I'm almost out of this damned year at last...
...so it's time for memes.
Post the first sentence from your first post of each month in 2008. (I'm going to go with public non-statistics non-meme posts.)
January: Not so much for restoring the Constitution, apparently.
February: New things a candidate can do that will influence my vote:
March: I'm touched by the responses to the post I made a couple days ago (and there're some I still have to sit down and respond to).
April: My hard drive died.
May: Last week's update didn't happen--I fail at blogging.
June: As I mentioned the other day, I've been making serious headway on a Superman CD; when I posted that entry I had about 35-40 minutes, and by now I have about an hour of edited material (including a couple edits that I hope either sound better in a few days or give me ideas on hoe to better combine things later).
July: In place of that noble love of liberty, & republican government which carried us triumphantly thro' the war, an Anglican monarchical, & aristocratical party has sprung up, whose avowed object is to draw over us the substance, as they have already done the forms, of the British government.
August: Okay, see, I know enough not to seriously bother with most opinion columns in The Wall Street Journal, but...well, lookathis:
September: I haven't had much time to digest Film Score Monthly's MGM Soundtrack Treasury, but I must mention two things that stand out already.
October: Like I've mentioned many times, y'all have been wonderfully supportive in the friends-locked entries of late.
November: Since my blog is about as important as any newspaper (I'm coming for you, Wall Street Journal), the time has come for me to make my public endorsements for this political season.
December: I trust everyone's already seen Marc Shaiman's contribution to the political discourse, yes?
01. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Held a job for the entire year. Didn't get a haircut.
02. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't normally do resolutions, so I've none from last year, but with my recent goal-driven success I'm going to give it a go: in 2009 I will ask out at least five people (unless I get distracted by, y'know, dating one of them); in 2009 I will join a gym.
03. Did anyone close to you give birth?
A couple of people from my office did. Other than that I don't think so.
04. Did anyone close to you die?
It looks like my dad's going to make it to the new year, albeit barely, so none that I recall. Stay tuned.
05. What countries did you visit?
Visit? I know not of what you speak.
06. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Hope...though I guess I did have some earlier in the year.
07. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 4th, of course. Scott's birthday, July 22nd (a Tuesday), was the last time the whole family had dinner together. My dad was diagnosed on August 15th (Friday).
08. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Examining my spending habits and locking down on some semblance of fiscal discipline.
09. What was your biggest failure?
Exercise.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Only my yearly colds. I wonder if those'll be affected when I move to a house that I don't keep at 55 degrees all winter.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
The Blue Box, perhaps.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My mother.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My dad's doctors.
14. Where did most of your money go?
I spent almost $3000 on food this year, $2200 of it at restaurants/fast food joints (greatly weighted toward the first two thirds of the year, obviously).
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Blue Box (which delivered), the Lord of the Rings Rarities (which was delayed), the new season of Lost (which was good, with some great episodes), the Super Bowl (which was awesome).
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
I couldn't say.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Sadder, for now.
b) thinner or fatter? A little thinner. Corinne asked me the other day if I'd lost weight--the last time she'd seen me was the end of August, and since then I've noticed my belts and shirts fitting a little better. I guess forgetting about every other meal has its upsides.
c) richer or poorer? Richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Talking to my dad, keeping the house clean, editing music.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Sitting around doing nothing.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
I slept in for an hour or two, worked by remote for a while, had a somewhat dry ham with Scott and my mom (I don't care for those spiral-cut things) and put on Sci-Fi's Next Generation marathon while cleaning up for Boxing Day, until astute_reason came over to help finish up.
21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
I wish.
22. How many one-night stands?
Oh please.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Either Countdown or Lost.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't do hate. It's a waste of time.
25. What was the best book you read?
I honestly don't remember all the books I read.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Quigley Down Under, aside from the main title, which had already been a favorite for some time.
27. What did you want and get?
Complete releases of the Superman II and III scores--those I've wanted for years. Also a complete release of North and South, for that matter.
28. What did you want and not get?
I don't want all of these answers to be about my dad.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
I don't typically go to see more than a couple movies in a year. I could swear I saw more than just Wall-E and The Dark Knight, but I can't for the life of me remember what else there was. The Dark Knight wins the day even though it's significantly less cute.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 24; my family met with a rogue's gallery of doctors to get the news that my dad was well and truly terminal, and then we went to Chili's.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I don't want all of these answers to be about my dad.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
If I can't wear it to work it's probably not worth getting, except for some lovely gimmick shirts
33. What kept you sane?
Habit, friends, my mom.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I don't do fancying public figures...not specifically, at any rate.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
FISA. Motherfucking FISA.
36. Who did you miss?
The Philosophy Club people (though it's largely my fault for not going for a couple months this fall), Corinne, various people from Olden Times whom I've seen rarely or not at all.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
I don't really do meeting people. Uhm...there's the new temp in the office...Corinne introduced me to one of her friends on Sunday...there're new people I've talked to online a little.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Make the time count.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Sorry, I don't really listen to songs much other than on the radio while driving. Feel free to suggest something.
In 2009, glenniebun resolves to...
Become a better pride.
Put fifty interesting things a month into my savings account.
Learn to play the paronomasia.
Spend more time with my novels.
Give up editing.
Apply for a new thought.
