New Year's Quiz, again
So, this has been somewhat of a tradition of sorts in these parts. And although it's almost 5 am, now seems like a good time to get it done.
1) Was 2008 a good year for you?
> Erm, yeah. The best year in a long time. I'm finally out of my rut and found the catalyst I needed for change.
2) What was your favorite moment of the year?
> God, I don't know. Moving out, every time I finished a song with or without Dughan, every time we've played in public, every night out, some nights in, and every single day and night with Christina.
3) What was your least favorite moment of the year?
> Easily the night Christina turned up crying because of what Chris had done to her. No girl should have to go through that, ever.
4) Where were you when 2008 began?
> Now I remember! I was in a pub in Newhall, singing Auld Lang Syne in the time-honoured working men's fashion.
5) Who were you with?
> Dughan, Bex, Bex's mum and my mother. Dughan danced with an old man, broke a patio table and vomited everywhere. It was beautiful.
6) Where will you be when 2008 ends?
> Well, Tash said she was planning on doing something. I'll have to give her a shout.
7) Who will you be with when 2008 ends?
> No idea, really.
8) What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
> Moved out! That's the biggest. The other big positive is feeling like an actual writer, like I can actually produce something. I also took up Judo (which, since I moved, I have not been doing. Oops), and found that spiced rum is AWESOME when mixed with coke.
However, on the negative side, finding myself in a horrid, casual-sex based situation that kept repeating. With two different people. The self-loathing regarding this is strong.
9) Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
> I don't know; I don't remember last year's. This year's will be to try and curb my odd sleeping patterns.
10) Did anyone close to you give birth?
> Not quite. James' girlfriend is due in a couple of months, and my old schoolfriend's girlfriend gave birth to his first child a few months back.
11) Did anyone close to you die?
> No.
12) Did you travel outside of the US in 2008?
> No. I can't afford holidays nowadays.
13) How many different states did you travel to in 2008?
> As above.
14) What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
> That I lacked? I don't know, I feel like I've got practically everything I could ever need right now. What do you give a man who has it all?
15) What date(s) from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
> 11th/12th December, but in a bittersweet fashion.
16) What was your biggest achievement of the year?
> Finally finding a reason to live.
17) What was your biggest failure?
> Slipping back into depression and not treating Megan or Josie in ways they deserved as a result of that.
18) Did you suffer any illness or injury?
> I broke the big toe on my right foot on multiple occasions. That sucked.
19) What was the best thing you bought?
> My new, special banjo. It's a beautiful thing; it's a shame it spends so much time in it's case, now. Although, that said, my macbook is by far the most useful.
20) Whose behavior merited celebration?
> Christina, for picking me up, dusting me off, and making me feel human again.
21) Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
> Mine.
22) Where did most of your money go?
> Rent and instruments.
23) What did you get really, really, really excited about?
> Uni, writing, music.
24) What song will always remind you of 2008?
> Other than the songs Dughan and I have written... Hallelujah, The Dress Looks Nice On You, and What A Waster. All for very different reasons!
25) Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Much happier. Much, much happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Probably... hmm, a little thinner. During those office years I was a little... chunky.
iii. richer or poorer? Definitely poorer. No steady income means no bank balance whatsoever.
26) What do you wish you'd done more of?
> Gigs! Playing music live for people is a good thing I do not do enough. And actually memorising tunes. Oh, and reading. I do not read enough!
27) What do you wish you'd done less of?
> Casual sex, bad jobs, alienating people with communist propaganda.
28) How will you be spending Christmas?
> Well, it's come and gone. And I skated, as the tradition dictates.
29) Did you fall in love in 2008?
> Amazingly, yes. After two years where I honestly believed love didn't exist, I stumbled across it, and have never been happier.
30) If yes, with who?
> The much-aforementioned Christina.
31) If yes, do they know?
> I should hope so.
32) Are you still in love with them?
> Yes! Muchly.
33) You regret it?
> What is there to regret?
34) Did you breakup with anyone in 2008?
> Erm... being as I don't think I was ever in a relationship, per se, with anyone else, then... no.
