heya cuties.
it's the end of year survey!
01. What did you do in 2016 that you’d never done before?
participated in a grand slam! visited oregon and minnesota!
02. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
2016's word was "speak." i wrote and performed a fair amount of poetry. i started speaking out more among my friends, particularly after the election. and i said what i thought of a handful of stories and snagged myself a first reader gig with Shimmer. (and yes, the new role at work materialized, so there's that business sorted from 2015!)
for 2017, my word is "present." as in be present, as in consider the gifts this world gives me every day, as in attend to my presentation (at work, at slams, etc).
03. Did anyone close to you give birth?
some old friends.
04. Did anyone close to you die?
my dear, mouthy, hilarious, brilliant friend laura. i miss her fiercely, every day.
05. What countries did you visit?
this one. maybe i'll change that next year.
06. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
a poetry slam win.
07. What dates from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
april 21. prince's death.
fucking election day.
the day before thanksgiving, the day of laura's death.
08. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
getting a copywriting job and a first reader gig. for the first time in my life, my vocation, avocation, and mode of expression all involve reading and writing. it's super intimidating. also i attended 3 cons: anomalycon (very cool), denver comic con (holy whoa) and milehicon (not bad).
09. What was your biggest failure?
didn't get to see laura this year.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
a little illness, but i pulled out just fine.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
an iphone 7. yeah, i know. well, i spend so much time on the phone, i figured i'd get something new.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
friends, family, my excellent new boss.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
fucking cheeto. and a plurality of humanity who supported him in thought or deed.
14. Where did most of your money go?
again, rent, because denver is stupid expensive. also car rentals. i've never traveled so much in my life.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
seeing jack garratt twice in concert! also traveling a TON. like, 10 different flights this year.
16. What song will always remind you of 2016?
"caitlyn," by JANK. they were a fantastic band whose demise came for awful reasons. kind of like a lot of people in 2016.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer?
(a) sadder.
(b) about the same.
(c) in theory richer, since i'm making more money, but i've been carrying most of the rent. so poorer.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
hiking. as always.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
lying on the couch. as always.
20. How will you spend Christmas?
spent it at home, making all the finger foods known to man, with shelli. jill came over for a bit as well.
21. Did you fall in love in 2016?
with so many things.
22. Did your heart break in 2016?
in so many ways.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Antiques Roadshow.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
um, yes. don't we all?
25. Did you know anybody who got married?
yes! attended my chickadee's wedding <3 and also my friend ashley's wedding.
26. What states did you visit in 2016?
mar: - oregon (went to portland for a jack garratt show and to see family) via layover in california (SJC).
- ohio (went to dayton for work/to see friends and family).
june: tennessee (family), georgia (cure show) via layover in nevada (LAS).
july: ohio (dayton for work/friends)
august: ohio (cleveland to see my mom) via layover in nevada (LAS) and maryland (BWI).
september: ohio (dayton for a friend's wedding)
october: - minnesota (mankato, to visit shelli's folks) via layover in kansas/missouri? (MCI) and illinois (MDW).
- new jersey (newark-ish, for chicky's wedding).
november: - tennessee (family), georgia (peter hook and the light) via layover at MCI.
- ohio (dayton, for laura's funeral) via illinois (MDW).
27. Where were you when 2016 began?
i think i was at home? i must have been.
28. Who were you with?
shelli.
29. Where will you be when 2016 ends?
at a house party hosted by three friends, two of whom i met last year and one of whom i met this year.
30. Who will you be with when 2016 ends?
shelli, c, steve, andrea, mickey, and probably many other friends.
31. What was the best book you read?
The Three-Body Problem, by Liu Cixin.
32. What was your greatest musical discovery?
JANK and pinegrove.
33. What did you want and get?
a promotion. a first reader gig.
34. What did you want and not get?
a road trip. to go camping.
35. What was your favorite film of this year?
only saw a couple things in theater, but SING was pretty cute.
36. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
i turned 37. shelli and i went to fancy tea at d bar the next day.
