End of the Year Quiz 2013!
It's that time of year again! If you're entertained by my personal life, and you SHOULD be, you can go read the entries from 2009, 2011, and 2012.
1. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?
got a full-time job, took an 11 hour bus ride, moved to NYC and all that entails, decorated my own apartment for Christmas and Halloween
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
well last year I said I would resolve to change underwear and take showers more often and unfortunately that did not happen... when you have to pay to wash your clothes at a laundromat you stretch 'em as far as you can, and when the heat in your apartment barely works morning showers are not very fun at all
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
my best friend from middle school (who I admittedly haven't seen in years, but we keep an eye on each other on facebook) had her SECOND baby, which is wackadoodledoo
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My puppywuppy Flossie died in August. I was going to say that my groupie self finally suffocated under the weight of real life, but she was unexpectedly resurrected a couple weeks ago and is now gestating and preparing to be reborn next June
5. What countries did you visit?
I did not leave the country in 2013! That's pretty unusual right there tbh. I did a bit of back-and-forth between NYC and North Carolina though, with one side trip out to Martha's Vineyard and a couple to New Jersey
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
Let me just say that my answer last year was "a big girl job, an apartment, the ability to pay student loans, florent mothe's hand in marriage" and I only lack one of those right now! So I'll just leave "Florent Mothe's hand in marriage" because I *have* a lot of stuff, now I just want to *accomplish* things
7. What dates from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Well I moved to NYC on February 1st, which is an easy one to remember
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
getting my job! I love my job and at least three of my coworkers which is rad, and I love my paychecks and I love that my boss's boss brings free donuts every Friday! I love my cubicle decorated with pictures of the Troupe and my family. yeah, it's good times
9. What was your biggest failure?
I thought once I had my name on a lease in NYC I'd feel secure, but now I know that landlords can jack rent up whenever they want, so I'm on edge and expecting to have to leave my apartment (and NYC in general) without warning some August 1st. But probably, the worst failure was being unable to follow through with my plan to have all my student loans paid off by the time I turn 30 and having to file for Income-Based Loan Repayment, meaning I'll be paying on them till I'm 50 (but after that the rest gets forgiven!)
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
no, thank goodness, though every damn time i talk to my mom on the phone (which is daily) she asks why I haven't found myself a doctor here in NYC yet
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Probably the accessories for my pink-ass room, including the hammock... I love my room a lot.
Also Sidonie and Imriel, my lil gerbaderbs:
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Mr Vincent gets another shout-out for dealing with that RIDICULOUS billing mixup with the French hospitals. Also my mommy and daddy for having my back so much and buying me a plane ticket home for Christmas.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
So-FIE-uh and Gordo are literally the worst people I interacted with all year. I hope they stub their toes on every doorway they ever pass through until the end of time.
14. Where did most of your money go?
My landlord and the student loan companies
15. What were you really, really, really excited about?
A lot of things. My job, getting my name on a lease, the pink-tastic-ness of my room, getting pets to keep me company, and, more recently, my Christmas bonus!
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
WHAT THE FOX SAY
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) Happier or sadder? Happier, by far. I'm a little worried that I'm cutting myself off from all human relationships and I'm pretty sure that'll come back to bite me, but I feel like my NYC existence is temporary, so I'm afraid to make more friends I'll just end up missing when I'm finally able to move back home to NC.
b) Bigger or smaller? bigger probably? I'm dealing with a problem I have with binge-eating mac and cheese every evening for dinner. But it's so affordable and delicious!
c) Richer or poorer? I think about the same? Money is tight and most of it goes straight to bills, but I can usually scrounge up an extra hundred dollars or so a month for one-time purchases like winter coats or tickets to see the MOR concert next June.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Scrimping and saving up pennies here and there, I guess
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I have a really bad habit of telling people my life story for no reason... I need to be less self-centered I guess
20. How did you spend Christmas?
with my family! I played the Animorphs board game with my brother and cousin and watching The Holiday with my mom and aunts and tried and failed to make macarons with my grandmom and it was very pleasant
21. How many one-night stands?
zero! I went to the ace end of the spectrum this year and HARD. Basically I identify now as aromantic/indifferent, in that sex is fine or whatever but I'm not that bothered about it. I've had a six month relationship and it was alright but it kind of chafed, and sex is alright but it's not something I really need. I'd much rather avoid all that social nonsense and just have pets. Lots and lots of pets.
22. Did you fall in love in 2013?
I'm getting more and more confident and smug and I fucking love it. I deserve to be vain as hell after hating myself for like twenty years of my damn life
23. What was your favourite TV programme?
I think Elementary and Sleepy Hollow win this year.
24. How will you see in the New Year?
I just found out one of my high school bffs will be doing the Times Square thing with her family and I'm totally going with her! I'll probably hate it because of the crowds and the cold but it's worth it to say I've done it.
25. Do you hate / dislike anyone now that you didn't hate / dislike this time last year?
I would like to say that I've made peace with Maktav, who featured on this question last year! Now we chat idly about Doctor Who whenever something exciting happens on the show. But other than that and a lot of celebrities who did uncool stuff this year, it's all pretty much the same.
