2008 reflection
1. was 2008 a good year for you?
Yes, overall it was. While very financially impaired in most respects, by being frugal and prioritizing our spending/saving we actually did quite a lot this year - a week long holiday in Switzerland in January, getting a bike for my birthday in March and relearning to ride by taking hours long treks through tulip fields, my mom and stepdad's visit in April, finally visiting family and friends back home in PA/Philly in autumn, getting married in Love Park and then a whirlwind one day/night honeymoon in NYC, Phillies becoming World Fucking Champions! (seriously, best homecoming present. ever.) and celebrating with the entire city.
3. where were you when 2008 began?
drinking cheap champagne along the Spaarne River and taking photos of the fireworks behind the windmill and their reflections in the water.
4. who were you with?
Bas
5. where will you be when 2008 ends?
no plans of yet
6. who will you be with when 2008 ends?
Bas. maybe Poes.
7. what did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
learned and used Light Room, visited Schilthorn, Lautenbrunen, Geneva, went on holiday with my future in-laws twice: first for a week in January with Bas, the second one day/night in Sept in Geneva by myself, introduced Bas to my siblings, grandmom, aunt.
8. did you keep your new years' resolutions, & will you make more for next year
I did finally begin to learn and experiment with/use Light Room, I did lose the majority of weight I had gained these past 2 years and made good progress in eating healthier, being healthier.
9. did anyone close to you give birth?
no
10. did anyone close to you die?
my grandma
11. did you travel outside of the u.s. in 2008?
Ha. I live outside the US, so yes. extensively.
12. how many different states did you travel to in 2008?
PA, NJ, NY
13. what would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
better, more creative, more lucrative employment for both me and Bas.
14. what date(s) from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, & why?
October 16, 2008 - our wedding day.
15. what was your biggest achievement of the year?
working hard and saving like mad to being able to afford a trip to the US
16. what was your biggest failure?
not using my time wisely, missing Dale's wedding
17. did you suffer any illness or injury?
the usual colds
18. what was the best thing you bought?
a few times one client gave me a bonus and i saved it and finally bought a decent lens (for the price) for my camera.
19. whose behavior merited celebration?
everyone who is kind, gracious, respectful and giving.
20. whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
i was appalled at my stepmother's increasingly bizarro-AA recovery personality and the shitstorm that followed.
i was depressed by my entire family's depressed, unhealthy state of existence.
21. where did most of your money go?
cost of living expenses, US travel fund
22. what did you get really, really, really excited about?
coming back to Philly
23. what song will always remind you of 2008?
24. compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier, more at peace even though weightier concerns for the future than last year.
ii. thinner or fatter? thinner.
iii. richer or poorer? treading water like usual.
25. what do you wish you'd done more of?
learning. creating. blogging/writing.
26. what do you wish you'd done less of?
wasting time. sleeping.
27. how will you be spending xmas?
with Bas' father's side of the family.
28. did you fall in love in 2008?
stayed in love.
29. if yes, with who?
Bas.
30. if yes, do they know?
yes.
31. are you still in love with them?
yes.
32. do you regret it?
no.
33. did you breakup with anyone in 2008?
no.
34. how many one-night stands?
none.
35. how many people did you sleep with in 2008?
one. and Poes, but she's a kitty.
36. do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
i don't hate. i strongly dislike the kind of mayor Michael Nutter has turned out to be.
37. did you make any new friends in 2008?
Yes, one.
38. what was your favorite month of 2008?
October
39. did you miss anybody in the past year?
friends and family.
40. did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
sure.
41. what was the worst lie someone told you in 2008?
that they represented "Change" and/or are a "maverick".
42. did you treat somebody badly in 2008?
there have been times my temper has gotten the best of me and Bas was the recipient.
43. did somebody treat you badly in 2008?
some of my clients, Bas' ex-gf
44. what did you want and get?
for both me and Bas to visit PA/Philly/NYC
45. what did you want and not get?
much needed dental work
46. what was your favorite new film of this year?
didn't see any new films
47. what was your favorite TV program?
the office
48. what was your favorite record from 2008?
hmmm... tough one.
49. how many concerts did you see in 2008?
none.
50. did you have a favorite concert in 2008?
i wish...
51. did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2008?
i hardly drank at all.
52. did you do a lot of drugs in 2008?
smoked weed in the beginning of the year, then quit for 9 months. when i returned backed from Philly, i started smoking weed again.
53. what did you do on your birthday, & how old were you?
went out to dinner with Bas. i turned 38.
54. what one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
having a few good friends nearby.
55. how would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
whatever.
56. what kept you sane?
Bas, Poes
57. how much money did you spend in 2008?
as much as i earned.
