2018 in Review
1. What did you do in 2018 that you'd never done before?
Went to the Bahamas. Took my Japanese proficiency exam. Wore a heart monitor. Took a stress test. Got a Japanese manicure. Visited Osaka. Went to a matsuri. Got a standing desk. Learned to make Japanese rice. Visited King Spa in Dallas with Karinna. Took a pole dancing class. Finished my second novel. Saw Ghost in concert.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
2017: I want to prioritize Japanese learning and send real time, effort, brainpower, and possibly money on my blog and channel.
2018: I did pretty well with Japanese. The other things, the beauty stuff, I lost interest in (surprise, surprise). For this coming year, my goal is to write a sellable novel and get an agent. I have decided that being an author is the only thing I have ever really wanted and yet never really tried. This year I want to do something about that. And continue to learn Japanese.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not that I can think of.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
The Bahamas and Japan.
6. What would you like to have in 2019 that you lacked in 2018?
N5 certification and an agent.
7. What dates from 2018 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Hmmm. No particular dates I dont think.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finishing my novel was a huge deal. After 5+ years of it going nowhere, I finally read a book on storytelling that helped me identify my problem. I scrapped the entire project in August and started over. By Veteran's Day I had a new novel. I wrote a novel in 4 months and I can't actually believe I did that.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Probably not making more of an effort with my mom.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had this ridiculous heart scare. Out of nowhere I just started having heart palpitations. I finally went to see a cardiologist, and I did a stress test and everything, and there was nothing wrong with me. Then just as suddenly as they started, they went away.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Tickets to Japan. Also my standing desk and chair. I dont know if that counts because work actually bought it for me. But it's all amazing.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Zachary
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
All of Twitter.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Japan.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Visiting Japan with Chad and Triet. Karinna coming home from college. Going to Ink's Lake with Karinna after not being able to drive to Padre for health reasons. Finishing my novel. Painting and redecorating my office. Painting and redecorating the dining room. Christmas break. Going to see Ghost in concert.
16. What song will always remind you of 2018?
God's Plan
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Sadder. I have to figure out how to have a life outisde of my kids after Zach goes to college. Im going to miss them so much.
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter but roughly the same.
c) richer or poorer? Richer, as last year's investment plan is now in motion and I have a second job doing freelance work.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Speaking Japanese.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Wasting time? Crying?
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
It was very low-key with lots of presents and then we played Ticket to Ride and drank booze.
21. What was your favourite month of 2018?
July.
22. Did you fall in love in 2018?
No.
23. How many one-night stands?
None
24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Terrace House
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
26. What was the best book you read?
Not Bird Box.
27. What was your greatest entertainment discovery?
Japanese TV shows
28. What did you want and get?
A finished novel
29. What did you want and not get?
A promotion at work.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
That Tonya Harding movie
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you
I turned 42. Chad and I went to Peche for dinner and drinks and then ended up at a hotel for more drinks. He gave me really lovely vintage sherry glasses. Plus another vibrator that I won't use.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Being so rich I could quit my job.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2018?
Joggers, comfy shoes, and comfy tops. There was not a lot of leaving the house and even less in the way of wearing bras.
34. What kept you sane?
My boss, having a nice office to work in, having focus and goals (like 1k words a day)
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Samin Nozrat
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
I have given up caring about politics b/c it's all a dumpster fire.
37. Who did you miss?
Karinna.
38. Who were the best new people you met?
Did I even meet anyone this year?
39. Final thoughts?
2018 wasn't exceptional. It was fine. I rediscovered what's important to me (writing) and how important adventures are (Japan) and that as I get older and my desires become clearer, my goals have been revealing themselves as well. I still want to live in Japan for a year. I still want to be a traditionally published author. My fundamental self has never faded, not after all these years and so many changes. I need to find a way to be true to the things that have always driven me. I have to find a way to be the Amber my 8 year old self dreamed of being. She's the Hero I have been looking for.
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