meme retrospective
A very heartfelt happy new year to all of you at LJ and elsewhere. I'm on the couch today, recovering from some sort of food poisoning/intestinal virus/piece of shit sickness that wasn't very festive for NYE. But starting the year on a down note means it can only improve, and this little meme retrospective of 2012 seems like just the thing for a lazy convalescent.
1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
I picked up and moved to a new city just because I wanted to. Didn't have a job there or a place to stay already lined up. I just decided to go because Justin was in Chico, and Sacramento didn't have any ties holding me down. Cliché to say this, perhaps, but it was one of the best decisions I've ever made.
I also unlocked the White Christmas achievement in Susanville when Justin took me up there to celebrate with his family, the PAX Prime achievement when we went up there over the summer, and the Las Vegas achievement just barely before the start of the new year.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make resolutions last year because I decided to restart my Mission 101 project. To be honest, it didn't last long, and I haven't even looked at my list in months. Perhaps I've even accomplished some goals without consciously meaning to. Things have been going so well for me this past year that I don't feel that same drive to change myself that I used to. I also notice increasingly that the goals I set for myself at the beginning of 101 missions are not the goals that I come to have throughout the 1001 days. New interests develop that I'd rather pursue, life changes in such a way that what seemed important to me a year before isn't any longer.
So I'm not sure if I'm going to make resolutions this year. There are things I'd like to accomplish, certainly. Making some more art, getting a tattoo, filling a jar with little notes every time something good happens so on next New Year's Eve I can empty it out and relive the highlights of 2013. But I hesitate to resolve to do things. I'd much rather do them because I want to, because I'm inspired to and feel like they'll enrich my life. Because they're important to me at the time, not just on January 1.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, but a couple of my friends are expecting children now.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My grandfather.
5. What countries did you visit?
Just the one in which I live.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
How American does 'more money' make me sound? Honestly though, I feel like I have everything else I need. A fantastic house to live in, a happy relationship, a rewarding job, excellent friends, increasingly stable mental health. Just need a few more bucks and I'm golden...
7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
It's funny. Lots of good things have happened to me this year, but I haven't really associated the specific dates with them. I don't remember exactly when I moved to Chico or got hired at Build. So I guess I'll go with December 21, the day the world failed to end.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I have completely separated myself from my mom's expenses. True financial independence! Feels good, man.
I also played the shit out of Skyrim.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Still haven't gotten my damned airbags replaced. The accident was all the way back in 2009. But those things are expensive.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Early in the year I got a kidney infection and the flu at the same time. It was awful. I didn't leave the couch for a week. Sometimes I was too blotto to even play Skyrim, and I would just sit there staring at the pause screen. Sad me.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Either my new phone (jumped off the Apple bandwagon in favor of the Galaxy S III) or my membership at the crossfit gym. I'm getting in shape for the first time in my life.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Justin's. He is an unfailingly steadfast and caring partner, and I am lucky to have him.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Nobody that I know, really. Plenty of bad things have happened in the news, of course.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent and the truck.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Granted, I am an excitable person. But I will stick to the major squees, in no particular order:
Skyrim, The Hobbit, Pokemon Black 2, PAX, Borderlands 2, various anime, the Foo Fighters, Ulrich Schnauss, Reddit, Pinterest, and cats. Always cats.
16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
Nobody's Home by Ulrich Schnauss, or Brave Song by Tada Aoi.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Hmm. I guess happier, but not by much--I was pretty happy last New Year's Day too. =)
ii. thinner or fatter? I'm not sure. Probably slightly fatter? I weigh more, but I also have more muscle now, so it's hard to say.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer, but also not by much. T^T
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Artistic expression.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying, procrastinating.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I went with Justin to Susanville to spend it with his family.
22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Well, yes, although it started in late 2011.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
Well, I never had cable, so I was just Netflixing mostly. But I loved Merlin, the Big Bang Theory, Community, Battlestar Galactica, Darker Than Black, Angel Beats, Doctor Who, and Sherlock.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I am happy to say I do not.
26. What was the best book you read?
Without a doubt it was "The Sparrow," by Mary Doria Russell. It was beautifully written, complex, interesting, and the way it dealt with religion and spirituality was fascinating to me.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Ulrich Schnauss.
28. What did you want and get?
I wanted stability, happiness, a job, and my cat. Got all of 'em!
29. What did you want and not get?
Dollas.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Probably The Hobbit. Or maybe The Avengers. That
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 26 this year. I think I went out to dinner with my family, but I actually don't remember!
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Winning the lottery!
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Colorful, accessorized, casual.
34. What kept you sane?
Justin, my lovely level-headed friends, hobbies, and Zoloft.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
THOR
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Politics really frustrated and disappointed me this year. I tried to retreat from it as much as possible.
37. Who did you miss?
My dad, always. My friends, some of whom moved away and some of whom I moved away from. Justin, while we were long distance. Hachi, while she was living with my mom. My grandparents and other family members, who I don't get to see as much now that I'm in Chico.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
All of my new friends here in Chico.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
Well, this pic is for the coming year, but just pretend it says 2012 and it'll be accurate. =)
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I've got to admit it's getting better--a little better all the time.
