New Years Eve
Dec. 31st, 2009 03:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
newnumber6Well, New Years Eve is upon us, and as New Years is the holiday I do not celebrate, I'm not doing anything of course. In fact, although I talk about it every year, this may be the year I actually do it... just sleep entirely through it. I have to work early tomorrow morning anyway, so I might hit the sack around 10ish.
There's a 2009 year-in-review meme going around, so I might as well do it, although it's pretty depressing...
1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
I'm not sure there's anything. Lived through 2009? Never done that before, right? Had Feta potato chips? Oh, and just recently, bought action figures (as an adult).
I have not pushed myself this year, sadly.
Oh, wait, I remembered one that I think was this year... bought my own, new computer, instead of getting a hand-me-down from somebody else. Happened in Feb/March. That is something worth mentioning, I guess.
2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I never make them. I did fall down on my general writing resolutions (not New Years, just general goals I've had over the year) a lot, and hope to pick them up again in 2010, but that is not a New Year's resolution, it's just a regular resolution that happens to start near (but not on) the New Year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
If they had, I think I'd have noticed!
Nobody really close, there may have been a birth or two among the cousins/stepfamily, but I don't even know if they were this year or before.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no.
5. What countries did you visit?
Canada. I visited the hell out of Canada. Well, more specifically, I visited the hell out of Toronto. More specifically, I visited the hell out of my apartment, work, the streets to and from work, and occasional visits outside that range, but all still within Toronto.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
The same thing as always, love, a reason to continue existing, super powers, an X-box 360...
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 1st. Because it's the 1st, and that's a pretty damn easy date to remember.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I can't say I had one that's worthy of note. I believe I did submit a few stories for publication, but not as much as last year. I finished my quasi-NaNo goal of 50,000 words in faster time than ever before.
I was referred to as a 'legend' in my workplace by one of the delivery drivers (on account of me working so fast compared to other stores, and, presumably, because I kind of small and don't look particularly strong or fast).
Finishing my watching of all the old school Doctor Who episodes.
I suppose if there's one thing I'm a little bit proud of, as pathetic as it is, it's my Runaways Alternate Volume 3 Outline, which I think was pretty well plotted as an actual comic outline, with arcs and issue breaks and everything, rather than just prose fanfic (which relieves one of certain restrictions). Even if only like 3 people read it, I'm still pretty pleased with it.
Yes, I realize that's more than one thing, but I need to take what I can get, none of them are very remarkable.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Increasing my amount of social interaction to any degree.
I failed to keep my old computer alive. I saved the data, but it's still a failure.
And, as mentioned before, I failed writing. For several months I didn't write anything at all, except for my Runaways outlines. Just feeling depressed and uninspired. I think I'll say that was the biggest, because my social anxiety issues have plagued me my whole life, but I'd been doing good on writing these last few years.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Minor scrapes and illnesses here and there, but nothing major.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I guess my new computer. It's shiny and much easier to watch TV stuffs on it.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Lots of people, but I can't think of anybody to single out.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Again, lots of people, but I try not to dwell. I just can't remember, if somebody pointed out something someone did in 2009 I'd appall and get depressed about it, but I just can't bring any to mind.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent and food. More than my fair share of both, too. Otherwise, books. Well, and a big chunk towards that computer. Probably more than I spent on books. Not so much on comics, this year, Marvel's practically completely driven me away.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The new creative team on Runaways. Sadly it was a big disappointment.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2009?
Are there any with 2009 in the title? Because if not, they're not going to do it. I don't listen to music.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Sadder, I guess. I feel about the same, but increasing tolerance to sadness and the objective entropic decay of my life suggests that it has to be sadder.
ii. thinner or fatter? About the same, I think.
iii. richer or poorer? About the same. I should be richer, but see the "most of your money" question.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Writing.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Wasting my time to no productive use.
20. What are you glad you did more of in 2009?
Goof-off writing with no productive use (it's still writing so it's not as bad as just wasting time... I just wish it didn't come at the expense of other writing).
21. How did you spend Christmas?
With my family, which was nice.
