For Scott (and also Joe)
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Worked a job with semi-normal hours? Living all by myself, but that doesn't really feel very different.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't really remember, but if I made any I probably didn't... oh, wait, I think I resolved to read more, and I did that about half as much as I wanted to. Not a complete failure.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope.
5. What countries did you visit?
Do the various ethnic ghettos of Toronto count?
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Spending money.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 5th. The day I started work, also the day The Slip was released, right after I got home from seeing Ministry and Meshuggah.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Does "not killing myself" count? Maybe cutting my hair.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I didn't change anything for the better.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I got sick a few times. That's normal.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Lunch.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
I'm not sure.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Mostly my own. People who cut in line while getting onto the bus and people who litter on the bus. Also people who wore a keffiyeh and, to a lesser extent, those dress shoes with the nearly pointed ends.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I don't think I got really, really, really exited about anything. Do I get really, really, really exited about anything anymore?
16. What songs will always remind you of 2008?
I don't know yet. Possibly Bowie's Ashes to Ashes. Probably the Polysics' I My Me Mine.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) Happier or sadder? - A bit sadder.
b) Thinner or fatter? - Probably fatter, but I don't know.
c) Richer or poorer? - Poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Cleaning my apartment.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Staying up until 4 in the morning.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spending the day with the family in Pickering.
21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
No.
22. How many one-night stands?
Zero.
23. What were your favourite TV programs?
Dexter.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't think so.
25. What was the best book you read?
Fear and Trembling - Søren Kierkegaard.
26. What were your greatest musical discoveries?
Elliott Smith (who is often very hit and miss).
27. What did you want and get?
Solitude.
28. What did you want and not get?
Reasons for living.
29. What was your favourite film of this year?
If we mean "released" this year, then probably The Dark Knight, despite it being a bad movie. I didn't see many films released this year, as I rarely do. My favourite film I saw for the first time this year? Probably The Seventh Seal.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I avoided answering my phone. Went out for lunch alone. Moped. Slept.
31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I honestly don't know what "satisfies" me anymore. Probably either sex or money.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
"I have given up on trying to have an identity, please ignore me."
33. What kept you sane?
Nothing.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I dunno. I don't follow this stuff. Prince?
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
The illegal, pointless election.
36. Who did you miss?
I made an active effort not to miss people and to just move on with things, and that mostly happened. That said, I missed Noodle (the Pickering family's dog) after I moved out.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
"Best person" is a weird thing to say, isn't it? I get along pretty well with one of my coworkers. Also met someone pretty cool via NIN.com.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
Giving up hope takes more effort and discipline than one might initially think, but it really is easier a lot of the time. Can't maintain it all the time, though.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
You can't forgive what you can't forget / I don't want to live in my father's house no more.
Worked a job with semi-normal hours? Living all by myself, but that doesn't really feel very different.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't really remember, but if I made any I probably didn't... oh, wait, I think I resolved to read more, and I did that about half as much as I wanted to. Not a complete failure.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope.
5. What countries did you visit?
Do the various ethnic ghettos of Toronto count?
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Spending money.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 5th. The day I started work, also the day The Slip was released, right after I got home from seeing Ministry and Meshuggah.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Does "not killing myself" count? Maybe cutting my hair.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I didn't change anything for the better.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I got sick a few times. That's normal.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Lunch.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
I'm not sure.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Mostly my own. People who cut in line while getting onto the bus and people who litter on the bus. Also people who wore a keffiyeh and, to a lesser extent, those dress shoes with the nearly pointed ends.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I don't think I got really, really, really exited about anything. Do I get really, really, really exited about anything anymore?
16. What songs will always remind you of 2008?
I don't know yet. Possibly Bowie's Ashes to Ashes. Probably the Polysics' I My Me Mine.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) Happier or sadder? - A bit sadder.
b) Thinner or fatter? - Probably fatter, but I don't know.
c) Richer or poorer? - Poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Cleaning my apartment.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Staying up until 4 in the morning.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spending the day with the family in Pickering.
21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
No.
22. How many one-night stands?
Zero.
23. What were your favourite TV programs?
Dexter.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't think so.
25. What was the best book you read?
Fear and Trembling - Søren Kierkegaard.
26. What were your greatest musical discoveries?
Elliott Smith (who is often very hit and miss).
27. What did you want and get?
Solitude.
28. What did you want and not get?
Reasons for living.
29. What was your favourite film of this year?
If we mean "released" this year, then probably The Dark Knight, despite it being a bad movie. I didn't see many films released this year, as I rarely do. My favourite film I saw for the first time this year? Probably The Seventh Seal.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I avoided answering my phone. Went out for lunch alone. Moped. Slept.
31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I honestly don't know what "satisfies" me anymore. Probably either sex or money.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
"I have given up on trying to have an identity, please ignore me."
33. What kept you sane?
Nothing.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I dunno. I don't follow this stuff. Prince?
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
The illegal, pointless election.
36. Who did you miss?
I made an active effort not to miss people and to just move on with things, and that mostly happened. That said, I missed Noodle (the Pickering family's dog) after I moved out.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
"Best person" is a weird thing to say, isn't it? I get along pretty well with one of my coworkers. Also met someone pretty cool via NIN.com.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
Giving up hope takes more effort and discipline than one might initially think, but it really is easier a lot of the time. Can't maintain it all the time, though.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
You can't forgive what you can't forget / I don't want to live in my father's house no more.