2008 in meme form
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Drove by myself cross-country, stopped teaching at a fantastic high school, began a PhD program, dated a girl with mental illness.
2. Did you keep your New Years Resolutions and will you make more for next year?
No, because I don’t make them.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, three friends, all of whom I know from church. Odd.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My cat died on New Year’s Eve. He was about 20. I’m a bit heartbroken.
5. What countries did you visit?
Mexico
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A greater sense of security/confidence in Illinois and in California.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
February 8: I got into PhD programs.
February 15: I went to look at the University of Illinois
April 15: I had to choose a program.
August 1: I moved out of San Diego
August 8: I moved from California and drove across country.
August 12: arrived in Urbana
August 25: 1st classes!
November 30: First snow in Urbana
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I think getting into 5 PhD programs and picking one that I am very happy with.
9. What was your biggest failure?
This is a hard one to answer in a public journal entry. I think the hardest one was the way things went with a certain someone, and the fact that I still feel guilty for her behavior, even though that’s ludicrious.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Well, I did have the most severe asthma attack since junior high where I passed out in a gym bathroom in November. Awkward. I also got food poisoning on my birthday. Ick.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Hrm, I dunno, a plethora of clever T-shirts?
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My mother for being frighteningly supportive. My great-aunt for driving me from Michigan to Illinois because she wanted me not to be afraid of snow. She’s 85!
Antoinette Burton, for being the best advisor in the history of ever. Tholani Hlongwa for making me love Zulu.
Friends in San Diego (Ryan, Ginny, Anna, Greg, Yucan, Diane, CTK), Los Angeles (Kevin, Lori, Chris, Jon), NorCal (Kirk, Gillian), and Illinois (Pradeep, Gloria, Danielle, Esther, Joey, Archana, Nicolle, Liz, Rachel)
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Evonne. Friends who voted for Prop 8 and tried to cover it up or didn’t want to deal with bigotry. Someone who called me the N-word here in Illinois.
My father, 24 years running.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent and food. Ridiculous t-shirts.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Starting my PhD. Driving across America!
16. What song(s) will always remind you of 2008?
I’m so glad you asked, here are my top 10 songs that make me think of 2008:
10. Justin Nozuka “After Tonight”
9 Charlotte Sometimes “I Could Just Kill A Man”
8 Jordin Sparks “One Step At A Time”
7 Farewell Flight “Widower”
6 Kate Nash “Nicest Thing”
5 Tracy Chapman “Taken”
4 The Dandy Warhols “You Were the Last High”
3 Say Hi To Your Mom “Let’s Talk About Spaceships”
2 Adele “Chasing Pavements”
1 Dido “Don’t Believe in Love”
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a. more happy or more sad?
both. I’m happier with where I am, but there’s a much deeper struggle there.
b. thinner or fatter?
Definitely heftier
c. Richer or poorer?
Considerably poorer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Enjoying my proximity to the ocean.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Stressing, or avoiding issues by doing extra work.
20. How will you be spending New Years Eve?
I spent it with friends in Oakland, drinking wine and celebrating.
21. What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in 2008?
I can’t narrow it down to one.
22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
One big crush.
23. How many one - night stands?
I’m gonna have to say none.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Heroes was replaced by Dexter, Weeds, and 30 Rock
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don’t know if I hate anyone currently. Although there are one or two I don’t’ think I’ll ever speak to again.
26. What was the best book you read?
Too Late The Phalarope by Alan Paton, Lying Days by Nadine Gordimer, The Reader by Bernhard Schlink, and The Grass Is Singing by Doris Lessing.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Oh maaaaan. Hrm. Farewell Flight. Mason Jennings. Envy Corps. Charlotte Sometimes. Adele. Kate Nash. Little Jackie. Be Good Tanyas. Rosie Thomas. Jonathan Coulton. Lykke Li. 2008 was a fantastic year for me to learn more music.
28. What did you want and get [in general]?
into a PhD program. :)
29. What did you want and not get?
Proposition 8 to not pass.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I don’t think I had a particular stand-out this year, honestly.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 24, and went to teach high school as usual. My students made me cakes and gave me hugs. I ended up getting rather inebriated and food poisoned that night, however.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More time to sit and appreciate what I was leaving behind. And no snow.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Edgy t-shirts, excessive bracelets, and a hankerin’ for flip-flops and uncombed hair.
34. What kept you sane?
Jesus, amazing friends, and Vh1’s trashy reality shows, which I watch constantly.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Kate Winslet replaces 2007’s Helena Bonham Carter.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Presidential Election/Prop 8.
37. Who do you miss?
Here goes: Kevin, Lori, Mo & Jason, Anna, Greg, Yucan, mom, grandma, Griggs, Ginny, Gillian, Kirk.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Pradeep, Gloria, Archana, Joey, Danielle, Josh, Janine, Natalie. Thank you, Illinois.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Sometimes you need to take that leap into the unknown and embrace what happens next. And pray.
