Questions and answers about 2008...

[fajrdrako]

I got this from omnivorously. I always like these year-overview things, though the year isn't quite over yet.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before? Broke an ankle. Learned Tai Chi.

2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I kept them reasonably well, given certain handicaps. Teeth-flossing remains the worst, and I didn't do well with the non-procrastination and the daily exercise, either. Ah well: where would I be if 2009 didn't hold challenges?

Of course I will make New Year's Resolutions for 2009. I always do. They may be just like those for 2008, or they may be entirely different. I haven't decided yet.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No, though someone close to someone close to me is about to.

4. Did anyone close to you die? My father.

5. What countries did you visit? I stayed in Canada.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? Energy. A new job. Time to write.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Well, for the time being, March 31 (which was when I broke my ankle) looks a bit dramatic, but dates don't stay with me that way.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Getting my foot back in working order. Learning Tai Chi.

9. What was your biggest failure? ...Not writing as much as I want to.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Fall. Ankle. Ouch.

11. What was the best thing someone bought you? Beautiful earrings. They really are beautiful; I sometimes almost cry when I look at them.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? John Barrowman's manifold talents - ? Then there was the kindness of my friends when my ankle was bad. I love them for that.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? My employers. My soon-to-be former employers.

14. Where did most of your money go? Rent, food.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Torchwood and Doctor Who and, just this last week, Wolverine: Origins. The plays in Stratford.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? The only song that ever reminds me of a year is "In the Summertime", which was popular in Europe in 1971.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Not sadder, but worried about a different set of things.
b) fatter or skinner? Probably about the same. I meant to lose weight. Bother.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Writing.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Recuperating.

20. How do you plan to spend Christmas? At home, with maaseru, turkey thighs, and plum pudding.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008? Probably. I love a lot of things and people.

22. How many one night stands? I wish. No, really, I don't do one night stands. I don't have the temperament for it.

23. What was your favorite TV program? Torchwood or Doctor Who.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? No, of course not.

25. What was the best book you read? Torchwood Almost Perfect by James Goss.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery? I don't do musical discoveries.

27. What did you want and get? A healthy ankle.

28. What did you want and not get? Into shape.

29. What was your favorite film of this year? I saw few movies, but quite loved them all. Probably Quantum of Solace was my favourite. Or maybe Mamma Mia!.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I was 56, and I had a good time.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Uh... not breaking my ankle, I suppose, though there was a certain satisfaction in getting the ankle back into working order.

Writing more would have been satisfying. And doing more yoga. (Note to self: remember this, and do better in 2009.)

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Comfortable.

33. What kept you sane? My friends, and John Barrowman and Terry Pratchett.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Oh, well, um... you'll have to guess. If you can't get it in one, you haven't been paying attention.

35. What political issue stirred you the most? The Coalition government that almost happened.

36. Who do you miss? Sheila and Harry, I suppose. I haven't see as much of them as I used to because of Harry's bad health.

37. Who was the best new person you met? My physiotherapist, Debbie.

38. What was the best thing you ate? ... Fresh raspberries in the summer.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008? How to be helpless without bitterness.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: I am my own special creation