Memeweek: Year in review.
Here's the only meme I do with regularity - the year in review one. This'll be the sixth year running. You can see the rest of them here.
What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
-Visited Alaska
-Ate Arctic Char, caribou and probably one or two other meats I'm forgetting
-Moved in, properly, with Hiedi
-Over the summer, I worked more hours per week than I have at any time in the past
Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make resolutions. It's for the best that way.
Did anyone close to you give birth?
No one super-close. Some LJers and a cousin or two, but that's about it.
Did anyone close to you die?
Fortunately, no.
What countries did you visit?
Alaskaland!
What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
A job I don't hate. Although this one is growing on me real slowly. I still hate it, but not as much as I have in the past.
What date(s) from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Huh. Not really sure on this. Maybe March 30 - my first day in Education? Maybe August 19th - the day we moved into the new place?
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Surviving the summer, and coming out of it in such good financial shape. Over the months of July and August, I made as much money as I did the entire first year I worked in the Concordia archives, you guys. Mind you, I spent that first year working four hour days, but still. And guys: the French trial is tentatively scheduled to restart at the end of next month, and if/when it does, I will be there to catch all the money that Total Reporting Services wants to throw at me for the occasion.
What was your biggest failure?
That I'm still in this job. Like I keep saying, it's ok for now, but I really don't want to be here too much longer.
Did you suffer any illness or injury?
Not of any consequence.
What was the best thing you bought?
New couch, probably.
Whose behavior merited celebration?
Hiedi's. And my former boss Francine's. It's thanks to her that I didn't go jobless after my time was up at FLSD.
Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Emily's.
Where did most of your money go?
Rent, food, Northwestel and the Gold Rush.
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Living in our own apartment, the visit from my parents over the summer and the possibility of travel somewhere, even if that possibility never materialized.
What song will always remind you of 2010?
Let's say anything by Justin Bieber, with no thanks at all to Emily on that count.
Compared to this time last year, are you:
happier or sadder? Happier, no doubt. But I mostly mean that in the sense that at this time last year, Hiedi and I were having as lean a Christmas as either of us ever has, probably. We were just starting to see cheques from our new jobs and we were counting up the change in our pockets every time we went to the grocery store. Money can't by happiness exactly, but it can keep some stresses at bay.
thinner or fatter? About the same.
richer or poorer? Richer. No contest.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Working out, I guess. Our place isn't really set up for it, but I wish I had access to like, a little stationary bike or something.
What do you wish you'd done less of?
As I always say: Non, je ne regrette rien.
How will you be spending Christmas?
Hiedi and I will go to a church service the night before, and then open a gift each. Probably after that, we'll stay up too late drinking coffees sweetened with fatty, boozy, sweet liquids. Saturday morning, we'll open gifts and get to work on a roast chicken for dinner. We'll probably Skype with our parents at some point, relax some, then have dinner and do some marathon viewings of the DVDs we're each getting. That's my prediction, anyway.
Did you fall in love in 2010?
Stayed in it.
How many one-night stands?
Zero.
What was your favorite TV program?
Too many to choose from. L&O will always have a special place in my heart, you know. And it ended this year, so I'll go with it. On some level, I am also tempted to say Community too though.
What was the best book you read?
Book?
What was your greatest musical discovery?
I didn't discover anything, really. I mean, I dug deeper into the Isley Brothers' canon, so I guess I'll go with that.
What did you want and get?
An apartment apart from the Emilymonster.
What did you want and not get?
A different job.
What was your favorite film of this year?
I'm inclined to go with The Social Network.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 30. It was Good Friday, so Hiedi and I just stayed in, ordered pizza and played on the Wii. Low-key.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Probably a vacation. I just need a chance to really chill out.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Jeans, sweaters, soul t-shirts and ballcaps.
What kept you sane?
Livejournal and intoxicants, as always.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
You know who I've started developing a little thing for lately, while watching back episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, is that Kathryn Erbe. Although if we're going for straight-up hotness among L&O spinoffs, no one can touch Freema Agyeman from the UK version.
What political issue stirred you the most?
I'm still hung up on decorum in the House of Commons. I don't think I will really, truly re-engage politically with federal politics until MPs start to show the same kind of respect for one another that we all have to show our colleagues on a daily basis at our jobs.
Who did you miss?
Erika. Tracey. Marina. Christina. My Central Canada girls.
Who was the best new person you met?
Probably Lauren. She's hippy-dippy in a lot of ways, but she's also awesome and easy to talk to and easy to laugh with. Like to get to know her and Joseph a lot better.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:
Patience is key. If you can be patient through the rough spots, it's so much easier.
Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Huh. All the music I listen to now has lyrics about love or heartbreak or partying and, while I'm still madly in love, nothing really jumps out at me that speaks to this year. Ok, maybe one of those Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell duets. Corny! But how about:
Just to do what's good for you
And inspire you a little higher
I know you can make a man
Out of a soul that didn't have a goal
'Cause we, we got the right foundation
And with love and determination
You're all
You're All I need to get by
What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
-Visited Alaska
-Ate Arctic Char, caribou and probably one or two other meats I'm forgetting
-Moved in, properly, with Hiedi
-Over the summer, I worked more hours per week than I have at any time in the past
Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make resolutions. It's for the best that way.
