Looking back at 2013
Okay, so it's already a few days into 2014, but I saw this on a friend's Dreamwidth and it looked fun.
01. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?
So many things that I can't list them all here. I have been more outgoing and energetic though. Hmm, I wore a corset, I seriously planned to ask someone out, I started wearing tank tops in the Australian summer heat, I sledded down the Swiss Alps...
02. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I haven't made any in years. I never keep them. XD
03. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, though my sister got married in July and I keep bugging her for a niece or nephew to spoil. XD
04. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
05. What countries did you visit?
Does Perth count if I spend most of the year there at uni? XD Well, we went on a Europe tour in December and I saw France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy.
06. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
More self-discipline, for studying, exercising and eating a bit healthier. And a laptop that doesn't give out on me during the worst part of term when I have a ton of assignments to write and exam prep to start researching.
07. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Um, my 21st birthday (14th July) and my sister's wedding (6th July). My sister's wedding was a complete circus, and a headache to prepare for, but it was a beautiful day and I saw family members and family friends I hadn't seen in ages (some of them came down from India, Malaysia and even America just for the wedding ♥). And on my birthday I had an amazing costume party and was surrounded by my friends and family. ♥
08. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Where do I start? XD Well, I ran the SCA Newcomers' Feast at the beginning of the year. It was such a headache and so stressful and a disaester behind the scenes, but all the guests, who had no idea of the drama going on in the kitchen, said it was a lovely event and really enjoyed it.
I also pulled a Hermione in first semester, when I applied for dispensation for unit overload/taking an extra unit. The standard maximum unit load per semester is four, but I was taking five units: Greek 1, Latin 2, German 3, The Golden Age of Athens, and Religion, Gender and Society in Medieval/Early Modern Europe. I did so because I wanted to continue German and start Greek, so German was my extra unit. However, there were a lot of timetable clashes and classes I couldn't attend, so since German was the only class not related to either of my majors, I sacrificed it. I did the best I could and had been doing pretty well on assignments and class tests, but I never had time to go to the conversational German classes and the lectures clashed with my Greek tutorials so I could only attend one German tutorial a week, mostly a written German one. And I never finished/submitted my final German essay, since all my essays were due at the same time and I was freaking out. I really could have done with a Time-Turner.
However, at the same time I was also planning the aforementioned Feast and being very heavily involved in the medieval club in general, and I also ran the Queer Department for half the semester before stepping down because it was too much. So I consider the sheer amount I got done in first semester and how I was running around like the Energiser Bunny as an achievement. XD
Also, in Europe I quickly picked up enough French and Italian to order food and drinks and that sort of thing, and I already knew German so I could order my own vegetarian food. :D
09. What was your biggest failure?
German, which I literally failed because see above. Also, there was this amazing friend I really liked and I was working up the nerve to ask them out (I use the pronoun 'they' because they're agendered, though when I first met them they were still identifying as female). Their last relationship hadn't ended so well and they'd said at the beginning of the year that they weren't really interested in dating at the moment so I was also waiting for a hint that that might have changed. And then JUST when I was going to ask them out, they said they were just starting to date someone else. So I was too late and I do kind of regret that, though I'm moving on.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Oh yes, I actually started 2013 with a spectacular bout of food poisoning or stomach flu. XD I've been ill at various points over the year; I actually ended 2013 with a cold/throat infection, too. And I got lots of small bruises from rapier practice/tournaments.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Um... the material to make my lovely Egyptian costume, the Egyptian snake arm-bangle, the ancient Egyptian senet gameboard, The Ocean At The End Of The Lane, my Key to Erebor pendant, my Viking brooches, my corset, various souvenirs in Florence and Rome... lots of things. XD Also the ticket to the special premiere of Thor: The Dark World, which got me 3D glasses designed like Thor's armour, a poster and a Loki pop vinyl figure, and the chance to see it early with an amazingly geeky and enthusiastic energetic audience.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Uh... lots of people? My dad, my sister, my uncle, my friends and most especially Pope Francis. That man is amazing.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My mother and brother. My mother has early-onset Alzheimer's and is still very aggressive and defensive, and also mentally regressing to a spoilt petulant child. My brother... lots of family drama there that I'd rather not go into. Also my cousin's fiancée.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Books, most likely, and fees for SCA events. Also rent and groceries/food.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My birthday, SCA stuff, the Europe trip (especially ROME *___* ), and food. XD And Latin poetry! And the recent Harry Potter marathon with friends. And a Lord of the Rings marathon with friends in Perth in May.
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
No idea, I haven't actually listened to many new songs. Though there are a few songs that will always remind me of the Europe trip because they were playing over and over and over again on European MTV in all the hotel rooms and on the radio. Also, I fell in love with this track from Thor: The Dark World, which I saw twice with amazing friends, so it might remind me of 2013? Maybe?
17. Compared to this time last year, you are:
Happier or sadder? Probably happier?
