HERE'S that darn survey!
1. What did you do in 2014 that you'd never done before?
Oyyy. Umm... Moved in with a significant other. Adopted kittens. Celebrated a 1-year anniversary (my relationship with Ruthanne did run that long, depending on how you wanna look at it, but we never celebrated it). Had to buy new pants because my waistline expanded instead of my legs. Been part of a corporate merger. Saw Ryan Stiles and Greg Proops live. Joined an a cappella group instead of founding one. Quit an a cappella group.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I can't recall if we made any in 2014. We've already got a few for 2015: no phones in bed, exercise more, do more Haiku Logic videos.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousin Randy and his wife Diana had a daughter, Charlotte. She is adorable.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Talia's grammie.
5. What countries did you visit?
Unemploymentistan.
6. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?
A job. A checking account that isn't perilously close to rock bottom. (I guess that's kind of a first-world problem, given that I have savings enough to buy a car in cash, but, they're called "savings" for a reason.)
7. What date from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Well, 1 November is going to be a big date every year from now on...
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I got five nibbles in the job search. That's seriously a huge achievement for me.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not enough writing. Not enough reading.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Well, my legs were covered in tiny claw marks for a while...
11. What was the best thing you bought?
An apartment to put kittens in. (And myself, and my girlfriend. But mostly the kittens.)
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Talia's. She kept her head high and didn't lose her sense of self-worth. Now she's teaching again and happier at work than I've ever seen her.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The country's. The CEO of the company that bought mine.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent and bills, srsly. Talia had a lot going out every month even before we added on rent, and it's not uncommon for us to spend $100 a week at Safeway. (This pays back in gas dividends, where we get at least 10c off every gallon, but still.)
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Moving in with the love of my life. And getting kittens. Seriously, both processes kicked into motion at about the same time, which is how I know it was meant to be.
16. What song will always remind you of 2014?
Ummm... Probably "Take Me To Church" by Hozier. Angry, energetic, one of Talia's new favorites, and the Melodores used it to clinch this year's Sing-Off. (Ironically, I myself am not a huge fan.)
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? Happier, way.
Fatter or thinner? Fatter by one waistband size.
Richer or poorer? u_u
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing fiction. Writing music. Recording music.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Driving to work.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Very conveniently, everything got spread out this year. On the 20th we went to the Hogg Christmas party, which is hosted by Talia's maternal grand-uncles and aunts and includes many of their descendants. On the 21st we did a brief Christmas dinner with Talia's dad (he and his went to visit relatives on the actual holiday). On the 24th was my mom's and dad's party, containing both sides of their family, and on the actual 25th was Talia's mom's party. On the 23rd, we suggested she invite my parents... and despite the very short notice, she did. And everyone liked each other, which was pretty awesome.
21. Did you fall in love in 2014?
Still am.
22. How many one-night stands?
None.
23. What was your favourite TV program?
Probably Master Chef Junior. In addition to the awesome cooking, the contestants are way more mature than the adult ones. And tons cuter too.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Naw, not really. I don't hate, I just detach.
25. What was the best book you read?
...god, what have I read this year that's new? Oh, the 8th Temeraire novel came out! ...that was basically my only new fiction purchase this whole year. I should check out The Accursed Kings...
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Kimbra.
27. What did you want and get?
An apartment. Kittens.
28. What did you want and not get?
A job. Health insurance for Talia so that we can move to a more stable form of birth control.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Toss-up between The LEGO Movie and Guardians of the Galaxy.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 31 and house-sitting for Auntie Siauw. Only Margie and Steven came, so we just taught them Minnesota. It was a lot of fun! We're slowly spreading Minnesota throughout the civilized world.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
The Winds of Winter. Health insurance for Talia so that we can move to a more stable form of birth control. Not losing my job.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?
The same. Comfy earth tones.
33. What kept you sane?
My beloved.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Meh. I have all that I need right here with me.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Toss-up between #notallmen and #blacklivesmatter. Gamergate's been a big mess too, but it's kind of a subset of the ongoing fight for equality.
36. Who did you miss?
Talia's grandmother.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
...Did I meet anyone new this year? I mean, that I'm going to spend lots of time with--I met Talia's ex Ryan the other day, but he lives in LA and she's fine with having a phone-only friendship.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014:
Value the time you have, because all things are intransigent.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I'm rising up
Sometimes I feel so far away
But it's like somebody sent ya
I'm ready to fade
I ran into a brighter day
Now I'm fast awake
Your love is like a revelator
We're dividing the fiction
No way to explain
What's happening inside of me
Send me your love again
'Cause you're my miracle
Yeah, can't describe but I'll leave it in a
Miracle, Miracle
Yeah, when I forget that feelin' I want
Miracle, Miracle
Send me your love again
'Cause you're my miracle
Oyyy. Umm... Moved in with a significant other. Adopted kittens. Celebrated a 1-year anniversary (my relationship with Ruthanne did run that long, depending on how you wanna look at it, but we never celebrated it). Had to buy new pants because my waistline expanded instead of my legs. Been part of a corporate merger. Saw Ryan Stiles and Greg Proops live. Joined an a cappella group instead of founding one. Quit an a cappella group.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I can't recall if we made any in 2014. We've already got a few for 2015: no phones in bed, exercise more, do more Haiku Logic videos.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousin Randy and his wife Diana had a daughter, Charlotte. She is adorable.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Talia's grammie.
