HOLY CRAP! I finally posted something!
OK, before anyone says it, I know I've never posted in my LiveJournal before. And I know I should have been posting regularly, to update everyone on my favorite *this* or how I feel about *that*. But I'm actually a fairly private person.
Although I can usually crank out a decent sentence without committing too many grammatical faux-pas, I tend not to write very much about myself. I never succesfully kept a diary or journal when I was growing up, preferring to find an outlet for my creativity and self-expression through other means. Maybe someday I'll talk in here about what those "other means" consist of, but today's post is anything but creative!!! That's right, for my big debut, I am going to weasel out of originality and inventiveness. I'm going to bow to that great and omnipotent god of sub-par efforts,
That's right, I'm going to borrow *cough*steal*cough* a year-end wrap-up Q&A from my wife's journal here. Which she originally borrowed *cough*stole*cough* from here. Which he originally... well, you get the idea. Suffice to say, originality sometimes takes a back seat on LiveJournal. Oh well, on with the list!
1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
So many firsts this year. Played Texas Hold'em Poker for the first time (and won the big pot!). Listened to Irish rock music (and loved it instantly). Ate leek soup for the first time (GAGGGG!). Tore the cartilage in my knee (ouch). Surfed on a pallet jack (we won't discuss the end result). But by far, the biggest thing I did in 2004 that I'd never done before, is to successfully run a 128-man video game tournament while staying up 48 hours straight and drinking 3 and a half gallons of Mountain Dew.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I think my biggest new year's resolution from last year was to stop worrying so much about life in general, and specifically about things I couldn't change. I hope I've made some progress. I definitely feel that I'm having more fun this year than I have in the past. Also, I resolved to eat better and exercise more; I'm still working on those resolutions. HEY, I've got three whole weeks left, so CAN IT you naysayers! I may carry over this resolution for next year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Some of my friends' wives in my online gaming clan gave birth. Congratulations to all of them, by the way! Not really anyone else that I know of.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes, my grandmother on my mother's side passed away in October. She was over 80 years old and had suffered from many various ailments late in her life. Towards the end, like most of us probably will, she just wanted to be peaceful and rejoin all of her lost friends and family in heaven.
5. What countries did you visit?
Just this good ol' U.S. of A. My travels were extremely limited this year. I think I made it all the way to Pueblo, once or twice (uhh, that's about 2 hours away, for you non-Colorado folk).
6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
An extended period of time, say maybe 2 or 3 weeks, when my wife or I aren't in the emergency room at least once. In other words, TO BE HEALTHY, please dear lord!
7. What dates from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July 16-18, 2004. My first EverLAN as a staff member. What an amazing experience: to spend an entire week building and wiring and staging a 50,000 square foot exhibition center, so that 500 hardcore gamers can play video games for 3 days straight. If you've never been to a LAN party, well then baby, you don't know geek.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
As boring as it sounds, continuing to pay off our debt without charging a single, solitary cent to a credit card or other high-interest account. In fact, having a little party to cut up all of our credit cards was one of the biggest highlights of this year.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Gaining weight instead of losing it, and not being able to stick to a basic, healthy diet. :(
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Let's see... Spondylolisthesis, Sleep Apnea, Hypertension, Gastroesophageal Reflux, IBD, Torn Medial Meniscus, oh and a dash of Angina Pectoris! WHAT FUN!
11. What was the best thing you bought?
An evening with my wife and mother-in-law in Evergreen, Colorado, on November 12-13, 2004. I got to see the Young Dubliners live in concert for the first time, and even got a guitar pick signed by Keith! It says, "To Dave, The Man. -Keith" I shall treasure it forever. :D But seriously, I had an absolute blast. The music was fantastic, the company was top-notch, and with the exception of a fog storm that rolled in and reduced visibility to about 2 feet in front of your face, it was totally awesome.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
altoidsaddict of course, whose optimism, energy, and creativity never cease to amaze me. Nobody else can make me laugh as hard as she does, and I could never love anyone like I love her. harpie84 has been tremendously supportive of us and deserves some real kudos for what she has achieved this year. What an excellent musician, a gourmet cook, one of the sharpest wits and political commentators you could ever meet, and she can drink me under the table, too. YES, I remember what you did up at the Little Bear!
