This still counts, right?
I swear I started answering these on New Year's Eve!
1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
Uh...moved to New Jersey? *BIGGRIN* There’s a whole host of attendant firsts: though I’ve moved plenty of times before, this is my first solo move, to a state I’ve selected for myself. Everyday felt like a first!
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions and will you make more for next year?
Yes. The move was one, and I did pretty good with my writing goal, too. The drawing goal was a little harder to keep, but I still managed to nibble at it, anyway! And I have new goals for this coming year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, but a co-worker’s friend experienced a loss (her fiancé was killed in a car crash only a few hours after they decided to marry) and that affected us all in the frame shop for many days - difficult not to feel the weight of that loss.
5. What countries did you visit?
None.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
A real bed. A home internet connection. I’m told I need a fridge.
7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
So many! This was a year of making memories - sitting at the Tick Tock diner on my second day in New Jersey and receiving the news via Twitter that I was going to get to see MCR this year, after all; seeing my apartment for the first time, thinking it was going to be a studio and discovering it was a 1-bedroom (‘what’s this extra room?’ lol); staying with fuschia and Mr. fuschia, watching ‘Game of Thrones’ in their living room with cats; the day I walked over to a local bus station to buy a month’s pass and realized I had crossed over into the town of Belleville (lots of startled amused texting!); the whole Harvey Day adventure in the city with fuschia (theatre & Kinokuniya & dreams & ‘riding the rail’ afterwards); the Brooklyn show; the night Sandy hit, listening to NPR eyewitness reports & worrying about my friends; this last Asbury trip of the year. I could probably make this paragraph longer...
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
*coughpointstofirstquestioncough*
9. What was your biggest failure?
Saved this for last, and I still can’t think of anything. It’s not that I was so uber-successful this year, it’s just that all the failures I can think of weren’t really failures...I wouldn’t change a thing about how this year turned out.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing major, just work-related lacerations, concert crud and the incidental damages that come from being crowdsurfed on. *grin*
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Hand-me-down tech from my co-worker. Such a good feeling to be able to watch my DVDs and play with my files again. And typing. I love typing. *typetytypetytypety*
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
trudybooth, for putting up with me while I looked for an apartment. I am not an easy roommate!
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The usual, the violent, the self-centered.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent & food & shows.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing Jim Parsons in ‘Harvey’ - but meeting Carol Kane afterwards gave me my real adrenaline rush! And being able to attend Bamboozle to see My Chem...at Asbury Park. Wish they could’ve played all night! And getting all my stuuuuuuuff!
16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
That one that was playing all summer, you know: “We Are Young” by Fun.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or sadder? Happier.
ii. Thinner or fatter? Thinner.
iii. Richer or poorer? Poorer, because all my savings went into this move lol
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Drawing, as usual. And exploring.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I can’t think of a single thing.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
At a Portuguese restaurant with a co-worker and her parents, eating great food and drinking sangria.
21. How will you be spending New Year's Eve?
Stayed home, nursed an incipient case of concert crud, and went to bed as soon as possible after the fireworks (working New Year’s Day). Taking an overnight road trip down to Asbury Park a couple of days before to see Luther and the Bouncing Souls and the Girl Gang was my New Year’s celebration.
22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Daily.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
The Big Bang Theory, Game of Thrones, My Lovely Sam Soon (Korean drama).
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I am not a fan of my downstairs neighbor.
26. What was the best book you read?
Holy crap, I can’t even...since September I’ve had all my own books back, so I’ve been going through those (on a Brother Cadfael jag right now), but before that I devoured the contents of the local library, reread LotR, reread 3 or 4 Jane Austen...there was this one historical novel about a Chinese soldier who was given way too many horses, and how he finally got rid of them. That was a good read, with clear characterizations and poetic descriptions. I read the first novel in a trilogy by one of my particular favorites Kate Elliott, Spirit Gate I think it was called. Library didn’t have the others, but it stuck with me, too, for a long while after closing the book. I didn’t have internet for most of the year, nor TV, so it’s been a helluo librorum (devourer of books) kind of year!
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Luther! (Click! Listen! Enjoy!)
