New Year's Survey 2014
Here goes this year. It's been a full year since I logged into LJ--I like this annual tradition, though! Good for reflection. The full cache is here.
1. What did you do in 2014 that you'd never done before?
I moved across the country to Tucson, Arizona. I moved in with my boyfriend for the first time. I started graduate school. I ate octopus and conch and mussels. I leased a car. I traveled overseas with Peter. I taught my first college class! Two of them! The professor at the front of the room! Ah!
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I did make a resolution about eating healthier and I think I've done a good job of that. This year I'd like to promise myself I'll really see the Southwest and the West while I'm living out there, and that I'll take full advantage of both the academic opportunities of grad school and life outside school.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
No new countries for 2014! I think that will be the norm for a little bit, as a grad student. But Peter and I did go to India in March, and it was really wonderful bringing him home to Sangam and then seeing new places I hadn't been to before.
6. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?
A stronger work ethic, tempered by a better balance of work and play.
7. What date from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
August 2014--the month of the move--will probably always stand out. Mostly I think I'll remember 2014 as the year everything transitioned from post-college to actual adulthood. All that paperwork! And total independence in a city far from family and friends.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting a fully-funded offer to the University of Arizona's M.F.A. program. Moving cross-country! Teaching.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I have been really bad at keeping in touch with people this year. I would like 2015 to be a more long-distance-friends-conscious year.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No, 2014 was okay on that end.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Probably the chest that serves as our coffee table. Also the beautiful lampshade we got in India. And my bike! Biking as my new mode of transportation has been fabulous. Thank you, Tucson.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Peter packed up his entire life and moved to Tucson with me, leaving behind his incredibly close-knit family behind in New York, after which he dealt with 4 months of unemployment in a city where he knew no one and didn't have much to do besides cook. He's been unbelievably supportive as I've adjusted to grad school and is pretty much the best ever. My hero of the year.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I have been really incredibly appalled by the mainstream/police response to the Ferguson and Garner cases, and the response to the protests nationwide, especially in the media. We as a country must do better, for everyone.
14. Where did most of your money go?
A big chunk towards that trip to India, another big chunk towards moving and all the costs of setting up house, etc.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Grad school! Meeting new people (though that was scary too).
16. What song will always remind you of 2014?
Probably most of Sylvan Esso and the general feel of this electronic thing going on in music right now. Also "Take Me to Church" by Hozier.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier, I think.
ii. thinner or fatter? Definitely thinner. Kind of annoying, none of my clothes fit.
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer. That's making me a bit anxious, but I have to have to confident that this degree (and the time off from working) is an investment in my future.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I wish I had taken better advantage of Tucson in my first semester of school and gone outdoors more.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Less worrying. It figures itself out, or it doesn't, but worrying doesn't help.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
At my parents', our first Christmas hosted here in the new house. It was an interesting mix of people--missing some folks, new ones added--the first Christmas that really felt like all the kids had become grownups. And Christmas Eve at the Scorcias'--my new family tradition! This year I felt truly like one of the gang and it was lovely.
22. Did you fall in love in 2014?
2014 is the year Peter and I really became a couple, and made so many big decisions as a team. He makes me unbelievably, astoundingly happy and I am so excited for our life together.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
True Detective was pretty fabulous. And I have now seen almost every episode of Chopped. Such a great show to veg out to.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
26. What was the best book you read?
All The Birds, Singing is sneaking in at the very end of 2014. I also really loved a lot of what we read for the Short Fiction craft class I took, especially Helen Phillips' And Yet They Were Happy, and a collection by Peter Orner.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
N/A
28. What did you want and get?
A fully-funded grad school opportunity.
29. What did you want and not get?
Nothing. Trying not to want too much stuff, and it seems to be working.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Boyhood was great. I also really liked Inherent Vice.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 25, which is a bit nuts. We had M.F.A. folks over for chili and cake.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Once again, not enough beach time. Not enough outdoors time.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?
A shift in Tucson! Definitely more t-shirts and shorts. New climates are fun for fashion changes.
34. What kept you sane?
Peter. And Chopped. Ha.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
No one.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The #BlackLivesMatter movement.
37. Who did you miss?
My Davidson friends, especially those left behind in New York, and the EngenderHealth folks--Mel and Jewels.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
My new M.F.A. buddies are pretty great.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014?
I don't know that I have a takeaway from 2014--it's been a lot of transitions, which will lead to takeaways later, hopefully.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I don't know that I have one this year. I am listening to that song "Hero," from the Boyhood soundtrack, right now, and it seems a pretty good one in some senses.
