yo dudes 2009 yeah
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Had a staff of my own. Admittedly it’s a bit tough to get out of the habit of taking orders rather than giving them, and so I tend to be a lot more hands-on than most of the other managers and supervisors at places that I’ve worked, but I don’t think that’s such a bad approach, really.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
For the first time ever, I did indeed keep my resolution, which was to finish Afterbirth, finally, after 5 years of fits and fiddlings. This year’s resolution: get an agent to represent it.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Somebody who was once very close to me, and then wasn’t, and now is again in an entirely different way, did indeed give birth. I’m very happy for her. I always did believe she’d make a fantastic mother, and now she gets to go and prove me right.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
I found out that a previous coworker of mine was diagnosed with and succumbed to cancer very rapidly. I wasn’t around when it happened, and only learned of it much later, so I guess I can’t say that she and I were “close.” But I’ll put it this way: close enough that I felt genuinely awful about not having been there.
5. What countries did you visit?
Just the one.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
An agent. Otherwise, I can’t say that there’s much about my life I’d like to change right now.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
December 7. A day that will live in infamy.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finishing Afterbirth, getting a great promotion, moving into a nice big place of my own with two bedrooms and an office, and coming to grips with the fact that for the past few years at least, my successes have indeed been my own, and therefore there is nothing wrong with being proud of them. Also, my Save-State Gamer series on youtube seems to be gathering some very interesting steam.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not managing to feel for somebody (and somebody else) what somebody (and somebody else) managed to feel for me. Also, I did not manage to catch a purse-snatcher who stole a good friend’s bag right in front of us in Tampa on Halloween. I gave it a good try, but at the precise moment that I could have made the catch, I fumbled...did the wrong thing...he got away. If there’s a positive aspect to this at all, it’s that I have a stronger, more personal interpretation of a certain passage (or two) in Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Arm in a sling (and hand in pain) for two weeks or so.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Xbox I guess? Nah...it’s the 2-disc 50th anniversary edition of North by Northwest, bitches.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
I don’t know what this means.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
I don’t know what this means.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Moving. Furniture. Rent. And way too many video games.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
New Pynchon novel! New Wes Anderson movie! One of which was really good!
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
No clue. I’ve been listening to The Question a lot, by Moody Blues. Maybe that. Who cares. Or maybe Joy off the new Phish album. Just because it’s off the new Phish album and when I hear it I keep seeing slideshows of people who were important to me. So that one. Joy off the new Phish album. Who cares.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier
ii. thinner or fatter? Probably the same, possibly a little fatter
iii. richer or poorer? Richer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Reading. Somehow I’ve really fallen off the new-to-me book wagon, sticking instead to old books I’ve read a dozen times before. No idea why.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I’ve been pretty productive this year. Maybe less internet surfing, and more time drinking beer in a hammock or something.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
It’s...a year away. So...no idea.
21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
In a way.
22. How many one-night stands?
The night is young!
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Arrested Development became my all-time favorite TV show. As far as things that actually aired for the first time in 2009? No idea. Late though it was, the Rapture episode of American Dad was probably the greatest thing to air all year though.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Actually I like a few people now that I disliked at this time last year. Growing up!
25. What was the best book you read?
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. Go buy it. GO BUY IT.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Didn’t discover any new artists that blew me away, really.
27. What did you want and get?
A better job, a nicer place to live, dearer friends.
28. What did you want and not get?
A supermodel who poops money.
29. What was your favourite film of this year?
I loved Funny People, but I’m pretty depressed that I could call it the best of the year. What a dismal year for film.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I can’t remember. I’m sure it was fun. I was 28.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A supermodel who poops money.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
I started dressing a little nicer...caring about whether or not I look like a colorblind hobo. It feels good, actually.
33. What kept you sane?
Moving back to an area populated by great friends.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None, really. I don’t think I’ve had a celebrity crush since the pink Power Ranger.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
OBAMA MANDATORY DEATH CAMPS FROM HELL
36. Who did you miss?
Rebecca. Every fucking year Rebecca.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
I’ve met a lot of great new folks, but I’ve rediscovered even more old ones. No playing favorites.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009
We are each the architect of our own misfortune.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
Ooh, child. Things are gonna get easier. Right now.
40. Did you enjoy this year?
Without any reservation, I can say that the lows were higher than ever. 2009 was probably one of the best years I’ve ever had.
