A Year In Questions: 2012

I made a Year In Questions post last year for the first time and I really enjoyed looking back on it this year to see how the answers changed between 2012 and 2013. I have a tendency to develop amnesia for everything already behind me and start feeling as though I didn't do anything of note all year. Don't ask me how I could forget turning 40, moving into a new apartment for the first time in 7 years, or being hospitalized for the first time since my birth, (I totally forgot all those things until right now) but eh, that's how I roll...always forward, hardly looking back. I'm pretty sure it's a coping mechanism I developed years ago in the event that I had to escape from Nazi's at a moment's notice ( I read a lot of holocaust novels as a child...plus, ummm, Sound of Music. hello?) so without further ado, I give you Q&A:

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?

Went to the ER, got admitted into the hospital. Learned I am one of those reluctant patients on TV who feel fine and just want to go home to grungy apartment after having treatments instead of enjoying a night in a nice  comfy sterile hospital room. Also that I don't mind IV's, CT Scans, or needles despite having "rolley veins" that cause nurses to jab me repeatedly.

2. Did you keep your 2012 resolutions? Will you make more for 2013?

I was looking over last year's 12 for 2012 and I'm disappointed that I didn't manage more of these. I haven't even finished making any yet for this year! In my defense I've been busy learning to juggle coconuts while hula dancing.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My friend Becky had a baby boy, and so did my cousin Haven, and my cousin-in-law Beth had a girl. Sadly I have yet to see any of them in person but happily lots of facebook pics.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

My Great-Uncle Al back in California. We weren't super-close but it was always a treat to see him. There were also way too many violent national tragedies, this year as well :(

5. What countries did you visit?

Ugh!! I was stone cold busted the whole year! I lacked the funds for road trip to Starbucks! I didn't even make it to my cousin Jenn's wedding in Arizona, which was supposed to be my travel highlight for 2012. Sometimes life just sucks :-p

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?

More creative people in my life. Fall madly truly deeply in love. A real apocalypse.


7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory and why?

December 21st 2012 as the anti-climax of the year. I'm glad we didn't all perish and I was not prepared for it in the least but since that was the end of the Mayan calendar, are there even anymore doomsday dates to look forward too?

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Moving into an apartment and neighborhood way above my socio-economic class. Had a bad tooth pulled. Quit smoking for good.  Learning little-by-little to hand everything over to God, remain faithful, and watch everything fall into place.

9. What was your biggest failure?

$13,000 in medical bill debt just as soon as my credit score was finally in a decent place. 

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Ended up in the ER after a pill got stuck in  my esophagus and refused to budge, dissolve, or let me swallow anything for 48 hours! The really cute GI specialist Dr. Nachnani  had to go down my throat and physically remove it before I died of dehydration. *whew* Thank you, Dr. Nachnani! You really are a most excellent doctor!

11. Whose behavior merited celebration?

I suppose I give this one to Dr. Nachnani for allowing me to eat and drink again...kind of a requirement to be able to enjoy a life untethered from an intravenous feeding tube.

12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

The abysmal attitude towards women, the middle class/ poor, and minorities shown by the GOP during the election. It's bad enough when you suspect that's how they feel about you but when they let all of that misguided ignorance and misinformation fly willy-nilly for months, unchecked...it's kind of disheartening. I'm not sure I needed to see them at their worst (which I HOPE that was). I would actually love to be able to respectfully disagree with people and still be friends.


13. Where did most of your money go?

Rent, car insurance, tuition, textbooks, cheap food like hotdogs and Nissin teriyaki beef bowls... no concerts, travel, or Starbucks this year :(


14. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

My new apartment!!!


16. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder?

Hard to say...I'm sort of a mellow optimist and I'm at peace with having no control over other people's actions, and sometimes not even over my own reactions. Still I'm kinda hoping for a really really HAPPY year (in all caps!) full of lucky breaks, shrieks of delight, intrigue, heart fluttering romance, life changing music, emotional art & tangles of affection. 


b) thinner or fatter?

Just so very slightly thinner...I was a lot thinner 2 months ago before becoming unceremoniously laid off from my less than satisfying but well paid job throwing boxes and choosing to "look for work" by clicking around on the internet, in bed, with bags of LifeSavers sour gummies. 


c) richer or poorer?
much much poorer :(


17. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Gotten more sleep *yawn*...and made more new friends


18. What do you wish you’d done less of?

procrastinating & complaining....and falling into internet k-holes


19. How did you spend Christmas?

At our new apartment...we got a tree & everything...watched Dark Knight Rises on blu-ray


20. Did you fall in love in 2012?

Safe to say...no. I'm beginning to forget what it feels like...kind of sad, actually.


