Year in review.
And while we're at it, let's get this done, too.
What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
-I got a real job. I'm going to reference that throughout this post. And by 'real', I mean, a job where I'm in the system. Where I exist to my employer's HR division. Where I get benefits and a union membership and my pay is stable from week-to-week no matter how many sick days I take.
-I dumped someone. I kind of did in 2006, but not in as real a way as I did this year.
-I got divorced.
-I lived on my own. This is another one that I kind of did in '06, but that was for less than a month. This year though, I've been bach'n it the whole time.
Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any last year. This year I've made one that I'm not going to talk about here.
Did anyone close to you give birth?
No one other than cousins and people I don't see very often.
Did anyone close to you die?
Again, no. No one close to me has died in a long time, and even in those cases from years ago, the people weren't super-close to me.
What countries did you visit?
I didn't cross any international borders this year.
What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Financial stability, and that should come one way or another with the job(s). I'd also love a best friend, but that can't be manufactured.
What date(s) from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 9th is the only one that comes to mind. The day the divorce went through.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Again with the job. Years, it took me. But I got one.
What was your biggest failure?
I've become awfully non-fit.
Did you suffer any illness or injury?
Not of any consequence.
What was the best thing you bought?
I didn't buy a whole lot over the year because of finances. When I get my five (count 'em) paycheques in January though, I just might splurge all over my living room. Ha.
Whose behavior merited celebration?
The usual suspects were good to me: bee_york, never_die7 and wellesleywino (also known as Marina, Tracey and Erika respectively, in various posts) were all awesome. And the fact that my old boss kept me on in such a flexible way when I got the job at McGill puts her on the list too.
Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
No one quite like last year, that's fer damn sure. But the usual suspects here had their moments in '07 as well.
Where did most of your money go?
Shelter and food and, you know.
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Always Wilco. There was a new album this year. I certainly got very excited about the Senators during their playoff run in the spring.
What song will always remind you of 2007?
I don't think there is one. But I will say that "Bastards" by The Golden Dogs was maybe the best of all the songs I heard for the first time this year.
Compared to this time last year, are you:
happier or sadder? Let's say happier, but weirder.
thinner or fatter? My physique's about the same, but the shape I'm in - my fitness - is worse.
richer or poorer? Again, about the same. Not well off by any stretch, but comfortable. I have everything I need and a few things that I want.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Working out, again. And more sex would've been good, too.
What do you wish you'd done less of?
Here, I could say drinking like I guess I'm supposed to, but it wouldn't really be true. Non, je ne regrette rien.
How will you be spending Christmas?
See previous post(s).
Did you fall in love in 2007?
Nope.
How many one-night stands?
One. Same as last time.
What was your favorite TV program?
Well, season two of Heroes stood up better for me it seems, than for a lot of people. The makers of the show can really do no wrong by me at this point. Other than that? I continued with 24 (and despite all the criticisms I've levelled at it in the past couple of years I actually think I'll miss it when it doesn't start next month as usual). Weeds has also been at must-download status for me.
What was the best book you read?
I'm so uncultured.
What was your greatest musical discovery?
I didn't discover a whole lot in the way of new music this year, but I did rediscover some oldies. Tindersticks is shaping up as the band making the biggest gains on my own personal hit parade.
What did you want and get?
Companionship, in various forms.
What did you want and not get?
Companionship, in various other forms.
What was your favorite film of this year?
I have good luck when it comes to movies - I don't usually wind up seeing ones I don't like. It pays to be picky. Grindhouse, Sicko, Knocked Up and Superbad were all good.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 27, and specifically on my birthday, I didn't do much. I did have nice nights with my then-girlfriend and my folks within the week, though.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
This one's always tough for me. A Stanley Cup win by my favourite hockey team woulda been good. A weak-in-the-knees type of love would have been welcome, too.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Meh. Lots of shirts with collars underneath sweaters. Plenty of corduroy and peacoats, hoodies and band t-shirts...
What kept you sane?
Same as last year: intoxicants and Livejournal. And friends, but most of 'em are on Livejournal.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I haven't had nearly so many crushes lately, least of all on celebrities. This is totally random and should not be taken at all to represent a year's worth of crushes on my part, but when Amy Winehouse looks good, she looks good (of course, there's the flipside to that, too...). I probably had one or two crushes on some of you, too. :p
What political issue stirred you the most?
The reasonable accomodation stuff has been a trip.
Who did you miss?
Buncha people.
Who was the best new person you met?
That's tough. I'm not sure I could say.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
I wouldn't say it's a life lesson per se, but I got to look at petty, mean disputes this year from the inside out for the first time. I'm not sure what 'lesson' to take from that.
Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Well I don't know what I'm looking for
But I know that I just want to look some more
And I won't be satisfied
Til there's nothing left that I haven't tried
For some people it's an easy choice
But for me there's a devil in an angel's voice
I used to be involved and I felt like a king
Now I've lost it all and I don't feel a thing
I may never grow up, I may never give in
And I blame this world that I live in
I visit hell on a daily basis
And I see the sadness on all your faces
I've got friends who have married and their lives seemed complete
And here I am still stumbling down a darkened street
A darkened street
-Brendan Benson, What I'm Looking For
What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
-I got a real job. I'm going to reference that throughout this post. And by 'real', I mean, a job where I'm in the system. Where I exist to my employer's HR division. Where I get benefits and a union membership and my pay is stable from week-to-week no matter how many sick days I take.