Getting Better, The Beatles
1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
I picked up and moved to a new city just because I wanted to. Didn't have a job there or a place to stay already lined up. I just decided to go because Justin was in Chico, and Sacramento didn't have any ties holding me down. Cliché to say this, perhaps, but it was one of the best decisions I've ever made.
I also unlocked the White Christmas achievement in Susanville when Justin took me up there to celebrate with his family, the PAX Prime achievement when we went up there over the summer, and the Las Vegas achievement just barely before the start of the new year.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make resolutions last year because I decided to restart my Mission 101 project. To be honest, it didn't last long, and I haven't even looked at my list in months. Perhaps I've even accomplished some goals without consciously meaning to. Things have been going so well for me this past year that I don't feel that same drive to change myself that I used to. I also notice increasingly that the goals I set for myself at the beginning of 101 missions are not the goals that I come to have throughout the 1001 days. New interests develop that I'd rather pursue, life changes in such a way that what seemed important to me a year before isn't any longer.
So I'm not sure if I'm going to make resolutions this year. There are things I'd like to accomplish, certainly. Making some more art, getting a tattoo, filling a jar with little notes every time something good happens so on next New Year's Eve I can empty it out and relive the highlights of 2013. But I hesitate to resolve to do things. I'd much rather do them because I want to, because I'm inspired to and feel like they'll enrich my life. Because they're important to me at the time, not just on January 1.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, but a couple of my friends are expecting children now.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My grandfather.
5. What countries did you visit?
Just the one in which I live.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
How American does 'more money' make me sound? Honestly though, I feel like I have everything else I need. A fantastic house to live in, a happy relationship, a rewarding job, excellent friends, increasingly stable mental health. Just need a few more bucks and I'm golden...
7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
It's funny. Lots of good things have happened to me this year, but I haven't really associated the specific dates with them. I don't remember exactly when I moved to Chico or got hired at Build. So I guess I'll go with December 21, the day the world failed to end.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I have completely separated myself from my mom's expenses. True financial independence! Feels good, man.
I also played the shit out of Skyrim.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Still haven't gotten my damned airbags replaced. The accident was all the way back in 2009. But those things are expensive.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Early in the year I got a kidney infection and the flu at the same time. It was awful. I didn't leave the couch for a week. Sometimes I was too blotto to even play Skyrim, and I would just sit there staring at the pause screen. Sad me.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Either my new phone (jumped off the Apple bandwagon in favor of the Galaxy S III) or my membership at the crossfit gym. I'm getting in shape for the first time in my life.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Justin's. He is an unfailingly steadfast and caring partner, and I am lucky to have him.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Nobody that I know, really. Plenty of bad things have happened in the news, of course.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent and the truck.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Granted, I am an excitable person. But I will stick to the major squees, in no particular order:
Skyrim, The Hobbit, Pokemon Black 2, PAX, Borderlands 2, various anime, the Foo Fighters, Ulrich Schnauss, Reddit, Pinterest, and cats. Always cats.
16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
Nobody's Home by Ulrich Schnauss, or Brave Song by Tada Aoi.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Hmm. I guess happier, but not by much--I was pretty happy last New Year's Day too. =)
ii. thinner or fatter? I'm not sure. Probably slightly fatter? I weigh more, but I also have more muscle now, so it's hard to say.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer, but also not by much. T^T
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Artistic expression.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying, procrastinating.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I went with Justin to Susanville to spend it with his family.
22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Well, yes, although it started in late 2011.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
Well, I never had cable, so I was just Netflixing mostly. But I loved Merlin, the Big Bang Theory, Community, Battlestar Galactica, Darker Than Black, Angel Beats, Doctor Who, and Sherlock.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I am happy to say I do not.
26. What was the best book you read?
Without a doubt it was "The Sparrow," by Mary Doria Russell. It was beautifully written, complex, interesting, and the way it dealt with religion and spirituality was fascinating to me.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Ulrich Schnauss.
28. What did you want and get?
I wanted stability, happiness, a job, and my cat. Got all of 'em!
29. What did you want and not get?
Dollas.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Probably The Hobbit. Or maybe The Avengers. That
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 26 this year. I think I went out to dinner with my family, but I actually don't remember!
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Winning the lottery!
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Colorful, accessorized, casual.
34. What kept you sane?
Justin, my lovely level-headed friends, hobbies, and Zoloft.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
THOR
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Politics really frustrated and disappointed me this year. I tried to retreat from it as much as possible.
37. Who did you miss?
My dad, always. My friends, some of whom moved away and some of whom I moved away from. Justin, while we were long distance. Hachi, while she was living with my mom. My grandparents and other family members, who I don't get to see as much now that I'm in Chico.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
All of my new friends here in Chico.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
Well, this pic is for the coming year, but just pretend it says 2012 and it'll be accurate. =)
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I've got to admit it's getting better--a little better all the time.
Getting Better, The Beatles