And now we lay 2018 to rest. RIP, 2018.
Fifteen years old. If I had had a child when I created this livejournal, it would be in high school and would be learning how to drive. Yikes. And now, as per the tradition, on to reminicing about the year that has past.
1. What did you do in 2018 that you'd never done before?
2018 was a crazy big year. It's hard to belive that everything happened in such a short period of time. So much so that I needed to check out my google calendar to figure out what exactly happened. I'll break it down by month.
2018 continued with the working that starting in 2017. Specifically, I had a very important plan in place that required all my debt being paid and then some. In January I was lucky enough to work on Sleeping Beauty Dreams at Presentation House in North Vancouver, which was a wonderful way to start off the year, working with a fantastic crew: PT's Artistic Director Kim teamred with Amaranta and Lourdez all the way from Mexico City, and they put tons of faith in our Canadian cast: Linda, Tim, Randi, Shiz and myself to get our skills to the point that we could do justice to their fantastic puppets and show. All first time expiriences and ones not to be missed.
In February I returned to the Seattle International Improv Festival with the cast of Fistful of Kicks (our first time doing a festival together) and we managed to have two fantastic sets, which is my first time doing a show I was really proud of in that city. About time!
The next few months were consumed with a really great event, and a really sad one: I had been planning on asking Amanda to marry me for a few months, and had begun the process of having a ring made when we learned that her mother Barabra was ill, and her prognosis wasn't good. On March 22nd, as I showed her the ravine that I used to walk down to in my early years in Vancouver, Amanda accepted my proposal, unbeknownst to either of us until we made our way for home, observed by an owl. At the start of April, we made our first of what would be many trips to Toronto this year, to see her mother and celebrate our engagement.
In May, we made our way to Vietnam for our first overseas vacation together, my first time in Asia. It was a magical time together in a beautiful and friendly country. We will be definitely going back at some point in the future, we enjoued it so much. We also got to enjoy a bunch of activities for the very first time: taking a boat cruise around Bai Tu Long Bay, going deep water soloing and rentring scooters to travel around Cat Ba Island. I even got my first custom tailored clothes there, something I really need to return and do again. My clothes puchased there have now become regular parts of my rotation.
June and July marked the start of wedding season: In June our friends Mike and Ewa got married in a lovely ceremony on Vancovuer Island. In July, we made our way to Winnipeg for my sister Jane's wedding to her husband Tyler, whose ceremony I presided over. Not my first time doing that, but my first time doing it for my sister!
In August, Barabara's health took a turn for the worse. Amanda and I rushed to Owen Sound, where, on August 4th, we were married in a small ceremony at the hospital. Shortly afterwards, on August 12th, surrounded by her husband, children and myself, Barbara passed. She is very much missed, and nothing I could write here would do justice to the enormity of this event in 2018. Rest in peace.
In September, Japanese Problem began its remount: We won a Critics' Choice Award at the Jessies in the Summer (another first!) so we were very excited to get back to work on the show. It was also when Amanda and I held our wedding celebration, and were so very lucky to be able to bring together so many of our favorite people to properly celebrate our union. Drinks were drunk, dances were danced, board games were played and karaoke was sung. In short, it was a really great party.
In October, I had one of my busiest Vancouver International Improv Festival runs, playing in shows for Shakespeare After Dark and Fistful of Kicks, along with hosting multiple shows. Then, I returned to Toronto to bring Japanese Problem to Soulpepper where the show was incredibly well received. I also got to guest on a few shows at Bad Dog which was an absolute delight.
In November, nothing really happend! So thank god for December when Amanda and I went to Vegas for an impomptu vacation (her first time) and we got to see the wonderful Mac King on a strong recommendation from our friend Travis. That's a year!
In terms of acting, things were up and down. I was able to audition for Bard and Arts Club, but didn't book anything and currently have nothing slated for 2019 in the theatre world. I did however start auditioning for a local audio production company, and booked an audio book as well as another one which I'll be recording later in January. I'm very happy to be back in the booth and hope that similarly more theatre and film/tv find its way on my schedule in the new year.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
From last year:
"1. Put away some monrey
2. Book another TV role & audition for Bard and Arts Club.
3. Do more short films.
4. Create the Final Fantasy Improv show.
5. Side splits, and fix your hip flexors while you're at it. This is the year."
So, how did I do?
I did manage to put away a little bit of money: It could have been more, but I got married you know! My finances have never been in better shape and to say that it takes a huge load off to have that kind of financial security is a massive understatement.
I didn't book any TV roles this year, although I did manage to audition for both Bard and Arts Club, and for a few TV shows as well. Here's hoping that I can manage more of that in the New Year: I'm calling that one a partial success.
Didn't do any short films, but I was honestly too busy to do so: I guess I could have found time in November. Oh well, hindsight and all.
I did create the Final Fantasy Improv show! It was very fun and I wish I had had more time to dedicate to making it all it could have been. That said, the cast were great and are interested in doing it again, so I hope I will be able to find more ways to make that show the success that it deserves to me.
Now, I didn't manage to do the side splits, but I did have a long run of stretching at the end of every night and I saw a lot of flexibility improvement as well as general feeling better in my awful, awful IT bands. I must continue, so it's time to get back into the habit. Sister Act 2.
