A year end quiz, YEAR NINE!
Holy crap, another year come and gone, which means the usual: Ye old YEAR END QUIZ!!! This year hasn't been as crazy as the last, but certainly had plenty of unexpected upheaval and fun with all-sorted troubles as well. This marks year nine of the quiz, which on top of being a hell of a long time to keep something like this up, it also marks almost a decade of livejournal, which is pretty exceptional in its own right as well. Last year I mentioned how my friends list has become increasingly inactive- These days I would go so far as to say completely dead: I guess it's time to back these all up, just in case!
Anyway, no more holding off: I normally get this bad boy out of the way around December 27th, but I've been somewhat lax: Not even sure if I'll get this done before the New Year arrives, but it's worth trying.
1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
Well, 2012 managed to be a little more steady than 2011, with almost HALF of it spent in the place I call home! But as to new things, let me see... I wrote my first research intensive magazine articles, which were fun if not necessarily my particular wheelhouse. I did my first improv shows with Suprise! which consists of myself, Brad Duffy and the lovely Fran Breden: Hopefully we'll have some more to come! Speaking of improv, I also started working with Instant Theatre this year, which was great fun and I'm excited to keep on with it during the year to come. I also did several short films, my first in Vancouver. Since 2012 was my first year away from Winnipeg full time, it was also the first year that people could come to visit, and people did: My mom, dad, sister Regan and several of my friends came to town and it was lovely to see them all.
Now up until this point, it was a relatively uneventful year, if the first full time year in another city can be considered uneventful, but then came the summer: First things first, took my first multi-day bus trip, from Vancouver to Winnipeg, which I would not recommend. But, it was all for my friends wedding which allowed me to be Master of Ceremonies for Avital and Morgan's nuptials, another first, which was followed by my first volunteering experience at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. After that came the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, which was my very first storytelling show, which netted my first Best of Fest award... in six years at least. That was followed by another Saskatoon Fringe which featured very few firsts unless you count eating most of a lemon, peel and all. However, that all capped off with me booking my first gig at the Citadel Theatre and Manitoba Theatre Center mainstage: A really huge moment for me, and a fantastic experience all around. It was also the first time that I've been dropped by an agent, which is shitty, but will be dealt with accordingly. Finally, I began my very first long distance relationship which continues on today and looks to make 2013 a very eventful one as well. Whew!
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
From last year:
“1. Book a paying gig in Vancouver
2. Write and perform a full five minutes of standup
3. Get out of debt.
4. Get back into capoeira
5. Do the side splits. It’s a classic!
6. Write 100, 000 words. Just write, dammit!”
So, how did I do? Well, I did manage to book a few gigs in Vancouver: A UBC research program, a Staples training video, although nothing particularly earthshaking. Still, that counts as a win. I did write and perform a full five minutes of standup, although I didn't perform everything that I wrote and some of my performance was older material. Still, that's another one in the bag. I did get out of debt, althought I jumped back into it in order to set up a couple of things, so I'm gonna give myself a half point there. Then I probably DID write 100,000 words, although mixed up between all sorts of projects: Some freelance, some theatre, some random dicking around. I'd have to go and check though: So I'll give myself a half point, since 100,000 is a lot of words and I did have a few fallow writing periods last year. Then there is capoeira and side splits, both of which were outright failures. Oh well- To my count then, I managed 3/5 which is not too shabby. Now, what's on deck for next year?
1. Release at least 10 podcasts
2. Release at least 100 comics
3. Get a new agent and book a paying gig with them
4. Find a new job or lock in more freelance work
5. Side splits. This will be the year!
6. Give yourself at least two months with a finished draft for Fringe this year.
Okay future me, GO!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousin Krista has created yet another Hirose: Welcome to the family Leah! Several of my friends are pregnant as well, so it'll be a big one in 2013.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Just recently my Vancouver doggie friend Betty passed away, which was quite sad: An all around fantastic dog and good company. I was lucky enough to dog sit her on a couple of occasions and both were a complete and utter pleasure. However, the biggest death this year for me by far is the passing of my grandmother Florence Hirose. A source of inspiration and support for her entire family, grandma will be dearly missed: I am eternally grateful that I managed to write my storytelling show about her this year and performed it for her, an opportunity that I would had been devastated had I missed it. Thank you for everything grandma, and I will work hard to make you proud of me in the years to come.
5. What countries did you visit?
I had originally planned a trip to San Francisco followed by a quick jaunt into Nevada for Burning Man, but that had to be cancelled when I got my gig working for Citadel. So, that means that I managed to go this whole calendar year without leaving Canada- I actually can't imagine leaving in 2013 either, but who knows what will come next?
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
Last year I was looking for some financial stability as well as possibly a relationship: I managed to sort of get both, but not quite as well as I might want: All told, I'm in a very similar financial spot, which isn't terrible but needs some work. My relationship status is much better, although long distance is less than ideal and we'll have to see what we can do about that. 2013 is going to be about setting my feet in Vancouver- there are already signs that I should be able to do that! - so I guess I'm looking for more of that stability. (Staying in the same city for more than 6 months of the year should help with that.
