Good-bye Yellow Brick Road
Shamelessly stolen from lareinenoire:
[1.] What did you do in 2010 that you have never done before?
Hmm. I successfully rode a unicycle for a few meters before falling down. I also played a mandolin for the first time. I saw Patrick Stewart downtown in a live performance of Oedipus Rex with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. I sat front row in a Bobby McFerrin concert.
[2.] Did you keep all of last year's resolutions?
I don't make resolutions. Or at least, I do not pick a specific date (i.e. the first of January) to make changes. If I notice I need to change something, there is no time like the present. That being said, I think that I have been doing a pretty good job of keeping up with those. I might not be as far along on them as I would like, but I have not given up on anything.
[3.] Have you any resolutions for next year?
See above. But something that I noticed this morning is that I have slacked off on my sit ups and pull ups. I'll get started on them again tomorrow. Also, I discovered that if I am going to train for a marathon, I need better winter running clothes, otherwise, I shall have to just change my goal to "staying in shape & building stamina."
[4.] What countries did you visit?
2010 was the first year since 2006 where I did not visit a single foreign country. *sighs*
[5.] What would you like to have in 2011 that you didn't have in 2010?
A credit score high enough to allow me to get a loan on a house. Almost everything else I want for 2011 involves improving skills, and continuing my current activities.
[6.] What date in 2010 will remain etched in your memory?
Christmas Day. Gave & received wonderful gifts this year.
[7.] What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I started getting serious help for my learning disability. It's working.
[8.] What was your biggest failure?
I'm still not an Op 2. Everyone who was hired at about the same time as I have already finished their training. So has a person who was hired after me. Two more people who were hired after me are farther along than I am. I need to get on the ball.
[9.] Did you suffer any illness or injury?
Nothing serious.
[10.] What was the best thing you bought?
For a gift? A blue electric-acoustic mandolin.
For myself? About twenty pounds of Hatch green chilies which I then roasted and canned. I have two cans left. One will be opened on my birthday. The other for Mardi Gras.
[11.] Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
I don't really dwell on things like that. While I am certain that people have made me feel that way, whatever actions caused that did not stick in my brain. I have other concerns.
[12.] Where did most of your money go?
Rent. Bills. The usual suspects.
[13.] What did you get really really really excited about?
The Bobby McFerrin concert!
[14.] What songs will always remind you of 2010?
Always? That's a bit presumptuous. I doubt that I will remember much about this year in a few months. But for now, Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" reminds me of a few things about this year.
[15.] Compared to this time last year are you:
[A.] Fatter or thinner? Pretty much the same.
[B.] Happier or sadder? Definitely happier. I was in a bad place at this time last year.
[C.] Richer or poorer? Richer, but not by a lot.
[16.] What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercise. Dance. Clean. Organize. Spend more time with the family.
[17.] What do you wish you'd done less of?
Regretting past mistakes. Time to move on. What's done is done. Spilled milk ... yadda, yadda, yadda.
[18.] How will you be spending Christmas?
I worked Christmas Eve til about 5pm. Drove straight to Columbus, OH from work. Spent that weekend with the family and drove back on Monday afternoon. Far too fast a visit. I really need a break.
[19.] Which LJ users did you meet for the first time?
I cannot remember whether they were early this year or late last year, but if I assume that they were this year, then anachronism82 and spontaneousmoo.
[20.] Did you fall in love in 2010?
No.
[21.] How many one night stands?
Zero.
[22.] What was your favourite TV show?
I had three: Lost, Doctor Who, and Sherlock Holmes.
[23.] Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. I did not hate anyone back then and do not now. No one has proven themselves to be worth it.
[24.] What was/were the best books you read?
Most of what I have read this year have been technical manuals for work. But there have been a few outstanding bits: Atomic Robo, PS238, The Mouse Guard, RASL, and A Distant Soil are all amazing comic books. As far as "normal" books go: The God Engines by John Scalzi and Boneshaker by Cherie Priest were pretty nifty.
[25.] What was your greatest musical discovery?
More of a re-discovery for me. I rediscovered just how much I love the blues. Especially John Lee Hooker, Howling Wolf, Elmore Leonard, and Muddy Waters.
[26.] What did you want and get?
I wanted to finally start acting like a responsible adult; making a budget & sticking to it, paying on my student loans, et cetera. Being an adult feels weird, but good, too.