Did anyone close to you give birth?
No one super-close. Some LJers and a cousin or two, but that's about it.
Did anyone close to you die?
Fortunately, no.
What countries did you visit?
Alaskaland!
What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
A job I don't hate. Although this one is growing on me real slowly. I still hate it, but not as much as I have in the past.
What date(s) from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Huh. Not really sure on this. Maybe March 30 - my first day in Education? Maybe August 19th - the day we moved into the new place?
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Surviving the summer, and coming out of it in such good financial shape. Over the months of July and August, I made as much money as I did the entire first year I worked in the Concordia archives, you guys. Mind you, I spent that first year working four hour days, but still. And guys: the French trial is tentatively scheduled to restart at the end of next month, and if/when it does, I will be there to catch all the money that Total Reporting Services wants to throw at me for the occasion.
What was your biggest failure?
That I'm still in this job. Like I keep saying, it's ok for now, but I really don't want to be here too much longer.
Did you suffer any illness or injury?
Not of any consequence.
What was the best thing you bought?
New couch, probably.
Whose behavior merited celebration?
Hiedi's. And my former boss Francine's. It's thanks to her that I didn't go jobless after my time was up at FLSD.
Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Emily's.
Where did most of your money go?
Rent, food, Northwestel and the Gold Rush.
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Living in our own apartment, the visit from my parents over the summer and the possibility of travel somewhere, even if that possibility never materialized.
What song will always remind you of 2010?
Let's say anything by Justin Bieber, with no thanks at all to Emily on that count.
Compared to this time last year, are you:
happier or sadder? Happier, no doubt. But I mostly mean that in the sense that at this time last year, Hiedi and I were having as lean a Christmas as either of us ever has, probably. We were just starting to see cheques from our new jobs and we were counting up the change in our pockets every time we went to the grocery store. Money can't by happiness exactly, but it can keep some stresses at bay.
thinner or fatter? About the same.
richer or poorer? Richer. No contest.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Working out, I guess. Our place isn't really set up for it, but I wish I had access to like, a little stationary bike or something.
What do you wish you'd done less of?
As I always say: Non, je ne regrette rien.
How will you be spending Christmas?
Hiedi and I will go to a church service the night before, and then open a gift each. Probably after that, we'll stay up too late drinking coffees sweetened with fatty, boozy, sweet liquids. Saturday morning, we'll open gifts and get to work on a roast chicken for dinner. We'll probably Skype with our parents at some point, relax some, then have dinner and do some marathon viewings of the DVDs we're each getting. That's my prediction, anyway.
Did you fall in love in 2010?
Stayed in it.
How many one-night stands?
Zero.
What was your favorite TV program?
Too many to choose from. L&O will always have a special place in my heart, you know. And it ended this year, so I'll go with it. On some level, I am also tempted to say Community too though.
What was the best book you read?
Book?
What was your greatest musical discovery?
I didn't discover anything, really. I mean, I dug deeper into the Isley Brothers' canon, so I guess I'll go with that.
What did you want and get?
An apartment apart from the Emilymonster.
What did you want and not get?
A different job.
What was your favorite film of this year?
I'm inclined to go with The Social Network.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 30. It was Good Friday, so Hiedi and I just stayed in, ordered pizza and played on the Wii. Low-key.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Probably a vacation. I just need a chance to really chill out.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Jeans, sweaters, soul t-shirts and ballcaps.
What kept you sane?
Livejournal and intoxicants, as always.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
You know who I've started developing a little thing for lately, while watching back episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, is that Kathryn Erbe. Although if we're going for straight-up hotness among L&O spinoffs, no one can touch Freema Agyeman from the UK version.
What political issue stirred you the most?
I'm still hung up on decorum in the House of Commons. I don't think I will really, truly re-engage politically with federal politics until MPs start to show the same kind of respect for one another that we all have to show our colleagues on a daily basis at our jobs.
Who did you miss?
Erika. Tracey. Marina. Christina. My Central Canada girls.
Who was the best new person you met?
Probably Lauren. She's hippy-dippy in a lot of ways, but she's also awesome and easy to talk to and easy to laugh with. Like to get to know her and Joseph a lot better.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:
Patience is key. If you can be patient through the rough spots, it's so much easier.
Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Huh. All the music I listen to now has lyrics about love or heartbreak or partying and, while I'm still madly in love, nothing really jumps out at me that speaks to this year. Ok, maybe one of those Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell duets. Corny! But how about:
Just to do what's good for you
And inspire you a little higher
I know you can make a man
Out of a soul that didn't have a goal
'Cause we, we got the right foundation
And with love and determination
You're all
You're All I need to get by