat? It's something I wouldn't have thought to buy myself, and I do find it useful. If I can include home-made items that were given to me, I'd say the cards made for me by my grandson, and a very interesting game he gave me (that I still haven't completely figured out how to play).
Whose behaviour merited celebration?
I was really quite touched by the outpouring of support and encouragement by family, friends and colleagues as I went through various life-moments such as the loss of my m-i-l, my walk for arthritis, and my eye surgery.
Where did most of your money go?
Various things around the house.
What did you get really really excited about?
Grandkids and cats.
What song will always remind you of 2015?
Harperman, it's time for you to go!
Compared to this time last year, are you (a) happier or sadder, (b) thinner or fatter, (c) richer or poorer?
(a) a little sadder as I contemplate the limits of my mortal existence, (b) about the same, (c) slightly poorer, although finances are not a big concern.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Maybe exploring new things.
What do you wish you'd done less of?
All those health maintenance activities (doctors' appointments, blood tests, filling and picking up prescriptions, etc.) which, while necessary, detract from time I'd prefer to be spending on other things. Also time spent on boring paperwork and in endless telephone-tree hell.
How did you spend Christmas?
Most of the socializing was on Christmas Eve when my daughter's family were over. Christmas Day was quiet but pleasant. New Year's Eve we stayed home and barely managed to stay up till midnight, when we split a tiny bottle of fake champagne (with a fake cork in it). New Year's Day evening was a bit of a TV-watching marathon with 2 hours of Coronation Street followed by 1.5 hours of Sherlock.
Did you fall in love in 2015?
Absolutely.
How many one night stands?
We always buy nightstands in pairs, one for each side of the bed. They have doors hinged on opposite sides so each of us can easily access their own stuff - unless of course one of us gets up on the wrong side of the bed.
What was your favourite TV program?
In terms of fairly new programs, I've rather been enjoying The Librarians, which airs at 8PM Sundays on Space.
What was the best book you read?
Maybe the one by David Lagerkrantz which was a fictionalized account of the death of Alan Turing, told from the point of view of the police sergeant investigating the case. The same author has also written a sequel to the Stieg Larsson books entitled The Girl in the Spider's Web, which I hope to read in 2016.
What was your greatest musical discovery?
Requiem for the Fourteen Roses, written by local musician Elise Letourneau in 2014 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre. We actually went to a performance of it here in Ottawa for the 26th anniversary.
What did you want and get?
A healthy third grandchild. A more progressive government. And a new sofa for the living room.
What did you want and not get?
We didn't make much headway on home improvements (new bathroom, new windows, heat recovery ventilator), for various reasons.
What did you do on your birthday?
Went to see the movie Mr. Holmes, in Kanata. Stopped off at the cemetery to visit my parents' graves on the way home. Went out to dinner at Asian Stars.
What one thing would have made your life immeasurably more satisfying?
I don't know - maybe a second life, provided it was a good one!
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2015?
Classic easy-care casual.
What kept you sane?
I really treasured my alone-time, whether at home or out and about.
What political issue stirred you the most?
I'd say the events in Paris - first the Charlie Hebdo business and later the attacks in November. I had just been in France (Lyon and Paris) in August of 2014 to attend a conference and I really enjoyed soaking up the atmosphere in the Saint-Germain-des Pres area of Paris - it's sad to think that many people aren't or don't feel safe there any more and that I'll likely never go back.
Who/what do you miss?
All the significant people in my life who are now gone. My youthful self and energy levels.
Who was the best new person you met?
My new granddaughter.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015.
The world won't fall apart if I don't read the newspaper cover-to-cover and do all my Sudokus and Kenkens every day.
Did the Walk to Fight Arthritis. Underwent eye surgery.
Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more?
I don't really do resolutions but I do have a couple of goals for 2016. One is to learn more about Muslims (particularly Muslim women) and the Islamic faiths in general. The other is to explore art therapy and journalling therapy.
Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes - my daughter.
Did anyone close to you die?
My mother-in-law. A close friend's mother. A few others who weren't super-close but their deaths were still a bit of a shock.
What countries did you visit?
I didn't travel outside the country or even outside Ontario and Quebec.
What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
More energy and better eyesight.
What dates from 2015 will remain etched on your memory and why?
