2017 end-of-year retrospective.
1. What did you do in 2017 that you'd never done before?
Hiked the West Highland Way. Bought a tent. Walked with trekking poles. Visited Barra and Vatersay.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more this year?
I made a "soft" resolution to take better care of my appearance, which I mostly kept. This year I want to continue doing that, and also take greater care about what I eat.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not yet, although one of my uncles is circling the drain.
5. What countries (states) did you visit this year?
Hawaii in March to visit my parents, and a long trip through England, Wales, and Scotland from July through September.
6. What would you like to have in 2018 that you lacked in 2017?
Less clutter in my life. I want to end 2018 with less extraneous junk than I'm starting it with.
7. What dates from 2017 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July 17 - The day I started my big walking trip.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Walking approximately 200 miles in two months over the summer, including the entirety of the West Highland Way.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Having to severely amend my LEJOG walk three days in. Also, not sticking to my guns and quitting my job outright.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I came back from the UK with two fewer toenails, as well as unbelievably cramped forearm muscles from my death-grip on the trekking poles.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Pretty new bras and underwear.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Daisy Ridley.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The Orange Overlord.
14. Where did most of your money go?
The UK walking trip.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Last Jedi!
16. What songs/albums will always remind you of 2017?
Peter Gabriel - So
Dave Matthews - "Eh Hee"
Dua Lipa - "New Rules"
John Denver - "Calypso"
17. Compared to last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Thinner.
iii. richer or poorer?
Richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Asserting myself at work.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Agonizing about work stuff that doesn't matter.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent it at home with the extended fam, as usual.
21. Did you fall in love in 2017?
No.
22. There is no 22.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
There are still only two that I watch regularly: Game of Thrones and Outlander.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
25. What was the best book you read?
Under a Pole Star by Stef Penney.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I've been on a big Peter Gabriel kick for most of this year.
27. What did you want and get?
My LEJOG trip.
28. What did you want and not get?
A trimmer physique.
29. What was your favorite film of the year?
Definitely The Last Jedi. I also watched Deepwater Horizon while staying with friends in Scotland, and enjoyed it.
30. What did you do for your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 29 this year. I visited my parents in Hawaii earlier in the month, but otherwise didn't do much.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Fewer dust-ups at work.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2017?
Scrubs. All day erry day.
33. What kept you sane?
The knowledge that this is all only temporary.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
My celebity crush on Adam Driver continues.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Too many to name.
36. Who did you miss?
Missed out on seeing a good friend in Scotland.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Walking buddies.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2017:
It's not the mileage, it's the terrain.
39: Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Walking along in this haze of confusion,
Sometimes I can laugh,
But at times it takes all of my strength
Just to find enough reason to take the next step, step,
But I will, but I will, til I do."
- Dave Matthews, "Eh Hee"
Hiked the West Highland Way. Bought a tent. Walked with trekking poles. Visited Barra and Vatersay.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more this year?
I made a "soft" resolution to take better care of my appearance, which I mostly kept. This year I want to continue doing that, and also take greater care about what I eat.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not yet, although one of my uncles is circling the drain.
5. What countries (states) did you visit this year?
Hawaii in March to visit my parents, and a long trip through England, Wales, and Scotland from July through September.
6. What would you like to have in 2018 that you lacked in 2017?
Less clutter in my life. I want to end 2018 with less extraneous junk than I'm starting it with.
7. What dates from 2017 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July 17 - The day I started my big walking trip.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Walking approximately 200 miles in two months over the summer, including the entirety of the West Highland Way.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Having to severely amend my LEJOG walk three days in. Also, not sticking to my guns and quitting my job outright.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I came back from the UK with two fewer toenails, as well as unbelievably cramped forearm muscles from my death-grip on the trekking poles.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Pretty new bras and underwear.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Daisy Ridley.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The Orange Overlord.
14. Where did most of your money go?
The UK walking trip.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Last Jedi!
16. What songs/albums will always remind you of 2017?
Peter Gabriel - So
Dave Matthews - "Eh Hee"
Dua Lipa - "New Rules"
John Denver - "Calypso"
17. Compared to last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Thinner.
iii. richer or poorer?
Richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Asserting myself at work.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Agonizing about work stuff that doesn't matter.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent it at home with the extended fam, as usual.
21. Did you fall in love in 2017?
No.
22. There is no 22.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
There are still only two that I watch regularly: Game of Thrones and Outlander.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
25. What was the best book you read?
Under a Pole Star by Stef Penney.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I've been on a big Peter Gabriel kick for most of this year.
27. What did you want and get?
My LEJOG trip.
28. What did you want and not get?
A trimmer physique.
29. What was your favorite film of the year?
Definitely The Last Jedi. I also watched Deepwater Horizon while staying with friends in Scotland, and enjoyed it.
30. What did you do for your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 29 this year. I visited my parents in Hawaii earlier in the month, but otherwise didn't do much.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Fewer dust-ups at work.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2017?
Scrubs. All day erry day.
33. What kept you sane?
The knowledge that this is all only temporary.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
My celebity crush on Adam Driver continues.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Too many to name.
36. Who did you miss?
Missed out on seeing a good friend in Scotland.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Walking buddies.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2017:
It's not the mileage, it's the terrain.
39: Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Walking along in this haze of confusion,
Sometimes I can laugh,
But at times it takes all of my strength
Just to find enough reason to take the next step, step,
But I will, but I will, til I do."
- Dave Matthews, "Eh Hee"