2012 in review. It's been a fun year!
We'll start off with a book survey, because why not? I read 50 books this year! :)
1. Best Book You Read In 2012? (You can break it down by genre if you want)
Fiction: The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon
Memoir: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Non-fiction: The Rebel League by Ed Willes (story of the WHA- incredible and true!) and
Yeager: An Autobiography by Chuck Yeager and Leo Janos. Fascinating story of a really interesting man who did some almost unbelievable flying.
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
Don’t think there is one here. I don’t usually keep reading books that I don’t like.
3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012?
I read 2 books by Anna Quindlen- Rise and Shine and Object Lessons. I picked them up randomly on a recommendation from a high school friend whose book blog I read. They were both excellent, though not my usual style.
4. Book you recommended to people most in 2012?
Aggie’s Nine Heroes by Diana Laurence
5. Best series you discovered in 2012?
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. My bf gave me the first 4 to read and now I’m hooked.
6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?
Anna Quindlen (see above), Deidre Martin (fluff romance books about hockey? Sign me up!) ;)
7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
Summer Knight by Jim Butcher. The Dresden Files are sorta mystery/horror/fantasy but still very good. Some of the books were a bit creepy for my taste.
8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?
Actually, it was the first book of the year- From Behind the Red Line by Tod Hartje- the true story of former NHL-player Tod Hartje’s year spent playing hockey in the USSR. (1989) It was fascinating. I read it in about 2 days.
9. Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year:
I did a lot of re-reads in 2012 but probably the first one that will re-appear on my list will be Aggie’s Nine Heroes. It’s just that good.
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?
“Price of the Stars” by Debra Doyle and James MacDonald. It is a long-time favorite, and is re-read every 2 years or so. The cover was what drew me to the book in the first place.
11. Most memorable character in 2012?
Harry Dresden
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2012?
Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen or Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay
13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012?
?
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read?
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carol
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2012?
"But that's the problem with fantasy; when the thing you want shows up, you have to regroup visually, because it's never the way you picture it. "
-Joan Bauer- Hope Was Here
16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2012?
Shortest was Flight 116 is Down! by Carolyn Cooney. I remember loving (and being terrified by) this book in middle school.
Longest was… one of the Diana Gabaldon “Outlander” books.
17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!
None that I can really recall.
18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).
Who can even know? I read so many books I love.
19. Favorite Book You Read in 2012 From An Author You Read Previously
Gotta go with Aggie’s Nine Heroes by Diana Laurence
20. Best Book You Read That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:
Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen
Looking Ahead…
1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2012 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2013?
I’ll probably finish Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carol
2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2013?
Written in my Heart’s Own Blood by Diana Gabaldon
3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2013?
Read 50 books again. :)
And now to the usual survey-ness :)
1.What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?
-Went to hockey games in Anaheim and Los Angeles
-ate bacon-infused ketchup and bacon and sour cream chips!
-visited Wisconsin and Minnesota and the U.P. of Michigan
- met Diana Laurence in person!
-saw baseball games in Milwaukee and Minneapolis
-went to an OHL game
-saw a hockey hall of fame Legends game
-sewed a cloak for my Ren Fest costume
2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
meh
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My sister Quincy had a baby- Jacinta- on December 6 :)
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not anyone very close, but a Priest that we knew died in October, and my niece and her husband had been pregnant but lost the baby. :(
5. What countries did you visit?
USA and Canada
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
hmm.. 2012 was pretty good to me in a lot of ways- maybe a hockey-related job?
7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 27- the day I bought my car.
November 11- Pavel Bure Day!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I bought a new car? Is that an achievement?
9. What was your biggest failure?
?
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I sprained my ankle.. while walking, in October. It wasn’t too serious, but hurt for a couple of weeks and was rather embarrassing.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A new car! I still love my old one but she’s pretty much done.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
?
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Just some jerkos who will remain nameless
14. Where did most of your money go?
Travel, hockey, gasoline, car repairs, and some into savings towards a new car.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
PAVEL BURE DAY!
The Marvel Superhero Movie Marathon for my sister’s birthday. (which was also the day I met my current bf)
16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
NOT Gagnam Style. (well probably it will but I hate that song) Actually, it would probably be “Payphone” by Maroon 5 and “Whistle” by Flo Rida, which is admittedly terrible but So. Damn. Catchy. And I got stuck listening to both at work a lot this summer.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
happier!
ii. thinner or fatter?