Had a staff of my own. Admittedly it’s a bit tough to get out of the habit of taking orders rather than giving them, and so I tend to be a lot more hands-on than most of the other managers and supervisors at places that I’ve worked, but I don’t think that’s such a bad approach, really.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
For the first time ever, I did indeed keep my resolution, which was to finish Afterbirth, finally, after 5 years of fits and fiddlings. This year’s resolution: get an agent to represent it.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Somebody who was once very close to me, and then wasn’t, and now is again in an entirely different way, did indeed give birth. I’m very happy for her. I always did believe she’d make a fantastic mother, and now she gets to go and prove me right.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
I found out that a previous coworker of mine was diagnosed with and succumbed to cancer very rapidly. I wasn’t around when it happened, and only learned of it much later, so I guess I can’t say that she and I were “close.” But I’ll put it this way: close enough that I felt genuinely awful about not having been there.
5. What countries did you visit?
Just the one.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
An agent. Otherwise, I can’t say that there’s much about my life I’d like to change right now.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
December 7. A day that will live in infamy.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finishing Afterbirth, getting a great promotion, moving into a nice big place of my own with two bedrooms and an office, and coming to grips with the fact that for the past few years at least, my successes have indeed been my own, and therefore there is nothing wrong with being proud of them. Also, my Save-State Gamer series on youtube seems to be gathering some very interesting steam.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not managing to feel for somebody (and somebody else) what somebody (and somebody else) managed to feel for me. Also, I did not manage to catch a purse-snatcher who stole a good friend’s bag right in front of us in Tampa on Halloween. I gave it a good try, but at the precise moment that I could have made the catch, I fumbled...did the wrong thing...he got away. If there’s a positive aspect to this at all, it’s that I have a stronger, more personal interpretation of a certain passage (or two) in Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Arm in a sling (and hand in pain) for two weeks or so.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Xbox I guess? Nah...it’s the 2-disc 50th anniversary edition of North by Northwest, bitches.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
I don’t know what this means.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
I don’t know what this means.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Moving. Furniture. Rent. And way too many video games.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
New Pynchon novel! New Wes Anderson movie! One of which was really good!
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
No clue. I’ve been listening to The Question a lot, by Moody Blues. Maybe that. Who cares. Or maybe Joy off the new Phish album. Just because it’s off the new Phish album and when I hear it I keep seeing slideshows of people who were important to me. So that one. Joy off the new Phish album. Who cares.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier
ii. thinner or fatter? Probably the same, possibly a little fatter
iii. richer or poorer? Richer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Reading. Somehow I’ve really fallen off the new-to-me book wagon, sticking instead to old books I’ve read a dozen times before. No idea why.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I’ve been pretty productive this year. Maybe less internet surfing, and more time drinking beer in a hammock or something.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
It’s...a year away. So...no idea.
21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
In a way.
22. How many one-night stands?
The night is young!
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Arrested Development became my all-time favorite TV show. As far as things that actually aired for the first time in 2009? No idea. Late though it was, the Rapture episode of American Dad was probably the greatest thing to air all year though.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Actually I like a few people now that I disliked at this time last year. Growing up!
25. What was the best book you read?
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. Go buy it. GO BUY IT.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Didn’t discover any new artists that blew me away, really.
27. What did you want and get?
A better job, a nicer place to live, dearer friends.
28. What did you want and not get?
A supermodel who poops money.
29. What was your favourite film of this year?
I loved Funny People, but I’m pretty depressed that I could call it the best of the year. What a dismal year for film.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I can’t remember. I’m sure it was fun. I was 28.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A supermodel who poops money.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
I started dressing a little nicer...caring about whether or not I look like a colorblind hobo. It feels good, actually.
33. What kept you sane?
Moving back to an area populated by great friends.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None, really. I don’t think I’ve had a celebrity crush since the pink Power Ranger.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
OBAMA MANDATORY DEATH CAMPS FROM HELL
36. Who did you miss?
Rebecca. Every fucking year Rebecca.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
I’ve met a lot of great new folks, but I’ve rediscovered even more old ones. No playing favorites.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009
We are each the architect of our own misfortune.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
Ooh, child. Things are gonna get easier. Right now.
40. Did you enjoy this year?
Without any reservation, I can say that the lows were higher than ever. 2009 was probably one of the best years I’ve ever had.