annual survey 2016
1. What did you do in 2016 that you'd never done before?
Drove a tractor. Rode a motorbike. Milked a cow. Got shit on by a cow. Sky dive. Grade 5 white water rafting. *Eh-hermm*….. (something I can’t mention where other people might read it)
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Last year I resolved to brush twice a day and floss every day, practice my German and Chinese, continue to be as social as possible, and to save money so I have something to take home after New Zealand. I have failed at most of these. I brushed my teeth twice a day a few times, and I think I only flossed once in the past year. I practiced my German a little with Daniel, my coworker while kiwifruit picking, and he thought my German was good, but I could see how much I’ve lost. I practiced my Chinese a little, but I realized just how much of it I have forgotten. Part of the reason why I haven’t practiced is because I have no desire to be around German or Chinese speakers. I always had the desire to be very social, but I never found good social situations during my year in New Zealand, my time kiwifruit picking in Opotiki being the only exception. The resolution I succeeded the most in is saving money for when I leave New Zealand. I managed to leave with $2,000, but half of that I expected to spend in Thailand. Better than nothing though, right?
I want to carry over the resolution of brushing my teeth twice a day, but amend it to be ‘take better care of my teeth’. I would like to also continue to be as social as possible, and specifically be better about inviting/initiating plans with friends and relatives. Other than that, just find a job that I am happy with and save as much money as possible.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Carla had her second baby, Hank.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Zeke had to be put to sleep this year. :o( He developed some type of cancer in a very short amount of time. I’m going to miss him like crazy.
5. What countries did you visit?
New Zealand and Thailand
6. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
Just a job that doesn’t make me miserable. That’s about all I ask.
7. What date from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
December 30 - the day I adopted Tori. :o)
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I don’t feel like there were any major achievements, but I was pretty proud of forcing myself to be more self-sufficient on the dairy farm, and managing to sell my car and a bunch of my stuff at the end of the year in only a couple weeks’ time. I could think of sky diving as a major achievement, but I’ve wanted to do that for a long time, and it wasn’t a fear I had to get over.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I wouldn’t call it a failure, but I wish I hadn’t wasted two months in Hamilton waiting for a job that kept getting put off.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I think I’ve managed to get by without being sick for the past two years. Definitely no injuries either.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A ticket to see Death Cab For Cutie at the Opera House in Wellington. My Maori tattoo. Tori’s adoption fee. :o)
Whose behavior merited celebration?
None that I can remember.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Probably my own. I shouldn’t have allowed a few casual relationships because I got nothing out of them. Lesson learned though, I guess.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Haha, chocolate, probably. Not too much spent on alcohol this year. Rent. Gas in my car. Flights.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The job on the dairy farm, because I had wasted too much time and I needed a job fast and that one paid really well, and it was a godsend. Also, dog shopping.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2016?
“Brimful of Asha” remix by Fatboy Slim
“Say You Love Me” by Jessie Ware
“Youth” by Troy Sivan
“We Don’t Talk Anymore” by Charlie Puth
“Sweet Nothing” by Calving Harris ft Florence Welch
“Treat You Better” by Shawn Mendes
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Sadder. I was pretty happy when I left Melbourne and pretty hopeful for my year in New Zealand, and I have too much stress lately. Heartbreak, fighting with my brother, and ready to go home.
ii. thinner or fatter? About the same
iii. richer or poorer? About the same
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Maybe getting out and exploring Wellington. I’m pretty satisfied with what I’ve done, because I did what I could in whatever my situation was. I might’ve wanted to be more spontaneous with my plans.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Spending time with people who didn’t really care about me.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
I was flying home for half of it and spent the rest in Chicago with my mom and sister.
21. What did you purge?
Tinder, for real this time. My car. Camping gear.
22. Did you fall in love in 2016?
Not exactly, but I was crushing hard on Mat.
23. How many one-night stands?
My record remains at 0. Even a two-night stand I’m still in contact with.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
How To Get Away With Murder, probably. Spent a lot of time on Mad Men and Suits but they were only alright.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. I still don’t like kids, though.
