the end of the year, almost
Dec. 21st, 2008 09:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ravenToday, I revised not enough contract law and instead lurked around the Yuletide Treats list. The end-of-year meme, nabbed from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
speccygeekgrrl:
What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Directed a play! Sat Oxford finals; was owned by a cat; went to law school; fainted on an Underground station.
Did you keep your new years' resolutions?
If I remember, my only (private) resolution was: be happy. Didn't quite do that, but I'm still here. This year I have two, but they come in their appointed time.
Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, actually! This surprises me.
Did anyone close to you die?
For the first time in three years, I can say no. Thank god.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Surviving it, I think. And, yeah, degree from Oxford, but it goes more properly in the next question.
No, wait! I was TERRIFIED and MAD but I went to London and I SAT THE LSAT and I got 167 and did better than 94% of the other candidates SO THERE.
What was your biggest failure?
Not doing as well I'd wanted in my degree is my own personal failure, so that. And not having a training contract was something of a professional one.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
Alas, yes. Having been depressed for six months, I am saying tentatively that I'm on my way up now. (Up, out, slamming the doors behind me and yelling obscenities at the ground below, one would hope!) I am now left with strange shadows and afterthoughts of my medication, the nightmares and the tiredness, but my own insomnia, and I am very glad to have it back. It's an old friend in the way the depression isn't.
What was the best thing you bought?
My beloved Macbook, Nemi Montoya.
What countries did you visit?
I want to say America twice, but I actually came back from New England on December 30th, so America once: a week in San Francisco in July, and later I spent a few days in Ireland. And I was in Edinburgh for a week in August, which I offer without comment as to whether or not Scotland is a different country.
What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A training contract. And with it, a plan. As long as I don't have one, I don't know where I'm going and what I'm aiming at, I don't know where and when I leave Oxford and how and whenshimgray and I can live together.
Whose behaviour merited celebration?
I echosunlightdances and say: America's! Seriously, guys, you did the greatest thing I've ever seen you do, and you've done great stuff.
Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I wouldn't say so. I like some people less, and some people more. C'est la vie.
Where did most of your money go?
Rent, as usual. And train tickets, which I seem to have got through a lot of this year. And going to San Francisco, which was probably ill-advised for many reasons, but I'm still glad I went.
What song will always remind you of 2008?
Vienna Teng, Recessional.
Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
I don't know, actually. Sadder, technically, god bless my brain, but I have more direction, more security now than I did.
ii. richer or poorer?
The same. And, as my tutors tell me sagely, crime doesn't pay. Much as I love the criminal law, I don't think I will ever make any money, ever.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Dancing. Seriously. This hasn't been a good year for getting out of the house and being myself. I should have gone out more, I should have got dressed up more, I should have put more music on in the kitchen, I should danced more.
What do you wish you'd done less of?
Being depressed. Sleeping all day and all night and being sad for no reason except a treacherous, traitorous brain.
How will you be spending Christmas?
Withshimgray and his family in Edinburgh. I'm a little amazed that I'm actually spending Christmas this year, rather than December 25th.
Did you fall in love in 2008?
Yes, I did.
How many one-night stands?
Er... none. Yes, none.
What was your favourite TV program?
Embarrassingly: Merlin! I also watched lots of Star Trek, and I adored Einstein and Eddington.
What was the best book you read?
Ursula Le Guin, Voices. I loved this beyond comprehension. I also liked Passage, by Connie Willis, and having re-read Three Men in a Boat recently, it turns out it's still my favourite book.
What was your greatest musical discovery?
I'm not sure! Probably the Indelicates, as I think I've loved Vienna Teng for a couple of years now.
What was your favourite film of this year?
You know, I don't think I actually went to the cinema in 2008. I'm terrible with films, I really am. I like TV, mostly. I liked Mamma Mia. I'm really cool, me.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
It was my twenty-first birthday, which suggests many happenings, but, well, I had a quiet afternoon with people coming to see me, and dinner with my flatmates. It was perfect.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Better degree results. If one thing really upset me this year, it was that; and it doesn't help that by other standards it was a good degree result, because it wasn't what I wanted or was capable of, and I don't think that for this, anyone's opinion matters except mine.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Simple, well-made things, with colourful touches. This has always been what my taste is like, but I've been doing it deliberately this year, hunting for things on eBay and throwing out a lot of my old clothes.
What kept you sane?
jacinthsong and shimgray. There was a time in April and May where they were the one thing between me and total mental breakdown.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
David Tennant. Yes, it's always David Tennant. Shut up.
What political issue stirred you the most?
I would like to say the American election, but that's kind of generic and besides, has been stirring me in various ways since early 2007, so, let's be specific. The vile racism that accompanied the defeat of Proposition 8 in California, how about that? And right now, I am entirely too happy about the Senate race in Minnesota. It's like my very own political soap opera complete with Al Franken.
Whom did you miss?
Weirdly enough,jacinthsong. It is a culture shock, going from spending every waking hour with a person to only seeing them a mere once a fortnight!
Who was the best new person you met?
J., an awesome geek of a baby lawyer, and the three other baby lawyers that came with her. They've been an unexpected blessing for the latter half of the year.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
Gosh, I don't know. Being alive is easy, we all manage it to some extent. What is hard is living, living well, eudaimonia - and that's the only thing I have wanted, these last few months, and for 2009.
Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
And you are so young but you'll understand
That the stars for the sea are the same for the land
And we came to learn the sea.
