That Was The Year That Was, 2009
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Spoke before a paying, adult audience. Been a carless adult. Pitched two television shows. Made bagels. Had lunch with an editor. Was a gues on NPR's "On The Media"
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No. No.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
A few.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thank goodness, no.
5. What countries did you visit?
Like fine wine, I don't travel well.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Closure. Not that that exists.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
June 8, David Byrne in Concert
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Staying out of jail.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Continued failure to reach the top of Maslow's pyramid.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No. That's what worries me.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A netbook.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My family.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Certain segments of the country seem to have collectively lost their fucking minds. Willingly.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Taxes.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I don't get excited. I really enjoyed the singalong Purple Rain, though.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Toss up between "Say Hey" by Michael Franti & Spearhead, "Salt and Cherries" by Wendy & Lisa, and "Life is Long" by David Byrne.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Neutral.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner.
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing. Believe it or not. Speaking. Believe it or not. Exercising. Believe it or not.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying and eating. Worrying about eating.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Doing precisely nothing.
21. How will you be spending New Year's Eve?
I thought I was going to see the fireworks in the park. I'm not.
22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
No.
23. How many one-night stands?
Zero.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Mythbusters; The Daily Show
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
26. What was the best book you read?
Austerity Britain. Napoleon's Buttons. The Iliad.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Vampire Weekend! Blip.fm.
28. What did you want and get?
A netbook.
29. What did you want and not get?
Closure. Not that that exists.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Informant!
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I did precisely nothing. It was wonderful.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Publication of my first book.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
"You know, these t-shirts from the dollar store are really pretty good."
34. What kept you sane?
That makes a really deep assumption.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Rachel Maddow. I know, but I figure since all public figures are equally unobtainable....
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Certain segments of the country seem to have collectively lost their fucking minds.
37. Who did you miss?
My father
38. Who was the best new person you met?
John, Ajay, Shane, and Laura
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
Nothing lasts. Nothing.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I get knocked down, but I get up again, you're never gonna keep me down.
Spoke before a paying, adult audience. Been a carless adult. Pitched two television shows. Made bagels. Had lunch with an editor. Was a gues on NPR's "On The Media"
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No. No.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
A few.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thank goodness, no.
5. What countries did you visit?
Like fine wine, I don't travel well.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Closure. Not that that exists.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
June 8, David Byrne in Concert
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Staying out of jail.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Continued failure to reach the top of Maslow's pyramid.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No. That's what worries me.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A netbook.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My family.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Certain segments of the country seem to have collectively lost their fucking minds. Willingly.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Taxes.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I don't get excited. I really enjoyed the singalong Purple Rain, though.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Toss up between "Say Hey" by Michael Franti & Spearhead, "Salt and Cherries" by Wendy & Lisa, and "Life is Long" by David Byrne.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Neutral.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner.
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing. Believe it or not. Speaking. Believe it or not. Exercising. Believe it or not.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying and eating. Worrying about eating.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Doing precisely nothing.
21. How will you be spending New Year's Eve?
I thought I was going to see the fireworks in the park. I'm not.
22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
No.
23. How many one-night stands?
Zero.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Mythbusters; The Daily Show
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
26. What was the best book you read?
Austerity Britain. Napoleon's Buttons. The Iliad.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Vampire Weekend! Blip.fm.
28. What did you want and get?
A netbook.
29. What did you want and not get?
Closure. Not that that exists.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Informant!
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I did precisely nothing. It was wonderful.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Publication of my first book.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
"You know, these t-shirts from the dollar store are really pretty good."
34. What kept you sane?
That makes a really deep assumption.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Rachel Maddow. I know, but I figure since all public figures are equally unobtainable....
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Certain segments of the country seem to have collectively lost their fucking minds.
37. Who did you miss?
My father
38. Who was the best new person you met?
John, Ajay, Shane, and Laura
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
Nothing lasts. Nothing.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I get knocked down, but I get up again, you're never gonna keep me down.