22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Nope. Not even a crush, really. Vague, "she's rather pretty, might be nice to see her again" thoughts, but that's about it. I think my heart hasn't given up wanting, but it's probably given up trying, which puts it more in synch with the rest of me, at least.
23. What was your favourite TV program?
Hmmm.. I think this year, Stargate Universe for the fall, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles for the end of last season. If only one can survive in this category, Terminator, because the last time only one could survive, it lost out.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No, I'm not a big one for hate.
25. What was the best book you read?
I'm going to defer this since I'm doing my total 2009 reading list after this, and I'll better be able to choose a book after I see them all in one place.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Doctor Horrible DVD with the "League of Evil" auditions? Some of them are quite nice.
27. What did you want and get?
Computer.
28. What did you want and not get?
Already answered above, why belabor the point?
29. What was your favourite film of this year?
I didn't watch many films so I'm going to give it to... Zombieland. Probably in large part because it's the freshest in my memory.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 31 and I don't think I did anything of note. Dinner with family.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I think this question has been asked many times in several different forms, and so I'm not doing it again. Look back.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Jeans and a t-shirt. That's it. (Sung to the tune of "Shave and a haircut, two bits")
33. What kept you sane?
Mister Meme, you do not know me at all.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Summer Glau? Maybe Jayma Mays (probably butchering her name's spelling because I'm too lazy to look it up), cause she's a cutie.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
As stirred as I get, sane copyright reform and the attempts to take it away, gay marriage (pro), and AI rights which never actually came up anywhere except in my own head.
36. Who did you miss?
Nobody that I wasn't already missing in 2008.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
I don't think I met anybody new in real life who made any particular impact on my life, and it would be unfair to single anybody out online.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
There are two pieces of universally applicable advice. "This, too, shall pass." And "Add more ninjas."
Okay, that's not a new life lesson, I learned that before. But it always bears repeating.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
He's a real Nowhere Man,
Sitting in his Nowhere Land,
making all his nowhere plans
for Nobody...
40. What will you be doing to ring in 2010?
Sleeping, probably.
And, here's my complete reading list, the books I read in 2009, in rough chronological order:
1. Wild Cards, Vol 6: Ace in the Hole, edited by George R. R. Martin (reread)
2. Ilium, by Dan Simmons (reread)
3. Wild Cards, Vol 7: Dead Man's Hand, by George R. R. Martin and John J. Miller (reread)
4. Olympos, by Dan Simmons (reread)
5. Spin, by Robert Charles Wilson (reread)
6. Dune, by Frank Herbert (reread)
7. Queen of Candesce (Book 2 of Virga), by Karl Schroeder
8. Nocturne for a Dangerous Man, by Marc Matz
9. Chasm City, by Alastair Reynolds
10. Shadow of the Torturer, (Book of the New Sun) by Gene Wolfe
11. Claw of the Concilliator, (Book of the New Sun) by Gene Wolfe
12. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
13. Lady of Mazes, by Karl Schroeder (reread)
14. Altered Carbon, by Richard Morgan (reread)
15. The State of the Art, by Iain M. Banks (short story collection)
16. Feersum Endjinn, by Iain M. Banks
17. The Algebraist, by Iain M. Banks
18. Inversions, by Iain M. Banks
19. Against a Dark Background, by Iain M. Banks
20. The Yiddish Policeman's Union, by Michael Chabon
21. The Player of Games, by Iain M. Banks (reread)
22. Broken Angels, by Richard K. Morgan (reread)
23. Weapons of Choice, by John Birmingham
24. Sunstorm, by Stephen Baxter and Arthur C. Clarke
25. Woken Furies, by Richard K. Morgan (reread)
26. Tehanu, The Last Book of Earthsea, by Ursula K. LeGuin
27. Ventus, by Karl Schroeder (reread)
28. A Deepness in the Sky, by Vernor Vinge (reread)
29. Battle Royale, by Koushun Takami (reread)
30. A Fire Upon the Deep, by Vernor Vinge (reread)
31. The Science Fiction Century, Vol 1 (short story collection)
32. Nineteen Eighty-Four, by George Orwell (reread)
33. Rainbows End, by Vernor Vinge
34. Blindsight, by Peter Watts (reread)
35. Eon, by Greg Bear (reread)
36. The Year's Best SF 9 (short stories)
37. Old Man's War, by John Scalzi
38. The Halcyon Drift, (Hooded Swan series) by Brian Stableford (reread)
39. Rhapsody in Black, (Hooded Swan series) by Brian Stableford (reread)
40. Promised Land, (Hooded Swan series) by Brian Stableford (reread)
41. The Paradise Game, (Hooded Swan series) by Brian Stableford (reread)
42. The Fenris Device, (Hooded Swan series) by Brian Stableford (reread)
43. Swan Song, (Hooded Swan series) by Brian Stableford (reread)
44. The 1978 Annual World's Best SF (short stories)
44, a little less than last year (I broke 50 then). But then I've had less in the way of long waits at work, and long walks to the comic store this year.
