Meme: My year in review.
1.What did you do in 2014 that you'd never done before?
Graduated with a master's degree in creative writing.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No. I was planning on reading more, one Icelandic and one foreign book every month. Should have been a very easy goal but I failed anyway. Fanfic won again.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, my stepsister in Sweden had a son on December 10th. Three of mr Felis's friends also had children this year.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Way too many. My father died on December 11th. It's been hard because we were both bad at keeping in touch, him living so far away and both of us being phone-phobic and now I can't help feeling guilty for not calling more often and visiting him as well. At least I got to say goodbye, he knew I was there and I was the one that told him it was okay to let go, which I know he heard because he died unexpectedly just a few hours later. And of course now I find myself wanting to call him all the time.
My best friend's dad died as well. He was an abusive bastard, a drunk, and a miserable excuse for a father but it was hard on her anyway, of course. And now she's left with a whole shitload of debts because of him.
Mr Felis's aunt died this fall. She was diagnosed with MND early in the year and deteriorated very quickly.
My cat of 19 years died in August. She was such a loving beautiful creature and I miss her horribly.
5. What countries did you visit?
The US (New York) in September and then Sweden in December.
6. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?
More work, inspiration and focus to write, a publishing deal.
7. What dates from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
December 11th when my dad died and August 28th when my cat died.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finishing my Master's degree.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not writing more. Both original writing and fic. Like right now, not even having the usual New Year's Eve fic, I feel pretty lousy about that.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Well, the usual stuff, my Hashimoto. And then the damn IUD failed again so I'm having a hysterectomy in 2015. Yay. /sarcasm
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My MacBook, even if it wasn't planned, my old one just died. There were also a few items of clothes I'm pretty happy about and a pair of lovely shoes.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My daughter. She's turning into such a fine young woman. She handled her confirmation with grace, even entertained the guests with her beautiful singing. She has been honing her artistic skills, she's getting so good I'm in awe. She came out as bisexual to us and her friends, is a hardcore feminist and an LGBTQA advocate. In between listening to K-pop and shipping Sherlock/John. lol
Also, so many great feminists this year beating down the patriarchy, one misogynist asshole at a time.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Politicians the world over, the US police, religious fanatics, stupid people on the internet
14. Where did most of your money go?
Apart from food? Well, in April there was the girl's confirmation party + two laptops (her confirmation gift and my old one deciding to die at the same time, not fun). And then we went to New York in September so that flight and now the ones to Sweden means we've spent approx. 350.000 ISK on plane tickets alone. Ugh.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to New York.
16. What song will always remind you of 2014?
Hvert örstutt spor, because we chose it for dad's funeral next month.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Sadder
b) thinner or fatter? The same, I think.
c) richer or poorer? I honestly don't know.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Write. Gone for walks. Talked to dad.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Sitting on this damn couch, wasting time on Tumblr.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Christmas Eve at home with my family. Christmas Day at mom's with some of my extended family.
21. What was your favorite month of 2014?
The summer was crappy, the winter has been shit. I guess I'd say September because New York was the highpoint of the year.
22. Did you fall in love in 2014?
Stayed in love.
23. How many one-night stands?
0
24. What was your favourite TV program(s)?
Still hooked on Supernatural. Liking others as well but that's the one I still wake up early to download and can't rest until I've had time to sit down and watch.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Not really much for hating people, not even the ones I strongly dislike.
26. What was the best book you read?
Can't decide.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Don't think I actually made any.
28. What did you want and get?
My Master's Degree, I guess.
29. What did you want and not get?
A new place to live. So tired of living here. I've been looking at houses and apartments all year long. Hoping 2015 brings us the perfect place.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Didn't see many new films this year, actually. Haven't even seen The Hobbit yet. Guess I'll have to say About Time, even if it is a 2013 film I didn't watch it until this year.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 42. The day itself was not that special, pretty much everything we had planned failed. Even the cake was a disappointment. But I got to spend it with my family so that's good. And dinner was great.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
The damn IUD working this time. Stupid uterus.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?
I finally got bras that fit so I'd say showing off my fabulous cleavage.
34. What kept you sane?
My husband, my kids, my friends.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Still Jensen Ackles. He gets finer with each year. Unf.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
American law enforcement seeming to want and support a white supremacy police state. Putin's homophobic dictatorship. North Korea being the dystopia we thought we'd only read about in novels.
37. Who did you miss?
My dad and my cat.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I made a few new author acquaintances which are pretty cool.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014.
Don't count on there being a later for making up lost time. Chances are there won't be.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
It takes a lot to give
to ask for help
to be yourself
to know and love what you live with
It Takes A Lot To Know A Man by Damien Rice