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Yes, a meme
Dec. 31st, 2013 10:03 amStolen from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
jmfunnyface
1. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?
Sent a child to college.
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make resolutions. I've got goals for 2014, but they're just goals.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
I'm sure, but I'm blanking on them right now. I keep thinking of folks who will give birth soon, or folks who gave birth in 2012.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Victoria and Max.
5. Which countries did you visit?
The USA. I haven't been out of the country in years, alas.
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
Money. See #1, above, and #7, below.
7. Which date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Two dates, for different reasons: March 15, because Elayna turned 18, marking one of those joyous days that happens once in a lifetime. And May 31, because that's when Judah Sher assaulted my wife (two days after raping her; I also found out about that the same day), leading to a stressful year on all fronts, from dealing with police and restraining orders to the huge financial hole left by his not paying his rent, back utilities, etc.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting a promotion at work.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I'm a stress-eater. Thanks to the various crises, I've damned near gained back all the weight I lost over the course of three years. I am Not Happy with my handling of food and my body these days.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Bash scratched me any number of times. That's about as bad as it got.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Um, I dunno. I don't count the new cat or dog as things we "bought." So maybe Disgaea D2? I really didn't buy a lot of things this year (see the money/college stuff).
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Elayna's. She's become an amazing person.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
David Judah Sher's.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Bay Path College.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Elayna going to college (sense a theme), the Doctor Who Anniversary Special, and the new Disgaea game. I'm a man of simple pleasures.
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
I'm drawing a blank here.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? About the same. This has been a year of huge highs and lows, but we're at a good point and past the lows right now.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter (see #9)
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer. Sense a theme?
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Walking, exercising, reading, sleeping.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Eating.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Realizing I'm late to a meme! :-) No, as always, we spent it with 'song's birthmom and her family in Florida, and, as always, it was wonderful.
21. How will you be spending New Year’s Eve?
At home. I'm not a big NYE person.
22. Did you fall in love in 2013?
Nope.
23. How many one-night stands?
Zero.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
New: Orange is the New Black, The Crazy Ones, Orphan Black. Returning: Person of Interest, Game of Thrones, Happy Endings (RIP).
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yep. Bet you can guess from other answers.
26. What was the best book you read?
Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead/Claire DeWitt and the Bohemian Highway/Dope, all by Sara Gran.
Dare Me and The End of Everything by Megan Abbott.
Save Yourself and Last Seen Leaving by Kelly Braffett.
Tenth of December, by George Saunders.
Norwegian by Night, by Derek B. Miller.
W is for Wasted, by Sue Grafton.
Night Film, by Marisha Pessl.
Countdown City, by Ben Winters.
The Shining Girls, by Lauren Beukes.
The Cutting Season, by Attica Locke.
The Ranger/Broken Places/The Lost Ones by Ace Atkins.
Drive/Driven, by James Sallis.
Visitation Street, by Ivy Pochoda
Love is the Law, by Nick Mamatas.
The Squared Circle: Life, Death, and Professional Wrestling, by David Shoemaker.
The Republic of Thieves, by Scott Lynch.
Although incomplete (I read a lot, and I've been remiss at actually tracking things), that probably speaks volumes about my thoughts on the state of YA and SF/F right now. I largely took the year off from non-fiction.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Thao and the Get Down Stay Down.
28. What did you want and get?
The new job and Elayna's getting into college.
29. What did you want and not get?
Financial relief, less stress, more sleep.
30. What was your favourite film that you saw for the first time this year?
Frozen.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 41, and took an HR-mandated course on avoiding sexual harassment at work.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Tie: More money and fewer rapists.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
Bwahahahaha! Have you met me? I'm basically the cover model for Schlub Monthly.
34. What kept you sane?
Not sure anything did that.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Fancy as in "have a crush on?" Not sure anyone comes to mind.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Gay marriage and the larger homophobia that's taken root across the world.
37. Who did you miss?
Elayna. It's easier to have a kid in college today than it was in my day (thanks to gchat, email, etc), but it's still weird not having her in the house.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
We've gotten some nifty new folks at work. I can't remember who, if anyone, in my social circles I only met this year.
ETA: Oh, duh. I actually only metrarelylynne and michaeldthomas this year! ETA2: And Caitlin!
