The final meme of 2008
What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
For the first time in my entire life, I lived totally by myself.
Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any new year's resolutions; history has taught me that I never keep them anyway.
Did anyone close to you give birth/die?
Nobody that I am aware of.
What countries did you visit?
Nothing this year. Maybe next year, I'll take a road trip to Canada.
What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A long-term, lasting romantic relationship.
I would also like a job; mine just ended.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Admitting that I had some serious personal issues, and taking steps to address and overcome them.
What was your biggest failure?
Didn't do anything significant towards fixing up and selling the house.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
Fortunately, no. Dental work doesn't count.
Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage, ex-wife support payments, and food.
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My 40th birthday. It was a celebration, and a transformation.
What song will always remind you of 2008?
Death Cab for Cutie: I Will Possess Your Heart.
Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? As a whole, happier.
b) fatter or skinnier? Skinnier. I lost nearly 25 pounds.
c) richer or poorer? Financially poorer, but emotionally richer.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Taking weekend trips.
What do you wish you'd done less of?
Falling into sin.
Did you fall in love in 2008?
In a way. I had a somewhat intense relationship with someone for several months that was approaching love.
How many one night stands?
One, and another which I hope will not be for one night only.
What was your favorite TV program?
How I Met Your Mother.
What was the best book you read?
Monastic Practices, by Fr. Charles Cummings.
What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Killers, followed closely by Kaiser Chiefs.
What did you want and get?
An annulment
What did you want and not get?
A new address.
What was your favorite film of this year?
The Dark Knight.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
The weekend before my 40th birthday, I went to New Jersey and spent time with some old friends in Atlantic City, met another friend which turned into something more (see above). On my 40th, I went to Wisconsin and Chicago and bought a round of drinks for the entire bar.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Selling my house and having a lot less cash outflow.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Business Casual in dark colors.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Can't say as I fancied anyone in particular, but the person I admired most was Tina Fey.
What political issue stirred you the most?
The economy, seeing as how it directly affected me and those close to me.
Who do you miss?
I miss my family and friends in New Jersey. I don't get to see them nearly enough.
Who was the best new person you met?
Sandy, who I knew casually from LiveJournal, but didn't really get to know until this past summer and fall.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008?
Never assume that you can plan for the future with any sort of reliability.
For the first time in my entire life, I lived totally by myself.
Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any new year's resolutions; history has taught me that I never keep them anyway.
Did anyone close to you give birth/die?
Nobody that I am aware of.
What countries did you visit?
Nothing this year. Maybe next year, I'll take a road trip to Canada.
What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A long-term, lasting romantic relationship.
I would also like a job; mine just ended.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Admitting that I had some serious personal issues, and taking steps to address and overcome them.
What was your biggest failure?
Didn't do anything significant towards fixing up and selling the house.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
Fortunately, no. Dental work doesn't count.
Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage, ex-wife support payments, and food.
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My 40th birthday. It was a celebration, and a transformation.
What song will always remind you of 2008?
Death Cab for Cutie: I Will Possess Your Heart.
Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? As a whole, happier.
b) fatter or skinnier? Skinnier. I lost nearly 25 pounds.
c) richer or poorer? Financially poorer, but emotionally richer.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Taking weekend trips.
What do you wish you'd done less of?
Falling into sin.
Did you fall in love in 2008?
In a way. I had a somewhat intense relationship with someone for several months that was approaching love.
How many one night stands?
One, and another which I hope will not be for one night only.
What was your favorite TV program?
How I Met Your Mother.
What was the best book you read?
Monastic Practices, by Fr. Charles Cummings.
What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Killers, followed closely by Kaiser Chiefs.
What did you want and get?
An annulment
What did you want and not get?
A new address.
What was your favorite film of this year?
The Dark Knight.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
The weekend before my 40th birthday, I went to New Jersey and spent time with some old friends in Atlantic City, met another friend which turned into something more (see above). On my 40th, I went to Wisconsin and Chicago and bought a round of drinks for the entire bar.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Selling my house and having a lot less cash outflow.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Business Casual in dark colors.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Can't say as I fancied anyone in particular, but the person I admired most was Tina Fey.
What political issue stirred you the most?
The economy, seeing as how it directly affected me and those close to me.
Who do you miss?
I miss my family and friends in New Jersey. I don't get to see them nearly enough.
Who was the best new person you met?
Sandy, who I knew casually from LiveJournal, but didn't really get to know until this past summer and fall.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008?
Never assume that you can plan for the future with any sort of reliability.