2007 in review
Jan. 3rd, 2008 05:02 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ravenThere should be a term for the type of creeping, subtle madness that gets under your skin alongside days and nights without sleep and a new disconcerting familiarity with the passage of the stars across the sky.
Actually, there is. It's called jet-lag, oh dear. Mine is compounded with a sequence of migraines and general insomnia, and I feel like I've been awake for all of 2008. Situation normal.
Well, I keep trying to do the 2007 fic in review meme, and failing. I'll just note that my favourite story of my own last year was "Letters to La Paz", and in total, I wrote thirteen stories in five fandoms to a total of 38,620 words. It sounds like it should be about one a month, but I actually wrote five of them in a two week period, and only wrote one story from January to July. My main goal for the next year, other than, er, Finals and law school, is to write more, and angst less. On which note, happy new year to everyone.
The life-in-review meme, with only the questions I thought were interesting:
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Seriously considered post-Oxford life; went on pilgrimage; suffered from depression; visited Berlin; joined OULES!; applied to law school.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make them, usually. This year I wanted to seriously consider a, you know, relationship. Considering and doing are two very different things, and besides, the universe had other ideas.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
scriblix had her Bump!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not close, exactly. Andy Mason, Balliol's JCR president, committed suicide on February 5th, 2007. He was twenty years old.
5. What countries did you visit?
America, three times - Miami; then New York and Connecticut; then Indiana, Chicago and New Hampshire.
Also, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Germany and India.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
See above re: relationship and the universe having other ideas. Seriously, though, I would like admission to law school, and a little certainty about the going-to-America plan.
7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
February 5th, which was for more than one reason probably the worst day of my life, and Easter weekend, the Visit of OMG 1.5, which consisted of some of the best. The Visit of OMG 1.75 was pretty damn awesome, too.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I don't think I achieved anything concrete this year. But I survived a couple of months of depression at the beginning of year, and had a happy, healthy, somewhat productive ten months to follow, and that alone is an achievement, I think.
9. What was your biggest failure?
The LSAT. I could have, and should have, done better.
10.Did you suffer illness or injury?
Depression, a little. Beyond that, only my usual round of headaches and insomnia. I was very healthy this year, all told. I didn't even get the flu or anything like it.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Mmmm, I don't know. I'm tempted to say the giant microbes for Maria, because they made her so happy - seriously, I've never seen anyone so happy to be presented with giant plush viruses on her birthday - and if not them, then perhaps a lovely pair of leather biker boots, which I did not need and utterly adore.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Many people's.jacinthsong's and foulds's, mostly - they were, and are, some of the dearest friends I have.
13. Whose behaviour made you depressed?
My parents', on one or two occasions, and also that of quite a few Republicans.
14. Where did most of your money go?
On my rent, on buying too many books, and shortly a large chunk of it is going on replacing this laptop.
15. What events did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Visits of OMG 1.5 and 1.75, naturally! And also New Hampshire, and the whole Clinton campaign, and any and all travel. I love travel, have I mentioned?
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
"Wait", by Sarah McLachlan.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i.happier or sadder? Happier, undoubtedly. I was miserable as sin this time last year.
ii.thinner or fatter? Thinner, oddly enough. Contrary to all known expectations, I lost weight in America.
iii.richer or poorer? The same.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Work, alas! I should have done more work during the summer, definitely.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Sitting up all night, as I'm doing now. Enough jet-lag, please.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
...huh. Well, I spent it in Indiana, at the mandir. True story. Christmas Day, and I was at a reading of the Hanuman Chalisa.
21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
jacinthsong - or at least, she's the person I call the most.
22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
No.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Slings & Arrows! I also watched a lot of Doctor Who, Due South and just recently, Star Trek.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Mike Huckabee. I didn't know he existed this time last year.
26. What was the best book you read?
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, by Paul Torday. It's a lovely book, and everyone needs to read it.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery or rediscovery?
Emilie Autumn, Sarah McLachlan (rediscover), and Vienna Teng.
28. What did you want and get?
Happiness, after the winter. Trinity in particular was just drenched in friends and sunlight and good things.
29. What did you want and not get?
...sigh.
30. What were your favourite films of this year?
I think, Stardust, although I feel like I'm missing an obvious other one.
31. What did you do on your birthday?
I had the best party of all time. I was twenty on the twentieth, it was my champagne birthday, my friends dressed up and brought me sugar and wine and made me all squishy with joy.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Having done well on the LSAT.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Skirts 'n' boots, jeans that you don't need to wash for a week.