28. What did you want and get?
A home of my own, and my fresh start. And a laptop!
29. What did you want and not get?
I wanted to get further along with my novel, but learning how to navigate my new neighborhood and work and etc made this not as much of a writing year and I had hoped for. My word counts steadily dwindled.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Didn’t see many, but my two best experiences were seeing Avengers with fellow comic nerds and Moonrise Kingdom with fuschia - what a great film, nostalgic and satisfying and funny as only Wes Anderson can be. Loved it.
31. What did you do on your birthday?
Commuted in from NYC; worked; went back to NYC, then a late departure to stay with friends north of the city (I was being shared at that point, having only just signed my lease but not yet taken possession of the apartment). Was sick with concert crud and tired and sad and lonely...but was given little cakes at every turn and sung to and so had a nice birthday after all, even though it was uneven, even though I didn’t technically ‘do’ anything for it.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
There’s always small things, I guess (my mind just reeled off a half-dozen), but damnitall, this has been a pretty satisfying year as is. I won’t be greedy. :)
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Chatty Friendly Framing Professional (buttoned-down but just rumpled enough to win you over) and Dorky Rocker Chick (kicked in the head but still smiling).
34. What kept you sane?
Walking to work, new music from all my favorite bands, and that moment when the crowd presses in tight and the energy kicks up a notch.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Jim Parsons. Not a lot of new people were on my radar this year.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Wasn’t much aware of what was going on this year in the larger world arena, but getting to vote as a NJ resident made me very, very happy.
37. Who did you miss?
The usual ones.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Without a doubt, my department manager Christine. I think we’d be friends even if we weren’t co-workers; we hit it off from the very first phone call that landed me this job.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
No matter how careful you are about crossing the road, there are still assholes who aren’t going to see you; be light on your feet and vociferous in your own defense.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
This is corny as all get out, but I kid you not: the lyric that has been popping up in my head here at the end of the year is the theme song to ‘Cheers.’
Making your way in the world today
Takes everything you've got;
Taking a break from all your troubles
Sure would help a lot.
Wouldn't you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came, etc.
I told you it was corny!!
1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
Uh...moved to New Jersey? *BIGGRIN* There’s a whole host of attendant firsts: though I’ve moved plenty of times before, this is my first solo move, to a state I’ve selected for myself. Everyday felt like a first!
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions and will you make more for next year?
Yes. The move was one, and I did pretty good with my writing goal, too. The drawing goal was a little harder to keep, but I still managed to nibble at it, anyway! And I have new goals for this coming year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, but a co-worker’s friend experienced a loss (her fiancé was killed in a car crash only a few hours after they decided to marry) and that affected us all in the frame shop for many days - difficult not to feel the weight of that loss.
5. What countries did you visit?
None.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
A real bed. A home internet connection. I’m told I need a fridge.
7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
So many! This was a year of making memories - sitting at the Tick Tock diner on my second day in New Jersey and receiving the news via Twitter that I was going to get to see MCR this year, after all; seeing my apartment for the first time, thinking it was going to be a studio and discovering it was a 1-bedroom (‘what’s this extra room?’ lol); staying with fuschia and Mr. fuschia, watching ‘Game of Thrones’ in their living room with cats; the day I walked over to a local bus station to buy a month’s pass and realized I had crossed over into the town of Belleville (lots of startled amused texting!); the whole Harvey Day adventure in the city with fuschia (theatre & Kinokuniya & dreams & ‘riding the rail’ afterwards); the Brooklyn show; the night Sandy hit, listening to NPR eyewitness reports & worrying about my friends; this last Asbury trip of the year. I could probably make this paragraph longer...
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
*coughpointstofirstquestioncough*
9. What was your biggest failure?
Saved this for last, and I still can’t think of anything. It’s not that I was so uber-successful this year, it’s just that all the failures I can think of weren’t really failures...I wouldn’t change a thing about how this year turned out.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing major, just work-related lacerations, concert crud and the incidental damages that come from being crowdsurfed on. *grin*
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Hand-me-down tech from my co-worker. Such a good feeling to be able to watch my DVDs and play with my files again. And typing. I love typing. *typetytypetytypety*
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
trudybooth, for putting up with me while I looked for an apartment. I am not an easy roommate!
