End of Year Meme 2014!
Wow the end of year kind of mugged me. First set of prompts should be along in the new year, for those waiting.
Anyhow it's tradition now so here's 2014's end of year meme!
1. What did you do in 2014 that you'd never done before?
So many things. First time visiting Canada. First time in South Korea, Hong Kong, New York, San Francisco. First time I tried soju, or poutine, or boudin, or a dozen other amazing local foods. First time I slid down on a snow-covered hill on an inner tube, first time in a snowstorm, first time snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef, first time seeing cherry blossoms in Japan, first time riding the Shinkansen. First time I actually sat down and played an MMO. First time I attended GDC. First time I drove more than 500km in a single day!
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Partially? About the only New Year's resolution I really had was to get another job, and I sort of fulfilled that, but sort of not too. There's no real point to New Year's Resolutions for me at this moment, I already have a list of things I want to work on, no point waiting until the year's turn for that!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! Well, both an old friend and my oldest brother became Dads. Both had little girls.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, USA, Canada!
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
Haha same thing as last year: job stability. And a million bucks while I'm making crazy wishes.
7. What date from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The 3rd of January. I remember it because I had planned to catch the Shinkansen from Tokyo to go south, and that was the day the Tokaido line was on fire. It was a bit of an adventure catching the train that day. And then I got to visit friends in Kakegawa. Saw a pretty neat castle, ate in a cool little food stall in their shopping district, and by pure chance caught the New Year's ritual by the local fire department for another year of fire safety (it was much more dramatic and dangerous-looking than one would expect!) It's the days that catch you completely by surprise that you remember.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I got called in October as rescue team on a project. Short-term work but very welcome. While I'm not completely satisfied with the end result, I was super proud of myself for the mountains I moved getting that project finished.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not finding more work I suppose. There were a few very rough months in the middle of the year.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Compared to previous years, this year was a pain. I got a nasty bout of stomach flu in Seoul, then a super annoying cold in Louisiana, then another cold in June when relatives from Louisiana came to visit! (Obviously weak to Louisiana-strain illnesses).
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I bought a super cool jacket in Macy's (the Macy's, in New York) during their Spring sale which I didn't know anything about until wandering in there. It had been discounted ridiculously, so I was already like 'amazing bargain!' and then they discounted it again at the counter so it was super cheap. But the true value is being able to act all bourgeois when people ask about it because I can say all casually 'oh I bought it in New York' and then laugh like an upper class old lady.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
I have a hard time choosing! I want to say my oldest friend this year I think, since even though we've had some rough patches in our friendship over the past couple of years, she's done really well for herself this year and I feel like our friendship is back in a better place. Plus I like to see how she's challeged herself and really carved out her own identity in recent times.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
That one damn level artist that thought it was awesome to duplicate every level and then set it on fire and didn't bother to tell the audio department.ಠ_ಠ
14. Where did most of your money go?
Travelling.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
FFXIV. Um, yep. Pretty much just that and all news at all related to that.
16. What song will always remind you of 2014?
FFXIV Answers. Yeeeeah, FFXIV again.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder - Really hard to call. It's been a rollercoaster year, emotionally, with very very high highs, and very low lows.
Older or wiser - Older. I think I might actually be getting more stupid.
Thinner or fatter - About the same. Start of the year lost a fair bit of weight, gained it all back stress-eating while working on rescue-project.
Richer or poorer? - Poorer, although spent it well. No regrets.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing, again. More upskilling, although I'm still never sure what thing to learn next. More original projects.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I want to say FFXIV, because has that game been a terrible time sinkhole, but at the same time I really did enjoy it and I try not to regret things that I enjoyed.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
This is past tense now. For the first time in a long long time I spent it in my hometown with my folks. My aunt and uncle came to visit as well. It was pretty quiet, mostly had a big lunch and a lazy afternoon and evening.
21. Did you fall in love in 2014?
No. Except with tiny cupcakes.
22. How many one-night stands?
None.
23. What was your favourite TV program?
Kill La Kill. Great series, awesome ending. Puella Magi Madoka was also quite excellent, and I also really enjoyed a lot of Rick and Morty.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. Well, except for that one damn animator who added clapping animations on the day before content lockoff. Gonna mail him spiders.
25. What was the best book you read?
Robots of Dawn by Isaac Asimov, but that's unfair because I love Isaac Asimov so any time I read a new book of his it's going to win.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Not really a 'discovery' but I really enjoyed the Magical Sisters Yoyo and Nene soundtrack. Example.
Also the entire FFXIV soundtrack in general, but this track in particular whenever I need to get pumped about something: Ultima
27. What did you want and get?
I WANTED A THAVNARIAN ONION FOR MY CHOCOBO AND I GOT IT. Woo! \o/
28. What did you want and not get?
There were a couple of particular jobs I very badly wanted and did not get. :(
29. What was your favourite film of this year?
Always a super difficult question, but based purely on re-watches, I'm going to have to say Guardians of the Galaxy. Big Hero 6 very close second.
30. What was your least favorite film of this year?
Lucy. Interesting movie, I didn't outright dislike it, per se, but I wouldn't recommend it to anybody.
31. What did you do on your birthday?
On my birthday I ate lunch in my favourite local Japanese restaurant, watched Guardians of the Galaxy on blu-ray, and played FFXIV.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A steady job. I know, whinge whinge whinge. I'm working on it.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
I don't have a fashion concept, nor any concept of fashion.
34. What kept you sane?
FFXIV.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Eh, none spring to mind this year.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Everything political stirs me up right now, let's not tread down that spiky path.
37. Who did you miss?
P-chan. My friends who almost all entirely live in other cities or states or countries. :(
38. Who was the best new person you met?
All of my cool new FFXIV friends! I did actually meet some of them irl too so that absolutely counts.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014:
Flare until dead.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray.
I've been for a walk on a winter's day.
I'd be safe and warm if I was in L.A.;
California dreamin' on such a winter's day.