34. What kept you sane?
jacinthsong! (No, we're not co-dependent at all.)
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most/least?
David Tennant, Paul Gross. Damn, that man is pretty.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Here, women's rights and civil partnership law. In America, single payer healthcare!
37. Whom did you miss?
gamesiplay, whom I always miss when we can't do something like go for a coffee and chat because of the bloody Atlantic.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I didn't meetemily_shore this year, far from it - in fact, she remembers meeting me before I remember meeting her - but I certainly got to know her a lot better, and I'm glad of that.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
Dharma is valid and relevant, it's not an archaic notion from millennia past, it's in my blood.
40. Sum up the year in a song lyric/quote:
I went back to the ocean today / With my books and my papers I went to the rocks by the ocean
I need to sleep, and I need to not be thinking about TOS fic, that would be bad.
Actually, there is. It's called jet-lag, oh dear. Mine is compounded with a sequence of migraines and general insomnia, and I feel like I've been awake for all of 2008. Situation normal.
Well, I keep trying to do the 2007 fic in review meme, and failing. I'll just note that my favourite story of my own last year was "Letters to La Paz", and in total, I wrote thirteen stories in five fandoms to a total of 38,620 words. It sounds like it should be about one a month, but I actually wrote five of them in a two week period, and only wrote one story from January to July. My main goal for the next year, other than, er, Finals and law school, is to write more, and angst less. On which note, happy new year to everyone.
The life-in-review meme, with only the questions I thought were interesting:
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Seriously considered post-Oxford life; went on pilgrimage; suffered from depression; visited Berlin; joined OULES!; applied to law school.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make them, usually. This year I wanted to seriously consider a, you know, relationship. Considering and doing are two very different things, and besides, the universe had other ideas.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
scriblix had her Bump!4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not close, exactly. Andy Mason, Balliol's JCR president, committed suicide on February 5th, 2007. He was twenty years old.
5. What countries did you visit?
America, three times - Miami; then New York and Connecticut; then Indiana, Chicago and New Hampshire.
Also, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Germany and India.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
See above re: relationship and the universe having other ideas. Seriously, though, I would like admission to law school, and a little certainty about the going-to-America plan.
7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
February 5th, which was for more than one reason probably the worst day of my life, and Easter weekend, the Visit of OMG 1.5, which consisted of some of the best. The Visit of OMG 1.75 was pretty damn awesome, too.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I don't think I achieved anything concrete this year. But I survived a couple of months of depression at the beginning of year, and had a happy, healthy, somewhat productive ten months to follow, and that alone is an achievement, I think.
9. What was your biggest failure?
The LSAT. I could have, and should have, done better.
10.Did you suffer illness or injury?
Depression, a little. Beyond that, only my usual round of headaches and insomnia. I was very healthy this year, all told. I didn't even get the flu or anything like it.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Mmmm, I don't know. I'm tempted to say the giant microbes for Maria, because they made her so happy - seriously, I've never seen anyone so happy to be presented with giant plush viruses on her birthday - and if not them, then perhaps a lovely pair of leather biker boots, which I did not need and utterly adore.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Many people's.
jacinthsong's and foulds's, mostly - they were, and are, some of the dearest friends I have.13. Whose behaviour made you depressed?
My parents', on one or two occasions, and also that of quite a few Republicans.
14. Where did most of your money go?
On my rent, on buying too many books, and shortly a large chunk of it is going on replacing this laptop.
15. What events did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Visits of OMG 1.5 and 1.75, naturally! And also New Hampshire, and the whole Clinton campaign, and any and all travel. I love travel, have I mentioned?
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
"Wait", by Sarah McLachlan.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i.happier or sadder? Happier, undoubtedly. I was miserable as sin this time last year.
ii.thinner or fatter? Thinner, oddly enough. Contrary to all known expectations, I lost weight in America.
iii.richer or poorer? The same.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Work, alas! I should have done more work during the summer, definitely.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Sitting up all night, as I'm doing now. Enough jet-lag, please.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
...huh. Well, I spent it in Indiana, at the mandir. True story. Christmas Day, and I was at a reading of the Hanuman Chalisa.
21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
jacinthsong - or at least, she's the person I call the most.22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
No.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Slings & Arrows! I also watched a lot of Doctor Who, Due South and just recently, Star Trek.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Mike Huckabee. I didn't know he existed this time last year.
26. What was the best book you read?
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, by Paul Torday. It's a lovely book, and everyone needs to read it.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery or rediscovery?
