(no subject)
What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Hired and supervised other people. Moved in with someone. Introduced a girlfriend's parents to my parents. Celebrated a two-year anniversary. Got hungover after a night of moderate drinking. Do I sound 40 or what?
Did you keep our New Year's Resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
It doesn't look like I made any resolutions last year, but this year I achieved a number of common resolutions - got a touch more organized, started working out again, etc. Otherwise I really wouldn't be able to survive my schedule.
Did anyone close to you give birth?
Cate's second nephew was born, though we haven't met yet.
Did anyone close to you die?
No.
What countries did you visit?
The States. More specifically, Boston, for a journalism conference last spring. Other than that, I haven't left Canada, and in fact, I've hardly left downtown Toronto.
What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A job, and a salary. A completed and accepted sponsorship application for Cate, so I can move past the heart-pounding panic that immigration officers and paperwork currently induce. A grant for a Shameless project that I'm working on. (Anyone know good organizations that give grants for youth work in literacy and the media?)
What date from 2008 wil remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Cate says she left Edinburgh on January 5th, but I'm pretty sure it was January 10th. Anyway, that was a big one.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I think I've had some success shaking things up at the Varsity, in terms of recruitment and training. I finally got that internship panel together, and it went really well. I also feel like I finally lived up to my potential at The Varsity with a couple big feature stories that got some attention. Last year I felt like I was sort of living on my reputation, not producing much of note.
What was your biggest failure?
My marks have dropped, year to year, to the degree where I might need to revise future plans, which has been tough to realize.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
I used to get sick 4-5 times a winter, but since moving back to Toronto I've been sick once, with strep, for about 48 hours. I'm enjoying this new and improved immune system. I did get a couple nasty burns in the kitchen, which was a new experience - I scalded my whole left hand pouring boiling water into a hot water bottle.
What was the best thing you bought?
I bought an external LCD monitor to use with my laptop, and I have to say that while not strictly necessary, it has totally improved my quality of life. It's our de facto television, and makes editing or writing from research notes so much easier.
Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My parents, or at least my mother, finally started to come around to the whole girlfriend/queer thing.
Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Um, my boss. One day, I'm going to be one of those people who gets fired for their blog. Also Michaelle Jean. A small minority of researchers I work with who just hand in crap.
Where did most of your money go?
Rent, groceries. Recently, some better kitchen stuff.
What did you get really, really excited about?
Many things. I was excited about just about all of my projects this year - even the classes.
What song(s) will always remind you of 2008?
"Closer" by Melissa Ferrick
Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or sadder?
It's been a happier year, but at this precise moment I'm probably a little sadder - too many reports to edit.
ii. Thinner or fatter?
A little thinner.
iii. Richer or poorer?
Maybe a bit richer at the moment, because I've been saving all year, but about to become much poorer.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Study!
What do you wish you'd done less of?
I always wish I'd watched less television, but this year wasn't too bad for time wasting.
How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas helping my aunt with her computer, and cooking. This is the first holiday that left me kind of worn out. Yeah, I'm middle-aged.
What was your favourite TV programme?
Buffy, always.
Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
What was the best book you read?'
Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures by Vincent Lam, tied with A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge.
What was your greatest musical discovery?
I haven't made many musical discoveries lately. I guess I discovered that Maria Taylor (of Azure Ray) has a solo career, and that was pretty exciting.
What was your favourite film of this year?
Juno? I saw very few movies this year.
What did you want and get?
Interesting things to do with my time.
What did you want and not get?
A 4.0?
What did you do for your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 22. Kate, Cate and I made our way to Sneaky Dee's through some of the worst snow and slush of the year. We had to take two different streetcars and cross a road between them, and the snowbanks waist high at every juncture. Then I had some sort of amazing caramel apple shots.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Frequently, I run out of time for laundry. Lucky for me, Cate is more organized, so I just wear her clothes.
What kept you sane?
I've been keeping myself sane, through sheer force of will and routine. I make myself sleep, eat, work out, sit in front of my sun lamp, take evenings off.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Not to be a clone, but Kate Walsh.
What political issue stirred you the most?
For about 5 seconds, I was excited about the possibiliyt of a coalition government. But this is an emotional question, and I'd be lying if I didn't admit that the American election probably "stirred" me more.
Who did you miss?
My friends. My social life resumes late July, for the record. I'm looking forward to it. Also, it's been five years, but I still miss my dog, who lives with my parents.
Who was the best new person you met?
If I had to answer this question, it would end up being about work, and that just seems pathetic. See the last question.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
I learned to put my foot down a little, especially with guys who think I'm going to be a pushover. ("I think I''ll hand in the reports some time next week...")