I think my favorite of them would have to be... hmm... tough one. Normally I pick out standout new books more than rereads, but there were a lot of rereads and not so many new wild books that captured my imagination. There were some, but I think my favorite this year was my reread of Blindsight, by Peter Watts. Best of the new (to me) was probably between Old Man's War and Queen of Candesce.
Moving on, one last bit of business...
For 2010, I have chosen the mneumonic that lets me quickly calculate the day of the week any particular date in 2010 falls in (12 word phrase, the Nth word represents the Nth month, and the first letter/two letters of the word is a cue to the day of the week the 1st day, 8th day, 15th day, 22nd day, and 29th day of the month all fall on). It's Dune-themed, for some reason, which is odd because 2010 is Clarke's year, not Herbert's. But what the hell. The mneumonic is:
Few Metals Match The Sandworm's Tooth. They'd Surely Work For *My* Water.
I imagine it as a fremen fighting off a bunch of armed robbers on Arrakis, using his crysknife. It'll help me to remember.
(2009's was: The sunburned sultan wants fanastic medicine. Warlocks saw to the Sultan today.)
There's a 2009 year-in-review meme going around, so I might as well do it, although it's pretty depressing...
1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
I'm not sure there's anything. Lived through 2009? Never done that before, right? Had Feta potato chips? Oh, and just recently, bought action figures (as an adult).
I have not pushed myself this year, sadly.
Oh, wait, I remembered one that I think was this year... bought my own, new computer, instead of getting a hand-me-down from somebody else. Happened in Feb/March. That is something worth mentioning, I guess.
2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I never make them. I did fall down on my general writing resolutions (not New Years, just general goals I've had over the year) a lot, and hope to pick them up again in 2010, but that is not a New Year's resolution, it's just a regular resolution that happens to start near (but not on) the New Year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
If they had, I think I'd have noticed!
Nobody really close, there may have been a birth or two among the cousins/stepfamily, but I don't even know if they were this year or before.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no.
5. What countries did you visit?
Canada. I visited the hell out of Canada. Well, more specifically, I visited the hell out of Toronto. More specifically, I visited the hell out of my apartment, work, the streets to and from work, and occasional visits outside that range, but all still within Toronto.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
The same thing as always, love, a reason to continue existing, super powers, an X-box 360...
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 1st. Because it's the 1st, and that's a pretty damn easy date to remember.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I can't say I had one that's worthy of note. I believe I did submit a few stories for publication, but not as much as last year. I finished my quasi-NaNo goal of 50,000 words in faster time than ever before.
I was referred to as a 'legend' in my workplace by one of the delivery drivers (on account of me working so fast compared to other stores, and, presumably, because I kind of small and don't look particularly strong or fast).
Finishing my watching of all the old school Doctor Who episodes.
I suppose if there's one thing I'm a little bit proud of, as pathetic as it is, it's my Runaways Alternate Volume 3 Outline, which I think was pretty well plotted as an actual comic outline, with arcs and issue breaks and everything, rather than just prose fanfic (which relieves one of certain restrictions). Even if only like 3 people read it, I'm still pretty pleased with it.