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.
People suck.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I can't think of a single one.
jmfunnyface1. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?
Sent a child to college.
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make resolutions. I've got goals for 2014, but they're just goals.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
I'm sure, but I'm blanking on them right now. I keep thinking of folks who will give birth soon, or folks who gave birth in 2012.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Victoria and Max.
5. Which countries did you visit?
The USA. I haven't been out of the country in years, alas.
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
Money. See #1, above, and #7, below.
7. Which date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Two dates, for different reasons: March 15, because Elayna turned 18, marking one of those joyous days that happens once in a lifetime. And May 31, because that's when Judah Sher assaulted my wife (two days after raping her; I also found out about that the same day), leading to a stressful year on all fronts, from dealing with police and restraining orders to the huge financial hole left by his not paying his rent, back utilities, etc.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting a promotion at work.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I'm a stress-eater. Thanks to the various crises, I've damned near gained back all the weight I lost over the course of three years. I am Not Happy with my handling of food and my body these days.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Bash scratched me any number of times. That's about as bad as it got.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Um, I dunno. I don't count the new cat or dog as things we "bought." So maybe Disgaea D2? I really didn't buy a lot of things this year (see the money/college stuff).
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Elayna's. She's become an amazing person.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
David Judah Sher's.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Bay Path College.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Elayna going to college (sense a theme), the Doctor Who Anniversary Special, and the new Disgaea game. I'm a man of simple pleasures.
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
I'm drawing a blank here.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? About the same. This has been a year of huge highs and lows, but we're at a good point and past the lows right now.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter (see #9)
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer. Sense a theme?
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Walking, exercising, reading, sleeping.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Eating.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Realizing I'm late to a meme! :-) No, as always, we spent it with 'song's birthmom and her family in Florida, and, as always, it was wonderful.
21. How will you be spending New Year’s Eve?
At home. I'm not a big NYE person.
22. Did you fall in love in 2013?
Nope.
23. How many one-night stands?
Zero.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
New: Orange is the New Black, The Crazy Ones, Orphan Black. Returning: Person of Interest, Game of Thrones, Happy Endings (RIP).
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yep. Bet you can guess from other answers.
26. What was the best book you read?
Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead/Claire DeWitt and the Bohemian Highway/Dope, all by Sara Gran.
Dare Me and The End of Everything by Megan Abbott.
Save Yourself and Last Seen Leaving by Kelly Braffett.
Tenth of December, by George Saunders.
Norwegian by Night, by Derek B. Miller.
W is for Wasted, by Sue Grafton.
Night Film, by Marisha Pessl.
Countdown City, by Ben Winters.
The Shining Girls, by Lauren Beukes.
The Cutting Season, by Attica Locke.
The Ranger/Broken Places/The Lost Ones by Ace Atkins.
Drive/Driven, by James Sallis.
Visitation Street, by Ivy Pochoda
Love is the Law, by Nick Mamatas.
The Squared Circle: Life, Death, and Professional Wrestling, by David Shoemaker.
The Republic of Thieves, by Scott Lynch.
Although incomplete (I read a lot, and I've been remiss at actually tracking things), that probably speaks volumes about my thoughts on the state of YA and SF/F right now. I largely took the year off from non-fiction.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Thao and the Get Down Stay Down.
28. What did you want and get?
The new job and Elayna's getting into college.
29. What did you want and not get?
Financial relief, less stress, more sleep.
30. What was your favourite film that you saw for the first time this year?
Frozen.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 41, and took an HR-mandated course on avoiding sexual harassment at work.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Tie: More money and fewer rapists.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
Bwahahahaha! Have you met me? I'm basically the cover model for Schlub Monthly.
34. What kept you sane?
Not sure anything did that.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Fancy as in "have a crush on?" Not sure anyone comes to mind.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Gay marriage and the larger homophobia that's taken root across the world.
37. Who did you miss?
Elayna. It's easier to have a kid in college today than it was in my day (thanks to gchat, email, etc), but it's still weird not having her in the house.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
We've gotten some nifty new folks at work. I can't remember who, if anyone, in my social circles I only met this year.
ETA: Oh, duh. I actually only met
rarelylynne and michaeldthomas this year! ETA2: And Caitlin!39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.
People suck.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I can't think of a single one.