If only I could find the application form for that new thought...
Post the first sentence from your first post of each month in 2008. (I'm going to go with public non-statistics non-meme posts.)
January: Not so much for restoring the Constitution, apparently.
February: New things a candidate can do that will influence my vote:
March: I'm touched by the responses to the post I made a couple days ago (and there're some I still have to sit down and respond to).
April: My hard drive died.
May: Last week's update didn't happen--I fail at blogging.
June: As I mentioned the other day, I've been making serious headway on a Superman CD; when I posted that entry I had about 35-40 minutes, and by now I have about an hour of edited material (including a couple edits that I hope either sound better in a few days or give me ideas on hoe to better combine things later).
July: In place of that noble love of liberty, & republican government which carried us triumphantly thro' the war, an Anglican monarchical, & aristocratical party has sprung up, whose avowed object is to draw over us the substance, as they have already done the forms, of the British government.
August: Okay, see, I know enough not to seriously bother with most opinion columns in The Wall Street Journal, but...well, lookathis:
September: I haven't had much time to digest Film Score Monthly's MGM Soundtrack Treasury, but I must mention two things that stand out already.
October: Like I've mentioned many times, y'all have been wonderfully supportive in the friends-locked entries of late.
November: Since my blog is about as important as any newspaper (I'm coming for you, Wall Street Journal), the time has come for me to make my public endorsements for this political season.
December: I trust everyone's already seen Marc Shaiman's contribution to the political discourse, yes?
01. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Held a job for the entire year. Didn't get a haircut.
02. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't normally do resolutions, so I've none from last year, but with my recent goal-driven success I'm going to give it a go: in 2009 I will ask out at least five people (unless I get distracted by, y'know, dating one of them); in 2009 I will join a gym.
03. Did anyone close to you give birth?
A couple of people from my office did. Other than that I don't think so.
04. Did anyone close to you die?
It looks like my dad's going to make it to the new year, albeit barely, so none that I recall. Stay tuned.
05. What countries did you visit?
Visit? I know not of what you speak.
06. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Hope...though I guess I did have some earlier in the year.
07. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 4th, of course. Scott's birthday, July 22nd (a Tuesday), was the last time the whole family had dinner together. My dad was diagnosed on August 15th (Friday).
08. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Examining my spending habits and locking down on some semblance of fiscal discipline.
09. What was your biggest failure?
Exercise.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Only my yearly colds. I wonder if those'll be affected when I move to a house that I don't keep at 55 degrees all winter.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
The Blue Box, perhaps.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My mother.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My dad's doctors.
14. Where did most of your money go?
I spent almost $3000 on food this year, $2200 of it at restaurants/fast food joints (greatly weighted toward the first two thirds of the year, obviously).
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Blue Box (which delivered), the Lord of the Rings Rarities (which was delayed), the new season of Lost (which was good, with some great episodes), the Super Bowl (which was awesome).
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
I couldn't say.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Sadder, for now.
b) thinner or fatter? A little thinner. Corinne asked me the other day if I'd lost weight--the last time she'd seen me was the end of August, and since then I've noticed my belts and shirts fitting a little better. I guess forgetting about every other meal has its upsides.
c) richer or poorer? Richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Talking to my dad, keeping the house clean, editing music.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Sitting around doing nothing.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
I slept in for an hour or two, worked by remote for a while, had a somewhat dry ham with Scott and my mom (I don't care for those spiral-cut things) and put on Sci-Fi's Next Generation marathon while cleaning up for Boxing Day, until astute_reason came over to help finish up.
21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
I wish.
22. How many one-night stands?
Oh please.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Either Countdown or Lost.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't do hate. It's a waste of time.
25. What was the best book you read?
I honestly don't remember all the books I read.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Quigley Down Under, aside from the main title, which had already been a favorite for some time.
27. What did you want and get?
Complete releases of the Superman II and III scores--those I've wanted for years. Also a complete release of North and South, for that matter.
28. What did you want and not get?
I don't want all of these answers to be about my dad.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
I don't typically go to see more than a couple movies in a year. I could swear I saw more than just Wall-E and The Dark Knight, but I can't for the life of me remember what else there was. The Dark Knight wins the day even though it's significantly less cute.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 24; my family met with a rogue's gallery of doctors to get the news that my dad was well and truly terminal, and then we went to Chili's.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I don't want all of these answers to be about my dad.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
If I can't wear it to work it's probably not worth getting, except for some lovely gimmick shirts
33. What kept you sane?
Habit, friends, my mom.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I don't do fancying public figures...not specifically, at any rate.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
FISA. Motherfucking FISA.
36. Who did you miss?
The Philosophy Club people (though it's largely my fault for not going for a couple months this fall), Corinne, various people from Olden Times whom I've seen rarely or not at all.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
I don't really do meeting people. Uhm...there's the new temp in the office...Corinne introduced me to one of her friends on Sunday...there're new people I've talked to online a little.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Make the time count.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Sorry, I don't really listen to songs much other than on the radio while driving. Feel free to suggest something.
In 2009, glenniebun resolves to...
Become a better pride.
Put fifty interesting things a month into my savings account.
Learn to play the paronomasia.
Spend more time with my novels.
Give up editing.
Apply for a new thought.
If only I could find the application form for that new thought...