58. what are your plans for 2009?
establish and create a homebase, learn more, create more, blog more, live more juicy
Yes, overall it was. While very financially impaired in most respects, by being frugal and prioritizing our spending/saving we actually did quite a lot this year - a week long holiday in Switzerland in January, getting a bike for my birthday in March and relearning to ride by taking hours long treks through tulip fields, my mom and stepdad's visit in April, finally visiting family and friends back home in PA/Philly in autumn, getting married in Love Park and then a whirlwind one day/night honeymoon in NYC, Phillies becoming World Fucking Champions! (seriously, best homecoming present. ever.) and celebrating with the entire city.
3. where were you when 2008 began?
drinking cheap champagne along the Spaarne River and taking photos of the fireworks behind the windmill and their reflections in the water.
4. who were you with?
Bas
5. where will you be when 2008 ends?
no plans of yet
6. who will you be with when 2008 ends?
Bas. maybe Poes.
7. what did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
learned and used Light Room, visited Schilthorn, Lautenbrunen, Geneva, went on holiday with my future in-laws twice: first for a week in January with Bas, the second one day/night in Sept in Geneva by myself, introduced Bas to my siblings, grandmom, aunt.
8. did you keep your new years' resolutions, & will you make more for next year
I did finally begin to learn and experiment with/use Light Room, I did lose the majority of weight I had gained these past 2 years and made good progress in eating healthier, being healthier.
9. did anyone close to you give birth?
no
10. did anyone close to you die?
my grandma
11. did you travel outside of the u.s. in 2008?
Ha. I live outside the US, so yes. extensively.
12. how many different states did you travel to in 2008?
PA, NJ, NY
13. what would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
better, more creative, more lucrative employment for both me and Bas.
14. what date(s) from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, & why?
October 16, 2008 - our wedding day.
15. what was your biggest achievement of the year?
working hard and saving like mad to being able to afford a trip to the US
16. what was your biggest failure?
not using my time wisely, missing Dale's wedding
17. did you suffer any illness or injury?
the usual colds
18. what was the best thing you bought?
a few times one client gave me a bonus and i saved it and finally bought a decent lens (for the price) for my camera.
19. whose behavior merited celebration?
everyone who is kind, gracious, respectful and giving.
20. whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
i was appalled at my stepmother's increasingly bizarro-AA recovery personality and the shitstorm that followed.
i was depressed by my entire family's depressed, unhealthy state of existence.
21. where did most of your money go?
cost of living expenses, US travel fund
22. what did you get really, really, really excited about?
coming back to Philly
23. what song will always remind you of 2008?
24. compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier, more at peace even though weightier concerns for the future than last year.
ii. thinner or fatter? thinner.
iii. richer or poorer? treading water like usual.
25. what do you wish you'd done more of?
learning. creating. blogging/writing.
26. what do you wish you'd done less of?
wasting time. sleeping.
27. how will you be spending xmas?
with Bas' father's side of the family.
28. did you fall in love in 2008?
stayed in love.
29. if yes, with who?
Bas.
30. if yes, do they know?
yes.
31. are you still in love with them?
yes.
32. do you regret it?
no.
33. did you breakup with anyone in 2008?
no.
34. how many one-night stands?
none.
35. how many people did you sleep with in 2008?
one. and Poes, but she's a kitty.
36. do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
i don't hate. i strongly dislike the kind of mayor Michael Nutter has turned out to be.
37. did you make any new friends in 2008?
Yes, one.
38. what was your favorite month of 2008?
October
39. did you miss anybody in the past year?
friends and family.
40. did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
sure.
41. what was the worst lie someone told you in 2008?
that they represented "Change" and/or are a "maverick".
42. did you treat somebody badly in 2008?
there have been times my temper has gotten the best of me and Bas was the recipient.
43. did somebody treat you badly in 2008?
some of my clients, Bas' ex-gf
44. what did you want and get?
for both me and Bas to visit PA/Philly/NYC
45. what did you want and not get?
much needed dental work
46. what was your favorite new film of this year?
didn't see any new films
47. what was your favorite TV program?
the office
48. what was your favorite record from 2008?
hmmm... tough one.
49. how many concerts did you see in 2008?
none.
50. did you have a favorite concert in 2008?
i wish...
51. did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2008?
i hardly drank at all.
52. did you do a lot of drugs in 2008?
smoked weed in the beginning of the year, then quit for 9 months. when i returned backed from Philly, i started smoking weed again.
53. what did you do on your birthday, & how old were you?
went out to dinner with Bas. i turned 38.
54. what one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
having a few good friends nearby.
55. how would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
whatever.
56. what kept you sane?
Bas, Poes
57. how much money did you spend in 2008?
as much as i earned.
58. what are your plans for 2009?
establish and create a homebase, learn more, create more, blog more, live more juicy