One of those year-in-review quizzes from Jaquandor.
Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Didn’t really make any, so didn’t have to worry about failing to keep them. But then I read Richie’s post and wondered if I’ve been doing it all wrong.
Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
Did anyone close to you die?
David Janower I was mighty fond of.
What countries did you visit?
Ha! Traveled even less than the previous year.
What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
More optimism.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Despite my complaints about it, a solo in the church play. Also, a reading of Langston Hughes poems.
What was your biggest failure?
Easily distracted. I’m sorry, what did you ask?
What was the best thing you bought?
There are some Kickstarter items that arrived that I liked such as MURDERVILLE Comic Book #1: “A Farewell to Armories”; The Werewolf of New York; and especially a retrospective collection of Kal cartoons from The Economist.
Whose behavior merited celebration?
My friend Lynne Jackson, who attempted to walk to Binghamton for a good cause.
Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Congress, last I checked, had a 12% approval rate, which I assume includes their immediate families, plus the lobbyists who own them.
Where did most of your money go?
The house. Specifically, a new front porch, desperately needed, but very expensive.
What did you get really excited about?
Blogging. Got a second (or ninth) wind.
What song will always remind you of 2013?
Has to be New, by Sir Paul McCartney, the ONLY song my wife, my daughter and I could ALL identify.
Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
Sadder. The body politic has worn me down.
Thinner or fatter?
About the same.
Richer or poorer?
Poorer. I put aside more money for the health reimbursement program for the daughter’s braces.
What do you wish you’d done more of?
Traveled, but that was a function of money, in no small part.
What do you wish you’d done less of?
Brooding.
How did you spend Christmas?
Went to church, doing the gift thing.
Did you fall in love in 2013?
Yes.
How many one-night stands?
As many as last year.
What was your favorite TV program?
The Good Wife, CBS Sunday Morning, The Daily Show.
Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nah, hate is highly overrated.
What was the best book you read?
Thinking by Numbers by Daniel Tammet.
What was your greatest musical discovery?
The music to The Lion King.
What did you want and get?
Books and music.
What did you want and not get?
Our office to move downtown from Corporate (frickin) Woods.
What were your favorite films of this year?
The Sound of Music and Singin’ in the Rain, neither of which I had ever seen in its entirety before.
What did you do on your birthday?
As little as possible.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
As usual, “fashion” is silly. Function over form.
What kept you sane?
Writing; singing; listening to music; learning new stuff; and then I suddenly realized that the question ASSUMES that I AM sane, which may or may not be the case.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Wendy Davis.
What political issue stirred you the most?
The damn snooping on Americans, and apparently, everyone else, by the NSA.
Who did you miss?
I miss my parents, still.
Who was the best new person you met?
New woman in the office. Her cat’s name is Roger.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013:
I actually went through a period of melancholy caused by some specific circumstances. The situation didn’t change, but my attitude towards it did, and it made it a whole lot more palatable.
Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
So you think that you’ve got troubles?
Well, trouble’s a bubble,
So tell old Mr. Trouble to “Get lost!”.
Why not hold your head up high and,
Stop cryin’, start tryin’,
And don’t forget to keep your fingers crossed.
When you find the joy of livin’
Is lovin’ and givin’
You’ll be there when the winning dice are tossed.
A smile is just a frown that’s turned upside down,
So smile, and that frown will defrost.
And don’t forget to keep your fingers crossed!
(Who can identify the lyrics? It is one of these.)