1. What did you do in 2014 that you'd never done before?
I moved across the country to Tucson, Arizona. I moved in with my boyfriend for the first time. I started graduate school. I ate octopus and conch and mussels. I leased a car. I traveled overseas with Peter. I taught my first college class! Two of them! The professor at the front of the room! Ah!
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I did make a resolution about eating healthier and I think I've done a good job of that. This year I'd like to promise myself I'll really see the Southwest and the West while I'm living out there, and that I'll take full advantage of both the academic opportunities of grad school and life outside school.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
No new countries for 2014! I think that will be the norm for a little bit, as a grad student. But Peter and I did go to India in March, and it was really wonderful bringing him home to Sangam and then seeing new places I hadn't been to before.
6. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?
A stronger work ethic, tempered by a better balance of work and play.
7. What date from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
August 2014--the month of the move--will probably always stand out. Mostly I think I'll remember 2014 as the year everything transitioned from post-college to actual adulthood. All that paperwork! And total independence in a city far from family and friends.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting a fully-funded offer to the University of Arizona's M.F.A. program. Moving cross-country! Teaching.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I have been really bad at keeping in touch with people this year. I would like 2015 to be a more long-distance-friends-conscious year.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No, 2014 was okay on that end.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Probably the chest that serves as our coffee table. Also the beautiful lampshade we got in India. And my bike! Biking as my new mode of transportation has been fabulous. Thank you, Tucson.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Peter packed up his entire life and moved to Tucson with me, leaving behind his incredibly close-knit family behind in New York, after which he dealt with 4 months of unemployment in a city where he knew no one and didn't have much to do besides cook. He's been unbelievably supportive as I've adjusted to grad school and is pretty much the best ever. My hero of the year.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I have been really incredibly appalled by the mainstream/police response to the Ferguson and Garner cases, and the response to the protests nationwide, especially in the media. We as a country must do better, for everyone.
14. Where did most of your money go?
A big chunk towards that trip to India, another big chunk towards moving and all the costs of setting up house, etc.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Grad school! Meeting new people (though that was scary too).
16. What song will always remind you of 2014?
Probably most of Sylvan Esso and the general feel of this electronic thing going on in music right now. Also "Take Me to Church" by Hozier.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier, I think.
ii. thinner or fatter? Definitely thinner. Kind of annoying, none of my clothes fit.
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer. That's making me a bit anxious, but I have to have to confident that this degree (and the time off from working) is an investment in my future.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I wish I had taken better advantage of Tucson in my first semester of school and gone outdoors more.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Less worrying. It figures itself out, or it doesn't, but worrying doesn't help.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
At my parents', our first Christmas hosted here in the new house. It was an interesting mix of people--missing some folks, new ones added--the first Christmas that really felt like all the kids had become grownups. And Christmas Eve at the Scorcias'--my new family tradition! This year I felt truly like one of the gang and it was lovely.
22. Did you fall in love in 2014?
2014 is the year Peter and I really became a couple, and made so many big decisions as a team. He makes me unbelievably, astoundingly happy and I am so excited for our life together.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
True Detective was pretty fabulous. And I have now seen almost every episode of Chopped. Such a great show to veg out to.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
26. What was the best book you read?
All The Birds, Singing is sneaking in at the very end of 2014. I also really loved a lot of what we read for the Short Fiction craft class I took, especially Helen Phillips' And Yet They Were Happy, and a collection by Peter Orner.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
N/A
28. What did you want and get?
A fully-funded grad school opportunity.
29. What did you want and not get?
Nothing. Trying not to want too much stuff, and it seems to be working.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Boyhood was great. I also really liked Inherent Vice.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 25, which is a bit nuts. We had M.F.A. folks over for chili and cake.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Once again, not enough beach time. Not enough outdoors time.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?
A shift in Tucson! Definitely more t-shirts and shorts. New climates are fun for fashion changes.
34. What kept you sane?
Peter. And Chopped. Ha.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
No one.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The #BlackLivesMatter movement.
37. Who did you miss?
My Davidson friends, especially those left behind in New York, and the EngenderHealth folks--Mel and Jewels.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
My new M.F.A. buddies are pretty great.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014?
I don't know that I have a takeaway from 2014--it's been a lot of transitions, which will lead to takeaways later, hopefully.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I don't know that I have one this year. I am listening to that song "Hero," from the Boyhood soundtrack, right now, and it seems a pretty good one in some senses.