The first time I had to write 2013, I did it correctly. What does that say?
Here be the 2012 survey.
I start it and think I did nothing interesting this year, but then the more I fill out, the more I remember. I really like this thingy.
1. What did you do this year that you'd never done before?
2012: Drove from Rhode Island to New Haven (okay, this wasn't a difficult drive). Saw Venus Transit the sun. Booked a trip for me using miles. Started learning Chinese. Kayaked to an island in the Boston Harbor and camped on it for 2 days!
2011: Go abroad. With POETS. By myself. Book a train and hotels and airfare to foreign countries where the native language is not English. Argue with a waiter in French. Drove from Rhode Island to Rochester solo. Joined an online dating site (but haven't dared write to anybody). Wore makeup to work.
2010: Be a patient at a hospital.
Buy dental insurance.
I don't want to list the trips/illnesses here. Look, I learned to SCUBA dive last year, but I didn't this year because of Jimboree. Maybe I'll think of something.
Barf on an airplane (sorry). That was a first.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
2012: I made new year's resolutions this year? Well I made some for 2013: do 10 sit-ups a day, which I did every day except the day I woke up with cramps. And no more reddit. I did try to read 52 books this year, and though good reads said I didn't, I did! (see other post)
2011: Not really. I tried to read books I had bought but never read as well as not buy books. I exempted myself from book-buying on trips, etc. I should figure out how many books I bought this year. It might be 20. Look, I bought a lot of books in France. I don't have access to my booklist that I made for this year, but I did manage to read several books I own.
I still need to to the not procrastinate at work resolution. Here's my resolution. Every night, before I go to be, I'm going to make a list of things to do tomorrow, and what I want to accomplish. I will review that list in the morning, at lunch and when I got to bed.
2010: I think I made one about not procrastinating at work? I still keep my New Year's 2000 resolution of not drinking soda (I think I've had three accidents with fizzy water, punch, and a carbonated icee slush), but really, that one is so easy. I think I made one in 2004 about Spider solitaire, but I have a Mac... Every other year I've given up buying pleasure books and cds, which isn't rigidly enforced (and there was an HP exception, preplanned)
Ah yes! I remember. I made a resolution last year to write down all the books I read this year. I hoped to reach 52 and I have (I will post on this later). My resolution this year is to read book that I own and bought years ago but have never read. I'm not sure if I am going to pick a number or rate- I hope to make a books post soon.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
2012: Close? No. Someone I went to grade school-- Keri had a baby. Thanks Facebook.
2011: Close? No. The Facebook baby count is slightly smaller this year: some girl Sharon (not roommate Sharon), whom I went to high school with, gave birth two twins, and another girl, Melissa, who I went to elementary and high school with gave birth to a baby who died the next day.
2010: Close? No, but to list the Facebook babies I stalk that were born in 2010: this girl Kelsey from my first year mentor group at college, my sister's friend Tim's wife, my cousin Jennifer.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
2012: The guy across the street who was known mostly to me is the guy who drove into telephone poles died in his house on Christmas eve. We just saw a bunch of cops/rescue, then the rescue left and the coroner came. We weren't sure WHO died in the house, either the guy, Jeff, or his mother, Flossie until the obituary was published in the paper days later.
2011: Jim. My thesis advisor. Also, my mom's friend Carol's mother.
2010: No. (good)
5. What countries did you visit?
2012: I was in Japan over new year's and Chile two times. Also Boulder (x2), Reno, Balitmore and Flagstaff, AZ.
2011: Chile, Chile (when Jim died), Chile, Australia, France, Mexico and Japan. I also started the year off in DC, went to Alaska and Vassar College for observing as well. I took a Megabus to Philadelphia for a wedding. I also went to Rochester for a Domestic Partnership party that happened just a couple of weeks before gay marriage was legalizedl
2010: Chile!
I also went to Arizona twice and Pasadena for DPS! I went to the Rally to Restore Sanity and will be spending the New Year in DC with my parents and little sister.
6. What would you like to have next year that you lacked this year?
2012: See below.
2011: See below.
2010: A boyfriend.
7. What date from this year will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
2012: August 18. The day my apartment flooded while I was moving into it. Had to look it up, but argh!
2011: March 3rd. The day Jim died and I hopped on a plane. I remember thinking he sounded awful on the phone the day before and then I got the phone call the next day on the way out the door. You can't really take people for granted.
2010: January 16, 2010. Appendicitis surgery. Though I had to look the date up to see if I was right (I was). April 29, I passed my generals (also had to check, but I was right).
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
2012: Discovering some maps were upside down.
2011: Frequent flyer status doesn't count, does it?
