Four Hundred and Ninety Two
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Played a show as a member of the Used Kids. Voted for the black guy in a presidential election.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any resolutions last year, but this year I will make one: I resolve to go on tour with a band to the West Coast and back before the winter of 2009.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My friend Andrea, who was my best friend in High School, either gave birth this year or late last year. Amazing.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes, but nobody died close to me.
5. What countries did you visit?
Canada, and the Superior People's Republic (Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the UP).
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A computer and a hit record.
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Wednesday November 5th, on tour, when a very heartbreaking drive around the 9th ward of New Orleans was follwoed by the call about my best friend in Brooklyn dying, but that's so recent (and such a downer) that given a little time, it might be just one of a few.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Used Kids 7" and April tour.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I didn't finish recording the Used Kids album, it's taking longer than it should.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes - I got my first bad cold in a couple years in mid-November, frustratingly.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Woody Guthrie the van.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Allison Vallerga, my sister Maura, the voters of America and especially Wisconsin because no Democratic presidential candidate has done as well as Obama in Wisconsin in decades.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Jeff Suppan and Ricky Weeks.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Stupid Brooklyn rent. Stupid overpriced gasoline. And occasionally, fun stuff.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Recording the Used Kids album, recording and releasing our 7", being in this band, being on tour, visiting Wisconsin and Minnesota a couple times, President Obama, a few girls.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2008?
Anything on the State Lottery album, anything on Springsteen "Magic".
17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
Sadder, I guess.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Same.
iii. richer or poorer?
Poorer, but I earn more money.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Buying and listening to records, playing shows, travelling, having sex. That pretty much covers it.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Drinking in overpriced bars, wasting time on the internet doing surveys (heyyooo!).
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
My family (mom, dad, sister, two dogs) and I will open presents and eat two or three meals together. We'll probably take a walk. Ordinarily I'm a HUGE fan of Christmas Night hangouts, but I don't think that's in the cards for this year.
21. Where will you be spending New Year's?
I don't know, maybe at a Figgs show, or a party in Ridgewood Queens.
22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
I fell in lust a couple times, but not love.
23. How many one night stands?
Several, and none I regret. But - no jokes, please. If I could find the right girl and start a healthy relationship with her, I'd get laid a whole lot more I think.
24. What were your favourite TV programmes?
THE WIRE. Fucking amazing show. Also, what's with the British spelling? Shouldn't someone clean this up for the US audience?
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Possibly. I don't hate quickly.
26. What was the best book you read?
As in, that I'd never read before? I really liked The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon. I was blown away by Nathanael West - Miss Lonelyhearts and The Day Of The Locust in particular. And a book by sportswriter Buzz Bissinger called Three Nights In August, which is about Tony LaRussa, the great manager of the St Louis Cardinals. The BEST book I read was Tortilla Flat, but that was a reread for the 100th time or so.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The State Lottery - the album's called Cities We're Not From.
28. What did you want and get?
This would be too long a list to make here. At the top of it would be membership in the best band I've ever been in.
29. What did you want and not get?
A room in a house in Williamsburg Brooklyn, when I had to move out of my awesome old place in September.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
I barely saw any movies that came out this year, but No Country For Old Men was amazing and I saw it for the first time this year.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Hung out with friends at a bar. It was actually a pretty mundane day, which annoys me now that I think about it! EDIT: Now that I think about it, I had a lot of fun. And I did my first ever flaming shot. That was great!
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If everyone in the Used Kids focused on it as their primary band, and we'd played three times as many shows and toured a whole lot more. And all our landlords let us not pay rent.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
I had a beard most of the year - probably not a good idea.
34. What kept you sane?
Music, owning a van (because it allowed me freedom to travel and the ability to make money on craigslist), and the Second Chance (my favorite Brooklyn bar).
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Again with the British syntax! I've always had a thing for Scarlett Johannsen, but that doesn't mean I know how to spell her name.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The fucking stupid 700 billion dollar bailout with no oversight and/or accountability for Wall Street. God damn it to hell.
37. Who did you miss?
All my friends in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and a special shout-out to the West Coast - I miss you people, I SWEAR TO GOD OR LACK THEREOF I will make it there with a band in 2009!
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Hmm. I met a few cool new ones in Brooklyn. I like Danny's girlfriend Lauren, and her friends like Emily, Jessie, Alex. Maybe Eric and Jason who run Second Chance? Holly from the Fest/Mnpls?
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Make sure that you let your friends know how much you appreciate them - almost as much for your sake as for theirs.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
From a stoop in Queens/the sun rises peacefully/and this city feels home to me.
DRINKING BUDDY OF THE YEAR?
James Ewing, Colin Hagendorf, Niki McUmber and Sonia Gugga.
LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD (longest friend) ?
Danny Zajackowski and Allison Vallerga.
WHO DID YOU SPEND VALENTINES WITH?
Unknown.
BEST RELATIONSHIP?
I did have a month-long fling in the summer, but honestly? It wasn't a great relationship. She was kind of crazy and demanding. That was my only "relationship."
WHAT WERE YOU FOR HALLOWEEN?
I wanted to wear a costume but I was away from home, so I just didn't have the wherewithal.
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR?
Sunday and Monday barbeques at the Second Chance! Honorable mention to Jimmy's Diner.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR?
Make the Used Kids album and tour with it.
MOST STUPID IDEA WHEN DRUNK?
Punch a wall very hard; my right middle knuckle is still a little sore, two months later.
MOST LOYAL FRIEND?
Danny.
BIGGEST CHANGE OF THE YEAR?
Moving from Williamsburg to Bushwick.
The 2008 section AGAIN:
Are you the same person as you were at the beginning of 2008?
No.
Are you still in the same job?
I was cut from the New York Observer because it is a failing newspaper, I became a Man With A Van on craigslist and enjoy it very much.
Is your favorite color the same color?
Dumb question.
Have you got the same style/color hair?
N/a!
Have you bought a NEW car this year?
You have a problem with me buying a used car? 'Cause I did - Woody Guthrie the van.
Have you been involved with the police this year?
No.
Favorite drinking place for 2007?
Second Chance Bar.
Is your best friend still your best friend?
I have several best friends. Like I said earlier, one of them died this past year. The rest are still my best friends.
Had a haircut this year?
Beard trims.
Been in a hospital this year?
On a technicality.
Lost someone you cared about this year (not death)?
No (in that case).
Been on a vacation this year?
Yeah!
Been kicked out of a public place this year?
No.
And finally, the first-sentences-of-the-month meme:
Nope.