New year meme.
It's that time of year again. Here goes nothing...
1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
Uh... went without sleep more than ever before? Oh, I started teaching dance classes. That's pretty cool. And I did a photoshoot with some dancing friends, which was also pretty cool. And I did some proof reading for a friend who has a publishing company. And I attended a convention (only for one day though). And I participated in GISHWHES, which was really fun! Not so bad after all :)
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I resolved to finish projects before starting new ones. I think I managed that mostly by not having time to start new ones.
For next year, my resolution is to take care of myself better. I recently got news that my insulin levels are bordering on being too high, and that if I don't fix up my diet then I'm on the track to getting diabetes. Trouble is, I already cook pretty healthy food... So I guess my resolution is to have more home-cooked meals?
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope.
5. What countries did you visit?
None :( But I've had two trips over east to visit my in-laws.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
Passion. Satisfaction. More money. A career, or at least the beginnings of one.
7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July 30th. Bad reasons.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
On the hardest assignment I had all year, I got an extraordinarily high mark. It was so high that even when the professor was done subtracting marks for lateness (and oh, it was late), I still had a high distinction. It was so good that he asked me if he could keep it on file as a example for future students. I think when I read that request, that was the happiest I felt all year.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Hm. Toss up between interpersonal badness, being way too stubborn and continuing in a degree I hated, and not figuring out any alternatives.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Only the usual joint pain. I did get a doozy of a cold this year, as I was on teaching prac in the middle of winter. Lasted for a good six weeks. Wasn't too serious though.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My car! It's a Honda Jazz and I love it to pieces! It's roomy and safe and fuel efficient and pretty.
I also bought a Bella (high quality professional dance costume designer). It's gorgeous. Here, check me out!
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My friends! AF and M were especially wonderful people to be around this year.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Not answering this one.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Car. Bella. Rent. Food. Holiday planning!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My car. My Bella. My excellent results on that assignment. Dropping out of teaching prac.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Hard to answer this. I haven't listened to the radio in a really long time, so it's not like there's anything that I've heard a lot.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? Sadder.
Older or wiser? - Both, but mostly I feel older.
Richer or poorer? - Poorer.
Wow. All the sucky answers.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Reading. Sewing. Seeing friends.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
The dip ed. Ignoring my instincts.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent it with the in-laws. It was a fairly pleasant day; lovely weather, gorgeous scenery, and the food was tasty.
21. Did you fall in love in 2012?
*sigh*
22. How many one-night stands?
It's always zero.
23. What was your favourite TV program?
Supernatural. It's extra epic if you sit down and watch it in a marathon with scones and jam and cream. Keep calm and carry on my wayward son!
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yes. And hate isn't a strong enough word.
25. What was the best book you read?
Hands down my favourite new books was Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth. I love her work, and I love fairytale retellings, and I'd been looking forward to this one for so long. It did not disappoint!
I also read some great collections of short stories. I loved Liz Grzyb and Amanda Pillar's collection of paranormal noir stories, Damnation and Dames. I also really liked Isobelle Carmody and Nan McNab's The Willful Eye. I didn't love all the stories in these anthologies, but I did enjoy the vast majority of them.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I only made one musical discovery this year, and that was Astronautalis. I found it because somebody used it in an excellent SPN vid, and then I downloaded one of his albums, and I quite like it. I like the bluesy fusion kind of vibe that it has, and the weirdness of it. It's a little bit steampunk sometimes? Anyway, here's some to listen to, if you like:
Or if you're a Supernatural fan and you love Cas, and you love vids, then check this out instead.
27. What did you want and get?
Something to occupy my time and give me a direction (it was just a bad one). A Bella. A car.
28. What did you want and not get?
Fulfillment. Certainty. A sense of purpose.
29. What was your favourite film of this year?
Oh, that's easy. Brave was by far the best thing I saw this year! Although I also enjoyed the new Batman, and Skyfall was pretty entertaining, they're just not the kind of thing I could gush about. Brave, on the other hand... I won't get started. But I looooooooove it!