2010: Passing generals.
9. What was your biggest failure?
2012: Could have worked harder at work
2011: I don't know, really. I think I could have worked harder at work. I still need to respond to emails. They're little things, but they are going to bite me in the ass someday
2010: Well, I could have been less of a jerk before my sister's wedding.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
2012: Feel off of my bike trying to do a wheelie. Seriously.
2011: Moctezuma's Revenge in Mexico. Ugh.
2010: Appendicitis and a fractured patella. Two firsts.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
2012: Spiffy boots!
2011: The Lilly and Max Books in France.
2010: Replaced my missing sb-400 add-on flash with an sb-600. Okay, I don't like the SB-600 all that much, but I'm glad I had it for my sister's wedding.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
2012: The people who helped after #13.
2011: I dunno.
2010: My sister got hitched. Elisabeth finished her PhD.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
2012: The construction crew who forgot to remove the test drain from the pipes in my building that caused a giant flood.
2011: Tony George and Jim. Long story.
2010: Jim. Not all his fault, but if you want to know who drove me nuts, it was him.
14. Where did most of your money go?
2012: Rent, but also camera lenses (zoom), boots, a clarisonic and sephora.
2011: Again, rent. But otherwise, SCUBA lessons, touristy stuff in Australia, a ultra-wide angle lens, a flat-iron and makeup
2010: The real answer is rent to the tune of about $10,000.
Travel expenses for trips (but those were reimbursed).
The expensive things I bought myself this year were the SB-600 flash, leather gloves and an oil painting (didn't expect to win the silent auction). I also footed the bill for part of my sister's wedding shower and gave her $250 as a wedding present.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
2012: Pluto maps. Upside Down.
2011: SOFIA flying. Didn't get to go though. Still awesome.
2010: SOFIA might fly.
16. What song will always remind you of this year?
2012: I need to think of something before I write Call Me Maybe
2011: All these things
2010: The World Cup Wavin' Flag song.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or sadder?
2012: I was really bummed at the end of the year, so sadder.
2011: Happier, I think. Weirdly.
2010: Don't remember how happy I was last year, I'll say about the same.
ii. thinner or fatter?
2012: About the same, I think.
2011: About the same, I think.
2010: About the same I think
iii. richer or poorer?
2012: Richer.
2011: Richer. Somehow.
2010: Richer. I should look at my statements and see where the money went.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
2012: Work
2011: Work
2010:Work
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
2012: Procrastinating on the internet at work.
2011: Procrastinating on the internet at work.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
2012: Spent it home with the family.
2011: Spent it home with the family.
2010: Spent it home with the family.
22. Did you fall in love this year?
2012: No. Quit the online dating thing. Too many messages for me to wrap my head around, even the nice ones, so I felt bad and killed the profile.
2011: No
2010: Yes.
23. How many one-night stands?
2012: Only observing ones. Though no true all-nighters this year
2011: Only observing ones.
2010: Zero. Unless you count observing at Wallace and sleeping over.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
2012: HIMYM.
2011: HIMYM. Big Bang Theory.
2010: HIMYM. The Daily Show. I'm watching the whole of Babylon 5 with a friend, but it's not my favorite.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
2012: No.
2011: No.
2010: No.
26. What was the best book you read?
2012: The Night Circus.
2011: Random family. Slow in parts. It's about how poor people are screwed. I read this book in January, don't have a list in front of me, so what does that tell you?
2010: This a tough one and I have my list of the 59 books I've read so far right next to me! Flatly none stands out as spectacular.
It's a toss-up between Finding Nouf by Zoe Ferraris and Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold, the latter of which was good, but not the best Bujold book.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
2012: I actually liked the album my friends made that I bought to be polite.
2011: All these things by Darron Hanlon. It's not that big of a deal actually. But I heard the song playing while returning home on Qantas. Realizing I heard a song I would like, but would never, ever hear again, I actually emailed the entertainment director to get the song name. I'm proud I found it.
2010: That you can convert songs to mono in iTunes.
28. What did you want and get?
2012: Job offer. Still not official.
2011: Telescope time. I bought stuff.
2010: Passed my generals.
29. What did you want and not get?
2012: Dominion Dark Ages, but I have it now.
2011: That boy. To ride SOFIA. To go night diving.
2010: I will be cutesy and say the microbe soap dispenser on my Amazon wishlist. An invitation to a friend's wedding.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
2012: Good question, given that Arghavan dragged us all to the movies several times. Not Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy or the Avengers. Sorry. I liked Lincoln, the Iranian Divorce Movie (A Separation), and Wreck-It Ralph, but none stood out. I was thinking that maybe I should write down my movies too.