5. What countries did you visit?
Unemploymentistan.
6. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?
A job. A checking account that isn't perilously close to rock bottom. (I guess that's kind of a first-world problem, given that I have savings enough to buy a car in cash, but, they're called "savings" for a reason.)
7. What date from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Well, 1 November is going to be a big date every year from now on...
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I got five nibbles in the job search. That's seriously a huge achievement for me.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not enough writing. Not enough reading.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Well, my legs were covered in tiny claw marks for a while...
11. What was the best thing you bought?
An apartment to put kittens in. (And myself, and my girlfriend. But mostly the kittens.)
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Talia's. She kept her head high and didn't lose her sense of self-worth. Now she's teaching again and happier at work than I've ever seen her.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The country's. The CEO of the company that bought mine.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent and bills, srsly. Talia had a lot going out every month even before we added on rent, and it's not uncommon for us to spend $100 a week at Safeway. (This pays back in gas dividends, where we get at least 10c off every gallon, but still.)
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Moving in with the love of my life. And getting kittens. Seriously, both processes kicked into motion at about the same time, which is how I know it was meant to be.
16. What song will always remind you of 2014?
Ummm... Probably "Take Me To Church" by Hozier. Angry, energetic, one of Talia's new favorites, and the Melodores used it to clinch this year's Sing-Off. (Ironically, I myself am not a huge fan.)
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? Happier, way.
Fatter or thinner? Fatter by one waistband size.
Richer or poorer? u_u
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing fiction. Writing music. Recording music.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Driving to work.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Very conveniently, everything got spread out this year. On the 20th we went to the Hogg Christmas party, which is hosted by Talia's maternal grand-uncles and aunts and includes many of their descendants. On the 21st we did a brief Christmas dinner with Talia's dad (he and his went to visit relatives on the actual holiday). On the 24th was my mom's and dad's party, containing both sides of their family, and on the actual 25th was Talia's mom's party. On the 23rd, we suggested she invite my parents... and despite the very short notice, she did. And everyone liked each other, which was pretty awesome.
21. Did you fall in love in 2014?
Still am.
22. How many one-night stands?
None.
23. What was your favourite TV program?
Probably Master Chef Junior. In addition to the awesome cooking, the contestants are way more mature than the adult ones. And tons cuter too.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Naw, not really. I don't hate, I just detach.
25. What was the best book you read?
...god, what have I read this year that's new? Oh, the 8th Temeraire novel came out! ...that was basically my only new fiction purchase this whole year. I should check out The Accursed Kings...
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Kimbra.
27. What did you want and get?
An apartment. Kittens.
28. What did you want and not get?
A job. Health insurance for Talia so that we can move to a more stable form of birth control.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Toss-up between The LEGO Movie and Guardians of the Galaxy.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 31 and house-sitting for Auntie Siauw. Only Margie and Steven came, so we just taught them Minnesota. It was a lot of fun! We're slowly spreading Minnesota throughout the civilized world.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
The Winds of Winter. Health insurance for Talia so that we can move to a more stable form of birth control. Not losing my job.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?
The same. Comfy earth tones.
33. What kept you sane?
My beloved.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Meh. I have all that I need right here with me.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Toss-up between #notallmen and #blacklivesmatter. Gamergate's been a big mess too, but it's kind of a subset of the ongoing fight for equality.
36. Who did you miss?
Talia's grandmother.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
...Did I meet anyone new this year? I mean, that I'm going to spend lots of time with--I met Talia's ex Ryan the other day, but he lives in LA and she's fine with having a phone-only friendship.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014:
Value the time you have, because all things are intransigent.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I'm rising up
Sometimes I feel so far away
But it's like somebody sent ya
I'm ready to fade
I ran into a brighter day
Now I'm fast awake
Your love is like a revelator
We're dividing the fiction
No way to explain
What's happening inside of me
Send me your love again
'Cause you're my miracle
Yeah, can't describe but I'll leave it in a
Miracle, Miracle
Yeah, when I forget that feelin' I want
Miracle, Miracle
Send me your love again
'Cause you're my miracle