Yes, I realize that's more than one thing, but I need to take what I can get, none of them are very remarkable.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Increasing my amount of social interaction to any degree.
I failed to keep my old computer alive. I saved the data, but it's still a failure.
And, as mentioned before, I failed writing. For several months I didn't write anything at all, except for my Runaways outlines. Just feeling depressed and uninspired. I think I'll say that was the biggest, because my social anxiety issues have plagued me my whole life, but I'd been doing good on writing these last few years.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Minor scrapes and illnesses here and there, but nothing major.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I guess my new computer. It's shiny and much easier to watch TV stuffs on it.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Lots of people, but I can't think of anybody to single out.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Again, lots of people, but I try not to dwell. I just can't remember, if somebody pointed out something someone did in 2009 I'd appall and get depressed about it, but I just can't bring any to mind.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent and food. More than my fair share of both, too. Otherwise, books. Well, and a big chunk towards that computer. Probably more than I spent on books. Not so much on comics, this year, Marvel's practically completely driven me away.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The new creative team on Runaways. Sadly it was a big disappointment.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2009?
Are there any with 2009 in the title? Because if not, they're not going to do it. I don't listen to music.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Sadder, I guess. I feel about the same, but increasing tolerance to sadness and the objective entropic decay of my life suggests that it has to be sadder.
ii. thinner or fatter? About the same, I think.
iii. richer or poorer? About the same. I should be richer, but see the "most of your money" question.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Writing.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Wasting my time to no productive use.
20. What are you glad you did more of in 2009?
Goof-off writing with no productive use (it's still writing so it's not as bad as just wasting time... I just wish it didn't come at the expense of other writing).
21. How did you spend Christmas?
With my family, which was nice.
22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Nope. Not even a crush, really. Vague, "she's rather pretty, might be nice to see her again" thoughts, but that's about it. I think my heart hasn't given up wanting, but it's probably given up trying, which puts it more in synch with the rest of me, at least.
23. What was your favourite TV program?
Hmmm.. I think this year, Stargate Universe for the fall, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles for the end of last season. If only one can survive in this category, Terminator, because the last time only one could survive, it lost out.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No, I'm not a big one for hate.
25. What was the best book you read?
I'm going to defer this since I'm doing my total 2009 reading list after this, and I'll better be able to choose a book after I see them all in one place.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Doctor Horrible DVD with the "League of Evil" auditions? Some of them are quite nice.
27. What did you want and get?
Computer.
28. What did you want and not get?
Already answered above, why belabor the point?
29. What was your favourite film of this year?
I didn't watch many films so I'm going to give it to... Zombieland. Probably in large part because it's the freshest in my memory.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 31 and I don't think I did anything of note. Dinner with family.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I think this question has been asked many times in several different forms, and so I'm not doing it again. Look back.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Jeans and a t-shirt. That's it. (Sung to the tune of "Shave and a haircut, two bits")
33. What kept you sane?
Mister Meme, you do not know me at all.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Summer Glau? Maybe Jayma Mays (probably butchering her name's spelling because I'm too lazy to look it up), cause she's a cutie.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
As stirred as I get, sane copyright reform and the attempts to take it away, gay marriage (pro), and AI rights which never actually came up anywhere except in my own head.
36. Who did you miss?
Nobody that I wasn't already missing in 2008.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
I don't think I met anybody new in real life who made any particular impact on my life, and it would be unfair to single anybody out online.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
There are two pieces of universally applicable advice. "This, too, shall pass." And "Add more ninjas."
Okay, that's not a new life lesson, I learned that before. But it always bears repeating.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
He's a real Nowhere Man,
Sitting in his Nowhere Land,
making all his nowhere plans
for Nobody...
40. What will you be doing to ring in 2010?
Sleeping, probably.
