New Year, 2011
This is a little late, but I do it every year, so might as well go for it.
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
I had a real-life 9-5 job (at Oxford University Press). I came home for the summer and lived with my parents. I had a car at school!
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No. I didn't. But I'm gonna try again to floss more. And, this year, to really work on my cholesterol, which I just learned is borderline too high. Thanks, genetics.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
None.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Less idealism and more realism.
7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 15th, 2010. Patrick and I officially broke up.
October 30th, 2010. My 21st birthday. A horrible midnight phone call, a great party. Weird weekend. Found out just last week that my favorite restaurant at home burned down that same weekend.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Being accepted for Honors. Passing Chemistry.
9. What was your biggest failure?
My relationship with Patrick.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No, thankfully.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My $115 for the Davidson Outdoors Via Ferrata trip.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Mine, maybe. Moose's. My roommates'. My brother's.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Mine, and Patrick's.
14. Where did most of your money go?
On plane tickets that either a) now mean nothing or b) I didn't use.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Senior year, visiting Patrick, my birthday, the kittens.
16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
Stereo Love. How It Ends by Devotchka. Like a G6.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? sadder.
ii. thinner or fatter? thinner.
iii. richer or poorer? poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Communicating. Visiting Patrick. Concrete planning.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Being confused. Being mean. Being heartbroken.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
With the Avallones. And the kittens. It was very nice.
22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
I started falling out, and, who knows, maybe I'll look back and say I started falling in.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Mad Men.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I hate Patrick a bit, yeah.
26. What was the best book you read?
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, and Chimera.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Didn't have any.
28. What did you want and get?
Honors. "Space," only to realize the definition of space is fluid, apparently.
29. What did you want and not get?
Patrick back.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Not Black Swan. Maybe Blue Valentine? Maybe I don't have one.
Actually, Winter's Bone. It was really good.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 21. We threw an enormous party at our apartment--more than 100 people came, in full Halloween attire. There was lots of booze, cupcakes, good music, good friends. I woke up that morning with my eyes crusted with tears and promptly threw up in terror over the Patrick thing, so ending the night dancing at Sig Ep and not vomiting despite taking many shots of Grey Goose was a really great turnaround.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Understanding how Patrick could fall out of love with me so fast.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Boots, skinny jeans, dresses with tights.
34. What kept you sane?
For the first half of the year, Patrick. For the second half, Lisa at the Counseling Center.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Joseph Gordon Levitt.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The usual Roe v. Wade arguments, and, most recently, the shooting in AZ.
37. Who did you miss?
Patrick. Patrick, Patrick, Patrick.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Trent Taylor.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010?
Don't count your chickens before they've hatched.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Well, most of Devotchka's "Til The End Of Time"
They're just words, they ain't worth nothing
Cloud your head and push your buttons
And watch how they just disappear
When we're far away from here
Chorus:
And everybody knows where this is heading
Forgive me for forgetting
Our hearts irrevocably combined
Star-crossed souls slow dancing
Retreating and advancing
Across the sky until the end of time
Oh who put all those cares inside your head
You can't live your life on your deathbed
And it's been such a lovely day
Let's not let it end this way
Chorus
Like sisters and brothers we lean on each other
Like sweethearts carved on a headstone
Oh why even bother, it'll be here tomorrow
It's not worth it sleeping alone
And look at you and me still here together
There is no one knows you better
And we've come such a long long way
Let's put it off for one more day
I feel kinda worse after doing that, but, hey. Recorded for posterity. Done.
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
I had a real-life 9-5 job (at Oxford University Press). I came home for the summer and lived with my parents. I had a car at school!
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No. I didn't. But I'm gonna try again to floss more. And, this year, to really work on my cholesterol, which I just learned is borderline too high. Thanks, genetics.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
None.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Less idealism and more realism.
7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 15th, 2010. Patrick and I officially broke up.
October 30th, 2010. My 21st birthday. A horrible midnight phone call, a great party. Weird weekend. Found out just last week that my favorite restaurant at home burned down that same weekend.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Being accepted for Honors. Passing Chemistry.
9. What was your biggest failure?
My relationship with Patrick.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No, thankfully.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My $115 for the Davidson Outdoors Via Ferrata trip.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Mine, maybe. Moose's. My roommates'. My brother's.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Mine, and Patrick's.
14. Where did most of your money go?
On plane tickets that either a) now mean nothing or b) I didn't use.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Senior year, visiting Patrick, my birthday, the kittens.
16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
Stereo Love. How It Ends by Devotchka. Like a G6.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? sadder.
ii. thinner or fatter? thinner.
iii. richer or poorer? poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Communicating. Visiting Patrick. Concrete planning.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Being confused. Being mean. Being heartbroken.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
With the Avallones. And the kittens. It was very nice.
22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
I started falling out, and, who knows, maybe I'll look back and say I started falling in.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Mad Men.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I hate Patrick a bit, yeah.
26. What was the best book you read?
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, and Chimera.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Didn't have any.
28. What did you want and get?
Honors. "Space," only to realize the definition of space is fluid, apparently.
29. What did you want and not get?
Patrick back.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Not Black Swan. Maybe Blue Valentine? Maybe I don't have one.
Actually, Winter's Bone. It was really good.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 21. We threw an enormous party at our apartment--more than 100 people came, in full Halloween attire. There was lots of booze, cupcakes, good music, good friends. I woke up that morning with my eyes crusted with tears and promptly threw up in terror over the Patrick thing, so ending the night dancing at Sig Ep and not vomiting despite taking many shots of Grey Goose was a really great turnaround.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Understanding how Patrick could fall out of love with me so fast.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Boots, skinny jeans, dresses with tights.
34. What kept you sane?
For the first half of the year, Patrick. For the second half, Lisa at the Counseling Center.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Joseph Gordon Levitt.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The usual Roe v. Wade arguments, and, most recently, the shooting in AZ.
37. Who did you miss?
Patrick. Patrick, Patrick, Patrick.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Trent Taylor.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010?
Don't count your chickens before they've hatched.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Well, most of Devotchka's "Til The End Of Time"
They're just words, they ain't worth nothing
Cloud your head and push your buttons
And watch how they just disappear
When we're far away from here
Chorus:
And everybody knows where this is heading
Forgive me for forgetting
Our hearts irrevocably combined
Star-crossed souls slow dancing
Retreating and advancing
Across the sky until the end of time
Oh who put all those cares inside your head
You can't live your life on your deathbed
And it's been such a lovely day
Let's not let it end this way
Chorus
Like sisters and brothers we lean on each other
Like sweethearts carved on a headstone
Oh why even bother, it'll be here tomorrow
It's not worth it sleeping alone
And look at you and me still here together
There is no one knows you better
And we've come such a long long way
Let's put it off for one more day
I feel kinda worse after doing that, but, hey. Recorded for posterity. Done.