35) How many one-night stands?
> None, actually. Just long, drawn out and vile affairs.
36) How many people did you sleep with in 2008?
> Erm... two and a half. I say a half because I guess we didn't actually have sex, when it came down to it.
37) Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
> I'm trying so hard not to hate... so no.
38) Did you make any new friends in 2008?
> It would have been a bit shit if I didn't.
39) Who are your favorite new friends?
> All of them! Little Dom, Big Dom, Matt, Rachel, Laura, Jack, Harriet, Christina, Johnny, Ollie, Bryher, everyone.
40) What was your favorite month of 2008?
> October, probably. So many parties and so little stress!
41) Did you miss anybody in the past year?
> Yes, too many to name, fully; Mike, Jesse, Dughan (in the latter months), Helena, Richie, etc.
42) Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
> I don't want to go over it again. *laughs*
43) What was the worst lie someone told you in 2008?
> I don't think I'm aware of anyone lying to me. Oh! That I was coming into work the next day when they were "letting me go" through the agency that night. Hahaha, nice.
44) Did you treat somebody badly in 2008?
> Yes, and I am so, so sorry for that.
45) Did somebody treat you badly in 2008?
> Let's not name names, eh? Hah.
46) What was your proudest moment of 2008?
> Sticking to tradition: "I try not to be proud, contrary to popular belief. Everything I say that sounds as if I'm being big-headed is completely tongue-in-cheek, and very few people seem to get that."
47) What was your most embarrassing moment of 2008?
> Not sure. I try not to be too embarrassed by anything, although the knowledge that the entire flat could hear Christina and I fucking was a bit excruciating.
48) What was your greatest musical discovery?
> Mandolins. Alternate banjo tunings. Frailing. A Weather. Ravens and Chimes. Abigail Washburn.
49) What did you want and get?
> Love.
50) What did you want and not get?
> A Bouzouki! (yet)
51) What was your favorite new film of this year?
> I can't remember watching many "new" films. I've watched a lot, though. Transformers was fun.
52) What was your favorite TV program?
> I've pretty much given up on TV, but it's a toss-up between the only two programs I watch: Heroes and Californication.
53) What was your favorite record from 2008?
> One I've bought, one that came out, and one I dug out and started listening to again:
- Mayday's "Bushido Karaoke", Lullaby for the Working Class' "Song" or Ravens & Chimes' "Richenbach Falls".
- A Weather's "Cove", or maybe Todd Snider's "Peace Queer", which is awesome.
- Ryan Adams' "Gold" gets dragged out every so often. There's some amazing tracks on that, but I always forget how good it is.
54) How many concerts did you see in 2008?
> I have no idea.
55) Did you have a favorite concert in 2008?
> Nothing huge. Oh, wait, Iron and Wine? I can't remember if that was this year or not. There's been a couple of good ones down at Miss Peapod's, though.
56) did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2008?
> Oh, god yes. I averaged about 1.2 large bottles of scotch/rum a week for the past three months - and that's just when I'm in my flat! God knows how much in total.
57) did you do a lot of drugs in 2008?
> No, but I have been tempted for the first time in my life.
58) What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
> Wrote an essay and gave a written statement to the police. Showed a policeman my mandolin, and then had a great night in with Christina.
59) What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
> I don't know, it's all worked out for the best. No, wait - not having to be back at the family home for xmas.
60) How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
> Band shirts, jeans and cords. With slightly indie hair and a flatcap.
61) What kept you sane?
> Banjo, alcohol, friends, moving to the coast, the coast, Christina.
62) Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
> Keira Knightly. Yums.
63) How much money did you spend in 2008?
> God, I dread to think.
64) Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
> Never be afraid to take a massive step. Instigate change, no matter how hard it is or what you have to sacrifice to do it. Anything is better than negative stagnation.
65) What are your plans for 2009?
> Write. Sing. Live.
66) Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"A sun-soaked sunday morning
On a cool december day
I awoke to the light
And my sudden open eyes
Reveal a sky so blue that I felt like I could cry;
Because the world in which I woke was so different to last night."