And, here's my complete reading list, the books I read in 2009, in rough chronological order:
1. Wild Cards, Vol 6: Ace in the Hole, edited by George R. R. Martin (reread)
2. Ilium, by Dan Simmons (reread)
3. Wild Cards, Vol 7: Dead Man's Hand, by George R. R. Martin and John J. Miller (reread)
4. Olympos, by Dan Simmons (reread)
5. Spin, by Robert Charles Wilson (reread)
6. Dune, by Frank Herbert (reread)
7. Queen of Candesce (Book 2 of Virga), by Karl Schroeder
8. Nocturne for a Dangerous Man, by Marc Matz
9. Chasm City, by Alastair Reynolds
10. Shadow of the Torturer, (Book of the New Sun) by Gene Wolfe
11. Claw of the Concilliator, (Book of the New Sun) by Gene Wolfe
12. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
13. Lady of Mazes, by Karl Schroeder (reread)
14. Altered Carbon, by Richard Morgan (reread)
15. The State of the Art, by Iain M. Banks (short story collection)
16. Feersum Endjinn, by Iain M. Banks
17. The Algebraist, by Iain M. Banks
18. Inversions, by Iain M. Banks
19. Against a Dark Background, by Iain M. Banks
20. The Yiddish Policeman's Union, by Michael Chabon
21. The Player of Games, by Iain M. Banks (reread)
22. Broken Angels, by Richard K. Morgan (reread)
23. Weapons of Choice, by John Birmingham
24. Sunstorm, by Stephen Baxter and Arthur C. Clarke
25. Woken Furies, by Richard K. Morgan (reread)
26. Tehanu, The Last Book of Earthsea, by Ursula K. LeGuin
27. Ventus, by Karl Schroeder (reread)
28. A Deepness in the Sky, by Vernor Vinge (reread)
29. Battle Royale, by Koushun Takami (reread)
30. A Fire Upon the Deep, by Vernor Vinge (reread)
31. The Science Fiction Century, Vol 1 (short story collection)
32. Nineteen Eighty-Four, by George Orwell (reread)
33. Rainbows End, by Vernor Vinge
34. Blindsight, by Peter Watts (reread)
35. Eon, by Greg Bear (reread)
36. The Year's Best SF 9 (short stories)
37. Old Man's War, by John Scalzi
38. The Halcyon Drift, (Hooded Swan series) by Brian Stableford (reread)
39. Rhapsody in Black, (Hooded Swan series) by Brian Stableford (reread)
40. Promised Land, (Hooded Swan series) by Brian Stableford (reread)
41. The Paradise Game, (Hooded Swan series) by Brian Stableford (reread)
42. The Fenris Device, (Hooded Swan series) by Brian Stableford (reread)
43. Swan Song, (Hooded Swan series) by Brian Stableford (reread)
44. The 1978 Annual World's Best SF (short stories)
44, a little less than last year (I broke 50 then). But then I've had less in the way of long waits at work, and long walks to the comic store this year.
I think my favorite of them would have to be... hmm... tough one. Normally I pick out standout new books more than rereads, but there were a lot of rereads and not so many new wild books that captured my imagination. There were some, but I think my favorite this year was my reread of Blindsight, by Peter Watts. Best of the new (to me) was probably between Old Man's War and Queen of Candesce.
Moving on, one last bit of business...
For 2010, I have chosen the mneumonic that lets me quickly calculate the day of the week any particular date in 2010 falls in (12 word phrase, the Nth word represents the Nth month, and the first letter/two letters of the word is a cue to the day of the week the 1st day, 8th day, 15th day, 22nd day, and 29th day of the month all fall on). It's Dune-themed, for some reason, which is odd because 2010 is Clarke's year, not Herbert's. But what the hell. The mneumonic is:
Few Metals Match The Sandworm's Tooth. They'd Surely Work For *My* Water.
I imagine it as a fremen fighting off a bunch of armed robbers on Arrakis, using his crysknife. It'll help me to remember.
(2009's was: The sunburned sultan wants fanastic medicine. Warlocks saw to the Sultan today.)
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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Date: 2010-01-01 05:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-05 10:08 pm (UTC)bought my own, new computer, instead of getting a hand-me-down from somebody else.
This was one of the highlights of my year as well. Technology keeps me cozy.