End of Year Survey
Whoops! Sneaking this under the wire. Basically, 2011 was a rollercoaster for me. It started off pretty good, then was pretty awesome, and then got shitty and stayed shitty for a while, and just recently began an uptick. So I guess I'd like to try to maintain that upward momentum going forward.
1. What did you do in this year that you'd never done before?
Went to Colorado! Which was not really as awesome as my trip to Hawaii the year before, if I'm honest. But I did go hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, and I also sat in a hot tub while it snowed, watching horses graze in the pasture. So that was pretty awesome. ETA: I saw a moon halo when I was on Colorado, and it was amazing and beautiful.
I also started talking Pilates classes, which I love.
2. Did you achieve your goals, and will you make more for this year?
Goals for 2011 were:
-Meditate at least once a week.
-Spend less time online.
-Write at least three stories
-Improve my posture
One thing I've discovered is that I do better with more specific goals, rather than the ongoing "I'll do this more!" kind of goals, which can quickly feel overwhelming and like I'm not really accomplishing anything other than adding another task to the endless assembly line that is daily life. I'm keeping that in mind for 2012.
I did the meditation stuff fairly regularly, though if it was once a week or more or less I can't say. I kind of fell off the wagon on this in December, as I spent most of my free time this past month writing (3-4 hours of sleep a night, people--I am too old for that shit).
I did actually manage to spend less time online earlier this year, which really helped me in a lot of ways because I got more stuff done around the house and spent more time outside when the weather permitted, which just makes life better all around...until recently. Until The Avengers, I mean specifically. Damn that first blush of fandom love.
I did finish three stories! Two of them are posted, and hopefully the third will see the light of day soon! I have several others in various stages of completion, and hope to get those done in 2012.
I have worked on my posture, with the help of Pilates.
In keeping with the desire to make my goals for 2012 more quantitative, I've decided I will:
-write at least five stories
-read at least five books
-create at least five fannish things that are not stories (graphics etc)
-finally do that damn elephant Pilates move without adding an extra spring
-200 Sit-Ups
And lastly, though this may go out the window immediately, I want to attempt Inbox Zero. This is without a doubt the most terrifying of my goals. And if I want to start right away, I'll have to deal with several hundred emails tomorrow. /o\
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Depends on what you define as close. But there were a lot of babies around.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no.
5. What countries did you visit?
Just the one I live in.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Answers from last year: Money. New glasses. A new pair of riding boots. Gym membership (so I can run inside heehee).
Of those, I got the new glasses, and I do have a little more breathing room in my budget now. So I guess the new riding boots are still on the table, and I'd also like to get some snowshoes. Since I'm taking Pilates classes, I'm scrapping the gym membership thing.
7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 14th, the day of my 40th birthday party.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I wrote, all total, about 100,000 words of fiction in 2011, which has to be a record for me. I think it's pretty awesome.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I let some stuff get on top of me mentally in October and November, things I feel like I should have been able to deal with without curling up in a fetal ball.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I sprained my ankle really, really badly in August. It's still not fully healed.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I added a package to my cable (for a mere $4.13 a month!) that enabled me to get BBC America. I did this on New Years Eve 2010 and it has made for a really fucking awesome 2011. Top Gear! Graham Norton! Doctor Who! Well worth the four bucks a month.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
All my friends and family who traveled to make it to my 40th birthday party. <3
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Anyone who thinks SOPA is a good idea.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Horses are expensive, dude.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My big 40th birthday bash!
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
I and Love and You [YouTube link] by The Avett Brothers, which I listened to on pretty steady repeat while writing Semaphore.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier
ii. thinner or fatter? thinner
iii. richer or poorer? richer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Baking! I got some really awesome baking stuff for my birthday, and have barely used it.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Letting my boss get under my skin with his abusive bullshit.
20. How will you be spending New Year's Eve?
Home alone, which is my tradition. (Start as you intend to go on, and all that.)
