Posting challenge 3/15: 2015 in review
Home again after two weeks away! Have been sick twice in the past eight days (or never really got over the first cold). Still gearing up for 2016, really, which means this meme is still timely. I'll paste a textbox below in case you want to play along, too.
1. What did you do in 2015 that you'd never done before?
Ran a mile without stopping (embarrassing to admit, but true). Went to Opera in the Ballpark (twice! once in DC and once in San Francisco, La Cenerentola and Marriage of Figaro).
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I've been working hard at taking morning "wuns" (walk/runs) and have kept it up pretty consistently. I've also been doing more of the cooking and am perfecting my brown-sauce stir-fry.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! My closest high school friend gave birth (via a surrogate) to twins. (Our queer friends are still popping 'em out, even in our early 40s.)
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank goodness.
5. What did you do with your annual leave / vacation time?
Spent some time in the Bay Area, where the better half and I lived 15 years ago.
6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
More friends! I feel like the early 40s have really been rough on my social life, modest though it usually is.
7. What dates from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Well, February 19th should have been a big one (it was my twentieth anniversary with the better half, if we go all the way back to the very beginning), but we actually missed it while living through it. Oh, well. I'll have to keep an eye out for 25.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Moving into a permanent academic position! I haven't talked about this much here (at all?), but after one year of unemployment and two years of adjuncting, I found a permanent position in a fabulous department in a nearby art school. I'm very, very happy about this. "Achievement" is a big word--the academic market is capricious, and luck is a big factor--but it's something I'm grateful for.
9. What was your biggest disappointment?
Love, Actually. After years of curiosity, we watched it over the break, and it was so darn inconsistent!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Ongoing depression and fatigue. (Still working on managing that.) A surprisingly painful scraped knee acquired while out on a wun. I think it probably needed stitches, in retrospect.
11. What was your money strategy this year?
For the most part, the same as usual: save, save, don't spend, don't spend. Then reproach yourself for not saving enough. Although I'm learning to lighten up and pay for small, inexpensive solutions. I bought an insulated lunch bag for the better half that was a huge success for $9.95.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
The entire family--the magnetic-pole household and my brother's family--which managed to enjoy both Thanksgiving and Christmas together without acrimony or hard feelings. We're finally learning how to spend time together.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
So many political figures I'm not going to go into it.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent and mortgage payments. Food. (I'm always surprised at how much we spend on food.) We also made one large purchase: a queen-sized sleeper-sofa.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The new couch! Going to LA for a conference. (Hadn't been there in many years, had forgotten how much I missed my home territory. Also got to meet
mindabbles for the first time in eight years or so.) A really great, supportive group of co-workers.
16. Did you get excited about any art/culture this year?
How to Get Away with Murder! Transparent! The Great British Bake Off! The Abominable Bride!
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier.
b) thinner or fatter? About the same.
c) richer or poorer? About the same.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Reading. Writing. Keeping in touch with friends.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Internet searching.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
We were dog-sitting for some friends in Brooklyn. Very low-key, very relaxing. (My computer is on its last legs, so it was also, unexpectedly, a mostly unplugged holiday, with only occasional laborious check-ins to keep Small Gifts up and running.)
21. What relationships stand out in your memory this year?
My relationships with my two young nephews, who are growing into their little personalities.
22. What was your favourite TV program?
Transparent. Even though I liked the first season better, this season still stands out as thought-provoking, memorable television.
23. Did you undertake any creative projects or adventures?
Very few. This has been my least productive year since discovering fandom ten years ago--no fic at all. I've done some small, non-fannish projects like birthday cards and decorating around the house, but I'd love to find my muse again.
24. What did you want and get?
A permanent, full-time job, hurrah!
25. What did you want and not get?
I have been so lucky. Nothing seems worth mentioning here.
26. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Had one of our monthly potluck brunches for friends. 43.
27. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More energy. I'm really struggling with fatigue these days.
28. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2015?
