Everything I touch, lightning trails of human love
Oh, hey, um - Livejournal! Hey, how are you doing? Oh, no, yeah, I'm doing fine, the same basically.
What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
I organised a reading group, finished my MA, read (most of) the Iliad and ate a hibiscus flower.
Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make them, because if I did I wouldn't keep them. Is that good faith or bad faith?
Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, my life remains comfortably baby-free so far.
Did anyone close to you die?
Ali Bloch. I wasn't particularly close to her, but I was still deeply affected at her passing.
What countries did you visit?
I didn't leave the country in 2010, because I couldn't afford it. And who has time anyway?
What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Romance. Financial independence. A reliable work ethic.
What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I don't actually remember dates, but memorable days include my father's wedding. I was his best man, and it was rather touching.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finishing my dissertation. My greatest vices are akrasia and a very short attention span - I can make myself concentrate for long periods of time on a single object, but it takes heroic effort and some psychic pain. Squeezing a ten thousand word dissertation out of my head was lengthy and unpleasant. I can usually only work in sporadic bursts of inspiration punctuating long periods of procrastination.
What was your biggest failure?
My lack of financial independence and general worldly success.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
Chronic conditions aside, I've been very healthy.
What was the best thing you bought?
I don't think I've bought very much this year. Probably a good thing.
Whose behavior merited celebration?
The people behind Ladyfest, my best friends, and my sister.
Whose behavior made you appalled?
It was really more of a weary resignation, but: the new government.
Where did most of your money go?
Beer.
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Book V of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, Book I of Plato's Republic, and my new reading group for Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil. This is my life.
What song will always remind you of 2010?
Band of Skulls - I Know What I Am
Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) Happier or sadder? About the same.
b) Thinner or fatter? I don't keep track of my weight. Because fuck that shit.
c) Richer or poorer? Poorer.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Job-hunting. Research.
What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastination.
How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas at home with my (extended) family.
Did you fall in love in 2010?
In hindsight, no, though at the time I might have answered differently.
How many one-night stands?
None. Could do with some of those next year, really.
What was your favorite TV program?
I just watched loads of House, which has got a lot less formulaic. I watched Samurai Champloo and am currently working my way through Yakitate!! Japan and raving about it to anyone who will stand still near me for five minutes. My love for professional wrestling continues unabated. True Blood and Leverage were slightly guilty pleasures.
Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't hate anyone, it's not something I have the emotional energy for really.
What was the best book you read?
Either Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived In The Castle or David Foster Wallace's book of short stories Brief Interviews with Hideous Men.
What was your greatest musical discovery?
I think this was the year I got into Band of Skulls, who are fantastic.
What did you want and get?
A Distinction.
What did you want and not get?
Money, a relationship.
What was your favourite film of this year?
I've hardly been to the cinema this year. I'm pretty sure it was Scott Pilgrim, though.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was twenty-three. I did what I always do on my birthday - spent it in my favourite London haunts with my best friend.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
I'm not sure. Academic slacker? Buffy-vampire-circa-season-three? Uniqlo-plus-an-old-leather-jacket-Tom-gave-me? That last one, I think.
What kept you sane?
Sheer force of will. Alternate answer: alcohol. Alternate alternate answer: not very much.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Probably Lisa Edelstein, aka Cuddy off of out of House.
Who did you miss?
My Sheffield friends - too many of you to name.
Who was the best new person you met?
I've made some great new friends through the department and through Geeksoc - I won't pick a favourite.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010
I am actually very good at what I do.
Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
Hilary went to her death because she couldn't think of anything to say
Everybody thought that she was boring, so they never listened anyway
Nobody was really saying anything of interest, she fell asleep
She was into S&M and Bible Studies
Not everyone's cup of tea
What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
I organised a reading group, finished my MA, read (most of) the Iliad and ate a hibiscus flower.
Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make them, because if I did I wouldn't keep them. Is that good faith or bad faith?
Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, my life remains comfortably baby-free so far.
Did anyone close to you die?
Ali Bloch. I wasn't particularly close to her, but I was still deeply affected at her passing.
What countries did you visit?
I didn't leave the country in 2010, because I couldn't afford it. And who has time anyway?
What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Romance. Financial independence. A reliable work ethic.
What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I don't actually remember dates, but memorable days include my father's wedding. I was his best man, and it was rather touching.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finishing my dissertation. My greatest vices are akrasia and a very short attention span - I can make myself concentrate for long periods of time on a single object, but it takes heroic effort and some psychic pain. Squeezing a ten thousand word dissertation out of my head was lengthy and unpleasant. I can usually only work in sporadic bursts of inspiration punctuating long periods of procrastination.
What was your biggest failure?
My lack of financial independence and general worldly success.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
Chronic conditions aside, I've been very healthy.
What was the best thing you bought?
I don't think I've bought very much this year. Probably a good thing.
Whose behavior merited celebration?
The people behind Ladyfest, my best friends, and my sister.
Whose behavior made you appalled?
It was really more of a weary resignation, but: the new government.
Where did most of your money go?
Beer.
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Book V of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, Book I of Plato's Republic, and my new reading group for Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil. This is my life.
What song will always remind you of 2010?
Band of Skulls - I Know What I Am
Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) Happier or sadder? About the same.
b) Thinner or fatter? I don't keep track of my weight. Because fuck that shit.
c) Richer or poorer? Poorer.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Job-hunting. Research.
What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastination.
How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas at home with my (extended) family.
Did you fall in love in 2010?
In hindsight, no, though at the time I might have answered differently.
How many one-night stands?
None. Could do with some of those next year, really.
What was your favorite TV program?
I just watched loads of House, which has got a lot less formulaic. I watched Samurai Champloo and am currently working my way through Yakitate!! Japan and raving about it to anyone who will stand still near me for five minutes. My love for professional wrestling continues unabated. True Blood and Leverage were slightly guilty pleasures.
Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't hate anyone, it's not something I have the emotional energy for really.
What was the best book you read?
Either Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived In The Castle or David Foster Wallace's book of short stories Brief Interviews with Hideous Men.
What was your greatest musical discovery?
I think this was the year I got into Band of Skulls, who are fantastic.
What did you want and get?
A Distinction.
What did you want and not get?
Money, a relationship.
What was your favourite film of this year?
I've hardly been to the cinema this year. I'm pretty sure it was Scott Pilgrim, though.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was twenty-three. I did what I always do on my birthday - spent it in my favourite London haunts with my best friend.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
I'm not sure. Academic slacker? Buffy-vampire-circa-season-three? Uniqlo-plus-an-old-leather-jacket-Tom-gave-me? That last one, I think.
What kept you sane?
Sheer force of will. Alternate answer: alcohol. Alternate alternate answer: not very much.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Probably Lisa Edelstein, aka Cuddy off of out of House.
Who did you miss?
My Sheffield friends - too many of you to name.
Who was the best new person you met?
I've made some great new friends through the department and through Geeksoc - I won't pick a favourite.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010
I am actually very good at what I do.
Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
Hilary went to her death because she couldn't think of anything to say
Everybody thought that she was boring, so they never listened anyway
Nobody was really saying anything of interest, she fell asleep
She was into S&M and Bible Studies
Not everyone's cup of tea