Hired and supervised other people. Moved in with someone. Introduced a girlfriend's parents to my parents. Celebrated a two-year anniversary. Got hungover after a night of moderate drinking. Do I sound 40 or what?
Did you keep our New Year's Resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
It doesn't look like I made any resolutions last year, but this year I achieved a number of common resolutions - got a touch more organized, started working out again, etc. Otherwise I really wouldn't be able to survive my schedule.
Did anyone close to you give birth?
Cate's second nephew was born, though we haven't met yet.
Did anyone close to you die?
No.
What countries did you visit?
The States. More specifically, Boston, for a journalism conference last spring. Other than that, I haven't left Canada, and in fact, I've hardly left downtown Toronto.
What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A job, and a salary. A completed and accepted sponsorship application for Cate, so I can move past the heart-pounding panic that immigration officers and paperwork currently induce. A grant for a Shameless project that I'm working on. (Anyone know good organizations that give grants for youth work in literacy and the media?)
What date from 2008 wil remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Cate says she left Edinburgh on January 5th, but I'm pretty sure it was January 10th. Anyway, that was a big one.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I think I've had some success shaking things up at the Varsity, in terms of recruitment and training. I finally got that internship panel together, and it went really well. I also feel like I finally lived up to my potential at The Varsity with a couple big feature stories that got some attention. Last year I felt like I was sort of living on my reputation, not producing much of note.
What was your biggest failure?
My marks have dropped, year to year, to the degree where I might need to revise future plans, which has been tough to realize.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
I used to get sick 4-5 times a winter, but since moving back to Toronto I've been sick once, with strep, for about 48 hours. I'm enjoying this new and improved immune system. I did get a couple nasty burns in the kitchen, which was a new experience - I scalded my whole left hand pouring boiling water into a hot water bottle.
What was the best thing you bought?
I bought an external LCD monitor to use with my laptop, and I have to say that while not strictly necessary, it has totally improved my quality of life. It's our de facto television, and makes editing or writing from research notes so much easier.
Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My parents, or at least my mother, finally started to come around to the whole girlfriend/queer thing.
Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Um, my boss. One day, I'm going to be one of those people who gets fired for their blog. Also Michaelle Jean. A small minority of researchers I work with who just hand in crap.
Where did most of your money go?
Rent, groceries. Recently, some better kitchen stuff.
What did you get really, really excited about?
Many things. I was excited about just about all of my projects this year - even the classes.
What song(s) will always remind you of 2008?
"Closer" by Melissa Ferrick
Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or sadder?
It's been a happier year, but at this precise moment I'm probably a little sadder - too many reports to edit.
ii. Thinner or fatter?
A little thinner.
iii. Richer or poorer?
Maybe a bit richer at the moment, because I've been saving all year, but about to become much poorer.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Study!
What do you wish you'd done less of?
I always wish I'd watched less television, but this year wasn't too bad for time wasting.
How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas helping my aunt with her computer, and cooking. This is the first holiday that left me kind of worn out. Yeah, I'm middle-aged.
What was your favourite TV programme?
Buffy, always.
Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
What was the best book you read?'
Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures by Vincent Lam, tied with A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge.
What was your greatest musical discovery?
I haven't made many musical discoveries lately. I guess I discovered that Maria Taylor (of Azure Ray) has a solo career, and that was pretty exciting.
What was your favourite film of this year?
Juno? I saw very few movies this year.
What did you want and get?
Interesting things to do with my time.
What did you want and not get?
A 4.0?
What did you do for your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 22. Kate, Cate and I made our way to Sneaky Dee's through some of the worst snow and slush of the year. We had to take two different streetcars and cross a road between them, and the snowbanks waist high at every juncture. Then I had some sort of amazing caramel apple shots.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Frequently, I run out of time for laundry. Lucky for me, Cate is more organized, so I just wear her clothes.
What kept you sane?
I've been keeping myself sane, through sheer force of will and routine. I make myself sleep, eat, work out, sit in front of my sun lamp, take evenings off.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Not to be a clone, but Kate Walsh.
What political issue stirred you the most?
For about 5 seconds, I was excited about the possibiliyt of a coalition government. But this is an emotional question, and I'd be lying if I didn't admit that the American election probably "stirred" me more.
Who did you miss?
My friends. My social life resumes late July, for the record. I'm looking forward to it. Also, it's been five years, but I still miss my dog, who lives with my parents.
Who was the best new person you met?
If I had to answer this question, it would end up being about work, and that just seems pathetic. See the last question.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
I learned to put my foot down a little, especially with guys who think I'm going to be a pushover. ("I think I''ll hand in the reports some time next week...")