farewell to 2011
Dec. 31st, 2011 05:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
keladry_lupinThe 2011 meme, ganked from several flisters.
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Stagehanded. Went to a party with lots of drunk people. Broke up with someone I had been in love with.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I thought about making monthly resolutions, but I never followed through.
I have a few resolutions for 2012:
1. Complete a Couch to 5K program
2. Return to belly dance class on a regular basis
3. Audition for live theater four times or until I get a part, whichever comes first
4. See The Avengers and The Hobbit at the cinema (I had to throw an easy one in here)
5. Stitch Christmas stockings for Chris and the nieces
6. Read as many new-to-me books as enjoy-again books
7. Finish my current projects
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Mermaid had her second son, Jim, in March.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My sweet Boo-Cat.
5. What countries did you visit?
I visited "a far-off kingdom [where] lived a fair maiden, a sad young lad, and a childless baker with his wife" several times a week all summer long.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Ambition, discipline, and money.
7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
October 16th, which is the day Boo-Cat died.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Growing a spine and dumping Phil.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not standing up to my vices.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Colds, sinus infections, backache, heartache. The usual.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Winnie the Pooh audio books.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Mine! (See number 8.)
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Mine, for other reasons.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, petrol, and food.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Into the Woods.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
White Town's "Your Woman."
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Definitely happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? The same? Maybe a few pounds heavier?
iii. richer or poorer? The same.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercising.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Wasting time at the cinema when I knew I'd dislike the films. The company seemed worth it at the time.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I'm assuming you mean the one that just passed; I enjoyed the time I spent with family.
21. How will you be spending New Years?
Happily alone.
22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
No, but I fell out of it.
23. How many one-night stands?
Zero.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Sherlock.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Not hate, but there is a profound lack of the affection that I harbored for Phil this time last year.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods.
27. Favorite film?
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
28. What did you want and get?
Clarity of thought.
29. What did you want and not get?
A damned good snog.
30. What was your favorite live/stage experience of this year?
Rehearsing and performing Into the Woods all summer!
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Church, breakfast, Christmas presents, and Doctor Who episodes.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Finishing four projects I still haven't completed. *is pathetic*
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Monochromatic.
34. What kept you sane?
Books. Fanfiction. Writing. Drawing.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Martin Freeman.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
DADT served its purpose, but it overstayed its welcome, so good riddance.
37. Whom did you miss?
Boo-Cat.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
Heaping affection on someone is not automatically going to win or earn his affection in return, dumbass.
Copy and Paste if you have enjoyed the blessing of meeting people online that you never would have met any other way.
This is my end of the year shout out to the many friends I have never been in the same room with (and those whom I have) but who have inspired, amused, comforted, encouraged, and touched me in so many ways. I love you people! Here's to another year together!
Where has the week gone? Monday was lazy; I showered and got into clean pajamas for the rest of the day. We were too bushed to cook our Christmas dinner on Christmas, so I did the roast and potatoes on Monday instead. I went to the cinema Tuesday (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and Wednesday (Sherlock Holmes: a Game of Shadows), and then Mom and I met SIL Chris and nieces Squirt and Mimi at the Los Angeles Zoo on Thursday. Other than the Riverside contingent being an hour late, everything went swimmingly. I liked the meerkats, tigers (a mother and two beautiful cubs), and ring-tailed lemurs the best, but the best show of the day was watching 15 month old Mimi laugh at and wave to the zebras. I put her on my shoulders so she could see them, and she went bananas, squealing her delight and flapping her arms in excitement. I had her on my shoulders again at the end of the day when we passed the elephant enclosure and the carousel, and she wiggled around to the music. Mom told me she was dancing on my shoulders, to which I replied, "Yeah, I noticed!"
It's too bad the zoo is so far away. Admission is $16, and a yearly pass is $49. Parking's free, too. But it takes 45 minutes to get there under the best conditions. Still, it'd be lovely to walk around (lots of hills, excellent workout) and take a pencil and drawing pad. I could spend an hour drawing those meerkats. I hadn't been to the LA Zoo since I was eleven years old, so it was a delight to go. (The only way it could have been better is if Dad and Boo-Girl came, but he had a previous commitment, and she's in Vegas with her father.)