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The usual, the violent, the self-centered.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent & food & shows.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing Jim Parsons in ‘Harvey’ - but meeting Carol Kane afterwards gave me my real adrenaline rush! And being able to attend Bamboozle to see My Chem...at Asbury Park. Wish they could’ve played all night! And getting all my stuuuuuuuff!
16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
That one that was playing all summer, you know: “We Are Young” by Fun.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or sadder? Happier.
ii. Thinner or fatter? Thinner.
iii. Richer or poorer? Poorer, because all my savings went into this move lol
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Drawing, as usual. And exploring.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I can’t think of a single thing.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
At a Portuguese restaurant with a co-worker and her parents, eating great food and drinking sangria.
21. How will you be spending New Year's Eve?
Stayed home, nursed an incipient case of concert crud, and went to bed as soon as possible after the fireworks (working New Year’s Day). Taking an overnight road trip down to Asbury Park a couple of days before to see Luther and the Bouncing Souls and the Girl Gang was my New Year’s celebration.
22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Daily.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
The Big Bang Theory, Game of Thrones, My Lovely Sam Soon (Korean drama).
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I am not a fan of my downstairs neighbor.
26. What was the best book you read?
Holy crap, I can’t even...since September I’ve had all my own books back, so I’ve been going through those (on a Brother Cadfael jag right now), but before that I devoured the contents of the local library, reread LotR, reread 3 or 4 Jane Austen...there was this one historical novel about a Chinese soldier who was given way too many horses, and how he finally got rid of them. That was a good read, with clear characterizations and poetic descriptions. I read the first novel in a trilogy by one of my particular favorites Kate Elliott, Spirit Gate I think it was called. Library didn’t have the others, but it stuck with me, too, for a long while after closing the book. I didn’t have internet for most of the year, nor TV, so it’s been a helluo librorum (devourer of books) kind of year!
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Luther! (Click! Listen! Enjoy!)
28. What did you want and get?
A home of my own, and my fresh start. And a laptop!
29. What did you want and not get?
I wanted to get further along with my novel, but learning how to navigate my new neighborhood and work and etc made this not as much of a writing year and I had hoped for. My word counts steadily dwindled.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Didn’t see many, but my two best experiences were seeing Avengers with fellow comic nerds and Moonrise Kingdom with fuschia - what a great film, nostalgic and satisfying and funny as only Wes Anderson can be. Loved it.
31. What did you do on your birthday?
Commuted in from NYC; worked; went back to NYC, then a late departure to stay with friends north of the city (I was being shared at that point, having only just signed my lease but not yet taken possession of the apartment). Was sick with concert crud and tired and sad and lonely...but was given little cakes at every turn and sung to and so had a nice birthday after all, even though it was uneven, even though I didn’t technically ‘do’ anything for it.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
There’s always small things, I guess (my mind just reeled off a half-dozen), but damnitall, this has been a pretty satisfying year as is. I won’t be greedy. :)
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Chatty Friendly Framing Professional (buttoned-down but just rumpled enough to win you over) and Dorky Rocker Chick (kicked in the head but still smiling).
34. What kept you sane?
Walking to work, new music from all my favorite bands, and that moment when the crowd presses in tight and the energy kicks up a notch.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Jim Parsons. Not a lot of new people were on my radar this year.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Wasn’t much aware of what was going on this year in the larger world arena, but getting to vote as a NJ resident made me very, very happy.
37. Who did you miss?
The usual ones.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Without a doubt, my department manager Christine. I think we’d be friends even if we weren’t co-workers; we hit it off from the very first phone call that landed me this job.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
No matter how careful you are about crossing the road, there are still assholes who aren’t going to see you; be light on your feet and vociferous in your own defense.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
This is corny as all get out, but I kid you not: the lyric that has been popping up in my head here at the end of the year is the theme song to ‘Cheers.’
Making your way in the world today
Takes everything you've got;
Taking a break from all your troubles
Sure would help a lot.
Wouldn't you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came, etc.
I told you it was corny!!