21. What was your favorite TV program?

I did  have a few television romances. An irrational crush on Teen Wolf, a total obsession with Grimm, and went mad for that bitch in Apartment 23. Also still loving my boos from last year Supernatural, Revenge, Once Upon A Time & New Girl. Here's one more Teen Wolf link.


22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

You and I both know that I don't do hate. #NoH8rs


23. What was the best book you read?

I read quite a few (52) this year! These are some of the ones I still think about long after I finished the book:

Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead ~Sara Gran

The Diviners ~Libba Bray

Song of Achilles ~Madeline Miller

In Defense of Food ~ Michael Pollan

Will Grayson, Will Grayson ~John Green & David Levithan



24. What was your greatest musical discovery?

The two biggest brand new artist discoveries for me this year were fun. and Lana Del Rey.

But I was pretty stoked about brand new music from Slash, Halestorm, Adam Lambert, Ke$ha, and No Doubt

A spanking new boyband from the U.K. hit the scene and made me a little nostalgic.



25. What did you want and get?

Got the apartment. Got a new better job doing basically the same stuff as I did at my old job...but in a fancier place.

26. What did you want and not get?

To attend my cousin Jennifer's wedding in Arizona, to finish school, to get a "grown up" job w/ perks and benefits, to travel, to fall truly, madly, deeply head over heels in love!


27. What was your favorite film of this year?

Skyfall (My #1 favorite James Bond 007 film ever)
The Dark Knight Rises (Magical cast...it finally all came together for me!)
21 Jumpstreet (despite all my reservations)

Bonus: I revisited Inception on Blu-ray and got obsessed with it the second time around ;)


28. What did you do on your birthday? How old were you?

It was my 40th! It was also one of the hottest days of the year...excruciatingly so. It was pretty chill but we just moved into our new apartment, cranked up the air conditioning, and pretty much considered that a gift (that we pay for, lol) family came over and we hung out. No big 40 hoopla thank God! Me and Julia shared it same as every year. It's funny because my 30th was also very low-key. I guess I don't really like doing milestones. Maybe for 41. Ha ha!


29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

A stable income that supports my desired (not extravagant) lifestyle. I just want to be able to afford organic chicken, already! 


30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?

Same (exact clothes, as I didn't have any money for clothes this year)...jeans, layered tanks, tees, rock tees. Yoga pants & tanks. flip-flops in summer, uggs in winter, chucks in the middle. Ponytail hair or down w/sideswept bangs.


31. What kept you sane?

I swear by a combination of conversing with God mixed with asking him for everything I want and then followed by sleeping as much as possible.

 I also read a lot and play a lot of music based on my moods. 

I also decided not to give a fuck about what other people are trippin' off of at any given time. I don't have the time, patience, or talent to be a mind reader and I have stopped trying to anticipate everyone's drama...now I just let it all fall.


32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

This year it was Lana Del Rey, Ke$ha, Emily VanCamp, Krysten Ritter, Ellie Goulding, Adam Lambert, Colton Haynes, Jensen Ackles, Shemar Moore, Larry Stylinson, Sterek


33. What political issue stirred you the most?

Trying to abstain from politics, but the 2012 Election made it impossible. I support equality for everyone. I support helping the poor and needy. I support education. NOH8.


34. Who did you miss?

All my family out West, especially for Jennifer's wedding :(


35. Who was the best new person you met?

Idk....several cool new acquaintances but no new partner-in-crime or man-of-my-dreams (when will we be able to customize romantic interests like we can customize everything else?)  :(


36. What valuable life lesson did you learn in 2012?

Don't trust the Mayans to plan a proper apocalypse! 


37. What song lyrics sum up your year?
I was in an apocalyptic mood all year so I think that Skyfall works nicely...plus the mood is perfect.

"Let the sky fall
When it crumbles
We will stand tall
Face it all together

Let the sky fall
When it crumbles
We will stand tall
Face it all together
At skyfall
That skyfall

Skyfall is where we start
A thousand miles and poles apart
Where worlds collide and days are dark
You may have my number, you can take my name
But you'll never have my heart

Let the sky fall (let the sky fall)
When it crumbles (when it crumbles)
We will stand tall (we will stand tall)
Face it all together"

38. Post a favorite picture of yourself from 2012.

2011 In Questions

I got the idea for this from my friend Leah Cevoli's blog. She's been doing it for years and it's cool to see how the answers change from year to year. I'm going to attempt to begin this tradition starting with  my sayonara to 2011.


1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

Taught myself how to swim. Wrote a novel in 30 days.

