1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Oh Jesus, this is hard already.
2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I barely remember what they were actually. Probably something dumb, like get pretty and hold onto friends. So not rearray. And yeah I’m working oh9- Getting a half-decent UAI will probably be up there. Veganism. Which will be hard. I’m thinking a gradual ascent, because I already fucked it up this morning when I was mildly hungover and very tired and drinking tea in another person’s house... Guh leniency? Also:
I don't know where I find all these stupid things, but sounds like a good idea non?
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Cousins and suchlike.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope.
5. What countries did you visit?
India.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Much wicked fun! A nice last year of high school- free of self-loathing, jealousy and old resentments. Mutual forgiveness.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
1st March, 21st March, 11th May, 1st September, 12th November. Not telling.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Kicking out the jams, motherfuckers! And by the jams, I mean depression (I think). There, I said it. Woo hoo! :)
9. What was your biggest failure?
Letting down two particular friends. Not sticking up for myself. Relationships in general. School! Oh, the list tends to go on.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No major mishaps really.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Um! Loving this new laptop but that was a gift. I don’t know, I’m trying not to let my possessions own me. So that’s good!
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Those who committed random and/or methodical acts of kindness. Those who made an effort, however small or large, to unfuck the world. Americans for electing Barack Obama, a moderate (rather than their usual right-wing meanies) and the first black president like ever.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
My own, not so much in a morally righteous way as in a that-action-caused-unhappiness way. In the former manner though- that of a certain boy, that of a couple of schoolmates.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Books, CDs, gigs. Selfish shellfish!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Secret crushes, social change...
16. What songs will always remind you of 2008?
Ohmigod that is so hard.
The entirety of Who Killed Amanda Palmer. Any upbeat Magnetic Fields song. “Someone Great” by LCD Soundsystem. “Kids” by MGMT. “Don’t Fight It” by The Panics. “Midnight at Bandcamp” by Bluejuice. “Prince of Parties” by Flight of the Conchords. "April Skies" by The Jesus and Mary Chain. "The Anglo-Saxons" by The Mountain Goats... I don't even know, ask me in a year, when I'm in the mood for reminding.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier!
b) thinner or fatter? Slightly fatter, probably. Bathroom scales are for losers.
c) richer or poorer? Equally unemployed, although a little less recently. Maybe richer though. I have Christmas money!
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Laughing at myself, partying, studying.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying, sulking, hurting, stalking people on the internet...
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
It’s been and gone- at home, with a cameo by a small section of the extended fam.
21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Not quite.
22. How many one-night stands?
I only have one nightstand, for you see I only have one bed!
23. What was your favourite TV program?
Ohh it was a good year for TV: Discovered The IT Crowd and The Mighty Boosh. Continued devotion to Doctor Who despite dreadfully inconsistent quality this last season. Bit of Skins, not as much Black Books as I would have liked, but always the token NCIS with my family. It’s our only regular bonding activity, don't judge me.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
“Hatred paralyses life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
25. What was the best book you read?
Mmm I don’t even know. I’m just not that excited about reading these days. *sheds a tear*
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Magnetic Fields. Leonard Cohen. Others too I guess but can't remember off the top of my skull.
27. What did you want and get?
Can't quite think of anything, the ungrateful sod. Better?
28. What did you want and not get?
Truth. Beauty. Freedom. Love. A new camera. Actually I did get that last one but it was broken so tharr ye go.
29. What was your favourite film of this year?
Juno. Ellen Page so ridiculously cute! It was possibly released in 2007, not sure, but I watched it last January so suck it. Wall-E was very good as well. Most underrated goes to Unfinished Sky... I imagine The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is excellent as well but somehow I still haven’t seen it. Flight of the Red Balloon and The Painted Veil were both lovely. St Trinian’s and Indiana Jones 4 were both apalling.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Now officially 17 going on 18- I went to school but on the weekend Bec, Vaanie and myself hosted a barbeque which I think was quite nice, then everyone went and got drunk at Elise’s. Yeah nice.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Immeasurably? Hmm. HMM! I do have an answer but hear it y'all shall not!
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Derelicte! No um. I’m a big man with small eyes. I want a multi-purpose tweed utility suit. Also, vests are so hot right now.
33. What kept you sane?
Music + solitary walks. A flash of hope every now and then.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Ohh tough call. I think it was the year of David Tennant for all involved, and seeing as he’ll be relinquishing his sonic screwdriver very soon I should really award it to him. There were others though, notably charming old British men like Colin Firth and Alan Rickman, and raging musical ladies a la AFP... I dunno. Lots.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
I’ve been feeling quite stirred over most errything of late actually! I wish everyone were vegetarian pro-queer feminists who actually cared about the environment and were willing to give peace a chance. You know what was stupid? The racist bogans who protested against an Islamic school in Camden with pigs heads on stakes. But um that’s kind of a micro issue. When the church isn’t really separated from the state. War worldwide.
36. Who did you miss?
Ex-friends and lovers, former selves, people I haven’t even met yet. The usual!
37. Who was the best new person you met?
I shant say in case they read this and it’s awkward jellyfish.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker. Most people aren’t worth the hassle.
There, that was two!
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Do it for the living and do it for the dead
Do it for the monsters under your bed
Do it for the teenagers and do it for your mom
Broken hearts hurt but they make you strong!
40. And one for next year?
I played video games in a drunken haze
I was seventeen years young
Hurt my knuckles punching the machines
The taste of scotch rich on my tongue
And then Cathy showed up, and we hung out
Trading swigs from the bottle, all bitter and clean
Locking eyes, holding hands
Twin high maintenance machines
I am going to make it through this year if it kills me
I am going to make it through this year if it kills me.
“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.”- Neil Gaiman
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