[27.] What did you want and not get?
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
[28.] What was your favourite film this year?
I honestly do not remember watching movies this year. Except for a few on Netflix, but none of them were really that good. But as long as the movie does not have to be newly released, then my favorite film that I watched for the first time this year was "Dial M for Murder". Ah, Hitchcock. How I love you.
[29.] What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
I did nothing on my birthday. I turned forty.
The night before my birthday, I went dancing. The Tuesday after my birthday, I brought cake to dance class and shared it with them. And about eight months after my birthday, some friends went with me to the Bristol Ren Faire. But my birthday itself? Not so exciting.
[30.] What one thing would have made your year more satisfying?
Again, I do not want to dwell on what would have made 2010 better. I just want to make 2011 as good as possible.
[31.] How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Same as always. Jeans and t-shirts are great for day to day wear. Decent slacks and a dress shirt are necessities for dance nights.
[32.] What kept you sane?
I'm sane? Well, I suppose if you define sanity as not being a danger to myself or others, then yes, I am. Juggling. Unicycling. Recreational reading. Dancing. Stargazing. And my good friend, Sean.
[33.] Which celebrity did you fancy the most?
Marian Call is adorable. So is Natalie Portman. And of course, Freema Agyeman , Catherine Tate, and Karen Gillan continue to completely enchant me.
[34.] Which political issue stirred you the most?
Politics? Um. Yeah. I hate to say this, but the whole rotating shift thing is leaving me pretty sheltered from a lot of the news in the world until a week or so after people have ceased being riled up. So by the time I look at an issue, I am able to see beginning, middle and conclusion ... not to mention stupidity from various sides. So, I do not really get stirred (nor shaken) by much these days.
[35.] Who did you miss?
My family. Fido. My friends from New Mexico. Friends in general. Freedom.
[36.] Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned this year?
It's OK to look out for myself sometimes. It is my responsibility, no one else's. And if I do not, how can I take care of anyone else?
I hope that everyone will have an amazing 2011. If your 2010 was great, I hope that the trend will continue through next year. If it was not what you wished, I hope that you will be able to make a new start for 2011. Either way, good luck!
[1.] What did you do in 2010 that you have never done before?
Hmm. I successfully rode a unicycle for a few meters before falling down. I also played a mandolin for the first time. I saw Patrick Stewart downtown in a live performance of Oedipus Rex with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. I sat front row in a Bobby McFerrin concert.
[2.] Did you keep all of last year's resolutions?
I don't make resolutions. Or at least, I do not pick a specific date (i.e. the first of January) to make changes. If I notice I need to change something, there is no time like the present. That being said, I think that I have been doing a pretty good job of keeping up with those. I might not be as far along on them as I would like, but I have not given up on anything.
[3.] Have you any resolutions for next year?
See above. But something that I noticed this morning is that I have slacked off on my sit ups and pull ups. I'll get started on them again tomorrow. Also, I discovered that if I am going to train for a marathon, I need better winter running clothes, otherwise, I shall have to just change my goal to "staying in shape & building stamina."
[4.] What countries did you visit?
2010 was the first year since 2006 where I did not visit a single foreign country. *sighs*
[5.] What would you like to have in 2011 that you didn't have in 2010?
A credit score high enough to allow me to get a loan on a house. Almost everything else I want for 2011 involves improving skills, and continuing my current activities.
[6.] What date in 2010 will remain etched in your memory?
Christmas Day. Gave & received wonderful gifts this year.
[7.] What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I started getting serious help for my learning disability. It's working.
[8.] What was your biggest failure?
I'm still not an Op 2. Everyone who was hired at about the same time as I have already finished their training. So has a person who was hired after me. Two more people who were hired after me are farther along than I am. I need to get on the ball.
[9.] Did you suffer any illness or injury?
Nothing serious.
[10.] What was the best thing you bought?
For a gift? A blue electric-acoustic mandolin.
For myself? About twenty pounds of Hatch green chilies which I then roasted and canned. I have two cans left. One will be opened on my birthday. The other for Mardi Gras.
[11.] Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
I don't really dwell on things like that. While I am certain that people have made me feel that way, whatever actions caused that did not stick in my brain. I have other concerns.
[12.] Where did most of your money go?