37. Where did you go on vacation?
oregon. the single truest day of vacation i've had all year was driving up to seaside and spending a night on the coast, drinking beer with the locals, before puttering around cannon beach the next day and visiting an old lumberjack camp on the drive back. also accidentally finding the mausoleum where my great-uncle lynn is resting.
everywhere else i went was at least partly to see my family or shelli's, but minnesota was a good vacation for me. i guess i'll count tennessee and ohio, too.
38. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
getting up into the mountains more. as always.
39. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
side shave, button-downs, vests vests VESTS.
40. What kept you sane?
poetry. to the extent that i stayed sane.
41. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
don't think i paid that much attention. mostly just poets. i'll say denice frohman.
42. What political issue stirred you the most?
fucking fascism.
43. Did you have to go to the hospital?
not for myself, thank goodness.
44. How many concerts did you see in 2016?
Jack Garratt, both in portland and in denver. Godspeed You! Black Emperor, who completely slayed me. Purple Rain screening at red rocks, featuring a slew of performers, most notably Flobots. The Cure, who played FOUR encores. The National at red rocks, where we got SECOND row seats. Swan Lake is technically a ballet, not a concert, but i'll count it. ditto The Nutcracker. Peter Hook and the Light, playing the entirety of both Substance albums (Joy Division and New Order). Tick, Tick, Boom! is technically a musical, not a concert, but i'll count it. also i know i saw friends perform at some point. Paige Beller, maybe Jasper the Colossal? oh, and the Tah Tahs during pride.
45. Did you have a favorite concert in 2016?
either the first Jack Garratt show or the GY!BE show. TTB also gets my vote just because my brother was in it.
46. Who did you miss?
everyone. laura most.
47. Who was the best new person you met?
lots of poetry folks, but i'd say mickey, for sure. probably followed by lindsay king-miller.
48. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
being a slug on the couch.
49. What was your most embarrassing moment of 2016?
oh i'm sure i embarrassed myself on stage enough times.
50. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016.
fucking speak up. you have to.
51. What are your plans for 2017?
hiking please. win a slam. get some poetry published. maybe try writing some SF.
52. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
You're not real, but you're something
You're not real, but you're everything
- JANK, "caitlyn"
01. What did you do in 2016 that you’d never done before?
participated in a grand slam! visited oregon and minnesota!
02. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
2016's word was "speak." i wrote and performed a fair amount of poetry. i started speaking out more among my friends, particularly after the election. and i said what i thought of a handful of stories and snagged myself a first reader gig with Shimmer. (and yes, the new role at work materialized, so there's that business sorted from 2015!)
for 2017, my word is "present." as in be present, as in consider the gifts this world gives me every day, as in attend to my presentation (at work, at slams, etc).
03. Did anyone close to you give birth?
some old friends.
04. Did anyone close to you die?
my dear, mouthy, hilarious, brilliant friend laura. i miss her fiercely, every day.
05. What countries did you visit?
this one. maybe i'll change that next year.
06. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
a poetry slam win.
07. What dates from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
april 21. prince's death.
fucking election day.
the day before thanksgiving, the day of laura's death.
08. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
getting a copywriting job and a first reader gig. for the first time in my life, my vocation, avocation, and mode of expression all involve reading and writing. it's super intimidating. also i attended 3 cons: anomalycon (very cool), denver comic con (holy whoa) and milehicon (not bad).
09. What was your biggest failure?
didn't get to see laura this year.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
a little illness, but i pulled out just fine.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
an iphone 7. yeah, i know. well, i spend so much time on the phone, i figured i'd get something new.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
friends, family, my excellent new boss.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
fucking cheeto. and a plurality of humanity who supported him in thought or deed.
14. Where did most of your money go?
again, rent, because denver is stupid expensive. also car rentals. i've never traveled so much in my life.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
seeing jack garratt twice in concert! also traveling a TON. like, 10 different flights this year.
16. What song will always remind you of 2016?
"caitlyn," by JANK. they were a fantastic band whose demise came for awful reasons. kind of like a lot of people in 2016.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer?
(a) sadder.
(b) about the same.
(c) in theory richer, since i'm making more money, but i've been carrying most of the rent. so poorer.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
hiking. as always.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
lying on the couch. as always.