Thinner or fatter? Fatter.
Richer or poorer? I'm not sure.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing, studying, cleaning.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastinating, daydreaming.
20. How will you be spending/did you spend Christmas?
My father's family grew up with this other family and they were very close and have remained very close, so every year they invite us over for Christmas dinner and we go and have a lovely time. That was what we did in 2013 as well.
22. Did you fall in love in 2013?
No. I might have, if I had asked out that friend like I wanted to, because I really liked them. Still, I'm moving on and a friend has expressed interest. We're taking things very slow, but it's looking good so far.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
SHERLOCK. Also BBC Robin Hood, because it's so bad it's hilarious and also Richard Armitage in leather and guyliner. And BBC's North & South.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
My brother. And my cousin's fiancée.
26. What was the best book you read?
Hmm. New books, not rereads? The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. And The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by NK Jemisin. And a lot of fantastic fanfiction.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Gone With The Sin, Ulv Raev Hare and Randy Dandy O.
28. What did you want and get?
The Ocean at the End of the Lane, a chance to see Rome and Florence and the Black Forest, some Marvel comics, a costume party, various food dishes, a boost in self-esteem... lots of things.
29. What did you want and not get?
The new Sandman comic, and Raising Steam. I will get them soon, I still have a book voucher from my birthday!
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. I also really liked Thor: The Dark World and Star Trek: Into Darkness.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 21. I had an amazing historical-themed costume party at a chalet, with friends and family, and there was a barbecue (with lots of vegetarian food for me) and a fantastic Harry Potter cake from my sister, and in general it was such a wonderful night.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
My brother moving out, my academic results being better, or getting a job.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
Medieval. XD
34. What kept you sane?
My friends (especially Bird and Myst), the SCA and fanfiction.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Richard Armitage, oh my goodness. *sighs and fans self* Also Tom Hiddleston and Chris Evans.
35. What was your favorite video game of the year?
I don't play any.
36. Who has made the most cameos in your dreams this year?
Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, and the dwarves of Erebor (plus Bilbo and Gandalf). 37. Who did you miss?
Various friends. Also, I miss my Singapore family and friends while in Perth and I miss my Perth friends while in Singapore.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I met the Perth Discworld fan club, the Perth Drummers, and made some lovely friends there like Damien, Krystel and Danielle. And my classmate Chloe.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013:
Never bite off more than I can chew, and plan my time better.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Can't think of any.
Crossposted from Dreamwidth: http://sivaroobini.dreamwidth.org/84688.html.
01. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?
So many things that I can't list them all here. I have been more outgoing and energetic though. Hmm, I wore a corset, I seriously planned to ask someone out, I started wearing tank tops in the Australian summer heat, I sledded down the Swiss Alps...
02. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I haven't made any in years. I never keep them. XD
03. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, though my sister got married in July and I keep bugging her for a niece or nephew to spoil. XD
04. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
05. What countries did you visit?
Does Perth count if I spend most of the year there at uni? XD Well, we went on a Europe tour in December and I saw France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy.
06. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
More self-discipline, for studying, exercising and eating a bit healthier. And a laptop that doesn't give out on me during the worst part of term when I have a ton of assignments to write and exam prep to start researching.
07. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Um, my 21st birthday (14th July) and my sister's wedding (6th July). My sister's wedding was a complete circus, and a headache to prepare for, but it was a beautiful day and I saw family members and family friends I hadn't seen in ages (some of them came down from India, Malaysia and even America just for the wedding ♥). And on my birthday I had an amazing costume party and was surrounded by my friends and family. ♥
08. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Where do I start? XD Well, I ran the SCA Newcomers' Feast at the beginning of the year. It was such a headache and so stressful and a disaester behind the scenes, but all the guests, who had no idea of the drama going on in the kitchen, said it was a lovely event and really enjoyed it.
I also pulled a Hermione in first semester, when I applied for dispensation for unit overload/taking an extra unit. The standard maximum unit load per semester is four, but I was taking five units: Greek 1, Latin 2, German 3, The Golden Age of Athens, and Religion, Gender and Society in Medieval/Early Modern Europe. I did so because I wanted to continue German and start Greek, so German was my extra unit. However, there were a lot of timetable clashes and classes I couldn't attend, so since German was the only class not related to either of my majors, I sacrificed it. I did the best I could and had been doing pretty well on assignments and class tests, but I never had time to go to the conversational German classes and the lectures clashed with my Greek tutorials so I could only attend one German tutorial a week, mostly a written German one. And I never finished/submitted my final German essay, since all my essays were due at the same time and I was freaking out. I really could have done with a Time-Turner.
