![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stormsewerStolen from (a locked entry of) ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
kaytayp:
1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
fell madly in and out of love within a six month period; worked as a teacher; went to Kyushu; lived by the sea; hung out in bars; finished the first draft of a novel; went to China; actually had a decent-paying job; experienced a typhoon (or several); made out with someone i wasn't dating; gave blood; climbed squaw peak; purchased music on vinyl; got stung by a jellyfish; ate natto
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make New Year's resolutions. My philosophy is that if I'm only resolved because of the fairly arbitrary change in one of the digits I have to write when entering the date, I'm probably not very resolved.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My best friend's wife.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
U.S., Japan, China.
6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
A final decision that I'm happy with concerning Junko.
7. What dates from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 18th- Broke up with Junko.
May 2nd- Coachella, beginning of the end with Nemesis
July 25th- Arrived in Japan for the current layover.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finishing the first draft of the novel.
9. What was your biggest failure?
#1 My relationships with Junko and Nemesis. #2 Not getting to France. #3 Not making good (enough) use of the abundant free time I had.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing we ain't already been slogging through for the last ten years.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
The Decemberists' catalogue, I guess. Or maybe the Nausicaa DVD. Or the Freaks and Geeks box set. The acoustic guitar is a contender, but since since at this point I wish I had just paid to bring my other guitar over here instead I can't say I'm really pleased with that purchase. Airfare to China/Cambodia/Laos might be a contender, too.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Junko, at least in her dealings with me, mostly handled things really well. Other than that, no one really stands out, but I don't have any complaints about my friends and family.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Nemesis, sometimes (though she could say the same of me, I suppose). Bush, his cronies, and the people who voted for him, definitely. Those responsible for all the kidnappings and violence against innocent Iraqis.
14. Where did most of your money go?
CDs, and more recently, travel.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Nemesis. Japan. Howl's Moving Castle. Yankees flipping a pen.
16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
I think I'll have to go with "Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect" by the Decemberists.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
Happier, I think. (Though I'm a little down today. I don't remember much of it, but I feel like the night was passed in dreams of frustration and disappointment.)
b) thinner or fatter?
Thinner. The change from living with my parents to having to purchase and prepare all my own food makes a big difference.
c) richer or poorer?
Far and away richer. I was almost totally broke this time a year ago.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing, swimming, aikido, and experiencing Las Vegas culture a little (not a lot) more.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Watching TV when nothing's on and other temporal black holes.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Not sure yet. May spend it with other JETs, may just chill on my own. Just got a Christmas package from home, by the way, so I think maybe I'll open it on Christmas.
21. Did you fall in love in 2004?
[sigh]
22. How many one-night stands?
None.*
23. What was your favorite TV program?
That's a tie between the Daily Show and Home Movies. Freaks and Geeks is up there, too, but that's not technically a 2004 program.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't really hate people.
25. What was the best book you read?
I'm going to have to call a tie between Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates by Tom Robbins (courtesy of Nemesis) and The Partly Cloudy Patriot by Sarah Vowell (courtesy of Kelly)
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Decemberists (mostly courtesy of Nemesis), followed by The Magnetic Fields (also mostly courtesy of Nemesis, with an honorable mention tomargrietta). In both cases, I had heard good things about them already, but it was Nemesis who made me sit down and listen.
27. What did you want and get?
This. The 40 gig model.
A job as a substitute teacher.
A position in the JET program.
28. What did you want and not get?
A job in France.
A decision concerning Junko that I feel comfortable with.
Communication from God.
Uhhh... World peace, an end to hunger and disease, and... and a PONY!
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Howl's Moving Castle. Honorable mention to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. There was kind of a paucity of memorable films this year, though. That I watched, anyway.
Big Fish was technically 2003, wasn't it?
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I wandered around the Rock by myself, exploring. I discovered what is so far my favorite hidden place on the island. I enjoyed myself immensely. I am 25.
31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A decision concerning Junko that I could feel good about. (I'm seeing a pattern here...)
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
Social camouflage.
33. What kept you sane?
[I can only laugh maniacally in response to this question.]
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Alison Lohman
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
[sigh]
36. Who did you miss?
Junko. Kelly, I suppose. Nemesis at times.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Nemesis would be a good candidate, actually, but I think technically we met in 2003. Depending on how relationships and things develop this answer may be different in another year, but for now we'll go with Mimsy. Another way to put it would be that Mimsy is my favorite new online person, and my favorite new real world person is yet to be named.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004:
Let's go with this (though in a way I've always known it): “Tennessee Williams once wrote, ‘We all live in a house on fire, no fire department to call; no way out, just the upstairs window to look out of while the fire burns the house down with us trapped, locked in it.’ In a certain sense, the playwright was correct. Yes, but oh! What a view from that upstairs window!
What Tennessee failed to mention was that if we look out of that window with an itchy curiosity and a passionate eye; with a generous spirit and a capacity for delight; and, yes, the language with which to support and enrich the things we see, then it DOESN’T MATTER that the house is burning down around us. It doesn’t matter. Let the motherfucker blaze!”
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
ice age heat wave, can't complain
if the world's at large why should i remain?
walked away to another plan
gonna find another place, maybe one i can stand
i move on to another day
to a whole new town with a whole new way
i like songs about drifters, books about the same
they both seem to make me feel a little less insane
walked on off to another spot
still haven't gotten anywhere that i want
did i want love? did i need to know?
why does it always feel like i'm caught in an undertow?
