I'm at a crossroads with myself, I don't got no one else (2010 in review)
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
Driven clear across the country, rented a hotel room for myself, lived outside the Boston-Washington corridor, been to Texas, crossed the Mississippi, spent more than three months straight outside New England, been to a bachelor party, been to a wedding of my own generation, been a best man, lived by myself, lived with crazy roommates, been sexually harassed, been on food stamps, made a pie, made pudding, made lasagna, helped move couches up two flights of stairs, "Friends"-style.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Apparently I said I would run another half-marathon, keep better track of my finances, and figure out my life. I became pretty comfortable with seven-mile runs, but I was horrible on the other two fronts. I have no idea about the next year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, but my ex became pregnant which is still sort of strange.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
I don't believe so, no.
5. What countries did you visit?
Texas? The Confederacy? Real America?
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
A place in the world, some semblance of a social life or a career trajectory, a woman that I can even pretend might be interested in me, stability, self-confidence--the usual, really.
7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I have no idea.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting up the guts to make a break for it and starting afresh in Austin. Also rhyming "Russ Feingold" with "Das Rheingold"
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not putting in nearly enough effort towards finding a job or meeting people or improving who I am.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope, I never get sick or injured.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
All that kefir? It's really fucking delicious.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Courtney, Alden and Sara, Mom, Dad, mostly Courtney.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Mine, Jimmy and Josue of course, but really mine.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Initially, the move to Austin.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2010?
"Fuck You", "Little Lion Man", "Laredo", "I Love The Way You Lie", "Whip My Hair" every song from "Rent", every Gender Benders tune.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Sadder, which is saying something.
ii. thinner or fatter? A little thinner, I'm guessing.
iii. richer or poorer? So much effing poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Looking for work, begging for work, interning, shamelessly (but fearlessly) hitting on women, sticking up for myself.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Hating myself, yelling at myself, wasting time, procrastinating, worrying, applying to jobs on Craigslist.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent it with mom's side of the family mostly.
21. How will you be spending New Year's Eve?
Just noticed the party I'm invited to is a New Year's Day party, so I couldn't tell you.
22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
Not even close.
23. How many one-night stands?
I don't even know what that means.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
30 Rock, The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother and Comedy Central's News Hour.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
26. What was the best book you read?
The Passage maybe? I feel like I read a few really good books last spring--when did I read Born To Run? Let's go with that.
27. What were your greatest musical discoveries?
CLEARLY Gender Benders.
28. What did you want and get?
Adventure and new perspective, I suppose? A brief period of independence. A rad new hat?
29. What did you want and not get?
Clarity, satisfaction, success, someone to make out with.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Inception I suppose, though I didn't see to many films really. Maybe Temple Grandin as well?
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 25--I spent most of it helping move Calvin from Prospect Park to Sunnyside. Later in the evening there was cake and I got a hat. So not too shabby.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A real, semi-respectable, non-hourly-wage-type job.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Sweater!!!
34. What kept you sane?
I don't even know--probably a mix of Courtney Mack, denial and avoidance.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Amy Adams I suppose? I didn't really fancy anyone but that's my old standby.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
A little bit of everything--health care, the tax cuts, the political discourse in general.
37. Who did you miss?
Pretty much everyone I've ever met.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Jimmy and Josue. LOL! LOL! JK! JK! ROTFLMAO! FML! DIAF!
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:
Maybe it's fine to move all the way across the country on a whim with no definite plan, but you've got to be prepared to work really hard to come up with a plan when you get there. Also, 25 year olds should not live with 40 year olds. Under any circumstances.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I really, really wanted it to be "We are our only saviors/We're gonna build something this summer", but it really was "Weep for yourself, my man, you'll never be what is in your heart/ Weep Little Lion Man, you're not as brave as you were at the start"
41. What was your favorite moment of the year?
I have no idea--possibly when I was driving away from that job interview in August feeling like maybe things were finally turing a corner.
42. What was your least favorite moment of the year?
Probably when I realized, at long last, that it didn't make any sense to stay in Texas.
43. Where were you when 2010 began?
A party Chris's URI friends were having.