About the same. Blah.
iii. richer or poorer?
Technically poorer, but richer in that my car repairs have become car payments and thus can be budgeted for.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
exercising
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
whining. eating unhealthy foods
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I did spend it with my fam going to Mass and the Baptism for my baby niece. Then we came home and ate some tasty foods. :)
21. How will you be spending New Year’s Eve?
At home with my sisters (whichever ones can be here) and nieces/nephews
22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Not in love, but I did fall into a relationship for the first time since I’ve had an internet presence!
23. How many one-night stands?
ZERO
24. What was your favourite TV program?
I barely watched TV this year. I barely even watched hockey. I did dig up Game of Thrones on dvd and watched season 1. Still have to get to season 2.. but it was really good.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nopes
26. What was the best book you read?
“The Scottish Prisoner” by Diana Gabaldon
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Gaslight Anthem
28. What did you want and get?
A boyfriend? I wasn’t actively wanting one, but I’ve sorta wanted one forever. And a new car!
29.What did you want and not get?
more sleep? LOL
30. What was your favourite film that you saw for the first time this year?
The Avengers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I think I’ve seen it 10 times already and I didn’t watch it at all til September)
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 31 and spent the day with my fam- went out for lunch/brunch after church then had a few friends over for lasagna for dinner and watched Newsies :)
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Actually, it was a pretty damn good year. Less car repairs would have been nice though.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Same as always- jeans and colorful shirts from old navy LOL
34. What kept you sane?
My fam, music, books, travel opportunities
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
TOM effing HIDDLESTON
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
the election
37. Who did you miss?
My fam who are far away, my friends who are also far away, the usual
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Cyrus :)
Also, I knew Eric before the beginning of the year, but we didn’t hang out til 2012 and he’s pretty fun too.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
Go with it
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
“And I dance with your ghost
Oh but that ain’t the way
I can’t move on and I can’t stay the same
And all my friends say:
Hey, turn the record over
I ache, I’ll see you on the flipside
There you go
Turn the key and engine over
Let her go, let somebody else lay at her feet.”
-“45” by the Gaslight Anthem
1. Best Book You Read In 2012? (You can break it down by genre if you want)
Fiction: The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon
Memoir: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Non-fiction: The Rebel League by Ed Willes (story of the WHA- incredible and true!) and
Yeager: An Autobiography by Chuck Yeager and Leo Janos. Fascinating story of a really interesting man who did some almost unbelievable flying.
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
Don’t think there is one here. I don’t usually keep reading books that I don’t like.
3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012?
I read 2 books by Anna Quindlen- Rise and Shine and Object Lessons. I picked them up randomly on a recommendation from a high school friend whose book blog I read. They were both excellent, though not my usual style.
4. Book you recommended to people most in 2012?
Aggie’s Nine Heroes by Diana Laurence
5. Best series you discovered in 2012?
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. My bf gave me the first 4 to read and now I’m hooked.
6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?
Anna Quindlen (see above), Deidre Martin (fluff romance books about hockey? Sign me up!) ;)
7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
Summer Knight by Jim Butcher. The Dresden Files are sorta mystery/horror/fantasy but still very good. Some of the books were a bit creepy for my taste.
8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?
Actually, it was the first book of the year- From Behind the Red Line by Tod Hartje- the true story of former NHL-player Tod Hartje’s year spent playing hockey in the USSR. (1989) It was fascinating. I read it in about 2 days.
9. Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year:
I did a lot of re-reads in 2012 but probably the first one that will re-appear on my list will be Aggie’s Nine Heroes. It’s just that good.
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?
“Price of the Stars” by Debra Doyle and James MacDonald. It is a long-time favorite, and is re-read every 2 years or so. The cover was what drew me to the book in the first place.
11. Most memorable character in 2012?
Harry Dresden
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2012?
Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen or Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay
13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012?
?
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read?
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carol
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2012?
"But that's the problem with fantasy; when the thing you want shows up, you have to regroup visually, because it's never the way you picture it. "
-Joan Bauer- Hope Was Here
16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2012?
Shortest was Flight 116 is Down! by Carolyn Cooney. I remember loving (and being terrified by) this book in middle school.
