2009 in review
2009 began for me in Jimmy's house with somewhere between half a dozen and a dozen of us drinking, smoking, watching Jools Holland. Celebrating the new year with Mr. Holland, we were about 20 years premature, but who cares, it was good craic. It was early days for myself and Tim, we went into town with the intention of seeing Adebisi Shank in Whelans, but ended up missing them because we hadn't realised the back room had opened.
2009 is going to end.. I don't know where. I'd like to get a group of people to the house in Tramore 'cause the trip to Gaoth Dobhair was my favourite new year celebration and being down the country seems like the best idea.
What was the best part of last year?
Probably Trinity Monday/getting schols. It's something I've wanted to achieve since I first heard about schols when I was about 16, and it's going to stand to me for life; not just the free food and accommodation that make college life easier but the fact that it will make me stand out among candidates for doctorate and post-doc work and boost me along to my big dream of being Professor Áine with a h-index that's more of a holy-fuck-how'd-she-do-that-index.
Any other good bits?
The wedding in Essex was great; my second cousins are much closer to me in age than first cousins so hanging out and drinking with them was pretty great.
Going to Ios was a lot of fun, especially since it was the off season so there was plenty of partying and hanging out without being mobbed by drunken idiots constantly. Also, being swept out to sea in a Kayak made for a pretty good story.
Numerous days and nights with friends - Edinburgh, Kerry, hanging out in Jason's flat, going for walks with Tim, afternoon tea, evening tea, ALL TEA, getting drunk on leftover rum (was that late 2008?) in Aisling's and getting a phone call from Lucy saying she'd been arrested (a slight exaggeration), seeing Tim play with Council of Tanith, the murder mystery party in Paul's, pretty much every trip to Fibbers because it's the best place on earth, the success of the Dylan Evans talk, Steph and Roantree's Avast event and the Longstone after,
Moving out was a notable part of the year as well.
Seeing Last Year at Marienbad was really good too.
What was the worst part of last year?
I honestly don't know, nothing too horrible happened last year, and hopefully nothing awful will happen in the next ten days. I guess around late August and the start of September I felt a little down because after taking the month of May easy after schols in March and catching up on assignments in April, I hadn't gotten back into the swing of study and being constructive. I felt like I was wasting time, and the feeling was perpetuated by the fact that while lackeying in UCD, there was a lot of time where I was between tasks and had nothing to do either. I'd lost most of my extra-curriculars as well, which felt terrible too. When college prep began, though, I began to feel better.
Any other bad bits?
The fact that I grew apart from Aoife was a little frustrating at first, especially since it seemed to be mostly on her side, but these things happen.
I also got a little upset by Jason's behaviour towards the beginning of last term, but I understand that he was hurt by the fact that I was pulling away from him. Still, I'm glad we've severed on a friendship level because I was finding it very hard to assimilate his attitude and behaviour into my idea of the sort of person I want to be friends with, and also to make them mesh with my values.
The 'rave' in Wicklow was probably my least favourite night out/party of last year. Unlike the one in 2008, there were very few people there I knew, and even fewer I liked. Tim got the greens, and I had to sit with him because I didn't trust the people there not to harass him. I was treated like an outsider even though my friend was hosting it; most of the attendees were the organiser's friends. I couldn't go home and couldn't bring Tim home because we were way up the mountains. It did make me realise, though, that I place no value whatsoever on party animalism, and the people who do are idiots. Give me maybe something to smoke, maybe something to drink and some people I like or could potentially like to hang out with, and I'm happy.
What was the biggest surprise of last year?
I don't know, probably schols. I know that after doing all of that prep for it, and after doing well in other things, schols shouldn't have been a surprise, but I think everyone doubts and so hearing Heggo read out my name was definitely a surprise.
The snow in February was surprising too!
What are you most looking forward to next year?
Hopefully doing something deadly during the summer, like being a research assistant or intern somewhere abroad. And as much as I have loved studying English, I am looking forward to studying psych hardcore come September '10.
Is there anything you are not looking forward to next year?