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 26. It was a Saturday. I worked all day, and then I went out for dinner with Mark.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I knew that, I'd have done something about it.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Look, this thing is clean! That's what I'm wearing today!
33. What kept you sane?
Dancing. And friends. Often at the same time.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Misha Collins is still my overlord, and I his faithful minion.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Marriage rights.
36. Who did you miss?
I don't think I missed anybody this year.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
I made some friends in fandom through GISHWHES, and they're pretty awesome.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012:
Trust your instincts. Always.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Secrets of the Undersea Bell-- Astronautalis
Every old salt knows a song to sing
When things go wrong, and things go wrong,
They can resurrect men with mighty hymns
Cannot raise the diving bell
With their hands cut open and the line unweaving
Sea swells like the ribcage of lions breathing
They pulled 'til you swore that the rope was bleeding
Ichor poured from the palms of gods and heathens
When their bell dipped down in the Stygian deep
And they know many omens are spoken evil
but those poor souls that know that awful feeling
They're dancing like their lantern candles
Every old salt knows a song to sing
When things go wrong, and things go wrong
They can resurrect men with mighty hymns
Cannot raise the diving bell
Cannot raise the diving bell
Cannot raise the diving bell
Well the sanguine sun set on the evening
In the sea like glass that was far too peaceful
Though the line ran tight to the bell beneath it
In heaven is where the devil always hides his secrets
Let me teach you songs that will fare you well
Let me draw you maps through the gates of Hell
Who would kill those men on one can tell
The secrets of the diving bell
The secrets of the diving bell
The secrets of the diving bell
Every old salt knows a song to sing
When things go wrong, and things go wrong
They can resurrect men with mighty hymns
Cannot raise the diving bell
Every old salt knows a song to sing
When winds are gone, and winds are gone
you can fill flat sails with the salty strings
Cannot raise the diving bell
Cannot raise the diving bell
Cannot raise the diving bell
1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
Uh... went without sleep more than ever before? Oh, I started teaching dance classes. That's pretty cool. And I did a photoshoot with some dancing friends, which was also pretty cool. And I did some proof reading for a friend who has a publishing company. And I attended a convention (only for one day though). And I participated in GISHWHES, which was really fun! Not so bad after all :)
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I resolved to finish projects before starting new ones. I think I managed that mostly by not having time to start new ones.
For next year, my resolution is to take care of myself better. I recently got news that my insulin levels are bordering on being too high, and that if I don't fix up my diet then I'm on the track to getting diabetes. Trouble is, I already cook pretty healthy food... So I guess my resolution is to have more home-cooked meals?
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope.
5. What countries did you visit?
None :( But I've had two trips over east to visit my in-laws.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
Passion. Satisfaction. More money. A career, or at least the beginnings of one.
7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July 30th. Bad reasons.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
On the hardest assignment I had all year, I got an extraordinarily high mark. It was so high that even when the professor was done subtracting marks for lateness (and oh, it was late), I still had a high distinction. It was so good that he asked me if he could keep it on file as a example for future students. I think when I read that request, that was the happiest I felt all year.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Hm. Toss up between interpersonal badness, being way too stubborn and continuing in a degree I hated, and not figuring out any alternatives.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Only the usual joint pain. I did get a doozy of a cold this year, as I was on teaching prac in the middle of winter. Lasted for a good six weeks. Wasn't too serious though.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My car! It's a Honda Jazz and I love it to pieces! It's roomy and safe and fuel efficient and pretty.
I also bought a Bella (high quality professional dance costume designer). It's gorgeous. Here, check me out!
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My friends! AF and M were especially wonderful people to be around this year.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Not answering this one.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Car. Bella. Rent. Food. Holiday planning!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My car. My Bella. My excellent results on that assignment. Dropping out of teaching prac.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Hard to answer this. I haven't listened to the radio in a really long time, so it's not like there's anything that I've heard a lot.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? Sadder.
