Areas of Unrest

9 January 2005 - Surveying Last Year

I had a fairly routine week, so rather than writing about what actually happened, here's a survey regarding the past year, courtesy of Jan.

1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before? I went to a mystery convention (Malice Domestic). I also went to the Summer Olympics. And I experienced the 17 year cicadas.

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn't formally make any resolutions last year. This year I'm working on getting more sleep (not horribly successfully so far) and eating only good chocolate. Regarding the latter, I can particularly recommend Five Star hazelnut chocolate bars, made by Lake Champlain chocolates and sold at the bookstore near work. At $3.25 for a 1.8 ounce bar, they're not a casual purchase, but they are worth it for a sporadic treat.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No.

4. Did anyone close to you die? No.

5. Which foreign countries did you visit? I started the year out in Vietnam. I made a brief trip to England in March and one to Canada in May. But the major trip was to Italy, Greece and Bulgaria. I also went to Puerto Rico in November, though that is not technically a foreign country.

6. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nothing significant.

7. What was the best thing you bought? Probably the Lunch at the Ritz earrings I bought to console myself during that disastrous trip to San Francisco in December.

8. Whose behavior merited celebration? My former colleague, Brady, who was just great to work with and who will always be linked with teflon in my memories.

9. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Pretty much every politician on the planet.

10. Where did most of your money go? Aside from the frivolous things like rent and insurance and utilities and food, I saved a lot and traveled a bunch.

11. What did you get really, really, really excited about? The Red Sox winning the World Series!

12. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer? I'm somewhat sadder, slightly thinner and noticeably richer.

13. What do you wish you'd done more of? Usually I'd say I wish I'd spent more time with Robert, but I'm not sure it's all that good for me to spend any time with him. On a cheerier note, I wish I'd slept more, swum more, and danced more.

14. What do you wish you'd done less of? Wasting time on computer games (mostly Snood).

15. How will you be spending Christmas? A bit late for this, but I always spend Christmas in the traditional Jewish style, with Chinese food and movies.

16. Did you fall in love in 2004? No. I didn't fall out of love either, alas.

17. What was your favorite TV program? I'm semi-addicted to Desparate Housewives. About the only other show I watch is The Amazing Race.

18. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? I can't say I hate anyone, but I'm testier and less patient with people these days.

19. What was the best book you read? I reread The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. Other books that gave me a lot of pleasure included the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde, To Say Nothing of the Dog bu Connie Willis, An Instance of the Fingerpost by Ian Pears, Candy Freak by Steve Almond, Devil in the Details by Jennifer Traig, and Sixpence House by Paul Collins.

20. What did you want and get? The respect and admiration of my colleagues.

21. What was your favorite film of this year? Touching the Void was throughly absorbing and chilling. On a less demanding level, Danny Deckchair was quirky and sweet.

22. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 46 and didn't do anything particular at all.

23. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004? Conservative business clothes by day, jeans and sweaters by evening.

24. What kept you sane? Humor is, generally, the saving grace. Even when I'm being my most neurotic, I can laugh at myself.

25. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I can't think of anyone.

26. What political issue stirred you the most? Who's going to end up on the Supreme Court.

27. Who did you miss? I miss Robert, but I'm used to not seeing him. So it's more significant that I miss some of the storytelling crowd from Los Angeles, e.g. Penny.

28. Who was the best new person you met? I really like Jane, but she lives halfway across the state so I'm unlikely to see her more than a couple of times a year. Of people who I actually see, I like both of the new guys at work (Mark and Andy). And the board games group is pretty fun to hang out with.