I would say having to sit exams and do assignments which are worth 50% of my degree between now and May but really, I'd rather get them done than postpone them for good.
Which new years resolutions did you keep last year?
I can't really remember what resolutions I made... I'm sure there was something about studying enough for schols, which I did. Also, getting more involved in college socs and the like, which has happened.
Which new years resolutions did you break last year?
Hrm, I'd say there was something about exercising more often, which didn't happen. There was almost definitely something about writing more often, which also didn't happen and kind-of depresses me because I did it so often in school.
What will be your new years resolutions next year?
As you can see, I don't really give too much of a bollocks about resolutions; I'd like to keep up the good work in college, write more often, go back to playing piano, do yoga more often, be a more considerate person, stay happy.
Which resolution are you most likely to break?
Hopefully none; I'll probably lapse into selfishness from time to time but I'll try not to.
Which resolution are you most likely to keep?
ALL OF THEM. I AM SUPERWOMAN.
What will you be doing on new years eve?
No aye-dee-yar.
Who will you be with at new years eve?
People! Hopefully those I like.
Who do you want to kiss to see the new year in?
Asho. Or Timmo. Or whoever's convenient.
Who will you probably end up kissing to see the new year in?
Timmo.
What was the best song of last year?
I don't care enough about music to listen to it as it comes out. I did enjoy I'm on a Boat if only for how suited it was to our summer voyage to the island of Ios.
What was the best TV show of last year?
I watched Glee over the last week and I liked it; there might have been something better but it's not as salient.
What was the best book you read last year?
DON'T ASK ME THAT. Oh gosh this is awful, no literature student should have to answer this. I'm going to say Things Fall Apart.
What was the best film of last year?
The Wrestler was pretty good.
What change would you like to make to your life next year?
I'd like to be a bit more go-getting; a little more Type A but without the Type Arrogant or Type Asshole. We shall see.
What change would you like to see in the world next year?
I dunno, the world is pretty bollocksed so there's no one change I'd like over another. I'd like to see the US cut arms funding severely and use the money socially because that would have a worldwide knock-on effect. Or is that naive? I'd also like to see less glorification of wealth and fame, and more glorification of the actual achievements that may potentially lead to wealth and recognition as a secondary thing.
2009 is going to end.. I don't know where. I'd like to get a group of people to the house in Tramore 'cause the trip to Gaoth Dobhair was my favourite new year celebration and being down the country seems like the best idea.
What was the best part of last year?
Probably Trinity Monday/getting schols. It's something I've wanted to achieve since I first heard about schols when I was about 16, and it's going to stand to me for life; not just the free food and accommodation that make college life easier but the fact that it will make me stand out among candidates for doctorate and post-doc work and boost me along to my big dream of being Professor Áine with a h-index that's more of a holy-fuck-how'd-she-do-that-index.
Any other good bits?
The wedding in Essex was great; my second cousins are much closer to me in age than first cousins so hanging out and drinking with them was pretty great.
Going to Ios was a lot of fun, especially since it was the off season so there was plenty of partying and hanging out without being mobbed by drunken idiots constantly. Also, being swept out to sea in a Kayak made for a pretty good story.
Numerous days and nights with friends - Edinburgh, Kerry, hanging out in Jason's flat, going for walks with Tim, afternoon tea, evening tea, ALL TEA, getting drunk on leftover rum (was that late 2008?) in Aisling's and getting a phone call from Lucy saying she'd been arrested (a slight exaggeration), seeing Tim play with Council of Tanith, the murder mystery party in Paul's, pretty much every trip to Fibbers because it's the best place on earth, the success of the Dylan Evans talk, Steph and Roantree's Avast event and the Longstone after,
Moving out was a notable part of the year as well.
Seeing Last Year at Marienbad was really good too.
What was the worst part of last year?