2011: Dunno. Saw a few movies, HP7 1 & 2, Certified Copy ,Bad Teacher and Rainman, but none were amazing. Ooh! Le Petit Nicolas!
2010: Despicable me. Toy Story 3 was good too.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
2012: 26. I know Arghavan made awesome cakes, but I forgot what I did that day. I think I went to work.
2011: I crossed the international Date Line and my birthday got eaten. Perhaps I was playing solitaire on in-flight video when I turned 25.
2010: I turned 24. I went to Terry and Ann's beach house with AHEC. That boy I like was the guest of another girl. It was awkward.
32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
2012: Yeah, that.
2011: The same thing that would have made it more satisfying last year. But now I know I can't have it.
2010: Guess?
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept this year?
2012: More of the same in 2012. I want to winterize skits/dresses with boots, but haven't figured this one out yet.
2011: Trying more with the boots and I'm trying out makeup. a bit
2010: Jeans and shirts. I bought Teva boots that I could tuck pants into. I think I cared more about my clothes and hair more than usual, but I don't think I looked any better.
34. What kept you sane?
2012: Friends. Family.
2011: Making sure I saw a therapist at MIT Medical after Jim died.
2010: Long talks with Philip Massey on my visits to Arizona.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
2012: Meh.
2011: I dunno.
2010: This one is really embarrassing:
Some pics of Vladimir Putin really are kinda hot. Just sayin...
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
2012: The election, I guess. That's not an issue, is it.
2011: Dumbasses who don't think they need health insurance. Look, the health care bill isn't perfect, but the crap that insurance companies pull, and that the working poor are screwed over in getting medical care is criminal. The law is just the first chop of an axe against a tree that needs to come down.
2010: Whatever was on the daily show.
37. Who did you miss?
2012: Elisabeth?
2011: Jim..
2010: My college friends.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
2012: New roommate David?
2011: Parthi? Certainly a new friend.
2010: Blanking here...
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned this year.
2012: I can't think of anything. Clearly, I'm not growing up.
2011: Ask! I still need to learn this.
2010: I need to take charge of my graduate career. I don't know if I've learned this yet, but I need to.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
2012: Never mind I'll find someone like you...
2011: The fear that began/ one single Elvis fan/ could be wrong the other 49/odd million screaming others also can
2010: Blanking here...
I start it and think I did nothing interesting this year, but then the more I fill out, the more I remember. I really like this thingy.
1. What did you do this year that you'd never done before?
2012: Drove from Rhode Island to New Haven (okay, this wasn't a difficult drive). Saw Venus Transit the sun. Booked a trip for me using miles. Started learning Chinese. Kayaked to an island in the Boston Harbor and camped on it for 2 days!
2011: Go abroad. With POETS. By myself. Book a train and hotels and airfare to foreign countries where the native language is not English. Argue with a waiter in French. Drove from Rhode Island to Rochester solo. Joined an online dating site (but haven't dared write to anybody). Wore makeup to work.
2010: Be a patient at a hospital.
Buy dental insurance.
I don't want to list the trips/illnesses here. Look, I learned to SCUBA dive last year, but I didn't this year because of Jimboree. Maybe I'll think of something.
Barf on an airplane (sorry). That was a first.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
2012: I made new year's resolutions this year? Well I made some for 2013: do 10 sit-ups a day, which I did every day except the day I woke up with cramps. And no more reddit. I did try to read 52 books this year, and though good reads said I didn't, I did! (see other post)
2011: Not really. I tried to read books I had bought but never read as well as not buy books. I exempted myself from book-buying on trips, etc. I should figure out how many books I bought this year. It might be 20. Look, I bought a lot of books in France. I don't have access to my booklist that I made for this year, but I did manage to read several books I own.
I still need to to the not procrastinate at work resolution. Here's my resolution. Every night, before I go to be, I'm going to make a list of things to do tomorrow, and what I want to accomplish. I will review that list in the morning, at lunch and when I got to bed.
2010: I think I made one about not procrastinating at work? I still keep my New Year's 2000 resolution of not drinking soda (I think I've had three accidents with fizzy water, punch, and a carbonated icee slush), but really, that one is so easy. I think I made one in 2004 about Spider solitaire, but I have a Mac... Every other year I've given up buying pleasure books and cds, which isn't rigidly enforced (and there was an HP exception, preplanned)
Ah yes! I remember. I made a resolution last year to write down all the books I read this year. I hoped to reach 52 and I have (I will post on this later). My resolution this year is to read book that I own and bought years ago but have never read. I'm not sure if I am going to pick a number or rate- I hope to make a books post soon.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
2012: Close? No. Someone I went to grade school-- Keri had a baby. Thanks Facebook.
