2008 in Review (slightly delayed)
I've been horribly busy and forgetful lately. So, now that I'm remembering this tradition, here's how my year went (briefly):
January opened up nicely. I was visiting my grandfather, and I noted on the drive back that the skies were mostly blue, but there were a few eerie clouds looming in the distance. The weather, it turned out, was right. Looking back, my reading of it was slightly off. Those clouds were in no way insignificant...
My second semester of college went pretty well. I made new friends, did well in my classes... In March, my sister got married. Hadn't seen that one coming.
All year long, my mother was off and on with her still-fiance. She's finally beginning to become disenchanted with the asshole. So...MAYBE in 2009...
In April, while hastily trying to evacuate our dorms, Robin and I got our first apartment. A little efficiency for $200/month. We also pulled a gorgeous tortoiseshell cat off of the street and named her Tara. (She's mah baby. XD)
It wasn't until June that I made my second post of the year on LJ. Things were still looking up. That was the fifth of June.
On the twentieth, I found out that my grandfather had cancer. He'd been given his six months in April, but didn't want me ignoring my responsibilities to rush up to see him. So, I accepted his wishes, and planned to see him when my schedule permitted. I should have proven him right. I never got to say goodbye. The one time I saw him, the 29th of June, he didn't wake up, though I was there in the hospice for hours. He was heavily drugged for the pain. He didn't look like the same man who had helped to raise me. No, just a husk of that man.
He died just two days later. July 1st, 2008.
When it comes to family for me...I'm almost completely cut off until I can marry and raise a new one for myself. My mother's never there for me. Neither are my aunts, cousins, or my sister. Not really. And my dad...well...
No, my grandparents were the only ones who were truly THERE for me. And they're both gone...
That was the biggest trial I faced in 2008. Moving on after that. But I was forced to. July 13th, I went up to Vermont on vacation with Robin and her family. It was fun, but I was glad to be home.
August brought the beginning of my second year of college. And in September, we got Lyrie, the most adorable effing menace EVER. Damned kitten...
I also reconnected with an old friend, Athena. Whose constant conversation on Facebook or MySpace I am always grateful for.
Then, I turned 21. And I still haven't found any form of alcohol I would really drink for enjoyment.
In October, Robin spent a weekend in South Carolina. November and December brought holidays.
Yeah, my memory is iffy. Leave me be.
I got a few toys for christmas. Dream Theater's latest live DVD. A Kamelot album, book, and Barnes & Noble gift card from Robin.
I got her a necklace. Tee hee. And that's about it. I got a few other things. But I'm tired. I was up until four last night. XD
Anyhow, on to the more interesting stuff. I read more books last year than in any year since I've been keeping record. Here's the list for 2008. If you want a rundown of why I rated it as I did, just ask.
Books read in 2008
• 10 - LOTR: The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien
• 4 - The Epic of Gilgamesh
• 10 - The Odyssey by Homer (re-read)
• 9 - Beowulf (re-read)
• 9 - Don Quixote by Cervantes (abridged)
• 10 - LOTR: The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
• 10 - New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
• 10 - Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
• 9 - The Princess Bride by S. Morgenstern; abridged by William Goldman
• 9 - The Black Unicorn by Terry Brooks
• 10 - Way of the Wolf by E.E. Knight
• 9 - Valiant by Holly Black
• 10 - Choice of the Cat by E.E. Knight
• 10 - Tale of the Thunderbolt by E.E. Knight
• 8 - Song for the Basilisk by Patricia A. McKillip
• 10 - Valley of Shadows by Frank Fradella (re-read)
• 9 - Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice
• 10 - Beka Cooper: Terrier by Tamora Pierce
• 10 - Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
• 7 - The Warrior’s Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold
• 7 - A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
• 8 - A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
• 10 - The Gypsy Morph by Terry Brooks
• 10 - Valentine’s Rising by E.E. Knight
• 9 - Valentine’s Exile by E.E. Knight
• 8 - The Giver by Lois Lowry
• 6 - Six Characters in Search of an Author by Luigi Pirandello
The best artist I discovered in 2008 is easily Kamelot. Khan's voice is pure magic. And the band's sound is phenomenal. I even got them to compete with Sonata Arctica for Robin. XD Jorn Lande, with Masterplan is a close second. Love "The Battle" with Lande and Allen.
For my favorite album of 2008...Well, I never got Opeth, DragonForce, or Disturbed... Damn this is a tough call. The only new albums I bought in 2008 that were released in 2008 are:
Shinedown - Sound of Madness
Iced Earth - The Crucible of Man
Metallica - Death Magnetic
Ayreon - 01011001
I bought a few more for Robin's birthday, including Nickleback and 3 Doors Down, but I won't include them because they weren't bought in 2008.
All four of these albums were fantastic. But on a basis of which one I listen to most, I'd have to go with Ayreon. Those songs are addicting. XD
Shinedown's entry was top-notch. Iced Earth was brilliant with Barlow back at the mic. And Metallica's latest is pure shredded goodness. But I love my Lucassen. XD
Which reminds me: HEY KYLE! Have you managed to start on The Human Equation?
And, for the latest news. I bought Robin an iPod nano and a bunch of CDs for her birthday. We're currently searching for a good two-bed apartment to share with our friends who are moving to Columbus.
Robin and I are in a Creative Writing course this semester. It's a blast! I'll put up my short story submissions as soon as I finish the second one.
And I'm in a vocal lesson course. Hoping to improve and find out where I'm truly comfortable.
And, that's mostly it.
one last thing. If you (ANY OF YOU) like the game Risk, go sign up for landgrab.net. Let me know, and we'll schedule a game for Saturday! It's fun as hell! >D My current record is 3-7. 30% isn't bad. lol.