26. What was the best book you read?
Eat Pray Love
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I don’t think I discovered any new music this year! Towards the end, my brother had introduced me to The Descendants, but I have yet to listen. Maybe Anti-Flag as well?
28. What did you want and get?
Mat. :o) And TORI!
29. What did you want and not get?
Mat. :o( Met him too late, and he pushed me away when we still had time. Shame.
But also a job working for a ski resort near Queenstown.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I don’t think I watched any brand new movies this year. Maybe Boy. Saw Collateral Beauty toward the end, that one was good.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 32 this year. I was in Bangkok for my birthday, and I didn’t do much besides go for a run, and Matt, Nan, and I had a nice dinner at a swanky rooftop bar in the city called Speakeasy.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
MORE TIME WITH MAT. Hands down.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
Haha, “living out of a suitcase for 6 months out of the year”. Or maybe “stuck with the same 5 shirts for 6 months out of the year”. Going forward though, when I buy anything new, it’s “dress like a lady”.
34. What kept you sane?
I have realized that, as much as I wish it would, running does not help me relieve stress. It actually makes me think more about it and dwell on it. I’ve discovered that music and good food helps.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Tom Hiddleston
What political issue stirred you the most?
In this presidential election, I was stirred enough to go out and vote for Bernie Sanders as the Democratic candidate. I’m not as bothered by Trump as president as everyone else is.
37. Who did you miss?
Unfortunately Rafael a bit, but mostly Mat once he pushed me away. I’ll probably miss him a little bit for a while.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Dominic, Daniel from Hungary, Graham Lawrence, Kiki, Mat, Peter Busch
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016?
You must actively pursue what you truly want, what makes you truly happy. Don’t pass on opportunities you want just because they don’t make sense. Don’t waste your time with people who don’t care about you. Speak your mind, show your affection as much as possible. Return the favor. Wear a hat when milking a cow.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Broken down and hungry for your love/So I’ll wait for you, and I’ll burn. Will I ever see your sweet return?
Drove a tractor. Rode a motorbike. Milked a cow. Got shit on by a cow. Sky dive. Grade 5 white water rafting. *Eh-hermm*….. (something I can’t mention where other people might read it)
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Last year I resolved to brush twice a day and floss every day, practice my German and Chinese, continue to be as social as possible, and to save money so I have something to take home after New Zealand. I have failed at most of these. I brushed my teeth twice a day a few times, and I think I only flossed once in the past year. I practiced my German a little with Daniel, my coworker while kiwifruit picking, and he thought my German was good, but I could see how much I’ve lost. I practiced my Chinese a little, but I realized just how much of it I have forgotten. Part of the reason why I haven’t practiced is because I have no desire to be around German or Chinese speakers. I always had the desire to be very social, but I never found good social situations during my year in New Zealand, my time kiwifruit picking in Opotiki being the only exception. The resolution I succeeded the most in is saving money for when I leave New Zealand. I managed to leave with $2,000, but half of that I expected to spend in Thailand. Better than nothing though, right?
I want to carry over the resolution of brushing my teeth twice a day, but amend it to be ‘take better care of my teeth’. I would like to also continue to be as social as possible, and specifically be better about inviting/initiating plans with friends and relatives. Other than that, just find a job that I am happy with and save as much money as possible.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Carla had her second baby, Hank.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Zeke had to be put to sleep this year. :o( He developed some type of cancer in a very short amount of time. I’m going to miss him like crazy.
5. What countries did you visit?
New Zealand and Thailand
6. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
Just a job that doesn’t make me miserable. That’s about all I ask.