-I dumped someone. I kind of did in 2006, but not in as real a way as I did this year.
-I got divorced.
-I lived on my own. This is another one that I kind of did in '06, but that was for less than a month. This year though, I've been bach'n it the whole time.
Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any last year. This year I've made one that I'm not going to talk about here.
Did anyone close to you give birth?
No one other than cousins and people I don't see very often.
Did anyone close to you die?
Again, no. No one close to me has died in a long time, and even in those cases from years ago, the people weren't super-close to me.
What countries did you visit?
I didn't cross any international borders this year.
What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Financial stability, and that should come one way or another with the job(s). I'd also love a best friend, but that can't be manufactured.
What date(s) from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 9th is the only one that comes to mind. The day the divorce went through.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Again with the job. Years, it took me. But I got one.
What was your biggest failure?
I've become awfully non-fit.
Did you suffer any illness or injury?
Not of any consequence.
What was the best thing you bought?
I didn't buy a whole lot over the year because of finances. When I get my five (count 'em) paycheques in January though, I just might splurge all over my living room. Ha.
Whose behavior merited celebration?
The usual suspects were good to me: bee_york, never_die7 and wellesleywino (also known as Marina, Tracey and Erika respectively, in various posts) were all awesome. And the fact that my old boss kept me on in such a flexible way when I got the job at McGill puts her on the list too.
Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
No one quite like last year, that's fer damn sure. But the usual suspects here had their moments in '07 as well.
Where did most of your money go?
Shelter and food and, you know.
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Always Wilco. There was a new album this year. I certainly got very excited about the Senators during their playoff run in the spring.
What song will always remind you of 2007?
I don't think there is one. But I will say that "Bastards" by The Golden Dogs was maybe the best of all the songs I heard for the first time this year.
Compared to this time last year, are you:
happier or sadder? Let's say happier, but weirder.
thinner or fatter? My physique's about the same, but the shape I'm in - my fitness - is worse.
richer or poorer? Again, about the same. Not well off by any stretch, but comfortable. I have everything I need and a few things that I want.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Working out, again. And more sex would've been good, too.
What do you wish you'd done less of?
Here, I could say drinking like I guess I'm supposed to, but it wouldn't really be true. Non, je ne regrette rien.
How will you be spending Christmas?
See previous post(s).
Did you fall in love in 2007?
Nope.
How many one-night stands?
One. Same as last time.
What was your favorite TV program?
Well, season two of Heroes stood up better for me it seems, than for a lot of people. The makers of the show can really do no wrong by me at this point. Other than that? I continued with 24 (and despite all the criticisms I've levelled at it in the past couple of years I actually think I'll miss it when it doesn't start next month as usual). Weeds has also been at must-download status for me.
What was the best book you read?
I'm so uncultured.
What was your greatest musical discovery?
I didn't discover a whole lot in the way of new music this year, but I did rediscover some oldies. Tindersticks is shaping up as the band making the biggest gains on my own personal hit parade.
What did you want and get?
Companionship, in various forms.
What did you want and not get?
Companionship, in various other forms.
What was your favorite film of this year?
I have good luck when it comes to movies - I don't usually wind up seeing ones I don't like. It pays to be picky. Grindhouse, Sicko, Knocked Up and Superbad were all good.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 27, and specifically on my birthday, I didn't do much. I did have nice nights with my then-girlfriend and my folks within the week, though.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
This one's always tough for me. A Stanley Cup win by my favourite hockey team woulda been good. A weak-in-the-knees type of love would have been welcome, too.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Meh. Lots of shirts with collars underneath sweaters. Plenty of corduroy and peacoats, hoodies and band t-shirts...
What kept you sane?
Same as last year: intoxicants and Livejournal. And friends, but most of 'em are on Livejournal.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I haven't had nearly so many crushes lately, least of all on celebrities. This is totally random and should not be taken at all to represent a year's worth of crushes on my part, but when Amy Winehouse looks good, she looks good (of course, there's the flipside to that, too...). I probably had one or two crushes on some of you, too. :p
What political issue stirred you the most?
The reasonable accomodation stuff has been a trip.
Who did you miss?
Buncha people.
Who was the best new person you met?
That's tough. I'm not sure I could say.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
I wouldn't say it's a life lesson per se, but I got to look at petty, mean disputes this year from the inside out for the first time. I'm not sure what 'lesson' to take from that.
Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Well I don't know what I'm looking for
But I know that I just want to look some more
And I won't be satisfied
Til there's nothing left that I haven't tried
For some people it's an easy choice
But for me there's a devil in an angel's voice
I used to be involved and I felt like a king
Now I've lost it all and I don't feel a thing
I may never grow up, I may never give in
And I blame this world that I live in
I visit hell on a daily basis
And I see the sadness on all your faces
I've got friends who have married and their lives seemed complete
And here I am still stumbling down a darkened street
A darkened street
-Brendan Benson, What I'm Looking For