Should be sleeping, but I'm feeling retrospective
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Moved 3000km, became a proud father, worked with my dad.
2. Did you keep your New Years' Resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I gave up drinking. Last time I drank I got into an argument with Tiffany and ran naked through waist-deep snow. "That'll show her." I thought proudly to myself.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Tiffany. My love. My life. 16 hours in labour, then came c-section when she didn't progress. What a night.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no one.
5. What countries did you visit?
Still have yet to leave the country. No rush either. Lots to still see and do in Canada.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
A year round job. Financial security. A good night's sleep. (Good luck with that one...)
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
October 2nd-3rd. In the hospital, birth of Kali. I'm not sure anything else in my life will ever compare with that.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
See above.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Honestly, it was probably taking too many days off work this year. All that money would have come in handy.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Concussion. Don't think there is any lasting effects, but it's hard to tell.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Not sure if this counts, but I'm rent-to-owning a house. Other than that... Diapers. :)
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Myself. I was awesome. But also Marina. She really is awesome, and a great friend.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Umm... No one personally, I guess. And I rarely follow the news but I'm sure there are plenty of worthy candidates I'm sure.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Diapers, wipes, clothes, toys, crib, stroller... Getting the picture? Otherwise, rent.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Like you even need to ask.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDQ7hXMLxGc
That themes song, plus these:
2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSiRWHXz6Ps&feature=related
Chemical Worker's song - Great Big Sea
3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeW3SDnu-PA
Ferryland Sealer
1 because it's just fucking awesome. 2 has been stuck in my head all fucking year. Also relevant to my current job and future. 3 is the song that really kicked everything into action this year. It's essentially the theme song for two of the major disappointments at the beginning of this year responsible for my deciding to move.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier, in a lasting way.
ii. thinner or fatter? If by fatter you mean I weigh more since I have more muscle, then yeah, I'm 'fatter'.
iii. richer or poorer? Umm... still broke. But richer in the 'every possible meaning except literal and physical' sense
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Spoken with my friends.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Ignoring people. Hiding from things. Carrying negative energy with me.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With Tiffany and Kali, probably at our house.
21. There was no 21.
So make one.
Ryan: Goddamn right, they wouldn’t. I wouldn’t let them. And I’m not gonna let you. People, there are two kinds of people in the world. People who say, “I can’t,” and fucking WINNERS. And midgets, but that’s neither here nor there. When I look around this room, I don’t see a bunch of crying pussies. I don’t see a group of people who are ready to give up before they even bother trying. That’s not what life is about. It’s not about quitting before you even start. You try, and go like Hell, and if you come up short, well fuck it. That’s the way it goes sometimes. WINNERS ARE NEVER FUCKING AFRAID TO FAIL. I don’t go by this REFUSE TO LOSE bullshit. You’re gonna lose sometimes. You’re gonna get your heart broken. BUT WINNERS ALWAYS FUCKING GO FOR IT ANYWAY. IN RAIN. SLEET. SNOW. HAIL. FROGS. WHATEVER. THEY ATTACK! THEY FUCKING KILLLLLLLLLLL!!!! ARE YOU FUCKERS READY TO FUCKING KILL?
22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
With my little darling girl, aye.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Considering I didn't watch TV except for football the year before, and that football is unequivocally #1 for me...
Rome is a definite contender, thanks for reminding of that one Lex. House, True Blood, The Office... Dharma and Greg as well.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Maybe a little grudging, but I'm trying to get past that. But no, I don't hate anyone.
26. What was the best book you read?
If you count books that I've already read before, (I re-read things a lot) Last Light of the Sun by Guy Gavriel Kay. Otherwise, the Firstborn trilogy by Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter. You can't go wrong with time travel science fiction and a war between Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan that is ultimately decided by a guy who had molten silver poured in his eye sockets.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Not so much a discovery but listening to more country. Sue me, I like it.
28. What did you want and get?
A healthy, happy baby. Change.
29. What did you want and not get?
Financial security. Sleep.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Up, if you only count movies made this year. Otherwise it would be Carlito's Way.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Absolutely nothing. As usual. 23, I think.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Being around friends more.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Nudity is great.
34. What kept you sane?
Working, knowing that everything I was doing was for my new child. It's cheesy, yes, but applicable.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Katherine Heigl. Knocked up is amazing. I really should start watching Grey's Anatomy, maybe. I don't find most famous actresses attractive (honestly) and I almost never recall their faces. But I like her. Enough to remember her face, anyways.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Either the media overreacting to H1N1, or being surprised at how many americans oppose 'free' healthcare coverage.
37. Who did you miss?
My old friends from Sudbury, my mom, that one pedestrian...
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Lacy Demchuk. My brother's lady friend. She is all kinds of awesome.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
Take care of yourself. Always the most important thing.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
These days go by like trucks and trains
Some hit so hard you barely feel a thing
Lights out right now back then and forevermore
Lights out left now these robots marching
To the nearest liquor store
There's something green that's leaving town
Always thought it was blue
Always knew I was wrong
Where it goes hell knows
maybe somewhere better than here
And what they say of the grass on the other sides true
Too much time looking up is turning everything blue
Including me - including you
Including you
These times count down like boats and planes
Some wash away in undertow
Some plummet down in flames
Lights out right now back then and forevermore
With sirens on this ambulance is racing
to the west coast shore
There's something blue that's leaving town
We always talked about black we're considering brown
Where it goes hell knows
Maybe somewhere better than here
And what they say of the grass on the other sides true
Too much time looking up's turning everything blue
Including me, including the ocean, including you
Feel the ocean blue
Engulfing you
I view the deep blue sea
It's turning red right in front of me
There's something gray that's leaving town
And it's way beyond me
How it gets off the ground
Where it goes hell knows
Maybe somewhere better than here
And what they say of the grass on the other sides true
Too much time looking ups turning everything blue
Including me, including the pilots, including you
Trucks and Trains - Alkaline Trio
(They always have applicable lyrics to every life situation, I find.)