7. What date from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
December 30 - the day I adopted Tori. :o)
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I don’t feel like there were any major achievements, but I was pretty proud of forcing myself to be more self-sufficient on the dairy farm, and managing to sell my car and a bunch of my stuff at the end of the year in only a couple weeks’ time. I could think of sky diving as a major achievement, but I’ve wanted to do that for a long time, and it wasn’t a fear I had to get over.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I wouldn’t call it a failure, but I wish I hadn’t wasted two months in Hamilton waiting for a job that kept getting put off.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I think I’ve managed to get by without being sick for the past two years. Definitely no injuries either.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A ticket to see Death Cab For Cutie at the Opera House in Wellington. My Maori tattoo. Tori’s adoption fee. :o)
Whose behavior merited celebration?
None that I can remember.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Probably my own. I shouldn’t have allowed a few casual relationships because I got nothing out of them. Lesson learned though, I guess.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Haha, chocolate, probably. Not too much spent on alcohol this year. Rent. Gas in my car. Flights.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The job on the dairy farm, because I had wasted too much time and I needed a job fast and that one paid really well, and it was a godsend. Also, dog shopping.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2016?
“Brimful of Asha” remix by Fatboy Slim
“Say You Love Me” by Jessie Ware
“Youth” by Troy Sivan
“We Don’t Talk Anymore” by Charlie Puth
“Sweet Nothing” by Calving Harris ft Florence Welch
“Treat You Better” by Shawn Mendes
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Sadder. I was pretty happy when I left Melbourne and pretty hopeful for my year in New Zealand, and I have too much stress lately. Heartbreak, fighting with my brother, and ready to go home.
ii. thinner or fatter? About the same
iii. richer or poorer? About the same
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Maybe getting out and exploring Wellington. I’m pretty satisfied with what I’ve done, because I did what I could in whatever my situation was. I might’ve wanted to be more spontaneous with my plans.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Spending time with people who didn’t really care about me.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
I was flying home for half of it and spent the rest in Chicago with my mom and sister.
21. What did you purge?
Tinder, for real this time. My car. Camping gear.
22. Did you fall in love in 2016?
Not exactly, but I was crushing hard on Mat.
23. How many one-night stands?
My record remains at 0. Even a two-night stand I’m still in contact with.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
How To Get Away With Murder, probably. Spent a lot of time on Mad Men and Suits but they were only alright.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. I still don’t like kids, though.
26. What was the best book you read?
Eat Pray Love
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I don’t think I discovered any new music this year! Towards the end, my brother had introduced me to The Descendants, but I have yet to listen. Maybe Anti-Flag as well?
28. What did you want and get?
Mat. :o) And TORI!
29. What did you want and not get?
Mat. :o( Met him too late, and he pushed me away when we still had time. Shame.
But also a job working for a ski resort near Queenstown.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I don’t think I watched any brand new movies this year. Maybe Boy. Saw Collateral Beauty toward the end, that one was good.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 32 this year. I was in Bangkok for my birthday, and I didn’t do much besides go for a run, and Matt, Nan, and I had a nice dinner at a swanky rooftop bar in the city called Speakeasy.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
MORE TIME WITH MAT. Hands down.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
Haha, “living out of a suitcase for 6 months out of the year”. Or maybe “stuck with the same 5 shirts for 6 months out of the year”. Going forward though, when I buy anything new, it’s “dress like a lady”.
34. What kept you sane?
I have realized that, as much as I wish it would, running does not help me relieve stress. It actually makes me think more about it and dwell on it. I’ve discovered that music and good food helps.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Tom Hiddleston
What political issue stirred you the most?
In this presidential election, I was stirred enough to go out and vote for Bernie Sanders as the Democratic candidate. I’m not as bothered by Trump as president as everyone else is.
37. Who did you miss?
Unfortunately Rafael a bit, but mostly Mat once he pushed me away. I’ll probably miss him a little bit for a while.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Dominic, Daniel from Hungary, Graham Lawrence, Kiki, Mat, Peter Busch
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016?
You must actively pursue what you truly want, what makes you truly happy. Don’t pass on opportunities you want just because they don’t make sense. Don’t waste your time with people who don’t care about you. Speak your mind, show your affection as much as possible. Return the favor. Wear a hat when milking a cow.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Broken down and hungry for your love/So I’ll wait for you, and I’ll burn. Will I ever see your sweet return?