20. How will you spend Christmas?
spent it at home, making all the finger foods known to man, with shelli. jill came over for a bit as well.
21. Did you fall in love in 2016?
with so many things.
22. Did your heart break in 2016?
in so many ways.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Antiques Roadshow.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
um, yes. don't we all?
25. Did you know anybody who got married?
yes! attended my chickadee's wedding <3 and also my friend ashley's wedding.
26. What states did you visit in 2016?
mar: - oregon (went to portland for a jack garratt show and to see family) via layover in california (SJC).
- ohio (went to dayton for work/to see friends and family).
june: tennessee (family), georgia (cure show) via layover in nevada (LAS).
july: ohio (dayton for work/friends)
august: ohio (cleveland to see my mom) via layover in nevada (LAS) and maryland (BWI).
september: ohio (dayton for a friend's wedding)
october: - minnesota (mankato, to visit shelli's folks) via layover in kansas/missouri? (MCI) and illinois (MDW).
- new jersey (newark-ish, for chicky's wedding).
november: - tennessee (family), georgia (peter hook and the light) via layover at MCI.
- ohio (dayton, for laura's funeral) via illinois (MDW).
27. Where were you when 2016 began?
i think i was at home? i must have been.
28. Who were you with?
shelli.
29. Where will you be when 2016 ends?
at a house party hosted by three friends, two of whom i met last year and one of whom i met this year.
30. Who will you be with when 2016 ends?
shelli, c, steve, andrea, mickey, and probably many other friends.
31. What was the best book you read?
The Three-Body Problem, by Liu Cixin.
32. What was your greatest musical discovery?
JANK and pinegrove.
33. What did you want and get?
a promotion. a first reader gig.
34. What did you want and not get?
a road trip. to go camping.
35. What was your favorite film of this year?
only saw a couple things in theater, but SING was pretty cute.
36. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
i turned 37. shelli and i went to fancy tea at d bar the next day.
37. Where did you go on vacation?
oregon. the single truest day of vacation i've had all year was driving up to seaside and spending a night on the coast, drinking beer with the locals, before puttering around cannon beach the next day and visiting an old lumberjack camp on the drive back. also accidentally finding the mausoleum where my great-uncle lynn is resting.
everywhere else i went was at least partly to see my family or shelli's, but minnesota was a good vacation for me. i guess i'll count tennessee and ohio, too.
38. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
getting up into the mountains more. as always.
39. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
side shave, button-downs, vests vests VESTS.
40. What kept you sane?
poetry. to the extent that i stayed sane.
41. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
don't think i paid that much attention. mostly just poets. i'll say denice frohman.
42. What political issue stirred you the most?
fucking fascism.
43. Did you have to go to the hospital?
not for myself, thank goodness.
44. How many concerts did you see in 2016?
Jack Garratt, both in portland and in denver. Godspeed You! Black Emperor, who completely slayed me. Purple Rain screening at red rocks, featuring a slew of performers, most notably Flobots. The Cure, who played FOUR encores. The National at red rocks, where we got SECOND row seats. Swan Lake is technically a ballet, not a concert, but i'll count it. ditto The Nutcracker. Peter Hook and the Light, playing the entirety of both Substance albums (Joy Division and New Order). Tick, Tick, Boom! is technically a musical, not a concert, but i'll count it. also i know i saw friends perform at some point. Paige Beller, maybe Jasper the Colossal? oh, and the Tah Tahs during pride.
45. Did you have a favorite concert in 2016?
either the first Jack Garratt show or the GY!BE show. TTB also gets my vote just because my brother was in it.
46. Who did you miss?
everyone. laura most.
47. Who was the best new person you met?
lots of poetry folks, but i'd say mickey, for sure. probably followed by lindsay king-miller.
48. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
being a slug on the couch.
49. What was your most embarrassing moment of 2016?
oh i'm sure i embarrassed myself on stage enough times.
50. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016.
fucking speak up. you have to.
51. What are your plans for 2017?
hiking please. win a slam. get some poetry published. maybe try writing some SF.
52. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
You're not real, but you're something
You're not real, but you're everything
- JANK, "caitlyn"