Mom spent a week with me. Everywhere I went, she went. I was getting pretty claustrophobic by day five, but then she finally went to the doctor, and I got a few hours to relax and not have to worry about politeness and modesty and all that. That's all it took for me to calm down; by the time I saw her again, I was good for another few days. She took off yesterday afternoon for Aunt Millie's after helping me take the Christmas decorations down. I'm doing the last bits of un-Christmasing and un-babyproofing today.
I keep seeing "One day till Sherlock" on Twitter and Tumblr, but not for me. With an eleven year old computer, I don't think it's a good idea to be downloading software and Sherlock episodes and all that. I'm far too lazy and idiotish to figure it all out, and with my luck, I'd download the mother of all viruses/worms and destroy Mom's computer. So I'm doing what I figure is the fastest way for a Yank to see the new series without illegal downloads: buying it on region free Blu-Ray as soon as it's available at Amazon UK and rushing the shipping.
Only problem with that plan before today was that I didn't have a Blu-Ray player, but thanks to Aunt Millie's generous birthday and Christmas presents, I purchased one this morning. I plan to connect it to the computer monitor and speakers this evening. I have a few Blu-Rays thanks to Disney's penchant for combo packs with DVDs and Blu-Rays in them, but I hadn't any Blu-Rays without DVDs before today. Thanks to Dad's generous birthday present, I bought the Lord of the Rings trilogy extended editions this morning, too.
Yeah, baby. I SHOPPED!
I've written my thank you notes to the family members who sent money and shall mail them this evening, but I have some baking to do first. The first miniature cheesecakes are in the oven -- I'm testing my new ramekins, so this is an experiment tonight. Still, the cheesecake recipe is so good that even if I overbake them, they'll still be yummy (just a little dry). I'm celebrating a solitary New Year's Eve tonight with great pleasure and shall while away the hours watching movies, embroidering, and eating yummy things.
I wish you all a safe and happy New Year's and a most excellent 2012.
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Stagehanded. Went to a party with lots of drunk people. Broke up with someone I had been in love with.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I thought about making monthly resolutions, but I never followed through.
I have a few resolutions for 2012:
1. Complete a Couch to 5K program
2. Return to belly dance class on a regular basis
3. Audition for live theater four times or until I get a part, whichever comes first
4. See The Avengers and The Hobbit at the cinema (I had to throw an easy one in here)
5. Stitch Christmas stockings for Chris and the nieces
6. Read as many new-to-me books as enjoy-again books
7. Finish my current projects
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Mermaid had her second son, Jim, in March.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My sweet Boo-Cat.
5. What countries did you visit?
I visited "a far-off kingdom [where] lived a fair maiden, a sad young lad, and a childless baker with his wife" several times a week all summer long.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Ambition, discipline, and money.
7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
October 16th, which is the day Boo-Cat died.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Growing a spine and dumping Phil.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not standing up to my vices.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Colds, sinus infections, backache, heartache. The usual.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Winnie the Pooh audio books.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Mine! (See number 8.)
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Mine, for other reasons.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, petrol, and food.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Into the Woods.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
White Town's "Your Woman."
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Definitely happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? The same? Maybe a few pounds heavier?
iii. richer or poorer? The same.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercising.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Wasting time at the cinema when I knew I'd dislike the films. The company seemed worth it at the time.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I'm assuming you mean the one that just passed; I enjoyed the time I spent with family.
21. How will you be spending New Years?
Happily alone.
22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
No, but I fell out of it.
23. How many one-night stands?
Zero.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Sherlock.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Not hate, but there is a profound lack of the affection that I harbored for Phil this time last year.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods.
27. Favorite film?
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
28. What did you want and get?
Clarity of thought.
29. What did you want and not get?
A damned good snog.
30. What was your favorite live/stage experience of this year?
Rehearsing and performing Into the Woods all summer!