7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Out of a very eventful summer, I guess Friday, August 10th will probably stick the strongest: The say I came back from a radio interview, checked my e-mail and realized that my next three months were going to be veeeeery interesting. Who knows if that might lead to any more momentum: Here's to hoping!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
While I didn't feel that getting A Few Good Men was a particularly epic struggle, it was the culmination of basically my entire acting career, where many pieces had to be in place for everything to come together. Thankfully, they did, and here I stand, having worked in two of the biggest regional theatres in the nation and on a fan-fricking-tastic show. Truely an honour.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Money management nailed it last year, and while a case could be made for it this year, I think I managed to sow some seeds with my spending that might just bear some fruit. I think I have to go with no managing my acting career quite as well as I might have liked: I made a few bad choices and while they weren't THAT bad or have particularly bad consequences they are the kind of mistakes I don't want to be making at this stage of the game.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I managed to avoid illness but did get a couple of notable injuries this year: smashing my front teeth against the back of a chair mid-rehearsals was a bit of a scare although thankfully no real damage was done. Then I managed to twist my ankle my very last night in Toronto before heading home. That sucked, but again I seem to be recovering fine. Hopefully I can continue to stay healthy!
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My new desktop computer is the winner here, although I did have to spend half the year without it. That said, coming back made having it all the sweeter: Particularly because my netbook was being strained by all I was asking of it while my parent's weird fullscreen monitor just feels wrong in this day and age of widescreen. I also bought a travel guitar: I love that thing! Of course, now that I have it, I'm sure I'll never travel again.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
The cast of A Few Good Men were well and truly good: A fantastic group of people who I would work with again in a heartbeat. Then there was a certain young lady who made a few choices I'm pretty pleased with...
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Nobody comes to mind in this pile, which is nice! I think I managed personally pretty well on top of that, which is another reason why I'll look back on 2012 fondly. Hey guys, we managed not to be dicks! Hurray!
14. Where did most of your money go?
Travel & food & courting. Can't really take issue with any of those. Oh, and my comic and video game collections. Those could do with a little less capital. Also, while it didn't take up THAT much money, Kickstarter certainly became a new money pit this year. BUT THERE IS SO MUCH COOL SHIT!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Doing improv. Getting an agent. Booking work. Getting best of fest. Finding love. Coming home.
16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
At this point, The A Team by Ed Sheeran, who I discovered via the radio en route to Montreal. Beautiful song and fun to play on guitar. Also, Thrift Shop by Macklemore!
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier. She knows why.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner, although I did manage to put a few pounds on in Winnipeg without regular biking or gym time.
iii. richer or poorer? About the same. Maybe I little one way or the other, although not enough worth noticing.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing. Like I mentioned, there were a few fallow periods and those ended up biting me in the ass in ways that were totally not a lot of fun.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Well, other than procrastination, I'm going to have to go with general sloth and gluttony: I'm only lazy when there are no consequences and when I'm responsible for making consequences it can be a pretty deep, sudden tunnel that opens up in front of me. Thankfully, I'm getting better at this, although constant vigilance is required.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Christmas has come and gone and it was spent in what I imagine will be the usual way in Vancouver: Christmas eve and day at Donna and Grant's, with some time in between with the roomies. A good use of time, I think.
21. How will you be spending New Years?
New Years was entirely uneventful this year. I spent it doing some writing and watching the Doctor Who Christmas Special. Sometimes, you just need a night in, even on New Years.
22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Yes, and rather unexpectedly. No complaints.
23. How many one-night stands?
Two? One and a half? It depends. Also, not so great with the dates of things.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Community continues to be awesome, along with Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad and ADVENTURE TIME. God, that show is great.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Umm, I kind of hate Firby's friend? JUST TELL US YOU DON'T WANNA JOIN FOR LUNCH, LADY! But really, nobody.
26. What was the best book you read?
Really got into Jared Diamond: Read Collapse and Guns, Germs and Steel. However, I think the honours really have to go to a graphic novel series, Ed Burbaker and Sean Phillips' Criminal. Can't get enough of that stuff.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I guess I'm gonna give this one to Ed Sheeran, since I've spent a long time listening to all his albums. His collaboration was great. Also, Werewolf Bar Mitzvah is awesome.
28. What did you want and get?
Professional success. Love. Good friends.
29. What did you want and not get?
ALL of the success. :D
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
I ended up seeing a lot of movies this year, being on tour. I think the one that really had the most impact was Sarah Polley's documentary “The Stories We Tell”. It helped that I saw it with the amazing storyteller Katie Hood. Good times.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
My first birthday in Vancouver, I had some friends over for drinks, then we went out to the legion for some Karaoke. Good times all around.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Really, more money from the fringe tour, booking more paying gigs. Also, hitting all my deadlines.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
I'm slowly upgrading my style: More button ups, a slightly slimmer look. Nothing drastic however.
34. What kept you sane?
Friends, video games, making and reading comics, playing guitar.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Olivia Thrilby was pretty hot in Dredd, although I can't really think of anybody else off the top of my head. I guess that means she takes it.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Oh, Harper, what a dick you are. Even Obama thinks so! I havn't had too much time for politics in the past year, but with upcoming elections and Idle No More, I'm sure there will be more political activisim in 2013.
37. Who did you miss?
My Vancouver friends, mainly. Now, my girlfriend. Thankfully, she's coming in a week!
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Spencer, Greg and Emily have made a great core of Vancouver friends, but I also met Jenny this year, which has been absolutely lovely.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012:
Make your plans and be prepared for them to change. And when they do, say “yes”.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
My least favourite part of this quiz...
So don't stop me now don't stop me now
'Cause I'm having a good time having a good time
Well, that’s one more year down. See you in 2012! Hope the world doesn’t end!