new year's survey
I'm going to skip filling out the 30-day meme today in favor of the annual New Year's Survey (lovingly stolen each year from lifesnotasong).
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Rather than making resolutions, I continued working on my Mission 101 project. That's what I'll be doing this year, too--the mission ends on September 29. I'm pretty sure that at my last count I dicovered that I've accomplished 43 goals, am actively working on 15, and have failed only 5. Pretty good progress.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Some of the pregnant mothers at the school gave birth, but I wouldn't consider myself particularly close with any of them.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
An old family friend died of ALS last month. I guess we weren't really close, but I liked him immensely, and was really shocked and devastated when I found out about his condition and how rapidly it was deteriorating.
5. What countries did you visit?
None but my own, and I hardly even left the state at all.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Sufficient money, fewer panic attacks, a renewed tolerance for caffeine, and a few video games.
7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I don't know. There weren't really any dates that etched themselves.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting a job.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Saving money.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
My health has been pretty poor this year. The worst things have been my unidentifiable stomach problems and my worsening anxiety.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A red Wii? That's what I've been most excited about lately.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Plenty of people have merited celebration this year.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
There's been some family drama.
14. Where did most of your money go?
The truck, my long-distance relationship with Nathan, student loans and other bills, and possibly clothing.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Meeting Brent Spiner at Comic Con. And Fable II. And Pokémon.
16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
I'm not sure. I usually don't realize those until a couple years later, when they start to make me feel nostalgic. Rain check until 2012?
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
Much happier. Last year at this time I was still unemployed and recovering from my car accident.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Probably about the same. Thinner, if anything.
iii. richer or poorer?
Poorer, I think. I'm making more money than I was, but I also have more expenses.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Reading. Taking care of business. Seeing Nathan.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Spending money frivolously. Worrying.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
As is tradition, Christmas Eve was spent at the Snyders', although Hachi came with me this year, which is new. Christmas Day I sang in an impromptu church choir organized by the organist I often substitute for. The rest of the day was spent with the Swaffords.
21. How will you be spending New Years'?
We partied at the Columbia Hotel in Ashland, Oregon.
22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
I was already in love and remained that way.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Stargate Universe, or maybe Eureka.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nope.
26. What was the best book you read?
The Snow Leopard, by Peter Matthiesen.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Franz Biebl's "Ave Maria."
28. What did you want and get?
An enjoyable job, a kitten, the repair of my truck, my editing certificate, an awesome editing internship, some books and games, a new pair of combat boots.
29. What did you want and not get?
Classes in Japanese and astronomy, freedom from panic attacks and unexplainable nausea, a growing savings account, the opportunity to be closer to Nathan.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I'm not sure. I don't really remember what movies happened this year. I didn't go to many.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 23 this year. We went to dinner at the Olive Garden, which I loved. I don't remember what else happened, though! I think it was all pretty low-key.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A higher paycheck or closer proximity to Nathan.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
I was going for chic and comfortable. =)
34. What kept you sane?
Ginger candy, Nathan, anime, my computer, Hachi, orchestra.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None in particular.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Prop 8 drama and the push to legalize marijuana.
37. Who did you miss?
Nathan, my friends from Germany, my friends from Santa Cruz (particularly Adi and Sasha), Chris C., and my dad (as always).
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Christine and Madison, the two gamer girls I met last month.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:
Sticking to a budget is really helpful, and not all that difficult. Bonus lesson: cars are expensive. =(
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
None come to mind. I've never been very good at defining my life via song lyric.
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
- Got a full-time job.
- Owned a car and paid for all its expenses.
- Celebrated a fourth anniversary.
- Ate eel sushi (I think? Or was that 2009?).
- Edited a book that now appears in print (Malagon Rising by G. Winston Hyatt).
- Adopted an animal that is mine, not a family pet.
- Went to Comic Con.
- Talked to Brent Spiner (OMGOMGOMG).
- Joined an orchestra.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Rather than making resolutions, I continued working on my Mission 101 project. That's what I'll be doing this year, too--the mission ends on September 29. I'm pretty sure that at my last count I dicovered that I've accomplished 43 goals, am actively working on 15, and have failed only 5. Pretty good progress.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Some of the pregnant mothers at the school gave birth, but I wouldn't consider myself particularly close with any of them.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
An old family friend died of ALS last month. I guess we weren't really close, but I liked him immensely, and was really shocked and devastated when I found out about his condition and how rapidly it was deteriorating.
5. What countries did you visit?
None but my own, and I hardly even left the state at all.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Sufficient money, fewer panic attacks, a renewed tolerance for caffeine, and a few video games.
7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I don't know. There weren't really any dates that etched themselves.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting a job.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Saving money.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
My health has been pretty poor this year. The worst things have been my unidentifiable stomach problems and my worsening anxiety.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A red Wii? That's what I've been most excited about lately.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Plenty of people have merited celebration this year.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
There's been some family drama.
14. Where did most of your money go?
The truck, my long-distance relationship with Nathan, student loans and other bills, and possibly clothing.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Meeting Brent Spiner at Comic Con. And Fable II. And Pokémon.
16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
I'm not sure. I usually don't realize those until a couple years later, when they start to make me feel nostalgic. Rain check until 2012?
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
Much happier. Last year at this time I was still unemployed and recovering from my car accident.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Probably about the same. Thinner, if anything.
iii. richer or poorer?
Poorer, I think. I'm making more money than I was, but I also have more expenses.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Reading. Taking care of business. Seeing Nathan.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Spending money frivolously. Worrying.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
As is tradition, Christmas Eve was spent at the Snyders', although Hachi came with me this year, which is new. Christmas Day I sang in an impromptu church choir organized by the organist I often substitute for. The rest of the day was spent with the Swaffords.
21. How will you be spending New Years'?
We partied at the Columbia Hotel in Ashland, Oregon.
22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
I was already in love and remained that way.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Stargate Universe, or maybe Eureka.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nope.
26. What was the best book you read?
The Snow Leopard, by Peter Matthiesen.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Franz Biebl's "Ave Maria."
Click to view28. What did you want and get?
An enjoyable job, a kitten, the repair of my truck, my editing certificate, an awesome editing internship, some books and games, a new pair of combat boots.
29. What did you want and not get?
Classes in Japanese and astronomy, freedom from panic attacks and unexplainable nausea, a growing savings account, the opportunity to be closer to Nathan.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I'm not sure. I don't really remember what movies happened this year. I didn't go to many.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 23 this year. We went to dinner at the Olive Garden, which I loved. I don't remember what else happened, though! I think it was all pretty low-key.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A higher paycheck or closer proximity to Nathan.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
I was going for chic and comfortable. =)
34. What kept you sane?
Ginger candy, Nathan, anime, my computer, Hachi, orchestra.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None in particular.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Prop 8 drama and the push to legalize marijuana.
37. Who did you miss?
Nathan, my friends from Germany, my friends from Santa Cruz (particularly Adi and Sasha), Chris C., and my dad (as always).
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Christine and Madison, the two gamer girls I met last month.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:
Sticking to a budget is really helpful, and not all that difficult. Bonus lesson: cars are expensive. =(
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
None come to mind. I've never been very good at defining my life via song lyric.