I might also quote the first verse of "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" by the Beach Boys, but that's more like my whole life, not just the last year.
kaytayp:1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
fell madly in and out of love within a six month period; worked as a teacher; went to Kyushu; lived by the sea; hung out in bars; finished the first draft of a novel; went to China; actually had a decent-paying job; experienced a typhoon (or several); made out with someone i wasn't dating; gave blood; climbed squaw peak; purchased music on vinyl; got stung by a jellyfish; ate natto
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make New Year's resolutions. My philosophy is that if I'm only resolved because of the fairly arbitrary change in one of the digits I have to write when entering the date, I'm probably not very resolved.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My best friend's wife.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
U.S., Japan, China.
6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
A final decision that I'm happy with concerning Junko.
7. What dates from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 18th- Broke up with Junko.
May 2nd- Coachella, beginning of the end with Nemesis
July 25th- Arrived in Japan for the current layover.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finishing the first draft of the novel.
9. What was your biggest failure?
#1 My relationships with Junko and Nemesis. #2 Not getting to France. #3 Not making good (enough) use of the abundant free time I had.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing we ain't already been slogging through for the last ten years.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
The Decemberists' catalogue, I guess. Or maybe the Nausicaa DVD. Or the Freaks and Geeks box set. The acoustic guitar is a contender, but since since at this point I wish I had just paid to bring my other guitar over here instead I can't say I'm really pleased with that purchase. Airfare to China/Cambodia/Laos might be a contender, too.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Junko, at least in her dealings with me, mostly handled things really well. Other than that, no one really stands out, but I don't have any complaints about my friends and family.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Nemesis, sometimes (though she could say the same of me, I suppose). Bush, his cronies, and the people who voted for him, definitely. Those responsible for all the kidnappings and violence against innocent Iraqis.
14. Where did most of your money go?
CDs, and more recently, travel.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Nemesis. Japan. Howl's Moving Castle. Yankees flipping a pen.
16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
I think I'll have to go with "Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect" by the Decemberists.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
Happier, I think. (Though I'm a little down today. I don't remember much of it, but I feel like the night was passed in dreams of frustration and disappointment.)
b) thinner or fatter?
Thinner. The change from living with my parents to having to purchase and prepare all my own food makes a big difference.
c) richer or poorer?
Far and away richer. I was almost totally broke this time a year ago.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing, swimming, aikido, and experiencing Las Vegas culture a little (not a lot) more.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Watching TV when nothing's on and other temporal black holes.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Not sure yet. May spend it with other JETs, may just chill on my own. Just got a Christmas package from home, by the way, so I think maybe I'll open it on Christmas.
21. Did you fall in love in 2004?
[sigh]
22. How many one-night stands?
None.*
23. What was your favorite TV program?
That's a tie between the Daily Show and Home Movies. Freaks and Geeks is up there, too, but that's not technically a 2004 program.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't really hate people.
25. What was the best book you read?
I'm going to have to call a tie between Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates by Tom Robbins (courtesy of Nemesis) and The Partly Cloudy Patriot by Sarah Vowell (courtesy of Kelly)
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Decemberists (mostly courtesy of Nemesis), followed by The Magnetic Fields (also mostly courtesy of Nemesis, with an honorable mention to
margrietta). In both cases, I had heard good things about them already, but it was Nemesis who made me sit down and listen.27. What did you want and get?
This. The 40 gig model.
A job as a substitute teacher.
A position in the JET program.
28. What did you want and not get?
A job in France.
A decision concerning Junko that I feel comfortable with.
Communication from God.
Uhhh... World peace, an end to hunger and disease, and... and a PONY!
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Howl's Moving Castle. Honorable mention to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. There was kind of a paucity of memorable films this year, though. That I watched, anyway.
Big Fish was technically 2003, wasn't it?
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I wandered around the Rock by myself, exploring. I discovered what is so far my favorite hidden place on the island. I enjoyed myself immensely. I am 25.
31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A decision concerning Junko that I could feel good about. (I'm seeing a pattern here...)
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
Social camouflage.
33. What kept you sane?
[I can only laugh maniacally in response to this question.]
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Alison Lohman
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
[sigh]
36. Who did you miss?
Junko. Kelly, I suppose. Nemesis at times.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Nemesis would be a good candidate, actually, but I think technically we met in 2003. Depending on how relationships and things develop this answer may be different in another year, but for now we'll go with Mimsy. Another way to put it would be that Mimsy is my favorite new online person, and my favorite new real world person is yet to be named.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004:
Let's go with this (though in a way I've always known it): “Tennessee Williams once wrote, ‘We all live in a house on fire, no fire department to call; no way out, just the upstairs window to look out of while the fire burns the house down with us trapped, locked in it.’ In a certain sense, the playwright was correct. Yes, but oh! What a view from that upstairs window!
What Tennessee failed to mention was that if we look out of that window with an itchy curiosity and a passionate eye; with a generous spirit and a capacity for delight; and, yes, the language with which to support and enrich the things we see, then it DOESN’T MATTER that the house is burning down around us. It doesn’t matter. Let the motherfucker blaze!”
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
ice age heat wave, can't complain
if the world's at large why should i remain?
walked away to another plan
gonna find another place, maybe one i can stand
i move on to another day
to a whole new town with a whole new way
i like songs about drifters, books about the same
they both seem to make me feel a little less insane
walked on off to another spot
still haven't gotten anywhere that i want
did i want love? did i need to know?
why does it always feel like i'm caught in an undertow?
I might also quote the first verse of "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" by the Beach Boys, but that's more like my whole life, not just the last year.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-12-13 09:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-13 09:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-13 09:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-13 04:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 12:26 am (UTC)