- Sunday Morning Stories
1) Was 2008 a good year for you?
> Erm, yeah. The best year in a long time. I'm finally out of my rut and found the catalyst I needed for change.
2) What was your favorite moment of the year?
> God, I don't know. Moving out, every time I finished a song with or without Dughan, every time we've played in public, every night out, some nights in, and every single day and night with Christina.
3) What was your least favorite moment of the year?
> Easily the night Christina turned up crying because of what Chris had done to her. No girl should have to go through that, ever.
4) Where were you when 2008 began?
> Now I remember! I was in a pub in Newhall, singing Auld Lang Syne in the time-honoured working men's fashion.
5) Who were you with?
> Dughan, Bex, Bex's mum and my mother. Dughan danced with an old man, broke a patio table and vomited everywhere. It was beautiful.
6) Where will you be when 2008 ends?
> Well, Tash said she was planning on doing something. I'll have to give her a shout.
7) Who will you be with when 2008 ends?
> No idea, really.
8) What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
> Moved out! That's the biggest. The other big positive is feeling like an actual writer, like I can actually produce something. I also took up Judo (which, since I moved, I have not been doing. Oops), and found that spiced rum is AWESOME when mixed with coke.
However, on the negative side, finding myself in a horrid, casual-sex based situation that kept repeating. With two different people. The self-loathing regarding this is strong.
9) Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
> I don't know; I don't remember last year's. This year's will be to try and curb my odd sleeping patterns.
10) Did anyone close to you give birth?
> Not quite. James' girlfriend is due in a couple of months, and my old schoolfriend's girlfriend gave birth to his first child a few months back.
11) Did anyone close to you die?
> No.
12) Did you travel outside of the US in 2008?
> No. I can't afford holidays nowadays.
13) How many different states did you travel to in 2008?
> As above.
14) What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
> That I lacked? I don't know, I feel like I've got practically everything I could ever need right now. What do you give a man who has it all?
15) What date(s) from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
> 11th/12th December, but in a bittersweet fashion.
16) What was your biggest achievement of the year?
> Finally finding a reason to live.
17) What was your biggest failure?
> Slipping back into depression and not treating Megan or Josie in ways they deserved as a result of that.
18) Did you suffer any illness or injury?
> I broke the big toe on my right foot on multiple occasions. That sucked.
19) What was the best thing you bought?
> My new, special banjo. It's a beautiful thing; it's a shame it spends so much time in it's case, now. Although, that said, my macbook is by far the most useful.
20) Whose behavior merited celebration?
> Christina, for picking me up, dusting me off, and making me feel human again.
21) Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
> Mine.
22) Where did most of your money go?
> Rent and instruments.
23) What did you get really, really, really excited about?
> Uni, writing, music.
24) What song will always remind you of 2008?
> Other than the songs Dughan and I have written... Hallelujah, The Dress Looks Nice On You, and What A Waster. All for very different reasons!
25) Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Much happier. Much, much happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Probably... hmm, a little thinner. During those office years I was a little... chunky.
iii. richer or poorer? Definitely poorer. No steady income means no bank balance whatsoever.
26) What do you wish you'd done more of?
> Gigs! Playing music live for people is a good thing I do not do enough. And actually memorising tunes. Oh, and reading. I do not read enough!
27) What do you wish you'd done less of?
> Casual sex, bad jobs, alienating people with communist propaganda.
28) How will you be spending Christmas?
> Well, it's come and gone. And I skated, as the tradition dictates.
29) Did you fall in love in 2008?
> Amazingly, yes. After two years where I honestly believed love didn't exist, I stumbled across it, and have never been happier.
30) If yes, with who?
> The much-aforementioned Christina.
31) If yes, do they know?
> I should hope so.
32) Are you still in love with them?
> Yes! Muchly.
33) You regret it?
> What is there to regret?
34) Did you breakup with anyone in 2008?
> Erm... being as I don't think I was ever in a relationship, per se, with anyone else, then... no.
35) How many one-night stands?