Older or wiser? - Both, but mostly I feel older.
Richer or poorer? - Poorer.
Wow. All the sucky answers.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Reading. Sewing. Seeing friends.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
The dip ed. Ignoring my instincts.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent it with the in-laws. It was a fairly pleasant day; lovely weather, gorgeous scenery, and the food was tasty.
21. Did you fall in love in 2012?
*sigh*
22. How many one-night stands?
It's always zero.
23. What was your favourite TV program?
Supernatural. It's extra epic if you sit down and watch it in a marathon with scones and jam and cream. Keep calm and carry on my wayward son!
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yes. And hate isn't a strong enough word.
25. What was the best book you read?
Hands down my favourite new books was Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth. I love her work, and I love fairytale retellings, and I'd been looking forward to this one for so long. It did not disappoint!
I also read some great collections of short stories. I loved Liz Grzyb and Amanda Pillar's collection of paranormal noir stories, Damnation and Dames. I also really liked Isobelle Carmody and Nan McNab's The Willful Eye. I didn't love all the stories in these anthologies, but I did enjoy the vast majority of them.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I only made one musical discovery this year, and that was Astronautalis. I found it because somebody used it in an excellent SPN vid, and then I downloaded one of his albums, and I quite like it. I like the bluesy fusion kind of vibe that it has, and the weirdness of it. It's a little bit steampunk sometimes? Anyway, here's some to listen to, if you like:
Click to viewOr if you're a Supernatural fan and you love Cas, and you love vids, then check this out instead.
27. What did you want and get?
Something to occupy my time and give me a direction (it was just a bad one). A Bella. A car.
28. What did you want and not get?
Fulfillment. Certainty. A sense of purpose.
29. What was your favourite film of this year?
Oh, that's easy. Brave was by far the best thing I saw this year! Although I also enjoyed the new Batman, and Skyfall was pretty entertaining, they're just not the kind of thing I could gush about. Brave, on the other hand... I won't get started. But I looooooooove it!
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 26. It was a Saturday. I worked all day, and then I went out for dinner with Mark.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I knew that, I'd have done something about it.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Look, this thing is clean! That's what I'm wearing today!
33. What kept you sane?
Dancing. And friends. Often at the same time.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Misha Collins is still my overlord, and I his faithful minion.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Marriage rights.
36. Who did you miss?
I don't think I missed anybody this year.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
I made some friends in fandom through GISHWHES, and they're pretty awesome.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012:
Trust your instincts. Always.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Secrets of the Undersea Bell-- Astronautalis
Every old salt knows a song to sing
When things go wrong, and things go wrong,
They can resurrect men with mighty hymns
Cannot raise the diving bell
With their hands cut open and the line unweaving
Sea swells like the ribcage of lions breathing
They pulled 'til you swore that the rope was bleeding
Ichor poured from the palms of gods and heathens
When their bell dipped down in the Stygian deep
And they know many omens are spoken evil
but those poor souls that know that awful feeling
They're dancing like their lantern candles
Every old salt knows a song to sing
When things go wrong, and things go wrong
They can resurrect men with mighty hymns
Cannot raise the diving bell
Cannot raise the diving bell
Cannot raise the diving bell
Well the sanguine sun set on the evening
In the sea like glass that was far too peaceful
Though the line ran tight to the bell beneath it
In heaven is where the devil always hides his secrets
Let me teach you songs that will fare you well
Let me draw you maps through the gates of Hell
Who would kill those men on one can tell
The secrets of the diving bell
The secrets of the diving bell
The secrets of the diving bell
Every old salt knows a song to sing
When things go wrong, and things go wrong
They can resurrect men with mighty hymns
Cannot raise the diving bell
Every old salt knows a song to sing
When winds are gone, and winds are gone
you can fill flat sails with the salty strings
Cannot raise the diving bell
Cannot raise the diving bell
Cannot raise the diving bell