22. Did you fall in love in 2011
Yes. WITH THE AVENGERS. <3
23. How many one-night stands?
I did spend one evening reading Whose Line Is It Anyway? fan fiction, if that's what you mean.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
New show would be American Horror Story. Still love The Walking Dead, too. (And still having nightmares because of it, but in the last one the Avengers showed up and killed the zombies, so yay for fannish mash-up nightmares.)
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't think so.
26. What was the best book you read?
I...think I read some books? I know I must have. I remember when I read books all the time, but over the years I've read less and less than ever, mostly because I couldn't afford books (and when I decided to use the library instead...well, I could have bought MANY, MANY books with what I paid in fines, so that was a big fail). And I mainly use my Kindle to read fannish porn, and even then I don't have much time to read, really. I miss it. Which is why I made reading part of my goals for 2012.
27. What was your greatest musical (re)discovery?
The Avett Brothers.
28. What did you want and get?
My writing mojo back.
29. What did you want and not get?
For my boss to get his act together so we don't have to sweat payroll twice a month. The next person who tells me we need more small business owners in government, because they know what they're doing and how to run things, is getting kicked in the nads.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Captain America!! Second would be The Wacky Marital Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 40 and had a party for 100 people and it was fucking awesome, and my BFFGs (Best Friend Fangirls) came to town and we saw Thor and it was the best weekend of my whole year. <3 <3
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If my neighbor's stereo had blown up, and taken him with it.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Black and made by LL Bean or Old Navy.
34. What kept you sane?
My horse.
35. Which celebrity/public figure/fictional character did you fancy the most?
Captain America!
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Fucking SOPA.
37. Who did you miss?
Some of my LJ/DW friends who have wandered away. I know a lot of them are on Tumblr, but it's not the same. :(
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I don't know if I have an answer for this one.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
It's never too early in the day to start drinking.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I hear in my mind all these voices
I hear in my mind all these words
This is how I feel when I write, and it feels good to have that back.
Count von Count would like you to know that over at Dreamwidth this post has
comments! Ah ha ha ha ha!
1. What did you do in this year that you'd never done before?
Went to Colorado! Which was not really as awesome as my trip to Hawaii the year before, if I'm honest. But I did go hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, and I also sat in a hot tub while it snowed, watching horses graze in the pasture. So that was pretty awesome. ETA: I saw a moon halo when I was on Colorado, and it was amazing and beautiful.
I also started talking Pilates classes, which I love.
2. Did you achieve your goals, and will you make more for this year?
Goals for 2011 were:
-Meditate at least once a week.
-Spend less time online.
-Write at least three stories
-Improve my posture
One thing I've discovered is that I do better with more specific goals, rather than the ongoing "I'll do this more!" kind of goals, which can quickly feel overwhelming and like I'm not really accomplishing anything other than adding another task to the endless assembly line that is daily life. I'm keeping that in mind for 2012.
I did the meditation stuff fairly regularly, though if it was once a week or more or less I can't say. I kind of fell off the wagon on this in December, as I spent most of my free time this past month writing (3-4 hours of sleep a night, people--I am too old for that shit).
I did actually manage to spend less time online earlier this year, which really helped me in a lot of ways because I got more stuff done around the house and spent more time outside when the weather permitted, which just makes life better all around...until recently. Until The Avengers, I mean specifically. Damn that first blush of fandom love.
I did finish three stories! Two of them are posted, and hopefully the third will see the light of day soon! I have several others in various stages of completion, and hope to get those done in 2012.
I have worked on my posture, with the help of Pilates.
In keeping with the desire to make my goals for 2012 more quantitative, I've decided I will:
-write at least five stories
-read at least five books
-create at least five fannish things that are not stories (graphics etc)
-finally do that damn elephant Pilates move without adding an extra spring
-200 Sit-Ups
And lastly, though this may go out the window immediately, I want to attempt Inbox Zero. This is without a doubt the most terrifying of my goals. And if I want to start right away, I'll have to deal with several hundred emails tomorrow. /o\
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Depends on what you define as close. But there were a lot of babies around.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no.