However, at the same time I was also planning the aforementioned Feast and being very heavily involved in the medieval club in general, and I also ran the Queer Department for half the semester before stepping down because it was too much. So I consider the sheer amount I got done in first semester and how I was running around like the Energiser Bunny as an achievement. XD
Also, in Europe I quickly picked up enough French and Italian to order food and drinks and that sort of thing, and I already knew German so I could order my own vegetarian food. :D
09. What was your biggest failure?
German, which I literally failed because see above. Also, there was this amazing friend I really liked and I was working up the nerve to ask them out (I use the pronoun 'they' because they're agendered, though when I first met them they were still identifying as female). Their last relationship hadn't ended so well and they'd said at the beginning of the year that they weren't really interested in dating at the moment so I was also waiting for a hint that that might have changed. And then JUST when I was going to ask them out, they said they were just starting to date someone else. So I was too late and I do kind of regret that, though I'm moving on.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Oh yes, I actually started 2013 with a spectacular bout of food poisoning or stomach flu. XD I've been ill at various points over the year; I actually ended 2013 with a cold/throat infection, too. And I got lots of small bruises from rapier practice/tournaments.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Um... the material to make my lovely Egyptian costume, the Egyptian snake arm-bangle, the ancient Egyptian senet gameboard, The Ocean At The End Of The Lane, my Key to Erebor pendant, my Viking brooches, my corset, various souvenirs in Florence and Rome... lots of things. XD Also the ticket to the special premiere of Thor: The Dark World, which got me 3D glasses designed like Thor's armour, a poster and a Loki pop vinyl figure, and the chance to see it early with an amazingly geeky and enthusiastic energetic audience.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Uh... lots of people? My dad, my sister, my uncle, my friends and most especially Pope Francis. That man is amazing.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My mother and brother. My mother has early-onset Alzheimer's and is still very aggressive and defensive, and also mentally regressing to a spoilt petulant child. My brother... lots of family drama there that I'd rather not go into. Also my cousin's fiancée.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Books, most likely, and fees for SCA events. Also rent and groceries/food.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My birthday, SCA stuff, the Europe trip (especially ROME *___* ), and food. XD And Latin poetry! And the recent Harry Potter marathon with friends. And a Lord of the Rings marathon with friends in Perth in May.
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
No idea, I haven't actually listened to many new songs. Though there are a few songs that will always remind me of the Europe trip because they were playing over and over and over again on European MTV in all the hotel rooms and on the radio. Also, I fell in love with this track from Thor: The Dark World, which I saw twice with amazing friends, so it might remind me of 2013? Maybe?
17. Compared to this time last year, you are:
Happier or sadder? Probably happier?
Thinner or fatter? Fatter.
Richer or poorer? I'm not sure.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing, studying, cleaning.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastinating, daydreaming.
20. How will you be spending/did you spend Christmas?
My father's family grew up with this other family and they were very close and have remained very close, so every year they invite us over for Christmas dinner and we go and have a lovely time. That was what we did in 2013 as well.
22. Did you fall in love in 2013?
No. I might have, if I had asked out that friend like I wanted to, because I really liked them. Still, I'm moving on and a friend has expressed interest. We're taking things very slow, but it's looking good so far.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
SHERLOCK. Also BBC Robin Hood, because it's so bad it's hilarious and also Richard Armitage in leather and guyliner. And BBC's North & South.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
My brother. And my cousin's fiancée.
26. What was the best book you read?
Hmm. New books, not rereads? The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. And The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by NK Jemisin. And a lot of fantastic fanfiction.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Gone With The Sin, Ulv Raev Hare and Randy Dandy O.
28. What did you want and get?
The Ocean at the End of the Lane, a chance to see Rome and Florence and the Black Forest, some Marvel comics, a costume party, various food dishes, a boost in self-esteem... lots of things.
29. What did you want and not get?
The new Sandman comic, and Raising Steam. I will get them soon, I still have a book voucher from my birthday!
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. I also really liked Thor: The Dark World and Star Trek: Into Darkness.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 21. I had an amazing historical-themed costume party at a chalet, with friends and family, and there was a barbecue (with lots of vegetarian food for me) and a fantastic Harry Potter cake from my sister, and in general it was such a wonderful night.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
My brother moving out, my academic results being better, or getting a job.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
Medieval. XD
34. What kept you sane?
My friends (especially Bird and Myst), the SCA and fanfiction.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Richard Armitage, oh my goodness. *sighs and fans self* Also Tom Hiddleston and Chris Evans.
35. What was your favorite video game of the year?
I don't play any.
36. Who has made the most cameos in your dreams this year?
Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, and the dwarves of Erebor (plus Bilbo and Gandalf). 37. Who did you miss?
Various friends. Also, I miss my Singapore family and friends while in Perth and I miss my Perth friends while in Singapore.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I met the Perth Discworld fan club, the Perth Drummers, and made some lovely friends there like Damien, Krystel and Danielle. And my classmate Chloe.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013:
Never bite off more than I can chew, and plan my time better.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Can't think of any.
Crossposted from Dreamwidth: http://sivaroobini.dreamwidth.org/84688.html.