The Christmas Challenge of Mortumba
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Been involved in anime for a quarter of a century.
Completed and released a sophomore album.
Learned to play the keyboard
Enjoyed the presence of Mr. Kevin in my Colorado homestead.
Explored Albuquerque many many years after middle school.
Went to Houston and not went to Katz's Deli.
Played at some open mic nights.
Went to the ballet.
Had fondue.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I kept none of them. I might make some for the new year but I've completely failed for the last 2 so it might just be futile.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
As sad as it is, I tend to lose track of all the new young uns these days. :)
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No although some people I liked and knew somewhat, like Dave Stevens and Stan Winston, did.
My Taurus went to the Great Parking Lot in the Sky.
5. What countries did you visit?
US, Scotland
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Some more money would have been nice.
A reliable car f my own that I can take roadtrips in.
More sanity at the beginning of the year.
Musical talent.
A local band or some musicians to practice with.
7. What date(s) from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Remember, Remember the Fourth of November. : )
I will always remember Voices for Tolerance being released on June 6
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finishing and releasing Voices for Tolerance.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Getting a B in my Non-Profit class, destroying my 4.0.
Being a bad friend and not being there for people enough.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I was crazy in the spring but it got a lot better.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My TomTom
Roland Juno-G
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The American Voters
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
the Republican Party, especially the McCain campaign (minus the man himself) and the Bush administration.
Pope Benedict XVI, who has done more than any Pope in recent history to destroy Catholicism and everything good about it.
California voters passing Proposition 8. Take a look at the list of people and organizations that supported that and you'll see what and who will go down in history as the last great bigots of the USA. They're going to go down hard and they will lose everything they love not because of the actions of others but because they brought it all on themselves. They'll whine and cry victim at every step but they're on the way out - no doubt.
In a way, I found my own behavior to be unpleasant. There are certain triggers which send me into a hyperaware combative state where I look around for both exits and weapons and I had to really fight a couple times when I was hormonally imbalanced not to do something that I would regret forever. I said some things and did some things that were not particularly nice but it was better than it could have been. For the most part though, I kept my mouth shut and watched.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Food, gas, school-related expenses, travel expenses.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The election.
Going to Scotland
Finishing Voices for Tolerance
All of our concerts.
All the cons I went to.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Click to view17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter. (I think I'm always getting fatter.)
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Yoga and meditation
Relaxing
Been honest to people about difficult times.
Singing practice.
Write in here.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
withdraw
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I helped my mother and sister face the Challenge of Mortumba.
22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
I fall in love every year (sometimes more than once) but it can never go anywhere so it is irrelevant. Sometimes it's fun and sometimes it's like the flu.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Breaking Bad
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No although there is one person who is really really trying the limits of my self-control. :)
26. What was the best book you read?
The Art of Practicing: A Guide to Making Music from the Heart by Madeline Bruser
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Keyboard!
The Avalanches
And, of course, the Cookin' By the Book video
28. What did you want and get?
I had a 4.0 until this semester.
Tolerance - Done!
My Juno-G (I actually can save money for 6 months! Now I have to do it for a car.)
29. What did you want and not get?
An A in my non-profit class
More hot sexy action :)
More roadtrips
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Dark Knight Returns or Teeth.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was in Chicago on my birthday and it was a most excellent day.
32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Releasing Tolerance in January or February.
Not being on financial aid probation.
If this was the year that same-sex marriage went legal around the nation, rather than waiting 10 years or so. It would be much less stressful and a HUGE LOT easier on the people who are against it, who will only hurt themselves and others as long as this goes on.It's going to come. (Unless, of course, mankind is destroyed in the next year or two.)
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
"I can't afford new clothes and I'm fat so well-worn black it is."
34. What kept you sane?
For a while, nothing then Lamictal. My therapist for half the year. Music made me both sane and insane. School made me mostly insane.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
The sad story of Heath Ledger who gave the performance of his life right before it ended.
Senators Obama and McCain were the most in my face this year and that was OK because they're both good men. I unfortunately don't feel that way about the other person shoved in my face all year - Gov. Palin.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The election. The whole resurgence of noise over same-sex marriage.
37. Who did you miss?
Katherine, Doug, Jon, Dale, Kevin, Katie, my voice teacher, who I saw too little of. Auggie, who I saw for moments. People I worked with in Japan.
38. Who was the best new person(s) you met?
I hate this question. I meet so many awesome people every year and my head is so full of faces that I think I forget a city or two full of people a year. Must find some way to improve my memory...
Some cool people - Jessica Boone, Andi, Bear, Ken W,
Getting to know some folks like Sofia better.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
I've spent the last 25 years of my life - over half my life - involved in anime in some way and I've been blessed with the opportunities to meet and work with so many amazing people and to travel to so many amazing places and to have so many amazing adventures. I would not know anybody reading this if it was not for my anime adventure. I've been a "celebrity" pf sorts for the past 15 years (which is how long I've been going to cons and it's definitely been an interesting ride. There are places in the US where I've been recognized on the street and it happens at least once a month in Denver. I heard a lot of people talk about how they want to be famous but I've lived the life of a rock star for years and I have to say that the best part about it is the people I've met. So my life lesson, which I already knew but was reinforced, is that all that matters is people. :)
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I've been everywhere
And still I'm standing tall
I've seen a million faces
and I've rocked them all.
And for something for the last day of the year for you. Probably the weirdest video of the year.
Yes, I know the beginning may make you ill but keep going and you'll be rewarded.
(My favorite is the white horse naked guy, especially at 5:52.)