2. Did you keep your 2011 resolutions? Will you make more for 2012?

I never really finished making them last year...so that was pointless. I did complete several goals such as my reading goal, my grades goal, and my NaNoWriMo goal. This year, I DID make 12 for 2012.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Nope...I don't know any babies right now.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Thankfully, no. Not this year. Sad about Jani Lane, Heavy D, Steve Jobs and Amy Winehouse though.

5. What countries did you visit?

2011 was a depressing travel year for me. I never left the state this year. Staycations all 12 months.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

More creative people in my life. More travel experiences. To fall in love.


7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory and why?

December 4, 2011- Guns n' Roses at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville!!! My ultimate concert experience of the year and a perfect way to end 2011. After that, Christmas was pretty anticlimactic.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Completing my first novel EVER for NaNoWriMo in November, and teaching myself to swim over the summer which has been on all of my New Year's lists for 25 years. Ha ha!

9. What was your biggest failure?

Still working in retail. Still broke. Also still no guy :(

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Had a couple of head colds and a toothache...that's about it. Thank you, God!

11. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My mother for finishing her Master's degree at age 63! My sister for learning to swim with me! The Occupy protesters for giving apathy the middle finger and standing up for the 99%

12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

The mainstream media and their irresponsibility in general. Almost everything to do with politics...all parties. The appalling level of vitrol & venom by the general public on internet message boards. Where's the love???


13. Where did most of your money go?

Specialty food items like sushi, Red Bull, Starbucks coffee, and fancy teas and ingredients like toasted nori sheets. Textbooks. A new laptop after mine DIED. Android phone. Gas for my car. Concert tickets. (there wasn't a lot of money to go anywhere)


14. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Guns n' Roses coming to Nashville!!! Finishing my Novel. Poison, Motley Crue, NY Dolls show. Really swimming in my pool...laps. Bikram yoga. Rachel Bolan & Scotti Hill joining twitter.


16. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder?

I feel about the same...generally happy, but very discontented. I want things to be different so I can be beyond happy...so I can be ecstatic.


b) thinner or fatter?

I was thinner after my very ACTIVE summer, but the cold weather and holidays are causing a creep back. Time to nip it in the bud!!


c) richer or poorer?

Same broke-ass girl, same bad credit. Well actually NO credit. I need a lightbulb moment for wealth.


17. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Go out...date. I'm not going to meet the man of my dreams sitting at home on the sofa on my laptop. Job hunting...for something great. Write.


18. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Eating burgers and fried chicken (damn southern living). Complaining. FInding excuses to stay home. Cancelling plans w/guys who I decided weren't "the one".


19. How did you spend Christmas?

At Mom's house with Mom, Julia, David, and his girlfriend Shandry in Tennessee. I worked in the morning and went over there after. It was nice.


20. Did you fall in love in 2011?

Sadly...not even close. At least not with anybody I actually KNOW. Normal guys have a really hard time competing with the complexity, world-travelled wisdom, and self-actualized swagger of the famous crushes I have. *sigh* #hopeless


21. What was your favorite TV program?

The Vampire Diaries, The Voice, New Girl, 2 Broke Girls, Supernatural, The Mentalist


22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

I don't HATE people!! NOH8! I try to be like Jesus in this area. But if there's someone who's negativity or aggressive behavior puts me off, I just avoid them.


23. What was the best book you read?

I can't pick one! I was having a big year of celebrity autobiographies and Young Adult fiction. I'm hoping to read more substantial books in 2012, but who knows. *shrugs* Here, in no particular order, is my top 5:

My Horizontal Life~Chelsea Handler

Mustaine: A Memoir~ Dave Mustaine

The Mummy Case~Elizabeth Peters

Heist Society~Ally Carter

Divergent~Veronica Roth


24. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Korn w/Skrillix, dubstep, The Pretty Reckless, Ellie Goulding, The Avett Brothers, Spotify, Revolver Magazine, Alter Bridge

25. What did you want and get?

Guns n Roses tickets, Paid my car off, As in all my classes

26. What did you want and not get?

To meet Axl, Dj etc..., Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame tickets, to attend my cousin Kyle's wedding to Sara in a ZOO in Tacoma Washington, a big royalties check from Warner & BMI, a boyfriend...or even a date I don't have to work at enjoying


27. What was your favorite film of this year?

Final Harry Potter Movie...Hanna, Super 8, and Black Swan (I saw it late...in January last year)


28. What did you do on your birthday? How old were you?

I don't remember...I know I stayed in downtown Nashville the NEXT weekend for Motley/Poison/Dolls and 4th of July fireworks. I turned 39. I can't even believe that, but I'm in really sexy company-DJ Ashba also turned 39 this year. :)


29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Location, location, location!!! Living in a more interesting, creative neighborhood.


30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?

