(no subject)
Dec. 22nd, 2003 12:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chelseagirlDon't do many lemmings, but enjoyed reading this one in friends' journals, so:
1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
Got married. No, wait, we'd already done that privately, for immigration; had our big public wedding celebration.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Since I already can't remember what they were . . .
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Jen and Jess, both had their second.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My grandfather-in-law, though I'd only met him once, while I was in England to get engaged.
5. What countries did you visit?
None. Having a partner whose visa status won't allow him to leave the country and come back again is seriously a drag.
6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
A completed dissertation and at least one more accepted article.
7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
April 26th -- the day of the wedding.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Completing my *Bleak House* chapter -- that had been looming for quite some time.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I didn't finish the fourth and final chapter; I feel I failed to reach all my students equally well, but I also know that I'm the type to beat myself up way too much.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
The dress I wore to the wedding, I suppose -- cocktail dress from the Barney's Warehouse Sale, marked down from $600 to $71.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
So many people really, but especially M. for always being there. Jessica, Rick and John for the music at the wedding and after. My dad for being adorable at the wedding. Susan for being a great and generous mum-in-law. Irene for keeping me sane.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
A certain someone who's never forgiven me for something that not only I, but nobody else, can figure out what it was (none of you here on LJ know her); a certain someone else whose behavior descended into stalking (not of me, but of someone I care about); George W. and his government cronies.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Wedding expenses and dental reconstruction. (Note to self, never again break even a single tooth while lacking dental insurance.)
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Uh, the wedding. Some of the stuff I'm teaching this year and preparing to teach next (Dante, the Alice class, etc.) Some of what I'm writing; some of what I'm reading.
16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
"You'll Never Know" by Los Mas Valientes.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier
ii. thinner or fatter? About the same (but still fatter than I'm accustomed to being)
iii. richer or poorer? About the same
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Focused on the dissertation, spent time with friends.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastinated; allowed myself to be so strongly affected by little things.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With M., who is making a lovely dinner, probably trying to keep the kitten from unwrapping all the presents before we can . . .
21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
M. Cell phones: the couple's walkie-talkie.
22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
Was there already. With the kitten? Yes.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
"Sopranos", "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," "24". "Angel" made it back onto the charts.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. I'm not big on the hate. (Annoyance, irritation, and hurt, yes. Hate, no.)
26. What was the best book you read?
China Mieville's *The Scar* (was that really this year?)
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Soooo embarrassing. I finally started listening to The White Stripes. I gotta get out more. (Making a list from the Onion's best of, 'cause I'm so sad.) Also, discovered that I really like singing in a four-part chorus (my choir has been all-treble for years now).
28. What did you want and get?
Permission to teach the Alice class!
29. What did you want and not get?
Enough time and money to relax and be able to focus on my scholarship (in other words, to bloody finish this thing!)
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Lost in Translation, RotK.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
My birthday for this year is yet to come, and M. is still negotiating to try to trade shifts. Last year, he couldn't get off, so my family and I had dinner at Evil Chain Restaurant.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
To have defended and be getting ready for graduation.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
I think having to focus on being financially responsible and not running up my credit cards has had a negative effect on the fashion thing. Still wearing a lot of black, and enjoying slim-fitting, flare legged jeans (I am willing to drop an absurd amount on Seven jeans, because they really do look that much better), but noting that my most stylish students are wearing lots of color and doing retro from eras that I can *eep* remember from the first time around!
34. What kept you sane?
Hugs from M. and Cabell (the cat who is obsessed with me); many sane and wonderful friends, but especially G.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Sean Bean and Hugo Weaving. (I know, you were expecting . . .)
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Where to start? The war. (I'm against it.) Gay marriage. (I'm for it.) Gay bishops. (I'm for him.) And something in local "politics" that has caused great sorrow and disrupted a community that means a lot to me.
37. Who did you miss?
E., as always. Irene, who I never see enough of -- but having her in my wedding really brought that home.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Some fabulous new colleagues and students, several lovely people here on LJ, etc. -- overall, a good humans year, which helps to compensate for some of the cynicism and pain caused by some of the events in 13 & 36
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003:
It really *is* all about confidence. I've got the ability; I just need to believe in myself.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
uh, blank.