Emilie Autumn, Sarah McLachlan (rediscover), and Vienna Teng.
28. What did you want and get?
Happiness, after the winter. Trinity in particular was just drenched in friends and sunlight and good things.
29. What did you want and not get?
...sigh.
30. What were your favourite films of this year?
I think, Stardust, although I feel like I'm missing an obvious other one.
31. What did you do on your birthday?
I had the best party of all time. I was twenty on the twentieth, it was my champagne birthday, my friends dressed up and brought me sugar and wine and made me all squishy with joy.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Having done well on the LSAT.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Skirts 'n' boots, jeans that you don't need to wash for a week.
34. What kept you sane?
jacinthsong! (No, we're not co-dependent at all.) 35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most/least?
David Tennant, Paul Gross. Damn, that man is pretty.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Here, women's rights and civil partnership law. In America, single payer healthcare!
37. Whom did you miss?
gamesiplay, whom I always miss when we can't do something like go for a coffee and chat because of the bloody Atlantic.38. Who was the best new person you met?
I didn't meet
emily_shore this year, far from it - in fact, she remembers meeting me before I remember meeting her - but I certainly got to know her a lot better, and I'm glad of that.39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
Dharma is valid and relevant, it's not an archaic notion from millennia past, it's in my blood.
40. Sum up the year in a song lyric/quote:
I went back to the ocean today / With my books and my papers I went to the rocks by the ocean
I need to sleep, and I need to not be thinking about TOS fic, that would be bad.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
on 2008-01-03 05:32 am (UTC)No, it would be great! *g*
(Of course, this is from someone who's currently giving a small amount of contemplation to writing epic crew-of-Voyager-settles-down-in-the-Delta-Quadrant-instead-of-going-home fic, so, you know, my perspective may be warped. Heh. *laffs at own bad pun* *needs to go to bed* *but probably less than you do*)
no subject
on 2008-01-03 05:38 am (UTC)And, wow, Voyager's crew settle down
and breedin the Delta Quadrant? I would so read that!no subject
on 2008-01-04 02:23 am (UTC)And, wow, Voyager's crew settle down
and breedin the Delta Quadrant? I would so read that!Yay! There should be lots of fics like that out there, and I could swear I remember reading some back when I was a teenager, but I can't find them anywhere. I always figured that would be by far the most likely course of events--aside from "the ship getting blowed up and everyone dying horribly"--if they were actually to inhabit a universe in any way connected with reality.
no subject
on 2008-01-04 03:16 am (UTC)no subject
on 2008-01-04 03:50 am (UTC)(And it's not only the evolving into lizards part that gets me--although that's execrable on its own--it's the "Warp 10 means you exist everywhere in the universe, man!" part as well. They completely dismissed both basic biology and physics knowledge all in the same hour. It makes my brain hurt.)
no subject
on 2008-01-04 03:54 am (UTC)no subject
on 2008-01-04 04:33 am (UTC)neverrarely seemed to have equally high highs.I don't even know off the top of my head if the show has much of a fandom.
It was huge back when it was on the air--there were a million mailing lists for J/C and P/T in particular--but I'm not sure if there's anything left of it. I gave up on the show and the fandom with Captain Katie's Irish Hologram O' Love in season six ('99 or 2000, I think) and have only recently been interested in reading fic again.
no subject
on 2008-01-03 05:47 am (UTC)Uhhhh, please be thinking about TOS fic, be thinking about it A LOT.
gamesiplay, whom I always miss when we can't do something like go for a coffee and chat because of the bloody Atlantic.
*wails at you* Oh, god, I miss you so much, too. Come to America! We have law school and exciting upcoming elections!
Also I have the first season of TOS on DVD and I will tie you to a chair in front of it until you write fic.Happy, happy New Year. I can't believe you're in your last year at Oxford, and how much you've done. I feel like just yesterday we were trying to explain the intricacies of transatlantic secondary schooling to each other.
no subject
on 2008-01-03 06:06 am (UTC)And then there would be fic! I really am thinking about it, I don't know why. I miss yooooooou.
Happy New Year to you too! I can't believe it either. You, you're graduating college too! And I remember you deciding where to apply to and going to interviews, and, just, wow.
no subject
on 2008-01-03 09:58 am (UTC)no subject
on 2008-01-03 09:01 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2008-01-03 01:47 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2008-01-04 06:02 pm (UTC)And no, not Hot Fuzz! I don't think so. Might be Shortbus, though.
no subject
on 2008-01-03 08:09 pm (UTC)