Drove by myself cross-country, stopped teaching at a fantastic high school, began a PhD program, dated a girl with mental illness.
2. Did you keep your New Years Resolutions and will you make more for next year?
No, because I don’t make them.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, three friends, all of whom I know from church. Odd.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My cat died on New Year’s Eve. He was about 20. I’m a bit heartbroken.
5. What countries did you visit?
Mexico
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A greater sense of security/confidence in Illinois and in California.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
February 8: I got into PhD programs.
February 15: I went to look at the University of Illinois
April 15: I had to choose a program.
August 1: I moved out of San Diego
August 8: I moved from California and drove across country.
August 12: arrived in Urbana
August 25: 1st classes!
November 30: First snow in Urbana
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I think getting into 5 PhD programs and picking one that I am very happy with.
9. What was your biggest failure?
This is a hard one to answer in a public journal entry. I think the hardest one was the way things went with a certain someone, and the fact that I still feel guilty for her behavior, even though that’s ludicrious.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Well, I did have the most severe asthma attack since junior high where I passed out in a gym bathroom in November. Awkward. I also got food poisoning on my birthday. Ick.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Hrm, I dunno, a plethora of clever T-shirts?
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My mother for being frighteningly supportive. My great-aunt for driving me from Michigan to Illinois because she wanted me not to be afraid of snow. She’s 85!
Antoinette Burton, for being the best advisor in the history of ever. Tholani Hlongwa for making me love Zulu.
Friends in San Diego (Ryan, Ginny, Anna, Greg, Yucan, Diane, CTK), Los Angeles (Kevin, Lori, Chris, Jon), NorCal (Kirk, Gillian), and Illinois (Pradeep, Gloria, Danielle, Esther, Joey, Archana, Nicolle, Liz, Rachel)
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Evonne. Friends who voted for Prop 8 and tried to cover it up or didn’t want to deal with bigotry. Someone who called me the N-word here in Illinois.
My father, 24 years running.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent and food. Ridiculous t-shirts.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Starting my PhD. Driving across America!
16. What song(s) will always remind you of 2008?
I’m so glad you asked, here are my top 10 songs that make me think of 2008:
10. Justin Nozuka “After Tonight”
9 Charlotte Sometimes “I Could Just Kill A Man”
8 Jordin Sparks “One Step At A Time”
7 Farewell Flight “Widower”
6 Kate Nash “Nicest Thing”
5 Tracy Chapman “Taken”
4 The Dandy Warhols “You Were the Last High”
3 Say Hi To Your Mom “Let’s Talk About Spaceships”
2 Adele “Chasing Pavements”
1 Dido “Don’t Believe in Love”
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a. more happy or more sad?
both. I’m happier with where I am, but there’s a much deeper struggle there.
b. thinner or fatter?
Definitely heftier
c. Richer or poorer?
Considerably poorer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Enjoying my proximity to the ocean.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Stressing, or avoiding issues by doing extra work.
20. How will you be spending New Years Eve?
I spent it with friends in Oakland, drinking wine and celebrating.
21. What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in 2008?
I can’t narrow it down to one.
22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
One big crush.
23. How many one - night stands?
I’m gonna have to say none.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Heroes was replaced by Dexter, Weeds, and 30 Rock
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don’t know if I hate anyone currently. Although there are one or two I don’t’ think I’ll ever speak to again.
26. What was the best book you read?
Too Late The Phalarope by Alan Paton, Lying Days by Nadine Gordimer, The Reader by Bernhard Schlink, and The Grass Is Singing by Doris Lessing.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Oh maaaaan. Hrm. Farewell Flight. Mason Jennings. Envy Corps. Charlotte Sometimes. Adele. Kate Nash. Little Jackie. Be Good Tanyas. Rosie Thomas. Jonathan Coulton. Lykke Li. 2008 was a fantastic year for me to learn more music.
28. What did you want and get [in general]?
into a PhD program. :)
29. What did you want and not get?
Proposition 8 to not pass.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I don’t think I had a particular stand-out this year, honestly.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 24, and went to teach high school as usual. My students made me cakes and gave me hugs. I ended up getting rather inebriated and food poisoned that night, however.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More time to sit and appreciate what I was leaving behind. And no snow.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Edgy t-shirts, excessive bracelets, and a hankerin’ for flip-flops and uncombed hair.
34. What kept you sane?
Jesus, amazing friends, and Vh1’s trashy reality shows, which I watch constantly.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Kate Winslet replaces 2007’s Helena Bonham Carter.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Presidential Election/Prop 8.
37. Who do you miss?
Here goes: Kevin, Lori, Mo & Jason, Anna, Greg, Yucan, mom, grandma, Griggs, Ginny, Gillian, Kirk.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Pradeep, Gloria, Archana, Joey, Danielle, Josh, Janine, Natalie. Thank you, Illinois.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Sometimes you need to take that leap into the unknown and embrace what happens next. And pray.