2011: Close? No. The Facebook baby count is slightly smaller this year: some girl Sharon (not roommate Sharon), whom I went to high school with, gave birth two twins, and another girl, Melissa, who I went to elementary and high school with gave birth to a baby who died the next day.
2010: Close? No, but to list the Facebook babies I stalk that were born in 2010: this girl Kelsey from my first year mentor group at college, my sister's friend Tim's wife, my cousin Jennifer.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
2012: The guy across the street who was known mostly to me is the guy who drove into telephone poles died in his house on Christmas eve. We just saw a bunch of cops/rescue, then the rescue left and the coroner came. We weren't sure WHO died in the house, either the guy, Jeff, or his mother, Flossie until the obituary was published in the paper days later.
2011: Jim. My thesis advisor. Also, my mom's friend Carol's mother.
2010: No. (good)
5. What countries did you visit?
2012: I was in Japan over new year's and Chile two times. Also Boulder (x2), Reno, Balitmore and Flagstaff, AZ.
2011: Chile, Chile (when Jim died), Chile, Australia, France, Mexico and Japan. I also started the year off in DC, went to Alaska and Vassar College for observing as well. I took a Megabus to Philadelphia for a wedding. I also went to Rochester for a Domestic Partnership party that happened just a couple of weeks before gay marriage was legalizedl
2010: Chile!
I also went to Arizona twice and Pasadena for DPS! I went to the Rally to Restore Sanity and will be spending the New Year in DC with my parents and little sister.
6. What would you like to have next year that you lacked this year?
2012: See below.
2011: See below.
2010: A boyfriend.
7. What date from this year will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
2012: August 18. The day my apartment flooded while I was moving into it. Had to look it up, but argh!
2011: March 3rd. The day Jim died and I hopped on a plane. I remember thinking he sounded awful on the phone the day before and then I got the phone call the next day on the way out the door. You can't really take people for granted.
2010: January 16, 2010. Appendicitis surgery. Though I had to look the date up to see if I was right (I was). April 29, I passed my generals (also had to check, but I was right).
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
2012: Discovering some maps were upside down.
2011: Frequent flyer status doesn't count, does it?
2010: Passing generals.
9. What was your biggest failure?
2012: Could have worked harder at work
2011: I don't know, really. I think I could have worked harder at work. I still need to respond to emails. They're little things, but they are going to bite me in the ass someday
2010: Well, I could have been less of a jerk before my sister's wedding.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
2012: Feel off of my bike trying to do a wheelie. Seriously.
2011: Moctezuma's Revenge in Mexico. Ugh.
2010: Appendicitis and a fractured patella. Two firsts.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
2012: Spiffy boots!
2011: The Lilly and Max Books in France.
2010: Replaced my missing sb-400 add-on flash with an sb-600. Okay, I don't like the SB-600 all that much, but I'm glad I had it for my sister's wedding.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
2012: The people who helped after #13.
2011: I dunno.
2010: My sister got hitched. Elisabeth finished her PhD.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
2012: The construction crew who forgot to remove the test drain from the pipes in my building that caused a giant flood.
2011: Tony George and Jim. Long story.
2010: Jim. Not all his fault, but if you want to know who drove me nuts, it was him.
14. Where did most of your money go?
2012: Rent, but also camera lenses (zoom), boots, a clarisonic and sephora.
2011: Again, rent. But otherwise, SCUBA lessons, touristy stuff in Australia, a ultra-wide angle lens, a flat-iron and makeup
2010: The real answer is rent to the tune of about $10,000.
Travel expenses for trips (but those were reimbursed).
The expensive things I bought myself this year were the SB-600 flash, leather gloves and an oil painting (didn't expect to win the silent auction). I also footed the bill for part of my sister's wedding shower and gave her $250 as a wedding present.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
2012: Pluto maps. Upside Down.
2011: SOFIA flying. Didn't get to go though. Still awesome.
2010: SOFIA might fly.
16. What song will always remind you of this year?
2012: I need to think of something before I write Call Me Maybe
2011: All these things
2010: The World Cup Wavin' Flag song.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or sadder?
2012: I was really bummed at the end of the year, so sadder.
2011: Happier, I think. Weirdly.
2010: Don't remember how happy I was last year, I'll say about the same.
ii. thinner or fatter?
2012: About the same, I think.
2011: About the same, I think.
2010: About the same I think
iii. richer or poorer?
2012: Richer.
2011: Richer. Somehow.