Jeans. Jeans plus tee shirts some days, jeans plus slightly fancier shirts for work. I'm not very fancy.
29. What kept you sane?
The better half. As always.
30. Who did you miss?
A friend and colleague I used to talk to regularly on the phone.
31. Who was the best new person you met?
I meet up with so many lovely fannish folks this year!
whymzical and
king_touchy and alisanne and torino10154 and mindabbles for the first time. I also saw kellychambliss and rose71 and onehundredmoons again, hurrah!
32. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015
As you get older, the sleep bank issues fewer long-term, low-interest loans. I need 7.5 hours per night, at minimum, and would probably do better with more. No negotiating.
33. Something new that worked out really well for you during the year?
Green drinks! Spinach or kale plus a little frozen mango or apple juice first thing in the morning, and I've already had a veggie before noon.
34. Most useful piece of advice or comment I received:
Relax. (That wasn't directed at me, but it was good advice nevertheless.)
35. What personal motto has emerged from this year for you?
Get important things (the daily wun, academic writing) done early in the day.
36. What are your plans for 2016?
Onward and upward? More of the same, with greater ease and enjoyment, I hope.
Thanks to splix for the meme/format!
1. What did you do in 2015 that you'd never done before?
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
4. Did anyone close to you die?
5. What did you do with your annual leave / vacation time?
6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
7. What dates from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
9. What was your biggest disappointment?
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
11. What was your money strategy this year?
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
14. Where did most of your money go?
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
16. Did you get excited about any art/culture this year?
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
b) thinner or fatter?
c) richer or poorer?
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
21. What relationships stand out in your memory this year?
22. What was your favourite TV program?
23. Did you undertake any creative projects or adventures?
24. What did you want and get?
25. What did you want and not get?
26. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
27. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
28. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2015?
29. What kept you sane?
30. Who did you miss?
31. Who was the best new person you met?
32. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015
33. Something new that worked out really well for you during the year?
34. Most useful piece of advice or comment I received:
35. What personal motto has emerged from this year for you?
36. What are your plans for 2016?
This entry was originally posted at http://magnetic-pole.dreamwidth.org/82592.html. It has
comments.
1. What did you do in 2015 that you'd never done before?
Ran a mile without stopping (embarrassing to admit, but true). Went to Opera in the Ballpark (twice! once in DC and once in San Francisco, La Cenerentola and Marriage of Figaro).
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I've been working hard at taking morning "wuns" (walk/runs) and have kept it up pretty consistently. I've also been doing more of the cooking and am perfecting my brown-sauce stir-fry.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! My closest high school friend gave birth (via a surrogate) to twins. (Our queer friends are still popping 'em out, even in our early 40s.)
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank goodness.
5. What did you do with your annual leave / vacation time?
Spent some time in the Bay Area, where the better half and I lived 15 years ago.
6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
More friends! I feel like the early 40s have really been rough on my social life, modest though it usually is.
7. What dates from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Well, February 19th should have been a big one (it was my twentieth anniversary with the better half, if we go all the way back to the very beginning), but we actually missed it while living through it. Oh, well. I'll have to keep an eye out for 25.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Moving into a permanent academic position! I haven't talked about this much here (at all?), but after one year of unemployment and two years of adjuncting, I found a permanent position in a fabulous department in a nearby art school. I'm very, very happy about this. "Achievement" is a big word--the academic market is capricious, and luck is a big factor--but it's something I'm grateful for.
9. What was your biggest disappointment?
Love, Actually. After years of curiosity, we watched it over the break, and it was so darn inconsistent!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Ongoing depression and fatigue. (Still working on managing that.) A surprisingly painful scraped knee acquired while out on a wun. I think it probably needed stitches, in retrospect.