Pretty safe...jeans, layered tanks, tees, rock tees. Yoga pants & tanks. flip-flops in summer, uggs in winter, chucks in the middle. Ponytail hair or down w/sideswept bangs.


31. What kept you sane?

My sanity is debatable, but ...Music & Writing, Creative long distance friends on social networks. Truthfully, I'm not sure that stuff worked at all..


32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Axl Rose, Dave Mustaine, DJ Ashba, James Michael, Skid Row guys, Blake Shelton, Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki & Mischa Collins (Supernatural), Roger Howarth & Trevor St. John (OLtL),Robin Tunney, Lady Gaga, Ke$ha, Taylor Momson, Daisy DeLaHoya, Josie Stevens (I like wild girls. Ha!)


33. What political issue stirred you the most?

Trying to abstain from politics these days. I support equal rights for everyone. NOH8.


34. Who did you miss?

All my family out West, especially for Kyle's wedding :(


35. Who was the best new person you met?

My brother's girlfriend Shandry.


36. What valuable life lesson did you learn in 2011?

It's never to late to be what you might have been. I have achieved things this past year that I tried to make happen for decades. I've watched my mother do the same. It mainly takes focus and the decision & dicipline to follow it through.


37. What song lyrics sum up your year?

"I'm like a puzzle
But all of my pieces are jagged
If you can understand this
We can make some magic, I'm on like that

I wanna fly, I wanna drive, I wanna go
I wanna be a part of something I don't know
And if you try to hold me back, I might explode
Baby, by now you should know

I can't be tamed
I can't be tamed
I can't be blamed
I can't, can't, I can't, can't be tamed"

See entire song & video HERE


38. Post a favorite picture of yourself from 2011.

This is taken right before going to see Slash and Ozzy Osbourne at the Bridgestone Arena February 16th, 2011. Did kind of a rockabilly thing :)

The Mighty Resolutions! Here's 12 for 2012!

Here is a list of Resolutions I saw online that I thought was pretty great. It sums it up for the most part, give or take a few. Below it are my actual specific goals for 2012!!

New Year's Resolutions

12 for 2012

 1. I resolve to nom nom on fruits or vegetables or both with every meal and snack.

 2. I resolve to escape to 50 new worlds this year. Follow my progress at Goodreads.com 

 3. I resolve to pound out 100 pages of cinematic genius in April during ScriptFrenzy!

 4. I resolve to start breathing in a group, while sweating profusely, on a yoga mat. Twice a week.

 5. I resolve to scribble something silly and nonsensical each week. Follow my blog Inkblot to see what I do.

 6. I resolve to share the products of my demented mind with the world via E-Pub.

 7. I resolve to smell the roses, maybe sketch them & then write poems about them...or make-out with them.

 8. I resolve to go watch the Predators annihilate the competition in Smashville...LIVE!!

 9. I resolve to get to know where I live...and love it (NowPlayingNashville)

10.I resolve to get up and sweat  to Ke$ha, Flo-Rida, & LMFAO unless I'm sick or we get snowed in.

11.I resolve to learn the lyrics to songs so that I can belt them out freely without mumbling over parts.

12.I resolve to travel (out west!) this year. A whole year land-locked in the middle is too long!

**BONUS #13 for LUCK & LOVE I will do something new. Something I have never done before...I don't know what it will be yet, but undoubtedly something outstanding!!

2012 Day #2: Reflecting on the new year...

I decided to do a retrospect of the new year so far...

     After the indulgence that was New Year's Eve 2011...I began the new year yesterday with a clean slate and full of great expectations & good intentions. I had a fairly indulgent breakfast with eggnog panettone french toast, bacon & eggs, however I did offset it with fresh fruit and a southern traditional new year's dish of black-eyed-peas and collard greens  and I went jogging out on my favorite trail. I did some cleaning/organizing, and I did some loafing around and goofing off. In other words, it was a well balanced day. I even blogged, did a writing exercise for fun, read, and had a day well spent.

   

The only down side is the cold I managed to pick up somewhere along the way. This morning, after a satisfying breakfast of baby quiches, fruit and a caramel macchiato, I began a downward spiral which started with sneezing, morphing quickly into a runny nose, which is causing a furious sore throat. Booo! Feeling under the weather has put a cramp in my plans to make today productive.
 
  Now I only managed to confirm my spring enrollment and finish some blogs...oh and begin watching the new BBC Sherlock...which is quite awesome, I must say, for bookish anglophiles like myself. It's a very modern adaptation, but the two leads are nerdishly charming in that British way. I'm going to have to get back to that now as I am losing the energy required to type or even sit in front of a computer screen.

 Happy New Year 2012!
Cheers (and sniffles)!