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Church, breakfast, Christmas presents, and Doctor Who episodes.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Finishing four projects I still haven't completed. *is pathetic*
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Monochromatic.
34. What kept you sane?
Books. Fanfiction. Writing. Drawing.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Martin Freeman.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
DADT served its purpose, but it overstayed its welcome, so good riddance.
37. Whom did you miss?
Boo-Cat.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
Heaping affection on someone is not automatically going to win or earn his affection in return, dumbass.
Copy and Paste if you have enjoyed the blessing of meeting people online that you never would have met any other way.
This is my end of the year shout out to the many friends I have never been in the same room with (and those whom I have) but who have inspired, amused, comforted, encouraged, and touched me in so many ways. I love you people! Here's to another year together!
Where has the week gone? Monday was lazy; I showered and got into clean pajamas for the rest of the day. We were too bushed to cook our Christmas dinner on Christmas, so I did the roast and potatoes on Monday instead. I went to the cinema Tuesday (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and Wednesday (Sherlock Holmes: a Game of Shadows), and then Mom and I met SIL Chris and nieces Squirt and Mimi at the Los Angeles Zoo on Thursday. Other than the Riverside contingent being an hour late, everything went swimmingly. I liked the meerkats, tigers (a mother and two beautiful cubs), and ring-tailed lemurs the best, but the best show of the day was watching 15 month old Mimi laugh at and wave to the zebras. I put her on my shoulders so she could see them, and she went bananas, squealing her delight and flapping her arms in excitement. I had her on my shoulders again at the end of the day when we passed the elephant enclosure and the carousel, and she wiggled around to the music. Mom told me she was dancing on my shoulders, to which I replied, "Yeah, I noticed!"
It's too bad the zoo is so far away. Admission is $16, and a yearly pass is $49. Parking's free, too. But it takes 45 minutes to get there under the best conditions. Still, it'd be lovely to walk around (lots of hills, excellent workout) and take a pencil and drawing pad. I could spend an hour drawing those meerkats. I hadn't been to the LA Zoo since I was eleven years old, so it was a delight to go. (The only way it could have been better is if Dad and Boo-Girl came, but he had a previous commitment, and she's in Vegas with her father.)
Mom spent a week with me. Everywhere I went, she went. I was getting pretty claustrophobic by day five, but then she finally went to the doctor, and I got a few hours to relax and not have to worry about politeness and modesty and all that. That's all it took for me to calm down; by the time I saw her again, I was good for another few days. She took off yesterday afternoon for Aunt Millie's after helping me take the Christmas decorations down. I'm doing the last bits of un-Christmasing and un-babyproofing today.
I keep seeing "One day till Sherlock" on Twitter and Tumblr, but not for me. With an eleven year old computer, I don't think it's a good idea to be downloading software and Sherlock episodes and all that. I'm far too lazy and idiotish to figure it all out, and with my luck, I'd download the mother of all viruses/worms and destroy Mom's computer. So I'm doing what I figure is the fastest way for a Yank to see the new series without illegal downloads: buying it on region free Blu-Ray as soon as it's available at Amazon UK and rushing the shipping.
Only problem with that plan before today was that I didn't have a Blu-Ray player, but thanks to Aunt Millie's generous birthday and Christmas presents, I purchased one this morning. I plan to connect it to the computer monitor and speakers this evening. I have a few Blu-Rays thanks to Disney's penchant for combo packs with DVDs and Blu-Rays in them, but I hadn't any Blu-Rays without DVDs before today. Thanks to Dad's generous birthday present, I bought the Lord of the Rings trilogy extended editions this morning, too.
Yeah, baby. I SHOPPED!
I've written my thank you notes to the family members who sent money and shall mail them this evening, but I have some baking to do first. The first miniature cheesecakes are in the oven -- I'm testing my new ramekins, so this is an experiment tonight. Still, the cheesecake recipe is so good that even if I overbake them, they'll still be yummy (just a little dry). I'm celebrating a solitary New Year's Eve tonight with great pleasure and shall while away the hours watching movies, embroidering, and eating yummy things.
I wish you all a safe and happy New Year's and a most excellent 2012.