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Some of the people who swooped in like vultures after my grandmother died, to try to grab their piece of the inheritance pie, absolutely sickened me. The youth of our country who seemed poised to show up at the polls en masse in November, to vote out the most inept, unbalanced, and utterly dangerous president of our country's history, but then suddenly decided it wasn't worth waking up early on a weekday and standing in line for a few hours. Well, kids, you're getting what you deserve. Maybe someday, when every other one of you is sent off to fight and die in Bush's next war for oil, you might have wanted to take back those few hours of extra sleep that seemed so important to you at the time, instead of voting for Kerry.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Payments on a debt management plan. Rent and utilities a close second. Medical expenses, up there too. MONEY SUCKS.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
EverLAN, Indulgers concerts, the Young Dubliners, the release of Half-Life 2, Denver Broncos football. HA, gotcha there with that last one! The Donkeys will blow the rest of their season like they always do.
16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
2004, by Prince! Oh wait... I think the one song that seems to be sticking with me more than any other right now is Sail Away, by the Indulgers. It will forever remind me of the first time I slow danced with my wife in years, enjoyed the most romantic tune I've heard in a long time and felt as happy as I can ever remember feeling.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
Happier.
b) thinner or fatter?
Happier.
c) richer or poorer?
Happier.
OK, so I'm fatter and poorer. But isn't happiness what really matters? Though I suppose for people of my dimensions, it's considered "jollyness". ;)
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Write in my LiveJournal. Make my wife feel special (and not drive her crazy). STAYED HEALTHY. Hang out with friends. See more movies in theaters. Visit my parents (one or two more times, within reason of course!)
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Eat, sleep, mope, waste time.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With family from out of town, most likely in the idyllic environment of Estes Park, Colorado. Should be a great time.
21. Did you fall in love in 2004?
Only more deeply in love, every time I saw altoidsaddict
22. How many one-night stands?
A big fat goose egg. Is that a good thing?
23. What was your favorite TV program?
This absolutely BIZARRE show on Adult Swim, on the Cartoon Network, called "Tom Goes to the Mayor" or "Jefferton ALIVE!" It is so, unbeliveably strange but yet so compelling. Hilarious and really really creative. Just the animation alone makes me blow milk through my nose - even when I'm not drinking milk! - which makes it even more amazing. Bob Odenkirk is a comic genious, "Kung Pao!" excepted.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No, I love all my children. I mean, no.
25. What was the best book you read?
Not serious: America: The Book, by Jon Stewart. PAGE 99, THY HORRIBLE VISAGE IS FOREVER BURNED INTO MY BRAIN! Serious: The Stronger Women Get, The More Men Love Football: Sexism and the American Culture of Sports, by Mariah Burton Nelson. Totally eye-opening and very thoughtfully researched tome about the tremendous challenges women athletes face in our culture of male-dominated sports. It truly makes me ashamed that I was ever a male athlete in an American college, even though Williams athletics financial support is very balanced between men and women, and the women athletes are generally treated with tremendous respect by the men.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Indulgers are totally amazing. Renee Fine is simply out-of-this world with talent, and Mike Nile makes me pine for the lost days of my youth, when I could have been learning to play the electronic bagpipe instead of Doom, Quake, and Carmageddon.
27. What did you want and get?
A new car to drive, instead of the 1984 Toyota Corolla with 200,000 miles, front end damage, and a penchant for stalling out when you try to cross busy intersections. I love my new V6 Buick Century Custom, even if it's 10 years old and the paint's wearing off. It R0XX0R5 J00 B0XX0R5!
28. What did you want and not get?
THE NEW U2 ALBUM, hint hint HINT.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
I just watched Kill Bill, Volume 2 last night, and it was AWESOME. I want to try the Five Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique on someone, someday. Take 4 steps and fall over dead. YEAH!
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Ummm, I think I had to work at my second job that day :( I was 27 years old. Still, I'm sure I had fun that weekend.
31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Losing weight and staying healthy.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
"Hope that another Eddie Bauer Oxford dress shirt doesn't tear at the elbow." DAMMIT, another one just did. >:-( WTF, do they make these things out of PAPIER FUCKING MACHE?
33. What kept you sane?
My wife, my mother-in-law, my friends.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Did I mention Renee already? I think I did.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
See above-mentioned diatribe against the punk-ass youth of America.
36. Who did you miss?
My best friend from High School, Simon. We had so much fun together, we were so close.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Damien is an amazing person. I've met some great people online and become closer friends with a lot of people, too.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004:
You can't pay too much for a good pair of shoes. My God, your feet are what you walk on!
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Dream baby dream/Of all that's come and going/And you will find out/In the end/There really is/There really is no difference (INXS, New Sensation) To me, it means, there's no point worrying about the past or the future. Dreaming, worrying, agonizing about things you can't change, won't make a bit of difference in the end.