2007 - The Year in Review
You know I think this is like the 4th year in a row I've done this & I look forward to it all bloody year!! :$ This year's one will be a doozy because 2007 turned out to be one of the most eventful years of my life to date....
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
*I quit smoking for good
*I had/am having my first lesbian relationship
*I came out to pretty much everybody including my family
*Gained my highest educational qualification - Diploma in Auslan
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any last year according to this survey. Next year... hmmm. I vow to continue on my steep learning curve, resolving in particular to be more open minded & less judgmental, and to keep praying for clarity.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Leigh-Anne (sister) gave birth to 4th child, Hugh James
Craig (ex & close friend) & Jemma gave birth to 1st child, Isaiah Opal
Erin (cousin) gave birth to 1st child, Isaac
Gavin (cousin) & Martina gave birth to 3rd child, Sophie
Nickers (close friend) gave birth to 2nd child, Zac
4. Did you attend any weddings?
Ben & Andrea (my brother)
Vanessa & James (friends)
Chrissy & Mars (friends)
Dom & Angela (family friends)
Collette & Paul (friends)
5. Did you attend any funerals?
Fr Kevin Starkey (my parish priest & close family friend)
Matt Rennie (my cousin's boyfriend)
6. What countries/states did you visit?
ACT, VIC (4 times) & TAS
7. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
I would like to be working at the Deaf Society... I'm ready to leave my current job. I would like more mental stability as it was definitely lacking for most of 2007! And I would like to have my confidence in my faith & actions renewed. I all but lost that this year but am working very hard to get it back and slowly but surely getting there.
8. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
23 Feb - 2 years in a row this date has featured! This year, it was the date Nichole & I got together, & is hence our anniversary :)
13 Dec - Cutting all my beautiful long hair off!
9. What was your greatest achievement of the year?
Fuck, heaps this year. Surviving. Claiming the first love of my life in 7 years in spite of all the obstacles. Overcoming another round of depression. Overcoming another round of depression and reclaiming the woman I love. Being one of only 3 people to gain my Diploma by passing everything first go whilst having depression. Claiming my abuse, gaining closure and beginning to put the past behind me. Quitting smoking. Beginning a regular exercise regime & being able to finally say I am fit and healthy. Surviving Nicole at work without quitting, especially in the first few months. Summed up in one word - Survival. That I got to where I am in the last 12 months is a fucking miracle in itself.
10. What was your greatest failure/sadness?
Anything I failed I eventually recouped. My greatest sadness this year - again there were many. My sister's life threatening battle with mental illness & depression was one of the worst, as was my own depression; facing the reality of abuse in my family & the legacy it's left us, and the pain my coming out caused my friends & family, including the loss of a best friend who could not cope with my decision :(
11. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I suffered a 'moderate-severe' episode of depression from early in the year until October/November.
12. What was the best thing you bought?
All my airfares to VIC to see my baby :)
13. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Absolutely mine, Nicky's, my parents but in particular my father's.
14. Whose behaviour made you appalled?
Haha... absolutely mine :$ Nicole & Dean Clark's, Faf's, my cousin Mark's :(
15. Where did most of your money go?
Rent & airfares! And NOT cigarettes!!
16. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing Nichole, every time.... :)
17. What songs will always remind you of 2007?
Entire album "Beautiful Awkward Pictures" - Toni Collette & the Finish
Entire album "Young Modern" - Silverchair
Entire album "The Con" - Tegan & Sara
And about ten thousand songs by the likes of Crowded House, Coheed & Cambria, Misia, Dave Grey, Little Birdy, Dave Matthews Band.... tooooo many to mention!!
18. Compared to this time last year, are you:
- i. happier or sadder? I couldn't even say - it's completely different!
- ii.thinner or fatter? I weigh 5 kgs more - but a lot of it's muscle :D
- iii.richer or poorer? Same
19. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Prayer, & time with Tyler. As always!
20. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Crying!! But dem's da breaks.
21. How did you spend Christmas?
My family @ mum's on Christmas Day, mum's family Christmas night (@ Uncle Brian's this year). Boxing Day, traditionally spent with Dad's side of the family, was spent at my aunty's listening to one of my cousin's apologise for sexually abusing me as a child, (with incidents I don't recall, but no surprises there). Yeah Merry Christmas!! :$ Meh, it was good for closure.
22. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Nichole
23. What cyber friends did you meet for the first time?
Viv Barrington, Penny Davis & Luke Scanlon
24. How many one-night stands?
Ahh... one that turned into a (so far) 10 month relationship ;)
25. What was your favorite TV program?
Australian Idol, Desperate Housewives, Big Love, The L Word (on DVD!)
26. Is there anyone you are not friends with that you were this time last year?
Faf was my best friend... we are only now in the last week sort of rebuilding a friendship.
27. What was the best book you read?
Every Woman I've Ever Loved (a collection of essays from Lesbian Writers on their Mothers)
Pleasure & Pain - Chrissy Amphlett's autobiography
28. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Toni Collette & the Finish!!!
29. What did you want and get?
- My girlfriend & our beautiful relationship :)
- My Diploma in Auslan
- My recovery from depression
- An acknowledgment of guilt & apology from one of my abusers
30. What did you want and not get?
No Sarah gigs for the WHOLE YEAR!!!! :(
My best friend's loyalty, understanding & compassion :(
31. What was your favorite film of this year?
No movies stand out, but again I have to mention The L Word - nothing moved me as much, nor has in a very long time! It's up there with Secret Life Of Us as TV show that has made the most sense to me & made me laugh my head off & cry my eyes out with surprising regularity.
32. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Last week I turned 32... I took my exercise class in the morning with friends, had lunch with my bestie Mel, had dinner with my family at mum's, then picked my girlfriend up from the airport & we shopped in Newtown together :) The next night for my birthday, she took me out to dinner & organised a surprise meeting of friends (ones she had never met) who all came to my favourite pub to wish me happy birthday & do my favourite thing - play pool, chat & chill. It was the best :)
33. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not having to go through depression again? Having everyone go yayyyy you've finally fallen in love & found a partner you're really happy with for the first time in 7 years congratulations!!!! ;) All good but. All these things happen for a reason.
34. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Black? A bit dykey... Cons, singlets ;)
35. What kept you sane?
My excercise classes! Like, heaps. And my girlfriend Nicky, my counsellor Rosemary, & my family.
36. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Prolly Toni Collette. And Sarah, as always.
37. What political issue stirred you the most?
The whooooole religion/faith/God thing, internally more than anything. And the politics of queer, which has kept me fascinated all year, & I now feel proud to profess myself as one.
38. Who did you miss?
My baby who lives interstate, Faf, & Sarah McLeod!
39. Who was the best new person you met?
Technically speaking we met before this year, but still I'd have to say unequivocally, my sweetheart Nicky Stephens. She is just amazing, beautiful, incredible, sweet, loving, caring, wise, balanced & understanding... there's just not enough adjectives in the dictionary to describe her & what she means to me. She is my girlfriend and I love her endlessly.
And my best 'new' friend - there were heaps this year. Quick mentions, Michelle, one of the Fusion Fitness instructors who has become a very good & valued friend to me this year. She's been through a lot in her life & she's an amazing person for it & she's just funny & cute & happy & I love her. And almost everyone in my Diploma class, though specifically Daryl, Amy, Brendan, Anna & David (who I'd met before but only to say hi to). The dynamics of our class were unparalleled. You couldn't have picked a better bunch of people to throw together. And oh one more....again I knew this person before but we only became friends this year - Katrina Pickup. Ultra wise, smart, & ultimately very funny person, she's loyal & happy & just gorgeous-my favourite Deafie :)
40. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
Fuck I don't even know where to start or how to put it into words. Maybe something like this - NOTHING is black & white. Put it this way - Feb of this year was the last time I had all the answers. I was quite smug in all my knowing. That soon got ripped out from underneath me & everything I ever believed in got challenged in a way that I would have told you was previously impossible. All my beliefs changed this year. I don't think a single one was left intact. They all changed. I've been humbled beyond humility. I know nothing now. I only know what is right for me, for now. I can't comment on anything or anyone else, at least, not with the surety I once had. I've learnt to not be so judgmental this year. I've learnt that what is right for one person, for one religion even, is not always right for the next. I've learnt to accept what I previously thought as wrong as just different, & quite possibly right for that person in that circumstance in that stage of their life. Nothing is black & white anymore. My entire idea of God & religion even changed. Everything is different in my world. It's been scary as all fuck but I'm getting used to it now.
41. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Stay and hijack the hurt; I feel so low, I feel so high... take a look inside my mind." - Silverchair
and
"It's Friday; I'm in love." - The Cure
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
*I quit smoking for good
*I had/am having my first lesbian relationship
*I came out to pretty much everybody including my family
*Gained my highest educational qualification - Diploma in Auslan
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any last year according to this survey. Next year... hmmm. I vow to continue on my steep learning curve, resolving in particular to be more open minded & less judgmental, and to keep praying for clarity.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Leigh-Anne (sister) gave birth to 4th child, Hugh James
Craig (ex & close friend) & Jemma gave birth to 1st child, Isaiah Opal
Erin (cousin) gave birth to 1st child, Isaac
Gavin (cousin) & Martina gave birth to 3rd child, Sophie
Nickers (close friend) gave birth to 2nd child, Zac
4. Did you attend any weddings?
Ben & Andrea (my brother)
Vanessa & James (friends)
Chrissy & Mars (friends)
Dom & Angela (family friends)
Collette & Paul (friends)
5. Did you attend any funerals?
Fr Kevin Starkey (my parish priest & close family friend)
Matt Rennie (my cousin's boyfriend)
6. What countries/states did you visit?
ACT, VIC (4 times) & TAS
7. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
I would like to be working at the Deaf Society... I'm ready to leave my current job. I would like more mental stability as it was definitely lacking for most of 2007! And I would like to have my confidence in my faith & actions renewed. I all but lost that this year but am working very hard to get it back and slowly but surely getting there.
8. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
23 Feb - 2 years in a row this date has featured! This year, it was the date Nichole & I got together, & is hence our anniversary :)
13 Dec - Cutting all my beautiful long hair off!
9. What was your greatest achievement of the year?
Fuck, heaps this year. Surviving. Claiming the first love of my life in 7 years in spite of all the obstacles. Overcoming another round of depression. Overcoming another round of depression and reclaiming the woman I love. Being one of only 3 people to gain my Diploma by passing everything first go whilst having depression. Claiming my abuse, gaining closure and beginning to put the past behind me. Quitting smoking. Beginning a regular exercise regime & being able to finally say I am fit and healthy. Surviving Nicole at work without quitting, especially in the first few months. Summed up in one word - Survival. That I got to where I am in the last 12 months is a fucking miracle in itself.
10. What was your greatest failure/sadness?
Anything I failed I eventually recouped. My greatest sadness this year - again there were many. My sister's life threatening battle with mental illness & depression was one of the worst, as was my own depression; facing the reality of abuse in my family & the legacy it's left us, and the pain my coming out caused my friends & family, including the loss of a best friend who could not cope with my decision :(
11. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I suffered a 'moderate-severe' episode of depression from early in the year until October/November.
12. What was the best thing you bought?
All my airfares to VIC to see my baby :)
13. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Absolutely mine, Nicky's, my parents but in particular my father's.
14. Whose behaviour made you appalled?
Haha... absolutely mine :$ Nicole & Dean Clark's, Faf's, my cousin Mark's :(
15. Where did most of your money go?
Rent & airfares! And NOT cigarettes!!
16. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing Nichole, every time.... :)
17. What songs will always remind you of 2007?
Entire album "Beautiful Awkward Pictures" - Toni Collette & the Finish
Entire album "Young Modern" - Silverchair
Entire album "The Con" - Tegan & Sara
And about ten thousand songs by the likes of Crowded House, Coheed & Cambria, Misia, Dave Grey, Little Birdy, Dave Matthews Band.... tooooo many to mention!!
18. Compared to this time last year, are you:
- i. happier or sadder? I couldn't even say - it's completely different!
- ii.thinner or fatter? I weigh 5 kgs more - but a lot of it's muscle :D
- iii.richer or poorer? Same
19. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Prayer, & time with Tyler. As always!
20. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Crying!! But dem's da breaks.
21. How did you spend Christmas?
My family @ mum's on Christmas Day, mum's family Christmas night (@ Uncle Brian's this year). Boxing Day, traditionally spent with Dad's side of the family, was spent at my aunty's listening to one of my cousin's apologise for sexually abusing me as a child, (with incidents I don't recall, but no surprises there). Yeah Merry Christmas!! :$ Meh, it was good for closure.
22. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Nichole
23. What cyber friends did you meet for the first time?
Viv Barrington, Penny Davis & Luke Scanlon
24. How many one-night stands?
Ahh... one that turned into a (so far) 10 month relationship ;)
25. What was your favorite TV program?
Australian Idol, Desperate Housewives, Big Love, The L Word (on DVD!)
26. Is there anyone you are not friends with that you were this time last year?
Faf was my best friend... we are only now in the last week sort of rebuilding a friendship.
27. What was the best book you read?
Every Woman I've Ever Loved (a collection of essays from Lesbian Writers on their Mothers)
Pleasure & Pain - Chrissy Amphlett's autobiography
28. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Toni Collette & the Finish!!!
29. What did you want and get?
- My girlfriend & our beautiful relationship :)
- My Diploma in Auslan
- My recovery from depression
- An acknowledgment of guilt & apology from one of my abusers
30. What did you want and not get?
No Sarah gigs for the WHOLE YEAR!!!! :(
My best friend's loyalty, understanding & compassion :(
31. What was your favorite film of this year?
No movies stand out, but again I have to mention The L Word - nothing moved me as much, nor has in a very long time! It's up there with Secret Life Of Us as TV show that has made the most sense to me & made me laugh my head off & cry my eyes out with surprising regularity.
32. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Last week I turned 32... I took my exercise class in the morning with friends, had lunch with my bestie Mel, had dinner with my family at mum's, then picked my girlfriend up from the airport & we shopped in Newtown together :) The next night for my birthday, she took me out to dinner & organised a surprise meeting of friends (ones she had never met) who all came to my favourite pub to wish me happy birthday & do my favourite thing - play pool, chat & chill. It was the best :)
33. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not having to go through depression again? Having everyone go yayyyy you've finally fallen in love & found a partner you're really happy with for the first time in 7 years congratulations!!!! ;) All good but. All these things happen for a reason.
34. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Black? A bit dykey... Cons, singlets ;)
35. What kept you sane?
My excercise classes! Like, heaps. And my girlfriend Nicky, my counsellor Rosemary, & my family.
36. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Prolly Toni Collette. And Sarah, as always.
37. What political issue stirred you the most?
The whooooole religion/faith/God thing, internally more than anything. And the politics of queer, which has kept me fascinated all year, & I now feel proud to profess myself as one.
38. Who did you miss?
My baby who lives interstate, Faf, & Sarah McLeod!
39. Who was the best new person you met?
Technically speaking we met before this year, but still I'd have to say unequivocally, my sweetheart Nicky Stephens. She is just amazing, beautiful, incredible, sweet, loving, caring, wise, balanced & understanding... there's just not enough adjectives in the dictionary to describe her & what she means to me. She is my girlfriend and I love her endlessly.
And my best 'new' friend - there were heaps this year. Quick mentions, Michelle, one of the Fusion Fitness instructors who has become a very good & valued friend to me this year. She's been through a lot in her life & she's an amazing person for it & she's just funny & cute & happy & I love her. And almost everyone in my Diploma class, though specifically Daryl, Amy, Brendan, Anna & David (who I'd met before but only to say hi to). The dynamics of our class were unparalleled. You couldn't have picked a better bunch of people to throw together. And oh one more....again I knew this person before but we only became friends this year - Katrina Pickup. Ultra wise, smart, & ultimately very funny person, she's loyal & happy & just gorgeous-my favourite Deafie :)
40. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
Fuck I don't even know where to start or how to put it into words. Maybe something like this - NOTHING is black & white. Put it this way - Feb of this year was the last time I had all the answers. I was quite smug in all my knowing. That soon got ripped out from underneath me & everything I ever believed in got challenged in a way that I would have told you was previously impossible. All my beliefs changed this year. I don't think a single one was left intact. They all changed. I've been humbled beyond humility. I know nothing now. I only know what is right for me, for now. I can't comment on anything or anyone else, at least, not with the surety I once had. I've learnt to not be so judgmental this year. I've learnt that what is right for one person, for one religion even, is not always right for the next. I've learnt to accept what I previously thought as wrong as just different, & quite possibly right for that person in that circumstance in that stage of their life. Nothing is black & white anymore. My entire idea of God & religion even changed. Everything is different in my world. It's been scary as all fuck but I'm getting used to it now.
41. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Stay and hijack the hurt; I feel so low, I feel so high... take a look inside my mind." - Silverchair
and
"It's Friday; I'm in love." - The Cure