2010: Richer. I should look at my statements and see where the money went.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
2012: Work
2011: Work
2010:Work
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
2012: Procrastinating on the internet at work.
2011: Procrastinating on the internet at work.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
2012: Spent it home with the family.
2011: Spent it home with the family.
2010: Spent it home with the family.
22. Did you fall in love this year?
2012: No. Quit the online dating thing. Too many messages for me to wrap my head around, even the nice ones, so I felt bad and killed the profile.
2011: No
2010: Yes.
23. How many one-night stands?
2012: Only observing ones. Though no true all-nighters this year
2011: Only observing ones.
2010: Zero. Unless you count observing at Wallace and sleeping over.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
2012: HIMYM.
2011: HIMYM. Big Bang Theory.
2010: HIMYM. The Daily Show. I'm watching the whole of Babylon 5 with a friend, but it's not my favorite.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
2012: No.
2011: No.
2010: No.
26. What was the best book you read?
2012: The Night Circus.
2011: Random family. Slow in parts. It's about how poor people are screwed. I read this book in January, don't have a list in front of me, so what does that tell you?
2010: This a tough one and I have my list of the 59 books I've read so far right next to me! Flatly none stands out as spectacular.
It's a toss-up between Finding Nouf by Zoe Ferraris and Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold, the latter of which was good, but not the best Bujold book.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
2012: I actually liked the album my friends made that I bought to be polite.
2011: All these things by Darron Hanlon. It's not that big of a deal actually. But I heard the song playing while returning home on Qantas. Realizing I heard a song I would like, but would never, ever hear again, I actually emailed the entertainment director to get the song name. I'm proud I found it.
2010: That you can convert songs to mono in iTunes.
28. What did you want and get?
2012: Job offer. Still not official.
2011: Telescope time. I bought stuff.
2010: Passed my generals.
29. What did you want and not get?
2012: Dominion Dark Ages, but I have it now.
2011: That boy. To ride SOFIA. To go night diving.
2010: I will be cutesy and say the microbe soap dispenser on my Amazon wishlist. An invitation to a friend's wedding.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
2012: Good question, given that Arghavan dragged us all to the movies several times. Not Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy or the Avengers. Sorry. I liked Lincoln, the Iranian Divorce Movie (A Separation), and Wreck-It Ralph, but none stood out. I was thinking that maybe I should write down my movies too.
2011: Dunno. Saw a few movies, HP7 1 & 2, Certified Copy ,Bad Teacher and Rainman, but none were amazing. Ooh! Le Petit Nicolas!
2010: Despicable me. Toy Story 3 was good too.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
2012: 26. I know Arghavan made awesome cakes, but I forgot what I did that day. I think I went to work.
2011: I crossed the international Date Line and my birthday got eaten. Perhaps I was playing solitaire on in-flight video when I turned 25.
2010: I turned 24. I went to Terry and Ann's beach house with AHEC. That boy I like was the guest of another girl. It was awkward.
32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
2012: Yeah, that.
2011: The same thing that would have made it more satisfying last year. But now I know I can't have it.
2010: Guess?
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept this year?
2012: More of the same in 2012. I want to winterize skits/dresses with boots, but haven't figured this one out yet.
2011: Trying more with the boots and I'm trying out makeup. a bit
2010: Jeans and shirts. I bought Teva boots that I could tuck pants into. I think I cared more about my clothes and hair more than usual, but I don't think I looked any better.
34. What kept you sane?
2012: Friends. Family.
2011: Making sure I saw a therapist at MIT Medical after Jim died.
2010: Long talks with Philip Massey on my visits to Arizona.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
2012: Meh.
2011: I dunno.
2010: This one is really embarrassing:
Some pics of Vladimir Putin really are kinda hot. Just sayin...
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
2012: The election, I guess. That's not an issue, is it.
2011: Dumbasses who don't think they need health insurance. Look, the health care bill isn't perfect, but the crap that insurance companies pull, and that the working poor are screwed over in getting medical care is criminal. The law is just the first chop of an axe against a tree that needs to come down.
2010: Whatever was on the daily show.
37. Who did you miss?
2012: Elisabeth?
2011: Jim..
2010: My college friends.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
2012: New roommate David?
2011: Parthi? Certainly a new friend.
2010: Blanking here...
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned this year.
2012: I can't think of anything. Clearly, I'm not growing up.
2011: Ask! I still need to learn this.
2010: I need to take charge of my graduate career. I don't know if I've learned this yet, but I need to.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
2012: Never mind I'll find someone like you...
2011: The fear that began/ one single Elvis fan/ could be wrong the other 49/odd million screaming others also can
2010: Blanking here...