Doing it the hard way: the year in review
1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
I suppose a list of technologies that I programmed in for the first time would be cheating? Thought so.
It's not at all interesting, but I did pay property tax for the first time. I also voted by mail for the first time. I lived with a partner for the first time since about 1988, albeit only for a month.
I saw Bob Dylan, live.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't remember what they would have been, if I made any. I probably debated about making some and then forgot. I won't make any this year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Several online friends had babies. I was thrilled.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
I don't think I visited any but the US. I think I was in 3 US states.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
A good night's sleep (which is what I said last year)
Sustained weight loss.
More energy in the evening. If you have poor sleep, you keep yourself going all day and then crash. This prevents doing much outside of work, like writing or hobbies or even television. I'd really like to have some evening time back.
7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Election Day.
8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?
Staying functional, despite work challenges, health challenges, emotional challenges, and other people's unmasked craziness. I think I took good care of myself under the circumstances.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I have recurring problems with tardiness, caused by sleep issues and depression. I had a couple sustained bad periods of that.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I have tendinitis in my right arm, which has been resistant to the occupational therapy I am doing. I've had it for six months.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
This coat, in black. I love it. Also, this dress, although the occasions I thought I had to wear it all evaporated.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Anybody who based a political argument on facts. Anybody who voted Republican yet was gracious and philosophical about losing.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Anybody who bases a political argument on the sheer self-evident evilness of their opponent. And anybody who lies to an audience desperate to hear lies. There should be a German word for "wanting to believe the worst of somebody". As Liam Neeson says in the movie Rob Roy, "Bad enough that it might be true, without you wishing it!"
14. Where did most of your money go?
According to Quicken, the single biggest chunk goes to income and payroll taxes. After that, I would guess "retirement savings", my mortgage, and food.
15. What did you get really, really excited about?
F. coming to stay with me. It drove me crazy for about a week and then it was great.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2012?
There were some artists I discovered this year that will make me think of where I was when I was first listening to them.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier. Last year I was still recovering from an extreme hypertension episode that put me in the ER, and from the six weeks of doing two jobs that caused it.
ii. thinner or fatter? Maybe four or five pounds fatter.
iii. richer or poorer? My home was evaluated as being worth 12% less than I'd paid for it the previous year. But on the bright side, I may be able to parlay that into a reduction in property tax.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercise. Fiction-writing. Self-care.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Following other people's conversations online and feeling lonely.
20. How will you be spending New Year's Eve?
I spent it at home with a few friends. We watched "Another Thin Man" on TCM, the Doctor Who Christmas Special, drank a lot and ate a lot.
21. Did you fall in love in 2012?
...maybe.
22. What was the best concert you attended?
The only concert I went to was Bob Dylan in August or September sometime. I had a screaming headache and couldn't find my seat. I left early. But I'm still glad I went.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Sherlock, almost certainly. Since then, Elementary has caught my interest.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I stopped using a perfectly good plumber because, through no fault of his own, he looked and talked a lot like a crazy person I had unwanted dealings with earlier in the year. That's not hate, but it's certainly an aversion.
25. What was the best book you read?
I read some good self-help books, but their titles would reveal more than I plan to in this post. I am reading a good book about the science of willpower.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Re-discovering cello music.
27. What did you want and get?
That I didn't buy for myself? A lovely large stick-resistant Calphalon frying pan. Also, an unexpected cash bonus from my job.
28. What did you want and not get?
Of material things? A Meyer lemon tree in a pot. I've always wanted one.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Was The Avengers this year or last? That was definitely my favorite, although I enjoyed a number of others.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
F. and I went up to my home town, where my parents still live. Since they weren't expecting us as early as we got there, they shooed us out of the house and we took a walk downtown and back. Ours is a college town and we walked over the campus. I developed a blister on one foot due to not wearing the right shoes for a multi-mile walk.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Enough sleep and sustained weight loss. F. living closer than two day's drive away.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Slightly more decorative than last year, but still plain to the point of frumpiness. Because of the sleep issues I never have time to do much in the way of personal adornment: it's necessary to get out the door without delay if I want to avoid falling asleep on something. This morning I fell asleep on the floor while petting the cat and was unconscious for about an hour.
33. What kept you sane?
Jack, my online friends, and dear RL friends like F. and B.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Does Tony Stark count?
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
I was actually fairly serene: I made my mind up very very early and didn't waver.
36. Who did you miss?
F., when he wasn't here. B., after her visit ended. My friend M., with whom I continually correspond, after his job ended and he started having better/other things to do than browse the Web and send me emails. My grandmother, who's been been dead since 2005, but who I feel I didn't appreciate enough due to my depression for so many years. My late cat.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
There are a couple of promising folks on the "try to make friends with" list, that I met in various ways.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
Never assume you'll remember where you're putting something.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
As i walk through
This wicked world
Searchin' for light in the darkness of insanity.
I ask myself
Is all hope lost?
Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?
And each time i feel like this inside,
There's one thing i wanna know:
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?
And as i walked on
Through troubled times
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
So where are the strong
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.
'cause each time i feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?
40. Single greatest moment of 2012?
This conversation
Or, on a macro scale, Election Night.