44. Who were you with?
Chris, Calvin, Chris's then-girlfriend, a variety of his other friends.
45. Where will you be when 2010 ends?
No idea.
46. Who will you be with when 2010 ends?
No idea.
47. What was your favorite month of 2010?
Maybe June? I was excited to move and I got to see Courtney for the first time in like two years and it was fun to settle in and optimism was extant.
48. Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2010?
Not a LOT a lot. An adequate amount.
49. Did you do a lot of drugs in 2010?
I didn't even take the one drug I should be taking as often as I should have.
50. How many people did you sleep with in 2010?
None. Again, eff you 2010 survey.
51. Did you do anything you were ashamed of this year?
More of many things I didn't do, like look for work or move out. I'm ashamed of my continued self-abuse, I suppose.
52. What was the worst lie someone told you in 2010?
I don't remember any really.
53. Did you treat someone badly in 2010?
Apart from myself, I imposed on Courtney a bit too much, and probably worried my parents greatly, but that is all that comes to mind.
54. Did someone treat you badly in 2010?
Myself mostly, but my total asshole roommates are definitely close contenders.
55. How many concerts did you see in 2010?
Apart from BOMBFest I'm not sure--a few guys playing clubs here and there. Unless you count the entire production of "Rent".
56. Did you have a favorite concert in 2010?
BOMBFest, which is sort of by default, but it was a good time, even though I spent half of it wandering around awkwardly.
57. How much money did you spend in 2010?
Considering I didn't work from June to December, far too much, as much as I tried.
58. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2010, what would you change?
I would have to answer not moving to Austin. There were great experiences to be had, but my God did I not think things through. Maybe I wasn't ready.
59. What was your proudest moment of 2010?
I don't even know. Maybe doing "I Would Die 4 U" at that karaoke bar?
60. What was your most embarrassing moment of 2010?
I don't know--no one moment feels embarrassing at all.
62. What are your plans for 2011?
Work at Other Tiger as best as I can, take a class in Library Science and apply for grad school. Find out what is wrong with me and fix it. Be a happier person?
Driven clear across the country, rented a hotel room for myself, lived outside the Boston-Washington corridor, been to Texas, crossed the Mississippi, spent more than three months straight outside New England, been to a bachelor party, been to a wedding of my own generation, been a best man, lived by myself, lived with crazy roommates, been sexually harassed, been on food stamps, made a pie, made pudding, made lasagna, helped move couches up two flights of stairs, "Friends"-style.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Apparently I said I would run another half-marathon, keep better track of my finances, and figure out my life. I became pretty comfortable with seven-mile runs, but I was horrible on the other two fronts. I have no idea about the next year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, but my ex became pregnant which is still sort of strange.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
I don't believe so, no.
5. What countries did you visit?
Texas? The Confederacy? Real America?
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
A place in the world, some semblance of a social life or a career trajectory, a woman that I can even pretend might be interested in me, stability, self-confidence--the usual, really.
7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I have no idea.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting up the guts to make a break for it and starting afresh in Austin. Also rhyming "Russ Feingold" with "Das Rheingold"
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not putting in nearly enough effort towards finding a job or meeting people or improving who I am.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope, I never get sick or injured.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
All that kefir? It's really fucking delicious.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Courtney, Alden and Sara, Mom, Dad, mostly Courtney.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Mine, Jimmy and Josue of course, but really mine.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Initially, the move to Austin.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2010?
"Fuck You", "Little Lion Man", "Laredo", "I Love The Way You Lie", "Whip My Hair" every song from "Rent", every Gender Benders tune.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Sadder, which is saying something.
ii. thinner or fatter? A little thinner, I'm guessing.
iii. richer or poorer? So much effing poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Looking for work, begging for work, interning, shamelessly (but fearlessly) hitting on women, sticking up for myself.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Hating myself, yelling at myself, wasting time, procrastinating, worrying, applying to jobs on Craigslist.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent it with mom's side of the family mostly.
21. How will you be spending New Year's Eve?
Just noticed the party I'm invited to is a New Year's Day party, so I couldn't tell you.