For next year:
"1. Write something. A play, a novella, whatever. It's been too long and you've been too lazy.
2. Get back into a class somewhere. You've got the money, so make the time and be a part of the community you came here to join.
3. Balance your teaching. This is another year of teaching a bit more than you'd like. Doing so will give you the nest egg to take more risks, so take them.
4. Get that flexibilty up. If not side splits, at least being able to comfortably touch toes while sitting down with no IT band pain.
5.Try... try not to have another bike stolen? It's not your fault, but you can't afford to pay for new bikes all the time."
Good luck.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
The first person to come to mind is Ashley and Mai's son Cormac, who I have yet to meet and that's largely on bad planning from me. It will happen soon!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
As mentioned above, Barabra passed away this year. I wish that we had had the time to become closer, but there is a lot I admired in my mother in law and I will work very hard to be worthy of being her son-in-law.
5. What countries did you visit?
Canada,the US, Vietnam, Hong Kong. A lot of travel around Canada- Vancouver Island, Toronto (three times!), Winnipeg. Granted, that's only 3 of the 10 provinces, but it was a *bunch* of flights: I've rode on 20 airplanes this year, and have watched a *lot* of in-flight movies.
6. What would you like to have in 2019 that you lacked in 2018?
Focus, especially when it comes to getting secondary projects done/off the ground. Sometimes I work so hard keeping my head out of the water that I don't get to do any of the other things that are on my to-do list, and I'm working to fix that.
7. What date from 2018 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
My wedding and the death of my mother in law are both dates that will be remembered as long as I live, for obvious reasons.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I married the love of my life, and things are looking set to be pretty good for the future. Can't ask for more than that, really.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Nothing totally fell apart, although there were a few projects that I didn't really devote myself fully to and procrastinated in getting the needed work done, especially when it comes to the drudgery of scheduling or writing ad copy. It's almost like I'm avoiding the volunteer job I didn't want to do when people were paying me for it!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
All in all a pretty healthy year: Vietnam found me down with a bit of traveller's tummy, and I had a sore throat going into the holidays. My ankle has been acting up. Nothing to complain about.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
If I bought my Switch this year (Can't remember!) I've definitely gotten some great use out of it. I would have liked to say my new bike, which I bought in September, but since it got stolen right after Christmas, it feels like a big waste of money. Fingers crossed that it makes its way back to me.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Briana, my co-AD does amazing work and helps make my role both do-able and enjoyable. And of course, Amanda, love of my life.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
I mean, there is just so much negative bullshit out there right now, and so many people dying on the worst possible hills. BC voting against proportional representation really really stung as well.
14. Where did most of your money go?
This year? Travel, for sure. Between tickets and the expenses of being away from home, I have dumped tons of money on seats in vehicles that are not my car and food from kitchens that are not my own. Also, seeing live shows! Skookum Festival, Childish Gambino, Cirque du Soliel along with many, many live comedy shows.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting married to a wonderful woman.
16. What song will always remind you of 2017?
My least favorite question every year: That said, This is America was THE track of the year. Seeing Childish Gambino live in Vancovuer was an incredible expirience.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happiest.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner, although not by much at all.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer. As long as I don't keep losing bikes, I think I can keep that going for a while.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing. I'm planning on making some more concrete plans, so I can actually hold myself to them.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I think I did a lot this year. Probably the biggest thing would be to see more of my friends and manage that work/life balance better.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Christmas was nice and relaxed: We stayed home, went skiing on Cypruss on Christmas morning and then went to Grant and Donna's for a delicious Christmas Eve dinner.
21. How will you be spending New Years?
We ended up going to Garima and Milen's place, and we got to celebrate Hil and Rich's engagement. It's starting!
22. Did you fall in love in 2017?
I'm as in love as I have ever been.
23. How many one-night stands?
Zip.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Adventure Time! Chopped! Better Call Saul!
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Oh, they know who they are.
26. What was the best book you read?
I really enjoyed Scott Lynch's Gentlemen Bastard Sequence. Can't wait for the next one!
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Not much new music, but again enjoyed tons of great podcasts. Season 2 of In The Dark was a surprising compliment to season 3 of Serial. Gimlet stuff continues to be largely great.
28. What did you want and get?
A wife.
29. What did you want and not get?
Film career advancement. Also, any interviews for housing co-ops.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse. Sorry For Bothering You was also great.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I got to grab some food in Seattle, during a super fun trip with Amanda and the Fistful crew.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
PR in BC
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2018?
More teacher gear. Also, custom made shirts? Custom made shirts!
34. What kept you sane?
Amanda. Poot. Vidja Games. An amazing cast of family and friends.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Nobody comes to mind: Also, as I get older, the fact that Hollywood seems to follow the Matthew Mcconaughey in Dazed and Confused rule means that I would feel weirder and weirder publically admitting to a crush that I've discoverd that year.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?'
PR
37. Who did you miss?
I got to see so many people due to my wedding, but there were many noteable absences that I would have loved to see more of.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Mike, the new GM of Instant was technically not met this year, but he came on board and I've got to know him better. He's good people.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2018:
Critical mass is key in all things.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I married, baby, everthing is music.
2019, here we come.