11. What was your money strategy this year?
For the most part, the same as usual: save, save, don't spend, don't spend. Then reproach yourself for not saving enough. Although I'm learning to lighten up and pay for small, inexpensive solutions. I bought an insulated lunch bag for the better half that was a huge success for $9.95.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
The entire family--the magnetic-pole household and my brother's family--which managed to enjoy both Thanksgiving and Christmas together without acrimony or hard feelings. We're finally learning how to spend time together.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
So many political figures I'm not going to go into it.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent and mortgage payments. Food. (I'm always surprised at how much we spend on food.) We also made one large purchase: a queen-sized sleeper-sofa.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The new couch! Going to LA for a conference. (Hadn't been there in many years, had forgotten how much I missed my home territory. Also got to meet
mindabbles for the first time in eight years or so.) A really great, supportive group of co-workers.
16. Did you get excited about any art/culture this year?
How to Get Away with Murder! Transparent! The Great British Bake Off! The Abominable Bride!
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier.
b) thinner or fatter? About the same.
c) richer or poorer? About the same.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Reading. Writing. Keeping in touch with friends.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Internet searching.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
We were dog-sitting for some friends in Brooklyn. Very low-key, very relaxing. (My computer is on its last legs, so it was also, unexpectedly, a mostly unplugged holiday, with only occasional laborious check-ins to keep Small Gifts up and running.)
21. What relationships stand out in your memory this year?
My relationships with my two young nephews, who are growing into their little personalities.
22. What was your favourite TV program?
Transparent. Even though I liked the first season better, this season still stands out as thought-provoking, memorable television.
23. Did you undertake any creative projects or adventures?
Very few. This has been my least productive year since discovering fandom ten years ago--no fic at all. I've done some small, non-fannish projects like birthday cards and decorating around the house, but I'd love to find my muse again.
24. What did you want and get?
A permanent, full-time job, hurrah!
25. What did you want and not get?
I have been so lucky. Nothing seems worth mentioning here.
26. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Had one of our monthly potluck brunches for friends. 43.
27. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More energy. I'm really struggling with fatigue these days.
28. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2015?
Jeans. Jeans plus tee shirts some days, jeans plus slightly fancier shirts for work. I'm not very fancy.
29. What kept you sane?
The better half. As always.
30. Who did you miss?
A friend and colleague I used to talk to regularly on the phone.
31. Who was the best new person you met?
I meet up with so many lovely fannish folks this year!
whymzical and
king_touchy and alisanne and torino10154 and mindabbles for the first time. I also saw kellychambliss and rose71 and onehundredmoons again, hurrah!
32. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015
As you get older, the sleep bank issues fewer long-term, low-interest loans. I need 7.5 hours per night, at minimum, and would probably do better with more. No negotiating.
33. Something new that worked out really well for you during the year?
Green drinks! Spinach or kale plus a little frozen mango or apple juice first thing in the morning, and I've already had a veggie before noon.
34. Most useful piece of advice or comment I received:
Relax. (That wasn't directed at me, but it was good advice nevertheless.)
35. What personal motto has emerged from this year for you?
Get important things (the daily wun, academic writing) done early in the day.
36. What are your plans for 2016?
Onward and upward? More of the same, with greater ease and enjoyment, I hope.
Thanks to splix for the meme/format!
1. What did you do in 2015 that you'd never done before?
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
4. Did anyone close to you die?
5. What did you do with your annual leave / vacation time?
6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
7. What dates from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
9. What was your biggest disappointment?
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
11. What was your money strategy this year?
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
14. Where did most of your money go?
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
16. Did you get excited about any art/culture this year?
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
b) thinner or fatter?
c) richer or poorer?
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
21. What relationships stand out in your memory this year?
22. What was your favourite TV program?
23. Did you undertake any creative projects or adventures?
24. What did you want and get?
25. What did you want and not get?
26. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
27. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
28. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2015?
29. What kept you sane?
30. Who did you miss?
31. Who was the best new person you met?
32. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015
33. Something new that worked out really well for you during the year?
34. Most useful piece of advice or comment I received:
35. What personal motto has emerged from this year for you?
36. What are your plans for 2016?
This entry was originally posted at http://magnetic-pole.dreamwidth.org/82592.html. It has
comments.