Here’s something I don’t do on this blog very often: a meme. A couple of days late given the subject matter, but better than nothing. Besides, this year I really am going to try to post more. 😉
1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Tie between:
- Went to Thailand twice in the same year.
- Finally visited my company’s Kansas headquarters (I was the last employee who hadn’t yet been there).
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn’t really make any “formal” resolutions, but I did say I’d like to post on Oddball Update more, and I certainly failed at that one (there are 9 pages of topics for 2008, vs. 13 pages for 2007). I did, however, mention having the wherewithal to go with the flow and do what needs to be done, which I did accomplish to some degree.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My sister-in-law Cherry gave birth to a new daughter this year.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My paternal grandmother.
5. What countries did you visit?
Thailand. And the plains of Kansas, if that counts — at times it sure felt another country.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Willpower, particularly as it applies to making myself get some exercise.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Lots to choose from. Bad stuff:
- The day we found out that Apple needed surgery, earlier this spring.
- The day we found out that our first try at IVF didn’t succeed.
- The day we found rats in the attic and I watched $600 of money partially earmarked for my birthday present disappear in a flash. (Fortunately I made the money back from a sidework client a month later).
Good stuff:
- The day I landed a huge stash of Xbox games in Thailand. Score!
- The trips to Disney World that we took this year.
- Got my iPhone — practically a life-changing device.
- Apple’s birthday, during which we went shopping and had a relaxing evening meal at a nice restaurant.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Two big ones: Getting our brand new company websites and online store launched in January, and actually getting to the point where I am proficient in Flash CS3 (and to the point where I like it, too).
9. What was your biggest failure?
The failure of our first round of IVF was disappointing, but not a failure over which we really had any control. My biggest personal failure was the complete clusterfuck that became of a website SEO job I signed on to do. The site’s SEO performance went in the toilet shortly after I got my hands on it, and I never was able to bring it back up. I have no idea what went wrong, or even if it was my fault. But I suspect that I’ve cost myself a client with that cock-up.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Other than a plugged-up ear and a case of the flu, no.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My iPhone. Tie for second: My TiVo HD and my modified Thai Xbox.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My wife, for putting up with my erratic moods. 😉
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
A handful of the United States Congress and a large swath of the American citizenry who seem content to throw the domestic auto industry out with the trash.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage, HOA, taxes, IVF fund.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Starting our first attempt at IVF and hoping it was gonna work the first time. Also, I got plenty excited about the trips we took and the goodies I bought.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Probably “2080” by Yeasayer, either that or “Ghost Love Score” by Nightwish.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
b) thinner or fatter?
c) richer or poorer?
a) Sadder, I guess. To tell the truth, I don’t really remember how I felt during this time last year.
b) Fatter. (Working it off now.)
c) Richer.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Exercising, particularly riding my bike. Also, I think my wife was on the right track when she replied, “Relax and enjoy life.”
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Stressing out over stupid shit, especially at work.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Working.
21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Nope. My one true love affair’s been going on for over a decade already!
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Of new TV programs: Battlestar Galactica, season 4.0. Hard to believe it was actually 2008 when it ran (from January through March). Of old TV programs: Deep Space Nine. I still can’t understand why I hated it when it was on in the ’90s.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Not really. I’m only counting personal acquaintances, though.
24. What was the best book you read?
Definitely something from the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Relaunch series. Probably “Unity” by S.D. Perry.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Symphonic rock! And MP3s of all those goofy old Star Trek records I used to rent from the library as a kid. Scotty sounds like an Italian plumber!
26. What did you want and get?
A ton of stuff, most of which I already mentioned above.
27. What did you want and not get?
A child.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
I guess nothing stood out, because I don’t remember seeing anything that came out this year (other than the new James Bond film Quantum of Solace, which was good but not especially memorable).
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 28. Oddly, I don’t remember what I did. I know we went out to eat somewhere that evening. Just can’t remember where. I got my iPhone about a week later (had to suffer through the aforementioned case of the flu first) as a gift for myself.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I repeat: Stop stressing out over stupid shit.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
About the same as it’s been since, oh, 1994 — with the addition of greater awareness of new hair styling methods.
32. What kept you sane?
1) Hope. 2) Hobbies and personal pursuits. 3) Here in Thailand, tons of Star Trek.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Celebrities are completely irrelevant to me. As a public figure, Barack Obama sure was (and continues to be) inspiring.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The financial implosion and the political narcissism that contributed significantly to it, for which absolutely none of the involved parties took even the slightest responsibility.
35. Who did you miss?
I missed my two grandmothers, whom I don’t often see — one of whom passed away this year.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
All the guys at the Kansas office were really cool.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Don’t obsess over the “what ifs.” What’s done is done. Do everything to the best of your abilities, don’t worry about other people’s problems, and you should have no regrets. I know, I know…easier said than done, right?
