Lawyerish: 2012 In (Not-So-)Brief

Here's last year, and from there you can go all the way back, year by year, if you are terminally bored or trapped in a waiting room somewhere.

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before? Made a big professional change, for the better. Took my daughter to see The Nutcracker (a mini-one, but still) and to Radio City. Toilet-trained a child (about as much of a rollicking good time as I'd imagined). This list is not exactly awe-inspiring. Oh, and made it through a grueling admissions process and started sending my child to a great preschool.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn't remember making one for 2012 until I looked at last year's post, and evidently I had vowed to do more shopping locally than online. I would say I made some moderate improvement in that area, but when I am clothes-shopping for myself I'm almost always going to do it online. That's just the way it is. I don't plan to make any for 2013. I think I'm doing the best I can.

3. Did anyone close to you have a child? A friend or two had first babies, and a bunch more had second ones. I'm still feeling good about our single-child family, although I sometimes wish we could conjure an older sister for Felicity, because she LOVES bigger girls (ages 5-7 in particular).

4. Did anyone close to you die?  No.

5. Where did you travel?  To Georgia to get together with my parents and my brother and his kids in February; to a one-night retreat with some mom-friends in June (just outside the city); to Nantucket for a week over Fourth of July; to Maine over Labor Day; and to Florida for my grandfather's 96th birthday in November.

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012? Fewer horrific tragedies in the news, especially involving children. Let's all try to make things better, ok? On a personal/selfish level, I would love an extra bedroom so that my parents and other guests could stay with us when they visit.

7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory?  March 12 (Felicity turned two); July 4 (seeing Felicity have a ball at the aquarium and watching the fireworks from our balcony in Nantucket); September 5 (Felicity's first day of preschool); October 31 (Felicity's unbridled enthusiasm at dressing up as a kitty-cat for Halloween); December 25 (the Christmas magic).

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? [Work stuff]; finishing a half-marathon; getting into a regular running schedule; keeping my patience (sometimes) during trying moments with a strong-willed two-year old.

9. What was your biggest failure? Pretty much the same as last year -- when I don't keep my patience, I tend to lose it in a way that I don't like and I know other people don't, either. I also have been awfully moody at times, and I don't love that about myself. Get it together, self!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nonstop colds from preschool germs.

11. What was the best thing you bought? A bunch of new clothes that fit well and look nice (something I sorely needed). A great camera and laptop for Joe for Christmas. The trips we took.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Joe's, for putting up with my aforementioned moodiness, for going along with all the social/travel plans I make for our family, and generally being a great husband and partner.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? I don't like this question. I guess the NRA.

14. Where did most of your money go? Taxes (sigh), mortgage, savings.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Allison, David and Maggie visiting last January. Tea at the Plaza. Family reunion. All our trips. Seeing things through Felicity's eyes. Watching Felicity grow and change SO much in a year. Christmas. Dinner at the 21 Club for Joe's birthday. The NYCB gala.

16. What song will always remind you of 2012? I have no idea.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer? Happier; about the same weight/size (even though my size at J Crew KEEPS getting smaller, which is annoying); financially, we're doing fine.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Sitting on my butt and reading.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Same as last year: Worrying about things I can't control; getting annoyed by things I can't control; trying to control things I can't control.

20. How did you spend Christmas? We spent it here at home with my parents, and it was phenomenal.

21. Did you fall in love in 2012? Over and over and over again.

22. What was your favorite TV program? Happy Endings and Downton Abbey.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Not that I can think of.

24. What was the best book you read? Probably The Likeness by Tana French. Oh, and I LOVED The Rules of Civility by Amor Towles.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? As a general rule, I don't make musical discoveries.

26. What did you want and get? Great trips; a lot of beach time; a better work situation; some great friends and colleagues; more nights out; better running clothes; a happy, healthy, fun two-year old; a nice preschool for Felicity; a lot of fun evenings at the ballet.

28. What did you want and not get? A third bedroom, a terrace, and central air.

29. What was your favorite film of this year? First Position.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 37. I worked on the actual day, but before my birthday I got a facial at the Mandarin Oriental spa and went out to dinner with friends.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Honestly, this year was very satisfying, aside from the previously discussed terrible things happening out in the scary world.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012? Working on it. I've been trying a little harder, and it does make me feel better to have a closet with clothes in it that don't make me doze off with boredom.

33. What kept you sane? Joe and Felicity. My family and friends and coworkers. Our nanny. Allison. Email and certain blogs/bloggie friends. The ballet. The New York Times. Reading before bed. Getting up to run in the morning.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? President Obama.

35. What political issue stirred you the most? Gun control and marriage equality.

36. Who did you miss? Pretty much everyone I care about who does not live right next door, which is TOO MANY PEOPLE. (Same as last year, same as forever unless people wise up and move into my building.)

37. Who was the best new person you met? Work folks.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012. It's all in the company you keep.