1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
Got married. No, wait, we'd already done that privately, for immigration; had our big public wedding celebration.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Since I already can't remember what they were . . .
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Jen and Jess, both had their second.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My grandfather-in-law, though I'd only met him once, while I was in England to get engaged.
5. What countries did you visit?
None. Having a partner whose visa status won't allow him to leave the country and come back again is seriously a drag.
6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
A completed dissertation and at least one more accepted article.
7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
April 26th -- the day of the wedding.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Completing my *Bleak House* chapter -- that had been looming for quite some time.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I didn't finish the fourth and final chapter; I feel I failed to reach all my students equally well, but I also know that I'm the type to beat myself up way too much.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
The dress I wore to the wedding, I suppose -- cocktail dress from the Barney's Warehouse Sale, marked down from $600 to $71.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
So many people really, but especially M. for always being there. Jessica, Rick and John for the music at the wedding and after. My dad for being adorable at the wedding. Susan for being a great and generous mum-in-law. Irene for keeping me sane.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
A certain someone who's never forgiven me for something that not only I, but nobody else, can figure out what it was (none of you here on LJ know her); a certain someone else whose behavior descended into stalking (not of me, but of someone I care about); George W. and his government cronies.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Wedding expenses and dental reconstruction. (Note to self, never again break even a single tooth while lacking dental insurance.)
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Uh, the wedding. Some of the stuff I'm teaching this year and preparing to teach next (Dante, the Alice class, etc.) Some of what I'm writing; some of what I'm reading.
16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
"You'll Never Know" by Los Mas Valientes.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier
ii. thinner or fatter? About the same (but still fatter than I'm accustomed to being)
iii. richer or poorer? About the same
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Focused on the dissertation, spent time with friends.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastinated; allowed myself to be so strongly affected by little things.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With M., who is making a lovely dinner, probably trying to keep the kitten from unwrapping all the presents before we can . . .
21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
M. Cell phones: the couple's walkie-talkie.
22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
Was there already. With the kitten? Yes.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
"Sopranos", "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," "24". "Angel" made it back onto the charts.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. I'm not big on the hate. (Annoyance, irritation, and hurt, yes. Hate, no.)
26. What was the best book you read?
China Mieville's *The Scar* (was that really this year?)
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Soooo embarrassing. I finally started listening to The White Stripes. I gotta get out more. (Making a list from the Onion's best of, 'cause I'm so sad.) Also, discovered that I really like singing in a four-part chorus (my choir has been all-treble for years now).
28. What did you want and get?
Permission to teach the Alice class!
29. What did you want and not get?
Enough time and money to relax and be able to focus on my scholarship (in other words, to bloody finish this thing!)
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Lost in Translation, RotK.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
My birthday for this year is yet to come, and M. is still negotiating to try to trade shifts. Last year, he couldn't get off, so my family and I had dinner at Evil Chain Restaurant.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
To have defended and be getting ready for graduation.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
I think having to focus on being financially responsible and not running up my credit cards has had a negative effect on the fashion thing. Still wearing a lot of black, and enjoying slim-fitting, flare legged jeans (I am willing to drop an absurd amount on Seven jeans, because they really do look that much better), but noting that my most stylish students are wearing lots of color and doing retro from eras that I can *eep* remember from the first time around!
34. What kept you sane?
Hugs from M. and Cabell (the cat who is obsessed with me); many sane and wonderful friends, but especially G.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Sean Bean and Hugo Weaving. (I know, you were expecting . . .)
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Where to start? The war. (I'm against it.) Gay marriage. (I'm for it.) Gay bishops. (I'm for him.) And something in local "politics" that has caused great sorrow and disrupted a community that means a lot to me.
37. Who did you miss?
E., as always. Irene, who I never see enough of -- but having her in my wedding really brought that home.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Some fabulous new colleagues and students, several lovely people here on LJ, etc. -- overall, a good humans year, which helps to compensate for some of the cynicism and pain caused by some of the events in 13 & 36
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003:
It really *is* all about confidence. I've got the ability; I just need to believe in myself.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
uh, blank.