5. What countries did you visit?
Just the one I live in.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Answers from last year: Money. New glasses. A new pair of riding boots. Gym membership (so I can run inside heehee).
Of those, I got the new glasses, and I do have a little more breathing room in my budget now. So I guess the new riding boots are still on the table, and I'd also like to get some snowshoes. Since I'm taking Pilates classes, I'm scrapping the gym membership thing.
7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 14th, the day of my 40th birthday party.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I wrote, all total, about 100,000 words of fiction in 2011, which has to be a record for me. I think it's pretty awesome.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I let some stuff get on top of me mentally in October and November, things I feel like I should have been able to deal with without curling up in a fetal ball.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I sprained my ankle really, really badly in August. It's still not fully healed.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I added a package to my cable (for a mere $4.13 a month!) that enabled me to get BBC America. I did this on New Years Eve 2010 and it has made for a really fucking awesome 2011. Top Gear! Graham Norton! Doctor Who! Well worth the four bucks a month.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
All my friends and family who traveled to make it to my 40th birthday party. <3
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Anyone who thinks SOPA is a good idea.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Horses are expensive, dude.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My big 40th birthday bash!
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
I and Love and You [YouTube link] by The Avett Brothers, which I listened to on pretty steady repeat while writing Semaphore.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier
ii. thinner or fatter? thinner
iii. richer or poorer? richer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Baking! I got some really awesome baking stuff for my birthday, and have barely used it.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Letting my boss get under my skin with his abusive bullshit.
20. How will you be spending New Year's Eve?
Home alone, which is my tradition. (Start as you intend to go on, and all that.)
22. Did you fall in love in 2011
Yes. WITH THE AVENGERS. <3
23. How many one-night stands?
I did spend one evening reading Whose Line Is It Anyway? fan fiction, if that's what you mean.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
New show would be American Horror Story. Still love The Walking Dead, too. (And still having nightmares because of it, but in the last one the Avengers showed up and killed the zombies, so yay for fannish mash-up nightmares.)
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't think so.
26. What was the best book you read?
I...think I read some books? I know I must have. I remember when I read books all the time, but over the years I've read less and less than ever, mostly because I couldn't afford books (and when I decided to use the library instead...well, I could have bought MANY, MANY books with what I paid in fines, so that was a big fail). And I mainly use my Kindle to read fannish porn, and even then I don't have much time to read, really. I miss it. Which is why I made reading part of my goals for 2012.
27. What was your greatest musical (re)discovery?
The Avett Brothers.
28. What did you want and get?
My writing mojo back.
29. What did you want and not get?
For my boss to get his act together so we don't have to sweat payroll twice a month. The next person who tells me we need more small business owners in government, because they know what they're doing and how to run things, is getting kicked in the nads.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Captain America!! Second would be The Wacky Marital Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 40 and had a party for 100 people and it was fucking awesome, and my BFFGs (Best Friend Fangirls) came to town and we saw Thor and it was the best weekend of my whole year. <3 <3
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If my neighbor's stereo had blown up, and taken him with it.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Black and made by LL Bean or Old Navy.
34. What kept you sane?
My horse.
35. Which celebrity/public figure/fictional character did you fancy the most?
Captain America!
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Fucking SOPA.
37. Who did you miss?
Some of my LJ/DW friends who have wandered away. I know a lot of them are on Tumblr, but it's not the same. :(
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I don't know if I have an answer for this one.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
It's never too early in the day to start drinking.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I hear in my mind all these voices
I hear in my mind all these words
This is how I feel when I write, and it feels good to have that back.
Count von Count would like you to know that over at Dreamwidth this post has
comments! Ah ha ha ha ha!