I suppose a list of technologies that I programmed in for the first time would be cheating? Thought so.
It's not at all interesting, but I did pay property tax for the first time. I also voted by mail for the first time. I lived with a partner for the first time since about 1988, albeit only for a month.
I saw Bob Dylan, live.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't remember what they would have been, if I made any. I probably debated about making some and then forgot. I won't make any this year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Several online friends had babies. I was thrilled.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
I don't think I visited any but the US. I think I was in 3 US states.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
A good night's sleep (which is what I said last year)
Sustained weight loss.
More energy in the evening. If you have poor sleep, you keep yourself going all day and then crash. This prevents doing much outside of work, like writing or hobbies or even television. I'd really like to have some evening time back.
7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Election Day.
8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?
Staying functional, despite work challenges, health challenges, emotional challenges, and other people's unmasked craziness. I think I took good care of myself under the circumstances.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I have recurring problems with tardiness, caused by sleep issues and depression. I had a couple sustained bad periods of that.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I have tendinitis in my right arm, which has been resistant to the occupational therapy I am doing. I've had it for six months.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
This coat, in black. I love it. Also, this dress, although the occasions I thought I had to wear it all evaporated.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Anybody who based a political argument on facts. Anybody who voted Republican yet was gracious and philosophical about losing.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Anybody who bases a political argument on the sheer self-evident evilness of their opponent. And anybody who lies to an audience desperate to hear lies. There should be a German word for "wanting to believe the worst of somebody". As Liam Neeson says in the movie Rob Roy, "Bad enough that it might be true, without you wishing it!"
14. Where did most of your money go?
According to Quicken, the single biggest chunk goes to income and payroll taxes. After that, I would guess "retirement savings", my mortgage, and food.
15. What did you get really, really excited about?
F. coming to stay with me. It drove me crazy for about a week and then it was great.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2012?
There were some artists I discovered this year that will make me think of where I was when I was first listening to them.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier. Last year I was still recovering from an extreme hypertension episode that put me in the ER, and from the six weeks of doing two jobs that caused it.
ii. thinner or fatter? Maybe four or five pounds fatter.
iii. richer or poorer? My home was evaluated as being worth 12% less than I'd paid for it the previous year. But on the bright side, I may be able to parlay that into a reduction in property tax.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercise. Fiction-writing. Self-care.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Following other people's conversations online and feeling lonely.
20. How will you be spending New Year's Eve?
I spent it at home with a few friends. We watched "Another Thin Man" on TCM, the Doctor Who Christmas Special, drank a lot and ate a lot.
21. Did you fall in love in 2012?
...maybe.
22. What was the best concert you attended?
The only concert I went to was Bob Dylan in August or September sometime. I had a screaming headache and couldn't find my seat. I left early. But I'm still glad I went.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Sherlock, almost certainly. Since then, Elementary has caught my interest.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I stopped using a perfectly good plumber because, through no fault of his own, he looked and talked a lot like a crazy person I had unwanted dealings with earlier in the year. That's not hate, but it's certainly an aversion.
25. What was the best book you read?
I read some good self-help books, but their titles would reveal more than I plan to in this post. I am reading a good book about the science of willpower.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Re-discovering cello music.
27. What did you want and get?
That I didn't buy for myself? A lovely large stick-resistant Calphalon frying pan. Also, an unexpected cash bonus from my job.
28. What did you want and not get?
Of material things? A Meyer lemon tree in a pot. I've always wanted one.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Was The Avengers this year or last? That was definitely my favorite, although I enjoyed a number of others.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
F. and I went up to my home town, where my parents still live. Since they weren't expecting us as early as we got there, they shooed us out of the house and we took a walk downtown and back. Ours is a college town and we walked over the campus. I developed a blister on one foot due to not wearing the right shoes for a multi-mile walk.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Enough sleep and sustained weight loss. F. living closer than two day's drive away.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Slightly more decorative than last year, but still plain to the point of frumpiness. Because of the sleep issues I never have time to do much in the way of personal adornment: it's necessary to get out the door without delay if I want to avoid falling asleep on something. This morning I fell asleep on the floor while petting the cat and was unconscious for about an hour.
33. What kept you sane?
Jack, my online friends, and dear RL friends like F. and B.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Does Tony Stark count?
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
I was actually fairly serene: I made my mind up very very early and didn't waver.
36. Who did you miss?
F., when he wasn't here. B., after her visit ended. My friend M., with whom I continually correspond, after his job ended and he started having better/other things to do than browse the Web and send me emails. My grandmother, who's been been dead since 2005, but who I feel I didn't appreciate enough due to my depression for so many years. My late cat.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
There are a couple of promising folks on the "try to make friends with" list, that I met in various ways.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
Never assume you'll remember where you're putting something.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
As i walk through
This wicked world
Searchin' for light in the darkness of insanity.
I ask myself
Is all hope lost?
Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?
And each time i feel like this inside,
There's one thing i wanna know:
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?
And as i walked on
Through troubled times
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
So where are the strong
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.
'cause each time i feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?
40. Single greatest moment of 2012?
This conversation
Or, on a macro scale, Election Night.