That time of year again...
1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Got hired at MLB, was summoned for jury duty (and sweet-talked my way out!), applied to law school (and got accepted to law school, I guess), went to Miami, experienced Cleveland, sketched a nude model, filed my own tax returns (New York, New Jersey, and Federal!), saw Bon Jovi in concert, got to interview Ed Kranepool, had my heart broken, committed identity fraud, watched the Phillies win the World Series and the Giants win the Super Bowl (I never actually saw the end of the game in 1991), and some other stuff that isn't G-rated.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? In my January 1 entry, I resolved to get my hair permanently straightened (never did, probably for the best), stay away from sugar and alcohol for the next year (only sporadically), and solve my quarter-life crisis (getting there). I'm sure I'll make other, similar partial resolutions for next year, too.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My friend Sara gave birth to a baby girl in January, and my cousin (who's younger than me!) had a little girl in February -- but they're in Kansas City and Israel, respectively, so neither of them is actually close ;)
4. Did anyone close to you die? Alex -- whom I wasn't exactly close with per se, but our families are friends and I did care enough to go to the shiva. Also was somewhat saddened by the unexpected passing of Margaret Koy Kistler and Jim Plummer, even though my encounters with them were brief. And RIP to the New York Sun.
5. What countries did you visit? Will be visiting Spain in less than 48 hours!!
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? More money, self-confidence, and motivation. A full-time job would be nice.
7. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Got a job at MLB, got the hell out of New Jersey, had a relationship that lasted longer than two months.
8. What was your biggest failure? Piddling away my free time, as usual -- if this Citi Field piece turns into a disaster as it seems it might, it'll definitely top the list. Oh, and not getting into the Yankee Stadium pressbox before the doors on the old girl closed.
9. Did you suffer illness or injury? No, but there's still a week left in the year and I tend to get sick on vacations. So keep your fingers crossed for me.
10. What was the best thing you bought? A plane ticket to Barcelona!
11. Where did most of your money go? Car/insurance payments the first half of the year; rent, and other expenses that come with living the second half.
12. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Baseball, boys, and Barcelona
13. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? happier, no question -- last year was awful
b) thinner or fatter? slightly thinner, but not as much as a couple months ago
c) richer or poorer? poorer -- living in New York in the midst of a recession is expensive!
14. What do you wish you’d done more of? writing
15. What do you wish you’d done less of? wasting time, feeling sorry for myself, pining over stupid boys
16. What was the best book you read? The Time Traveler's Wife. It had me thinking about it for months.
17. What did you want and get? a job I love, an apartment in New York City, a relationship
18. What did you want and not get? a full-time job I love
19. What kept you sane? moving back to New York
20. Who did you miss? My friends who aren't in the NYC area, a certain someone who was out of the country for two weeks;)
I do believe these surveys are getting shorter. When I get back, I'm going to dig up the old one and answer some of the more pertinent, less redundant questions.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? In my January 1 entry, I resolved to get my hair permanently straightened (never did, probably for the best), stay away from sugar and alcohol for the next year (only sporadically), and solve my quarter-life crisis (getting there). I'm sure I'll make other, similar partial resolutions for next year, too.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My friend Sara gave birth to a baby girl in January, and my cousin (who's younger than me!) had a little girl in February -- but they're in Kansas City and Israel, respectively, so neither of them is actually close ;)
4. Did anyone close to you die? Alex -- whom I wasn't exactly close with per se, but our families are friends and I did care enough to go to the shiva. Also was somewhat saddened by the unexpected passing of Margaret Koy Kistler and Jim Plummer, even though my encounters with them were brief. And RIP to the New York Sun.
5. What countries did you visit? Will be visiting Spain in less than 48 hours!!
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? More money, self-confidence, and motivation. A full-time job would be nice.
7. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Got a job at MLB, got the hell out of New Jersey, had a relationship that lasted longer than two months.
8. What was your biggest failure? Piddling away my free time, as usual -- if this Citi Field piece turns into a disaster as it seems it might, it'll definitely top the list. Oh, and not getting into the Yankee Stadium pressbox before the doors on the old girl closed.
9. Did you suffer illness or injury? No, but there's still a week left in the year and I tend to get sick on vacations. So keep your fingers crossed for me.
10. What was the best thing you bought? A plane ticket to Barcelona!
11. Where did most of your money go? Car/insurance payments the first half of the year; rent, and other expenses that come with living the second half.
12. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Baseball, boys, and Barcelona
13. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? happier, no question -- last year was awful
b) thinner or fatter? slightly thinner, but not as much as a couple months ago
c) richer or poorer? poorer -- living in New York in the midst of a recession is expensive!
14. What do you wish you’d done more of? writing
15. What do you wish you’d done less of? wasting time, feeling sorry for myself, pining over stupid boys
16. What was the best book you read? The Time Traveler's Wife. It had me thinking about it for months.
17. What did you want and get? a job I love, an apartment in New York City, a relationship
18. What did you want and not get? a full-time job I love
19. What kept you sane? moving back to New York
20. Who did you miss? My friends who aren't in the NYC area, a certain someone who was out of the country for two weeks;)
I do believe these surveys are getting shorter. When I get back, I'm going to dig up the old one and answer some of the more pertinent, less redundant questions.