I don’t exactly have a tradition of doing end-of-year memes, but this year, I’m procrastinating on revisions for this year’s entry in the Dell Awards, so here you go: my year in review.
1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
Lots of things! The first thing to come to mind is job interviews. (I had interviewed for internships and things before, but those interviews didn’t last for two hours, nor did they involve flying to other cities.)
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn’t make resolutions last year. I’m still thinking about whether I’d like to do so for 2012.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My grandfather on my dad’s side, and my grandmother on my mom’s side.
5. What countries did you visit?
None, but I did make it to several states (California, Massachusetts, New York, and DC).
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Among other things, a job.
7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 13, when I graduated from Vanderbilt.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
See #7. Receiving an honorable mention in the Dell Magazines Award was also pretty cool.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I failed in all the usual small ways this year. I could think of certain other things as failures. In my better moments, I prefer to think of them as future successes in progress.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Other than a mild cold a few weeks ago, nothing memorable.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
After graduation, for the first time in my life, I got a car. I’m still not a huge fan of driving, but there’s a lot to be said for having transportation of one’s own.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My friends have been amazing, especially during the difficult times.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Why in the world would I talk about that on my blog?
14. Where did most of your money go?
See #11.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Job interviews. Being on staff at Alpha. Various bits of good writing-related news.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
“Shake It Out” by Florence and the Machine.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
I. happier or sadder?
Sadder, unfortunately, but answering these questions has reminded me that a lot of good things did happen this year.
II. thinner or fatter?
About the same.
III. richer or poorer?
Poorer, but hopefully that won’t last.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Job applications. Reading. Keeping up with the news.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Freaking out about the future. I’m reading The Left Hand of Darkness right now, and I found a quote that I have a feeling I’ll be referring back to a lot: “To learn which questions are unanswerable, and not to answer them: this skill is most needful in times of stress and darkness.”
20. How did you spend Christmas?
With my family.
21. If you had 2011 to do over again, knowing what you know now, would you live it differently?
“Ah! that is clearly a metaphysical speculation, and like most metaphysical speculations has very little reference at all to the actual facts of real life, as we know them.”
22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
Not this time.
23. How many one-night stands?
Ha!
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Game of Thrones. If things that were actually released in 2010 count, as of this month, I am a bit obsessed with Sherlock.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
See #13.
26. What was the best book you read?
Swordspoint, by Ellen Kushner. And though I won’t finish them in 2011, I’m really enjoying The Left Hand of Darkness and Welcome to Bordertown.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Hmm… I’ll go with Florence and the Machine.
28. What did you want and get?
A bit of outside assurance that I haven’t been completely wasting my time with this whole “getting other people to read my writing someday” thing.
29. How many crushes did you develop on strangers in 2011?
That’s not really something that typically happens to me.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
… Wow, I didn’t see many movies at all this year. X-Men: First Class was pretty entertaining, despite failing at women.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 22. I went to dinner with friends, and then we ate cake and played board games. It was pretty great.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Getting one of the things I’m still waiting for.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
I don’t really have one.
34. What kept you sane?
My friends. Writing.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
After watching Sherlock, I have a minor crush on Martin Freeman as Watson. But that’s a bit different from liking the actual celebrity, I guess…
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
My congressman is co-sponsoring the Stop Online Piracy Act and both my senators are co-sponsoring the companion bill. I called all of them anyway.
37. Who did you miss?
Lots of people, but especially my sister while she was studying in Australia.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
The 2011 Alpha students were fantastic, as were Julie and Amy, the staff members I hadn’t met before.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you earned in 2011:
Life involves a lot of waiting. Maybe next year I’ll learn how to deal with it.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
“Balancing on one wounded wing, circling the edge of the neverending.” – The New Pornographers, “Adventures in Solitude“