2013 In Review
Snagged from angua9. This is a little late, but I’m a little late with everything these days…and 2013 was a tough year. These questions took a lot of thought.
1. What did you do in 2013 that you had never done before?
I read my first Stephen King novel ("11/22/63"). Also saw King speak live.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and did you make more for next year?
I can’t remember if I made any resolutions, but if I did I probably didn’t keep them - although I did read more in 2013 than I did in 2012. My only plan for this year is to do everything possible to get back to the west coast.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, but my brother and sister-in-law adopted a 2 year-old boy from Taiwan, named Kaleo.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no
5. What countries did you visit?
None; the farthest I traveled was to Los Angeles twice, in October & December
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
A job in southern California
7. What date in 2013 will remain etched in your memory, and why?
April 15 - the day of the Boston Marathon bombings
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I officially converted my father into a Potterhead. He finished the series the day after Christmas.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I know this is not entirely within my control, but the fact that I did not get a job in California
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Fortunately, no.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I didn’t really buy much other than my usual e-books and DVDs.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Among others, the first responders and bystanders who stepped in to help after the bombings.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The Boston Bombers; there are others, but essentially I was disgusted by anyone who set out to hurt innocents (whether physically or emotionally) for their own selfish motives. It seems to be happening a lot more, at least in my opinion.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Paying bills and rent, groceries
15. What did you get really, really excited about?
When luvscharlie came to visit me in July. Also when the Red Sox won the World Series. A good friend of mine also announced some very exciting personal news - I think she knows who she is, but I'll preserve her privacy and say that I'm very interested to see how everything unfolds.
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
Probably "Sweet Caroline", by Neil Diamond, because after the bombings, I heard it a lot as the city came together to rebuild.
17. Compared to this time last year (2012), are you:
a. Happier or Sadder? A little sadder - I miss California
b. Thinner or fatter? Fatter
c. Richer or poorer? About the same
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Saving money, writing
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Spending money on things I didn’t need, procrastinating
20. How did you spend Christmas?
In Los Angeles, with my family
21. How did you spend New Year’s?
By myself, watching movies and staying warm
22. Did you fall in love in 2013?
No
23.How many one-night stands?
None
24.What was your favorite TV program?
Big Bang Theory - I’ve always liked it, but it really grew on me in 2013
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Didn’t really have any. I don’t branch out much with music these days.
27. Favorite film?
I did enjoy “Gravity”, and “Hunger Games: Catching Fire”
28. What did you want and get?
I was able to meet my new nephew on Christmas Eve, and spend some quality time with my brother and his family whom I haven’t seen in over a year.
29. What did you want and not get?
Came very close to landing a job in Beverly Hills, CA in February - but then I didn’t get it, and I still don’t know why because the hiring manager suddenly stopped communicating with me. It was an extremely frustrating experience.
30. What was your favorite live/stage experience of this year?
"Potted Potter" in October. Also saw Stephen King speak in New Haven, CT in July which was pretty cool (although the weather itself was hotter than -- )
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I worked on my birthday, and I turned 44.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I’m getting redundant here, but that job in Beverly Hills would have been awesome - or any of the other California jobs I applied for.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
No real fashion concept. Lazy casual, I guess - jeans, t-shirts, sweatshirts
34. What kept you sane?
I wouldn’t say I’m “sane” by any stretch of the imagination. But having my friends and Diet Coke certainly helped.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
There were lots of lovely men to fancy, thankfully. Those that come to mind are: Chris Hemsworth, Henry Cavill, Orlando Bloom…
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Gun control. That’s all I’m going to say.
37.Whom did you miss?
My family, but especially my sister
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013
You can’t wait for things to happen; you have to make them happen.
1. What did you do in 2013 that you had never done before?
I read my first Stephen King novel ("11/22/63"). Also saw King speak live.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and did you make more for next year?
I can’t remember if I made any resolutions, but if I did I probably didn’t keep them - although I did read more in 2013 than I did in 2012. My only plan for this year is to do everything possible to get back to the west coast.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, but my brother and sister-in-law adopted a 2 year-old boy from Taiwan, named Kaleo.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no
5. What countries did you visit?
None; the farthest I traveled was to Los Angeles twice, in October & December
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
A job in southern California
7. What date in 2013 will remain etched in your memory, and why?
April 15 - the day of the Boston Marathon bombings
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I officially converted my father into a Potterhead. He finished the series the day after Christmas.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I know this is not entirely within my control, but the fact that I did not get a job in California
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Fortunately, no.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I didn’t really buy much other than my usual e-books and DVDs.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Among others, the first responders and bystanders who stepped in to help after the bombings.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The Boston Bombers; there are others, but essentially I was disgusted by anyone who set out to hurt innocents (whether physically or emotionally) for their own selfish motives. It seems to be happening a lot more, at least in my opinion.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Paying bills and rent, groceries
15. What did you get really, really excited about?
When luvscharlie came to visit me in July. Also when the Red Sox won the World Series. A good friend of mine also announced some very exciting personal news - I think she knows who she is, but I'll preserve her privacy and say that I'm very interested to see how everything unfolds.
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
Probably "Sweet Caroline", by Neil Diamond, because after the bombings, I heard it a lot as the city came together to rebuild.
17. Compared to this time last year (2012), are you:
a. Happier or Sadder? A little sadder - I miss California
b. Thinner or fatter? Fatter
c. Richer or poorer? About the same
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Saving money, writing
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Spending money on things I didn’t need, procrastinating
20. How did you spend Christmas?
In Los Angeles, with my family
21. How did you spend New Year’s?
By myself, watching movies and staying warm
22. Did you fall in love in 2013?
No
23.How many one-night stands?
None
24.What was your favorite TV program?
Big Bang Theory - I’ve always liked it, but it really grew on me in 2013
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Didn’t really have any. I don’t branch out much with music these days.
27. Favorite film?
I did enjoy “Gravity”, and “Hunger Games: Catching Fire”
28. What did you want and get?
I was able to meet my new nephew on Christmas Eve, and spend some quality time with my brother and his family whom I haven’t seen in over a year.
29. What did you want and not get?
Came very close to landing a job in Beverly Hills, CA in February - but then I didn’t get it, and I still don’t know why because the hiring manager suddenly stopped communicating with me. It was an extremely frustrating experience.
30. What was your favorite live/stage experience of this year?
"Potted Potter" in October. Also saw Stephen King speak in New Haven, CT in July which was pretty cool (although the weather itself was hotter than -- )
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I worked on my birthday, and I turned 44.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I’m getting redundant here, but that job in Beverly Hills would have been awesome - or any of the other California jobs I applied for.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
No real fashion concept. Lazy casual, I guess - jeans, t-shirts, sweatshirts
34. What kept you sane?
I wouldn’t say I’m “sane” by any stretch of the imagination. But having my friends and Diet Coke certainly helped.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
There were lots of lovely men to fancy, thankfully. Those that come to mind are: Chris Hemsworth, Henry Cavill, Orlando Bloom…
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Gun control. That’s all I’m going to say.
37.Whom did you miss?
My family, but especially my sister
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013
You can’t wait for things to happen; you have to make them happen.