April 21, 3:30 AM (when we got the call about my mother-in-law) and all day May 27 and 28 (when we looked after grandchildren #1 and 2 and awaited the arrival of #3)
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Probably integrating two 13-year-old cats into our family.
What was your biggest failure?
I'd say the failure to divest myself of some of my excess possessions and organize the rest, and maybe the failure to update my will, PoA, etc.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing life-threatening, but I did experience a resurgence of my arthritis and a problem with my left eye that required surgery.
What was the best thing someone bought you?
If it has to be something bought, then possibly... a yoga mat? It's something I wouldn't have thought to buy myself, and I do find it useful. If I can include home-made items that were given to me, I'd say the cards made for me by my grandson, and a very interesting game he gave me (that I still haven't completely figured out how to play).
Whose behaviour merited celebration?
I was really quite touched by the outpouring of support and encouragement by family, friends and colleagues as I went through various life-moments such as the loss of my m-i-l, my walk for arthritis, and my eye surgery.
Where did most of your money go?
Various things around the house.
What did you get really really excited about?
Grandkids and cats.
What song will always remind you of 2015?
Harperman, it's time for you to go!
Compared to this time last year, are you (a) happier or sadder, (b) thinner or fatter, (c) richer or poorer?
(a) a little sadder as I contemplate the limits of my mortal existence, (b) about the same, (c) slightly poorer, although finances are not a big concern.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Maybe exploring new things.
What do you wish you'd done less of?
All those health maintenance activities (doctors' appointments, blood tests, filling and picking up prescriptions, etc.) which, while necessary, detract from time I'd prefer to be spending on other things. Also time spent on boring paperwork and in endless telephone-tree hell.
How did you spend Christmas?
Most of the socializing was on Christmas Eve when my daughter's family were over. Christmas Day was quiet but pleasant. New Year's Eve we stayed home and barely managed to stay up till midnight, when we split a tiny bottle of fake champagne (with a fake cork in it). New Year's Day evening was a bit of a TV-watching marathon with 2 hours of Coronation Street followed by 1.5 hours of Sherlock.
Did you fall in love in 2015?
Absolutely.
How many one night stands?
We always buy nightstands in pairs, one for each side of the bed. They have doors hinged on opposite sides so each of us can easily access their own stuff - unless of course one of us gets up on the wrong side of the bed.
What was your favourite TV program?
In terms of fairly new programs, I've rather been enjoying The Librarians, which airs at 8PM Sundays on Space.
What was the best book you read?
Maybe the one by David Lagerkrantz which was a fictionalized account of the death of Alan Turing, told from the point of view of the police sergeant investigating the case. The same author has also written a sequel to the Stieg Larsson books entitled The Girl in the Spider's Web, which I hope to read in 2016.
What was your greatest musical discovery?
Requiem for the Fourteen Roses, written by local musician Elise Letourneau in 2014 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre. We actually went to a performance of it here in Ottawa for the 26th anniversary.
What did you want and get?
A healthy third grandchild. A more progressive government. And a new sofa for the living room.
What did you want and not get?
We didn't make much headway on home improvements (new bathroom, new windows, heat recovery ventilator), for various reasons.
What did you do on your birthday?
Went to see the movie Mr. Holmes, in Kanata. Stopped off at the cemetery to visit my parents' graves on the way home. Went out to dinner at Asian Stars.
What one thing would have made your life immeasurably more satisfying?
I don't know - maybe a second life, provided it was a good one!
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2015?
Classic easy-care casual.
What kept you sane?
I really treasured my alone-time, whether at home or out and about.
What political issue stirred you the most?
I'd say the events in Paris - first the Charlie Hebdo business and later the attacks in November. I had just been in France (Lyon and Paris) in August of 2014 to attend a conference and I really enjoyed soaking up the atmosphere in the Saint-Germain-des Pres area of Paris - it's sad to think that many people aren't or don't feel safe there any more and that I'll likely never go back.
Who/what do you miss?
All the significant people in my life who are now gone. My youthful self and energy levels.
Who was the best new person you met?
My new granddaughter.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015.
The world won't fall apart if I don't read the newspaper cover-to-cover and do all my Sudokus and Kenkens every day.