26. What was the best book you read?
THE KUSHIEL'S LEGACY BOOKS CHANGED MY WORLD. I still need to finish the third trilogy but god DAMN
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Am I a complete weirdo if I say Ylvis? I know they don't count that much but I'm so fucking obsessed with the Fox okay. Other than that the only new music in my life is Flo's CD. I'm really slow to embrace new jams.
28. What did you want and get?
apartment, job, gerbils
29. What did you want and not get?
security, a long-term home
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
ummmmmm I literally don't remember any movie that came out this year and I WORKED AT A MOVIE THEATER for part of it... I guess it'd be Monsters University?
31. What did you do on your birthday?
I went out to my aunt and uncle's and we ate homemade food, consumed lots of booze and played piano while my mom sang made-up terrible lyrics, and basically enjoyed myself more than I had in a long, long time
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
less poverty and food rationing
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
similar to last year, but I'm very excited to announce that I now wear bold lipstick on a daily basis. I also had a lovely span where I finally had hot pink hair! But it was too aggravating to re-dye it every weekend, so I'm back to red now. So the look is pale face, bold lipstick, dark red hair, and I admit I've gotten a little lazier with the clothes, but I'm still a big fan of my jewel tones. Gone are the black and grey outfits I acquired in my Paris phase. And my hot pink obsession is spiraling out of control.
34. What kept you sane?
aggressively planning things and grimly checking my bank account a hundred times a day to ration food costs...
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Last year I said "I think the answer to this will just have to be Florent Mothe for the rest of my life until my dying day," and that's legit, but honestly I had a lot more feelings about Emilia Clarke and Billie Piper this year. I'm turning gay.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
I guess I was most aggravated by the Congressional shut-down and the whole Wendy Davis/Leticia van de Putte thing... it was a pretty good year for us SJWs but things could have been better... there's a lot of work to do
37. Who did you miss?
Well, let's leave "Another one that will probably say Florent Mothe for the rest of eternity." in this slot. I also miss my college bff Katheroine and wish her anxiety issues would tone it down so I could elope with her and run off into the sunset.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Katie KW my work bestie! I love Katie KW.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.
Rice is dirt cheap and really filling! A bag of rice can feed you for over a month for like $5!
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"pay the landlord, pay the shop, keep on grafting as long as you're able / keep on grafting till you drop, or it's back to the crumbs on the table"
41. What was your favourite moment of the year?
I really liked surprising my mom at Thanksgiving, but I also feel intense inner peace when I crawl into my hammock at night and stare up at my glow-in-the-dark stars for a while. Home is where the glow-in-the-dark stars are.
42. What was your least favourite moment of the year?
I had a few mental breakdowns while I was working those two part-time jobs and eating a bowl of rice a day and being tormented by evil roommates, but then I got my real job and escaped and all was well (ish)
43. Where were you when 2013 began?
at a party at my distant cousins' house I think... why am I having trouble remembering?
44. Who were you with?
my mom and dad, our cousins and their kids and their kids' friends and boyfriends
45. Where will you be when 2013 ends?
apparently in Times Square with one of my besties from high school and her family!
46. Who will you be with when 2013 ends?
right, um, one of my besties from high school and her family and about six million drunken people
47. What was your favourite month of 2013?
Hm, probably December because I was finally not overdrawn at the bank, I have rad coats and red lipstick, I got a Christmas bonus, I saw my family, and they announced the MOR reunion
48. Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2013?
um, maybe about the same amount as last year, though I did get actually drunk on the 4th of July, which was new and fascinating. And yet I *still* managed to sober up enough before bed that I didn't get a hangover the next day, chicka chicka ow
49. Did you do a lot of drugs in 2013?
I have probably inhaled a lifetime's worth of secondhand pot fumes from the people in the apartment on the 3rd floor but other than that have had no contact with the stuff
50. How many people did you sleep with in 2013?
none people
51. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
I worry that I'm too overbearing and moody in social situations
52. What was the worst lie someone told you in 2013?
i'm just gonna answer this shit with the word "gordo" and move the fuck on without reliving that fucking nonsense
53. Did you treat somebody badly in 2013?
I can't think of an example off the top of my head, though I know I've been a shitty friend to the nice ladies I've met here in NYC because I'm just having a hell of a goddamn time figuring out how to trust people after what I've been through these past couple years
54. Did somebody treat you badly in 2013?
gordo and fucking sophia, may the soles of all their shoes turn to lego
56. How much money did you spend in 2013?
um, well rent is $650/mo before utilities, and student loans went down from $650/mo to $400/mo once I did that ICR paperwork, I barely spend more than $60/mo on groceries, but there's my cell phone bill, my fuckin MetroCard, and... whatever else... utilities and wifi... so a lot, but I've been able to salvage up some savings here and there which will soon all go to a goddamn plane ticket apparently
57. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2013 and change what?
I can't really think of anything off the top of my head. I guess I did alright this year. No major fuck-ups that didn't turn out alright, anyways. I reckon I wouldn't have bought my dumb rain boots that cut into the back of my calf and already leak and cost twice as much as they should have.
58. What are your plans for 2014?
Get my ass back to France for the MOR reunion, get a new laptop, build up some savings somehow so when the day comes that my landlord inevitably hikes rent so high I have to leave, I'll be able to afford to move back down the NC