I honestly don't know, nothing too horrible happened last year, and hopefully nothing awful will happen in the next ten days. I guess around late August and the start of September I felt a little down because after taking the month of May easy after schols in March and catching up on assignments in April, I hadn't gotten back into the swing of study and being constructive. I felt like I was wasting time, and the feeling was perpetuated by the fact that while lackeying in UCD, there was a lot of time where I was between tasks and had nothing to do either. I'd lost most of my extra-curriculars as well, which felt terrible too. When college prep began, though, I began to feel better.
Any other bad bits?
The fact that I grew apart from Aoife was a little frustrating at first, especially since it seemed to be mostly on her side, but these things happen.
I also got a little upset by Jason's behaviour towards the beginning of last term, but I understand that he was hurt by the fact that I was pulling away from him. Still, I'm glad we've severed on a friendship level because I was finding it very hard to assimilate his attitude and behaviour into my idea of the sort of person I want to be friends with, and also to make them mesh with my values.
The 'rave' in Wicklow was probably my least favourite night out/party of last year. Unlike the one in 2008, there were very few people there I knew, and even fewer I liked. Tim got the greens, and I had to sit with him because I didn't trust the people there not to harass him. I was treated like an outsider even though my friend was hosting it; most of the attendees were the organiser's friends. I couldn't go home and couldn't bring Tim home because we were way up the mountains. It did make me realise, though, that I place no value whatsoever on party animalism, and the people who do are idiots. Give me maybe something to smoke, maybe something to drink and some people I like or could potentially like to hang out with, and I'm happy.
What was the biggest surprise of last year?
I don't know, probably schols. I know that after doing all of that prep for it, and after doing well in other things, schols shouldn't have been a surprise, but I think everyone doubts and so hearing Heggo read out my name was definitely a surprise.
The snow in February was surprising too!
What are you most looking forward to next year?
Hopefully doing something deadly during the summer, like being a research assistant or intern somewhere abroad. And as much as I have loved studying English, I am looking forward to studying psych hardcore come September '10.
Is there anything you are not looking forward to next year?
I would say having to sit exams and do assignments which are worth 50% of my degree between now and May but really, I'd rather get them done than postpone them for good.
Which new years resolutions did you keep last year?
I can't really remember what resolutions I made... I'm sure there was something about studying enough for schols, which I did. Also, getting more involved in college socs and the like, which has happened.
Which new years resolutions did you break last year?
Hrm, I'd say there was something about exercising more often, which didn't happen. There was almost definitely something about writing more often, which also didn't happen and kind-of depresses me because I did it so often in school.
What will be your new years resolutions next year?
As you can see, I don't really give too much of a bollocks about resolutions; I'd like to keep up the good work in college, write more often, go back to playing piano, do yoga more often, be a more considerate person, stay happy.
Which resolution are you most likely to break?
Hopefully none; I'll probably lapse into selfishness from time to time but I'll try not to.
Which resolution are you most likely to keep?
ALL OF THEM. I AM SUPERWOMAN.
What will you be doing on new years eve?
No aye-dee-yar.
Who will you be with at new years eve?
People! Hopefully those I like.
Who do you want to kiss to see the new year in?
Asho. Or Timmo. Or whoever's convenient.
Who will you probably end up kissing to see the new year in?
Timmo.
What was the best song of last year?
I don't care enough about music to listen to it as it comes out. I did enjoy I'm on a Boat if only for how suited it was to our summer voyage to the island of Ios.
What was the best TV show of last year?
I watched Glee over the last week and I liked it; there might have been something better but it's not as salient.
What was the best book you read last year?
DON'T ASK ME THAT. Oh gosh this is awful, no literature student should have to answer this. I'm going to say Things Fall Apart.
What was the best film of last year?
The Wrestler was pretty good.
What change would you like to make to your life next year?
I'd like to be a bit more go-getting; a little more Type A but without the Type Arrogant or Type Asshole. We shall see.
What change would you like to see in the world next year?
I dunno, the world is pretty bollocksed so there's no one change I'd like over another. I'd like to see the US cut arms funding severely and use the money socially because that would have a worldwide knock-on effect. Or is that naive? I'd also like to see less glorification of wealth and fame, and more glorification of the actual achievements that may potentially lead to wealth and recognition as a secondary thing.