Longest was… one of the Diana Gabaldon “Outlander” books.
17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!
None that I can really recall.
18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).
Who can even know? I read so many books I love.
19. Favorite Book You Read in 2012 From An Author You Read Previously
Gotta go with Aggie’s Nine Heroes by Diana Laurence
20. Best Book You Read That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:
Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen
Looking Ahead…
1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2012 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2013?
I’ll probably finish Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carol
2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2013?
Written in my Heart’s Own Blood by Diana Gabaldon
3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2013?
Read 50 books again. :)
And now to the usual survey-ness :)
1.What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?
-Went to hockey games in Anaheim and Los Angeles
-ate bacon-infused ketchup and bacon and sour cream chips!
-visited Wisconsin and Minnesota and the U.P. of Michigan
- met Diana Laurence in person!
-saw baseball games in Milwaukee and Minneapolis
-went to an OHL game
-saw a hockey hall of fame Legends game
-sewed a cloak for my Ren Fest costume
2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
meh
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My sister Quincy had a baby- Jacinta- on December 6 :)
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not anyone very close, but a Priest that we knew died in October, and my niece and her husband had been pregnant but lost the baby. :(
5. What countries did you visit?
USA and Canada
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
hmm.. 2012 was pretty good to me in a lot of ways- maybe a hockey-related job?
7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 27- the day I bought my car.
November 11- Pavel Bure Day!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I bought a new car? Is that an achievement?
9. What was your biggest failure?
?
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I sprained my ankle.. while walking, in October. It wasn’t too serious, but hurt for a couple of weeks and was rather embarrassing.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A new car! I still love my old one but she’s pretty much done.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
?
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Just some jerkos who will remain nameless
14. Where did most of your money go?
Travel, hockey, gasoline, car repairs, and some into savings towards a new car.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
PAVEL BURE DAY!
The Marvel Superhero Movie Marathon for my sister’s birthday. (which was also the day I met my current bf)
16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
NOT Gagnam Style. (well probably it will but I hate that song) Actually, it would probably be “Payphone” by Maroon 5 and “Whistle” by Flo Rida, which is admittedly terrible but So. Damn. Catchy. And I got stuck listening to both at work a lot this summer.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
happier!
ii. thinner or fatter?
About the same. Blah.
iii. richer or poorer?
Technically poorer, but richer in that my car repairs have become car payments and thus can be budgeted for.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
exercising
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
whining. eating unhealthy foods
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I did spend it with my fam going to Mass and the Baptism for my baby niece. Then we came home and ate some tasty foods. :)
21. How will you be spending New Year’s Eve?
At home with my sisters (whichever ones can be here) and nieces/nephews
22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Not in love, but I did fall into a relationship for the first time since I’ve had an internet presence!
23. How many one-night stands?
ZERO
24. What was your favourite TV program?
I barely watched TV this year. I barely even watched hockey. I did dig up Game of Thrones on dvd and watched season 1. Still have to get to season 2.. but it was really good.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nopes
26. What was the best book you read?
“The Scottish Prisoner” by Diana Gabaldon
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Gaslight Anthem
28. What did you want and get?
A boyfriend? I wasn’t actively wanting one, but I’ve sorta wanted one forever. And a new car!
29.What did you want and not get?
more sleep? LOL
30. What was your favourite film that you saw for the first time this year?
The Avengers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I think I’ve seen it 10 times already and I didn’t watch it at all til September)
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 31 and spent the day with my fam- went out for lunch/brunch after church then had a few friends over for lasagna for dinner and watched Newsies :)
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Actually, it was a pretty damn good year. Less car repairs would have been nice though.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Same as always- jeans and colorful shirts from old navy LOL
34. What kept you sane?
My fam, music, books, travel opportunities
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
TOM effing HIDDLESTON
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
the election
37. Who did you miss?
My fam who are far away, my friends who are also far away, the usual
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Cyrus :)
Also, I knew Eric before the beginning of the year, but we didn’t hang out til 2012 and he’s pretty fun too.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
Go with it
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
“And I dance with your ghost
Oh but that ain’t the way
I can’t move on and I can’t stay the same
And all my friends say:
Hey, turn the record over
I ache, I’ll see you on the flipside
There you go
Turn the key and engine over
Let her go, let somebody else lay at her feet.”
-“45” by the Gaslight Anthem