Rent. Bills. The usual suspects.
[13.] What did you get really really really excited about?
The Bobby McFerrin concert!
[14.] What songs will always remind you of 2010?
Always? That's a bit presumptuous. I doubt that I will remember much about this year in a few months. But for now, Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" reminds me of a few things about this year.
[15.] Compared to this time last year are you:
[A.] Fatter or thinner? Pretty much the same.
[B.] Happier or sadder? Definitely happier. I was in a bad place at this time last year.
[C.] Richer or poorer? Richer, but not by a lot.
[16.] What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercise. Dance. Clean. Organize. Spend more time with the family.
[17.] What do you wish you'd done less of?
Regretting past mistakes. Time to move on. What's done is done. Spilled milk ... yadda, yadda, yadda.
[18.] How will you be spending Christmas?
I worked Christmas Eve til about 5pm. Drove straight to Columbus, OH from work. Spent that weekend with the family and drove back on Monday afternoon. Far too fast a visit. I really need a break.
[19.] Which LJ users did you meet for the first time?
I cannot remember whether they were early this year or late last year, but if I assume that they were this year, then anachronism82 and spontaneousmoo.
[20.] Did you fall in love in 2010?
No.
[21.] How many one night stands?
Zero.
[22.] What was your favourite TV show?
I had three: Lost, Doctor Who, and Sherlock Holmes.
[23.] Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. I did not hate anyone back then and do not now. No one has proven themselves to be worth it.
[24.] What was/were the best books you read?
Most of what I have read this year have been technical manuals for work. But there have been a few outstanding bits: Atomic Robo, PS238, The Mouse Guard, RASL, and A Distant Soil are all amazing comic books. As far as "normal" books go: The God Engines by John Scalzi and Boneshaker by Cherie Priest were pretty nifty.
[25.] What was your greatest musical discovery?
More of a re-discovery for me. I rediscovered just how much I love the blues. Especially John Lee Hooker, Howling Wolf, Elmore Leonard, and Muddy Waters.
[26.] What did you want and get?
I wanted to finally start acting like a responsible adult; making a budget & sticking to it, paying on my student loans, et cetera. Being an adult feels weird, but good, too.
[27.] What did you want and not get?
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
[28.] What was your favourite film this year?
I honestly do not remember watching movies this year. Except for a few on Netflix, but none of them were really that good. But as long as the movie does not have to be newly released, then my favorite film that I watched for the first time this year was "Dial M for Murder". Ah, Hitchcock. How I love you.
[29.] What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
I did nothing on my birthday. I turned forty.
The night before my birthday, I went dancing. The Tuesday after my birthday, I brought cake to dance class and shared it with them. And about eight months after my birthday, some friends went with me to the Bristol Ren Faire. But my birthday itself? Not so exciting.
[30.] What one thing would have made your year more satisfying?
Again, I do not want to dwell on what would have made 2010 better. I just want to make 2011 as good as possible.
[31.] How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Same as always. Jeans and t-shirts are great for day to day wear. Decent slacks and a dress shirt are necessities for dance nights.
[32.] What kept you sane?
I'm sane? Well, I suppose if you define sanity as not being a danger to myself or others, then yes, I am. Juggling. Unicycling. Recreational reading. Dancing. Stargazing. And my good friend, Sean.
[33.] Which celebrity did you fancy the most?
Marian Call is adorable. So is Natalie Portman. And of course, Freema Agyeman , Catherine Tate, and Karen Gillan continue to completely enchant me.
[34.] Which political issue stirred you the most?
Politics? Um. Yeah. I hate to say this, but the whole rotating shift thing is leaving me pretty sheltered from a lot of the news in the world until a week or so after people have ceased being riled up. So by the time I look at an issue, I am able to see beginning, middle and conclusion ... not to mention stupidity from various sides. So, I do not really get stirred (nor shaken) by much these days.
[35.] Who did you miss?
My family. Fido. My friends from New Mexico. Friends in general. Freedom.
[36.] Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned this year?
It's OK to look out for myself sometimes. It is my responsibility, no one else's. And if I do not, how can I take care of anyone else?
I hope that everyone will have an amazing 2011. If your 2010 was great, I hope that the trend will continue through next year. If it was not what you wished, I hope that you will be able to make a new start for 2011. Either way, good luck!