> None, actually. Just long, drawn out and vile affairs.
36) How many people did you sleep with in 2008?
> Erm... two and a half. I say a half because I guess we didn't actually have sex, when it came down to it.
37) Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
> I'm trying so hard not to hate... so no.
38) Did you make any new friends in 2008?
> It would have been a bit shit if I didn't.
39) Who are your favorite new friends?
> All of them! Little Dom, Big Dom, Matt, Rachel, Laura, Jack, Harriet, Christina, Johnny, Ollie, Bryher, everyone.
40) What was your favorite month of 2008?
> October, probably. So many parties and so little stress!
41) Did you miss anybody in the past year?
> Yes, too many to name, fully; Mike, Jesse, Dughan (in the latter months), Helena, Richie, etc.
42) Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
> I don't want to go over it again. *laughs*
43) What was the worst lie someone told you in 2008?
> I don't think I'm aware of anyone lying to me. Oh! That I was coming into work the next day when they were "letting me go" through the agency that night. Hahaha, nice.
44) Did you treat somebody badly in 2008?
> Yes, and I am so, so sorry for that.
45) Did somebody treat you badly in 2008?
> Let's not name names, eh? Hah.
46) What was your proudest moment of 2008?
> Sticking to tradition: "I try not to be proud, contrary to popular belief. Everything I say that sounds as if I'm being big-headed is completely tongue-in-cheek, and very few people seem to get that."
47) What was your most embarrassing moment of 2008?
> Not sure. I try not to be too embarrassed by anything, although the knowledge that the entire flat could hear Christina and I fucking was a bit excruciating.
48) What was your greatest musical discovery?
> Mandolins. Alternate banjo tunings. Frailing. A Weather. Ravens and Chimes. Abigail Washburn.
49) What did you want and get?
> Love.
50) What did you want and not get?
> A Bouzouki! (yet)
51) What was your favorite new film of this year?
> I can't remember watching many "new" films. I've watched a lot, though. Transformers was fun.
52) What was your favorite TV program?
> I've pretty much given up on TV, but it's a toss-up between the only two programs I watch: Heroes and Californication.
53) What was your favorite record from 2008?
> One I've bought, one that came out, and one I dug out and started listening to again:
- Mayday's "Bushido Karaoke", Lullaby for the Working Class' "Song" or Ravens & Chimes' "Richenbach Falls".
- A Weather's "Cove", or maybe Todd Snider's "Peace Queer", which is awesome.
- Ryan Adams' "Gold" gets dragged out every so often. There's some amazing tracks on that, but I always forget how good it is.
54) How many concerts did you see in 2008?
> I have no idea.
55) Did you have a favorite concert in 2008?
> Nothing huge. Oh, wait, Iron and Wine? I can't remember if that was this year or not. There's been a couple of good ones down at Miss Peapod's, though.
56) did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2008?
> Oh, god yes. I averaged about 1.2 large bottles of scotch/rum a week for the past three months - and that's just when I'm in my flat! God knows how much in total.
57) did you do a lot of drugs in 2008?
> No, but I have been tempted for the first time in my life.
58) What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
> Wrote an essay and gave a written statement to the police. Showed a policeman my mandolin, and then had a great night in with Christina.
59) What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
> I don't know, it's all worked out for the best. No, wait - not having to be back at the family home for xmas.
60) How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
> Band shirts, jeans and cords. With slightly indie hair and a flatcap.
61) What kept you sane?
> Banjo, alcohol, friends, moving to the coast, the coast, Christina.
62) Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
> Keira Knightly. Yums.
63) How much money did you spend in 2008?
> God, I dread to think.
64) Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
> Never be afraid to take a massive step. Instigate change, no matter how hard it is or what you have to sacrifice to do it. Anything is better than negative stagnation.
65) What are your plans for 2009?
> Write. Sing. Live.
66) Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"A sun-soaked sunday morning
On a cool december day
I awoke to the light
And my sudden open eyes
Reveal a sky so blue that I felt like I could cry;
Because the world in which I woke was so different to last night."
- Sunday Morning Stories