22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
Not even close.
23. How many one-night stands?
I don't even know what that means.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
30 Rock, The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother and Comedy Central's News Hour.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
26. What was the best book you read?
The Passage maybe? I feel like I read a few really good books last spring--when did I read Born To Run? Let's go with that.
27. What were your greatest musical discoveries?
CLEARLY Gender Benders.
28. What did you want and get?
Adventure and new perspective, I suppose? A brief period of independence. A rad new hat?
29. What did you want and not get?
Clarity, satisfaction, success, someone to make out with.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Inception I suppose, though I didn't see to many films really. Maybe Temple Grandin as well?
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 25--I spent most of it helping move Calvin from Prospect Park to Sunnyside. Later in the evening there was cake and I got a hat. So not too shabby.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A real, semi-respectable, non-hourly-wage-type job.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Sweater!!!
34. What kept you sane?
I don't even know--probably a mix of Courtney Mack, denial and avoidance.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Amy Adams I suppose? I didn't really fancy anyone but that's my old standby.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
A little bit of everything--health care, the tax cuts, the political discourse in general.
37. Who did you miss?
Pretty much everyone I've ever met.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Jimmy and Josue. LOL! LOL! JK! JK! ROTFLMAO! FML! DIAF!
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:
Maybe it's fine to move all the way across the country on a whim with no definite plan, but you've got to be prepared to work really hard to come up with a plan when you get there. Also, 25 year olds should not live with 40 year olds. Under any circumstances.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I really, really wanted it to be "We are our only saviors/We're gonna build something this summer", but it really was "Weep for yourself, my man, you'll never be what is in your heart/ Weep Little Lion Man, you're not as brave as you were at the start"
41. What was your favorite moment of the year?
I have no idea--possibly when I was driving away from that job interview in August feeling like maybe things were finally turing a corner.
42. What was your least favorite moment of the year?
Probably when I realized, at long last, that it didn't make any sense to stay in Texas.
43. Where were you when 2010 began?
A party Chris's URI friends were having.
44. Who were you with?
Chris, Calvin, Chris's then-girlfriend, a variety of his other friends.
45. Where will you be when 2010 ends?
No idea.
46. Who will you be with when 2010 ends?
No idea.
47. What was your favorite month of 2010?
Maybe June? I was excited to move and I got to see Courtney for the first time in like two years and it was fun to settle in and optimism was extant.
48. Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2010?
Not a LOT a lot. An adequate amount.
49. Did you do a lot of drugs in 2010?
I didn't even take the one drug I should be taking as often as I should have.
50. How many people did you sleep with in 2010?
None. Again, eff you 2010 survey.
51. Did you do anything you were ashamed of this year?
More of many things I didn't do, like look for work or move out. I'm ashamed of my continued self-abuse, I suppose.
52. What was the worst lie someone told you in 2010?
I don't remember any really.
53. Did you treat someone badly in 2010?
Apart from myself, I imposed on Courtney a bit too much, and probably worried my parents greatly, but that is all that comes to mind.
54. Did someone treat you badly in 2010?
Myself mostly, but my total asshole roommates are definitely close contenders.
55. How many concerts did you see in 2010?
Apart from BOMBFest I'm not sure--a few guys playing clubs here and there. Unless you count the entire production of "Rent".
56. Did you have a favorite concert in 2010?
BOMBFest, which is sort of by default, but it was a good time, even though I spent half of it wandering around awkwardly.
57. How much money did you spend in 2010?
Considering I didn't work from June to December, far too much, as much as I tried.
58. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2010, what would you change?
I would have to answer not moving to Austin. There were great experiences to be had, but my God did I not think things through. Maybe I wasn't ready.
59. What was your proudest moment of 2010?
I don't even know. Maybe doing "I Would Die 4 U" at that karaoke bar?
60. What was your most embarrassing moment of 2010?
I don't know--no one moment feels embarrassing at all.
62. What are your plans for 2011?
Work at Other Tiger as best as I can, take a class in Library Science and apply for grad school. Find out what is wrong with me and fix it. Be a happier person?