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Well, I couldn't let the year pass without doing one of these cathartic little bastards. Apologies for the radio silence; I'll try to blog more in the new year if I can.
1. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?
Completed a professional translation; went through the entire tedious process of renting an apartment in Tokyo.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No, I didn't. But this year I hope to do better.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes.
5. What countries did you visit?
Japan.
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
Focus.
7. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
October 19. The day I moved into Obayashi Biru. AKA: The House of Trash and Glitter. AKA: The Room.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Completed a dissertation chapter draft.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I didn't let people know when I needed help as often as I should have.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes, actually. I think it's time I admitted that my seasonal depression is an illness, and that it causes me a lot of difficulty.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A stuffed broccoli plushie.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Saskia's.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The usual suspects.
14. Where did most of your money go?
My mortgage primarily, but the initial startup costs of my Tokyo move were pretty impressively steep.
15. What did you get really excited about?
New experiences.
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
"Q.U.E.E.N." by Janelle Monáe
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
- i. happier or sadder? Happier, I think. More hopeful, certainly.
- ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I actually don't really want to berate myself about this issue.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
See above.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Watched Die Hard on Christmas Eve and called my mom on Christmas Day.
21. Did you fall in love in 2013?
No.
22. Did you fall out of love in 2013?
No.
23. What were your favorite TV programs?
Doctor Who; Sleepy Hollow; American Horror Story; Ancient Aliens.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Absolutely not.
25. What was the best book you read?
A Circle of Quiet by Madeleine L'Engle
26. What were your greatest musical discoveries?
Sister Crayon, Ahn Trio, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Gnarls Barkley.
27. What did you want and get?
A chance to live abroad.
28. What did you want and not get?
A pony.
29. What were your favorite films of this year?
Iron Man 3, Now You See Me, World War Z, Pacific Rim, The Wolverine, The World's End, and 47 Ronin. (I'd expect Thor 2 and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug to be on the list, too, but they haven't come out in Japan yet.)
30. What did you do on your birthday?
Went flea marketing with my parents; had a nice dinner.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
Rolled out of bed and called it a day.
32. What kept you sane?
Nabe, chips, and beer.
33. Which celebrity/public figures did you fancy the most?
Orlando Jones, Nicole Beharie, Tom Mison, Evan Peters, Jessica Lange.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The US Government shutdown.
35. Who did you miss?
Everyone I left behind.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
I met a lot of new people this year, and the jury's still out on who was the best.
37. What was a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.
Everybody needs help from time to time, and there's no shame in asking for it.
38. New Year's plans?
Partying in Tokyo with friends old and new.
39. Quote or song lyric that sums up your year?
"And all this music inside my head just keeps on playing in reverse/I swear I prayed to keep it curbed/But it's so easy to get distracted..."
1. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?
Completed a professional translation; went through the entire tedious process of renting an apartment in Tokyo.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No, I didn't. But this year I hope to do better.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes.
5. What countries did you visit?
Japan.
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
Focus.
7. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
October 19. The day I moved into Obayashi Biru. AKA: The House of Trash and Glitter. AKA: The Room.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Completed a dissertation chapter draft.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I didn't let people know when I needed help as often as I should have.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes, actually. I think it's time I admitted that my seasonal depression is an illness, and that it causes me a lot of difficulty.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A stuffed broccoli plushie.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Saskia's.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The usual suspects.
14. Where did most of your money go?
My mortgage primarily, but the initial startup costs of my Tokyo move were pretty impressively steep.
15. What did you get really excited about?
New experiences.
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
"Q.U.E.E.N." by Janelle Monáe
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
- i. happier or sadder? Happier, I think. More hopeful, certainly.
- ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I actually don't really want to berate myself about this issue.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
See above.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Watched Die Hard on Christmas Eve and called my mom on Christmas Day.
21. Did you fall in love in 2013?
No.
22. Did you fall out of love in 2013?
No.
23. What were your favorite TV programs?
Doctor Who; Sleepy Hollow; American Horror Story; Ancient Aliens.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Absolutely not.
25. What was the best book you read?
A Circle of Quiet by Madeleine L'Engle
26. What were your greatest musical discoveries?
Sister Crayon, Ahn Trio, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Gnarls Barkley.
27. What did you want and get?
A chance to live abroad.
28. What did you want and not get?
A pony.
29. What were your favorite films of this year?
Iron Man 3, Now You See Me, World War Z, Pacific Rim, The Wolverine, The World's End, and 47 Ronin. (I'd expect Thor 2 and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug to be on the list, too, but they haven't come out in Japan yet.)
30. What did you do on your birthday?
Went flea marketing with my parents; had a nice dinner.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
Rolled out of bed and called it a day.
32. What kept you sane?
Nabe, chips, and beer.
33. Which celebrity/public figures did you fancy the most?
Orlando Jones, Nicole Beharie, Tom Mison, Evan Peters, Jessica Lange.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The US Government shutdown.
35. Who did you miss?
Everyone I left behind.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
I met a lot of new people this year, and the jury's still out on who was the best.
37. What was a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.
Everybody needs help from time to time, and there's no shame in asking for it.
38. New Year's plans?
Partying in Tokyo with friends old and new.
39. Quote or song lyric that sums up your year?
"And all this music inside my head just keeps on playing in reverse/I swear I prayed to keep it curbed/But it's so easy to get distracted..."