See you later!
January opened up nicely. I was visiting my grandfather, and I noted on the drive back that the skies were mostly blue, but there were a few eerie clouds looming in the distance. The weather, it turned out, was right. Looking back, my reading of it was slightly off. Those clouds were in no way insignificant...
My second semester of college went pretty well. I made new friends, did well in my classes... In March, my sister got married. Hadn't seen that one coming.
All year long, my mother was off and on with her still-fiance. She's finally beginning to become disenchanted with the asshole. So...MAYBE in 2009...
In April, while hastily trying to evacuate our dorms, Robin and I got our first apartment. A little efficiency for $200/month. We also pulled a gorgeous tortoiseshell cat off of the street and named her Tara. (She's mah baby. XD)
It wasn't until June that I made my second post of the year on LJ. Things were still looking up. That was the fifth of June.
On the twentieth, I found out that my grandfather had cancer. He'd been given his six months in April, but didn't want me ignoring my responsibilities to rush up to see him. So, I accepted his wishes, and planned to see him when my schedule permitted. I should have proven him right. I never got to say goodbye. The one time I saw him, the 29th of June, he didn't wake up, though I was there in the hospice for hours. He was heavily drugged for the pain. He didn't look like the same man who had helped to raise me. No, just a husk of that man.
He died just two days later. July 1st, 2008.
When it comes to family for me...I'm almost completely cut off until I can marry and raise a new one for myself. My mother's never there for me. Neither are my aunts, cousins, or my sister. Not really. And my dad...well...
No, my grandparents were the only ones who were truly THERE for me. And they're both gone...
That was the biggest trial I faced in 2008. Moving on after that. But I was forced to. July 13th, I went up to Vermont on vacation with Robin and her family. It was fun, but I was glad to be home.
August brought the beginning of my second year of college. And in September, we got Lyrie, the most adorable effing menace EVER. Damned kitten...
I also reconnected with an old friend, Athena. Whose constant conversation on Facebook or MySpace I am always grateful for.
Then, I turned 21. And I still haven't found any form of alcohol I would really drink for enjoyment.
In October, Robin spent a weekend in South Carolina. November and December brought holidays.
Yeah, my memory is iffy. Leave me be.
I got a few toys for christmas. Dream Theater's latest live DVD. A Kamelot album, book, and Barnes & Noble gift card from Robin.
I got her a necklace. Tee hee. And that's about it. I got a few other things. But I'm tired. I was up until four last night. XD
Anyhow, on to the more interesting stuff. I read more books last year than in any year since I've been keeping record. Here's the list for 2008. If you want a rundown of why I rated it as I did, just ask.
Books read in 2008
• 10 - LOTR: The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien
• 4 - The Epic of Gilgamesh
• 10 - The Odyssey by Homer (re-read)
• 9 - Beowulf (re-read)
• 9 - Don Quixote by Cervantes (abridged)
• 10 - LOTR: The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
• 10 - New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
• 10 - Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
• 9 - The Princess Bride by S. Morgenstern; abridged by William Goldman
• 9 - The Black Unicorn by Terry Brooks
• 10 - Way of the Wolf by E.E. Knight
• 9 - Valiant by Holly Black
• 10 - Choice of the Cat by E.E. Knight
• 10 - Tale of the Thunderbolt by E.E. Knight
• 8 - Song for the Basilisk by Patricia A. McKillip
• 10 - Valley of Shadows by Frank Fradella (re-read)
• 9 - Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice
• 10 - Beka Cooper: Terrier by Tamora Pierce
• 10 - Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
• 7 - The Warrior’s Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold
• 7 - A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
• 8 - A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
• 10 - The Gypsy Morph by Terry Brooks
• 10 - Valentine’s Rising by E.E. Knight
• 9 - Valentine’s Exile by E.E. Knight
• 8 - The Giver by Lois Lowry
• 6 - Six Characters in Search of an Author by Luigi Pirandello
The best artist I discovered in 2008 is easily Kamelot. Khan's voice is pure magic. And the band's sound is phenomenal. I even got them to compete with Sonata Arctica for Robin. XD Jorn Lande, with Masterplan is a close second. Love "The Battle" with Lande and Allen.
For my favorite album of 2008...Well, I never got Opeth, DragonForce, or Disturbed... Damn this is a tough call. The only new albums I bought in 2008 that were released in 2008 are:
Shinedown - Sound of Madness
Iced Earth - The Crucible of Man
Metallica - Death Magnetic
Ayreon - 01011001
I bought a few more for Robin's birthday, including Nickleback and 3 Doors Down, but I won't include them because they weren't bought in 2008.
All four of these albums were fantastic. But on a basis of which one I listen to most, I'd have to go with Ayreon. Those songs are addicting. XD
Shinedown's entry was top-notch. Iced Earth was brilliant with Barlow back at the mic. And Metallica's latest is pure shredded goodness. But I love my Lucassen. XD
Which reminds me: HEY KYLE! Have you managed to start on The Human Equation?
And, for the latest news. I bought Robin an iPod nano and a bunch of CDs for her birthday. We're currently searching for a good two-bed apartment to share with our friends who are moving to Columbus.
Robin and I are in a Creative Writing course this semester. It's a blast! I'll put up my short story submissions as soon as I finish the second one.
And I'm in a vocal lesson course. Hoping to improve and find out where I'm truly comfortable.
And, that's mostly it.
one last thing. If you (ANY OF YOU) like the game Risk, go sign up for landgrab.net. Let me know, and we'll schedule a game for Saturday! It's fun as hell! >D My current record is 3-7. 30% isn't bad. lol.
See you later!