(Dar Williams, "We Learned the Sea")
speccygeekgrrl:What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Directed a play! Sat Oxford finals; was owned by a cat; went to law school; fainted on an Underground station.
Did you keep your new years' resolutions?
If I remember, my only (private) resolution was: be happy. Didn't quite do that, but I'm still here. This year I have two, but they come in their appointed time.
Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, actually! This surprises me.
Did anyone close to you die?
For the first time in three years, I can say no. Thank god.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Surviving it, I think. And, yeah, degree from Oxford, but it goes more properly in the next question.
No, wait! I was TERRIFIED and MAD but I went to London and I SAT THE LSAT and I got 167 and did better than 94% of the other candidates SO THERE.
What was your biggest failure?
Not doing as well I'd wanted in my degree is my own personal failure, so that. And not having a training contract was something of a professional one.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
Alas, yes. Having been depressed for six months, I am saying tentatively that I'm on my way up now. (Up, out, slamming the doors behind me and yelling obscenities at the ground below, one would hope!) I am now left with strange shadows and afterthoughts of my medication, the nightmares and the tiredness, but my own insomnia, and I am very glad to have it back. It's an old friend in the way the depression isn't.
What was the best thing you bought?
My beloved Macbook, Nemi Montoya.
What countries did you visit?
I want to say America twice, but I actually came back from New England on December 30th, so America once: a week in San Francisco in July, and later I spent a few days in Ireland. And I was in Edinburgh for a week in August, which I offer without comment as to whether or not Scotland is a different country.
What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A training contract. And with it, a plan. As long as I don't have one, I don't know where I'm going and what I'm aiming at, I don't know where and when I leave Oxford and how and when
shimgray and I can live together.Whose behaviour merited celebration?
I echo
sunlightdances and say: America's! Seriously, guys, you did the greatest thing I've ever seen you do, and you've done great stuff.Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I wouldn't say so. I like some people less, and some people more. C'est la vie.
Where did most of your money go?
Rent, as usual. And train tickets, which I seem to have got through a lot of this year. And going to San Francisco, which was probably ill-advised for many reasons, but I'm still glad I went.
What song will always remind you of 2008?
Vienna Teng, Recessional.
Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
I don't know, actually. Sadder, technically, god bless my brain, but I have more direction, more security now than I did.
ii. richer or poorer?
The same. And, as my tutors tell me sagely, crime doesn't pay. Much as I love the criminal law, I don't think I will ever make any money, ever.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Dancing. Seriously. This hasn't been a good year for getting out of the house and being myself. I should have gone out more, I should have got dressed up more, I should have put more music on in the kitchen, I should danced more.
What do you wish you'd done less of?
Being depressed. Sleeping all day and all night and being sad for no reason except a treacherous, traitorous brain.
How will you be spending Christmas?
With
shimgray and his family in Edinburgh. I'm a little amazed that I'm actually spending Christmas this year, rather than December 25th. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Yes, I did.
How many one-night stands?
Er... none. Yes, none.
What was your favourite TV program?
Embarrassingly: Merlin! I also watched lots of Star Trek, and I adored Einstein and Eddington.
What was the best book you read?
Ursula Le Guin, Voices. I loved this beyond comprehension. I also liked Passage, by Connie Willis, and having re-read Three Men in a Boat recently, it turns out it's still my favourite book.
What was your greatest musical discovery?
I'm not sure! Probably the Indelicates, as I think I've loved Vienna Teng for a couple of years now.
What was your favourite film of this year?
You know, I don't think I actually went to the cinema in 2008. I'm terrible with films, I really am. I like TV, mostly. I liked Mamma Mia. I'm really cool, me.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
It was my twenty-first birthday, which suggests many happenings, but, well, I had a quiet afternoon with people coming to see me, and dinner with my flatmates. It was perfect.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Better degree results. If one thing really upset me this year, it was that; and it doesn't help that by other standards it was a good degree result, because it wasn't what I wanted or was capable of, and I don't think that for this, anyone's opinion matters except mine.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Simple, well-made things, with colourful touches. This has always been what my taste is like, but I've been doing it deliberately this year, hunting for things on eBay and throwing out a lot of my old clothes.
What kept you sane?
jacinthsong and shimgray. There was a time in April and May where they were the one thing between me and total mental breakdown. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
David Tennant. Yes, it's always David Tennant. Shut up.
What political issue stirred you the most?
I would like to say the American election, but that's kind of generic and besides, has been stirring me in various ways since early 2007, so, let's be specific. The vile racism that accompanied the defeat of Proposition 8 in California, how about that? And right now, I am entirely too happy about the Senate race in Minnesota. It's like my very own political soap opera complete with Al Franken.
Whom did you miss?
Weirdly enough,
jacinthsong. It is a culture shock, going from spending every waking hour with a person to only seeing them a mere once a fortnight!Who was the best new person you met?
J., an awesome geek of a baby lawyer, and the three other baby lawyers that came with her. They've been an unexpected blessing for the latter half of the year.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
Gosh, I don't know. Being alive is easy, we all manage it to some extent. What is hard is living, living well, eudaimonia - and that's the only thing I have wanted, these last few months, and for 2009.
Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
And you are so young but you'll understand
That the stars for the sea are the same for the land
And we came to learn the sea.
(Dar Williams, "We Learned the Sea")
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on 2008-12-22 11:17 am (UTC)no subject
on 2008-12-22 12:37 pm (UTC)