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Dec. 18th, 2008 06:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hathycolGUESS WHO'S OVER HALF WAY THROUGH HER DISSERTATION? Sure, by six words, but that is TOTALLY NOT THE POINT. I have a whole other hour to myself in the library. (I made an executive decision that I was entitled to go home at seven whatever happened; I need to eat, yo.) And since I am at my Personal Target For The Day, I don't have to come back later on, as I was beginning to fear might happen. I will even be AHEAD of my target for tomorrow now! Which is good since self has to be in work tomorrow.
Thank god for the Acts And Ordinances Of The Interregnum and the Verney Family Memoirs (and of course, the historians who compiled them; they must have been dull at parties but I'd have happily bought them a G+T) and the fact that I am both able and need to quote extensively from for the whole thing to make sense.
As such, here is something I've been working on once an hour for five minutes for the last two days as an hourly treat to myself:
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Have a car accident that wasn't my fault
Sue someone
Buy a car
Sort out my own insurance
Research a dissertation
Played on the TARDIS set
DJ-ed
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any. My resolutions for next year are to get a job and try to be happy in the moment.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
A girl I knew in college, Sasha, had a baby boy.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank goodness.
5. What countries did you visit?
England and Scotland don't count, given I live in both of them. I did visit Wales, though!
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A job offer for the future.
7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
28th May. For the wrong reasons.
9th November. For much better Russell T. Davies related reasons.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Erm... keeping myself together, I think.
9. What was your biggest failure?
All the times that I didn't keep myself together. And not doing enough of my dissertation!
10.Did you suffer illness or injury?
Whiplash after a car accident. Still bad occasionally.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Our hamster, followed closely by my car.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
You lot; Katie; Richie; my parents; my grandparents; the American electorate. Life may be crap, but people have been wonderful.
13. Whose behaviour made you depressed?
Above all, Simon's, rather unsurprisingly. NOTE FOR THE FUTURE: leaving your fiance over the phone is NOT COOL.
14. Where did most of your money go?
My landlady, Scottish Power, the car.
15. What events did you get really, really, really excited about?
Both of the Glasgow Collectormanias; going to Cardiff; going to see Amanda Palmer.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
All of the Amanda Palmer album.
Orbital - Doctor Who?
Florence and the Machine - Kiss With A Fist
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i.happier or sadder? sadder
ii.thinner or fatter? is 'I need insulation for the winter' a decent enough excuse? Same clothes size, I've just noticed gravity more.
iii.richer or poorer? Poorer. AND HOW.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Backing up my computer.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Crying. Oh, this is a miserable meme this year.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I have FIVE WHOLE GLORIOUS DAYS set aside (okay, I will be driving for two of them) in which I will be spending it entirely with my family, not with someone else's for the first time in three years. I am taking a printed copy of my dissertation for my Dad to read so someone else can spell-check and stuff, but that's only a small part of the holiday. On Christmas Eve we are going out for a Now Traditional Piss-Up Because We're All Legal For The First Time In Twenty-One Years, Christmas Day will be in front of the telly, and Boxing Day I will have turkey and chips. Then I drive back up to overtime and my dissertation. But still. It'll be a proper holiday, I've decided.
21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Simon, for the first few months. After that, probably my mother, or in close second the insurance company.
22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
I was in love in 2008, yes. That's really all I can say. I know I'm dodging the question.
23. How many one-night stands?
None. Honestly, I came all the way to uni with the intentionn of contracting syphilis...
24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Doctor Who. Merlin. Beautiful People. Really got into Life on Mars.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yes. It's not Simon, which is probably a bit surprising. I don't think I could ever hate him.
26. What was the best book you read?
Elizabeth Gaskell - North and South
(I don't think Twilight counts as 'best')
27. What was your greatest musical discovery or rediscovery?
Amanda Palmer is a good bit of both, I think.
28. What did you want and get?
The dissertation project I wanted to do.
29. What did you want and not get?
A job offer for next year.
30. What were your favourite films of this year?
Wall-E is a pretty big contender, I think.
31. What did you do on your birthday?
I saw friends, played on the Lammas Market, ate takeaway, got drunk. Good times.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Quite a lot of it not happening, to be honest.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
"Trying To Be A Grown Up And Failing". Another good alternative is "Oh, Is The Washing Machine Broken Again?"
34. What kept you sane?
The immeasurable support of my friends and family.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most/least?
You know, this year will probably be remembered as the year that I got both Myleene Klass AND Take That IN THE SAME ADVERT. I shush people and everything when it comes on, even though it contains no words. I only really fancy Myleene Klass in the M&S adverts, it's a bit mental.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
American elections. I'm also pretty riled up about transgender issues at the moment.
37. Whom did you miss?
Not really a person; I missed having a little bit of security in my future, I think. Still do, really.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Kiru and Sheriden. My academic kids. All the n00bs at DocSoc.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
It's okay to be sad; just remember to get on with things.
Also, do not eat lentils and then lots of red wine.
40. Sum up the year in a song lyric/quote
"I may be romantic
And I may risk my life for it
But I ain't gonna die for you
You know I ain't no Juliet
And I'm not gonna watch you
While you burn yourself out, baby
No I'm not gonna stop you
'Cause I'm not the one that's crazy" Amanda Palmer - Ampersand
Thank god for the Acts And Ordinances Of The Interregnum and the Verney Family Memoirs (and of course, the historians who compiled them; they must have been dull at parties but I'd have happily bought them a G+T) and the fact that I am both able and need to quote extensively from for the whole thing to make sense.
As such, here is something I've been working on once an hour for five minutes for the last two days as an hourly treat to myself:
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Have a car accident that wasn't my fault
Sue someone
Buy a car
Sort out my own insurance
Research a dissertation
Played on the TARDIS set
DJ-ed
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any. My resolutions for next year are to get a job and try to be happy in the moment.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
A girl I knew in college, Sasha, had a baby boy.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank goodness.
5. What countries did you visit?
England and Scotland don't count, given I live in both of them. I did visit Wales, though!
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A job offer for the future.
7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
28th May. For the wrong reasons.
9th November. For much better Russell T. Davies related reasons.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Erm... keeping myself together, I think.
9. What was your biggest failure?
All the times that I didn't keep myself together. And not doing enough of my dissertation!
10.Did you suffer illness or injury?
Whiplash after a car accident. Still bad occasionally.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Our hamster, followed closely by my car.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
You lot; Katie; Richie; my parents; my grandparents; the American electorate. Life may be crap, but people have been wonderful.
13. Whose behaviour made you depressed?
Above all, Simon's, rather unsurprisingly. NOTE FOR THE FUTURE: leaving your fiance over the phone is NOT COOL.
14. Where did most of your money go?
My landlady, Scottish Power, the car.
15. What events did you get really, really, really excited about?
Both of the Glasgow Collectormanias; going to Cardiff; going to see Amanda Palmer.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
All of the Amanda Palmer album.
Orbital - Doctor Who?
Florence and the Machine - Kiss With A Fist
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i.happier or sadder? sadder
ii.thinner or fatter? is 'I need insulation for the winter' a decent enough excuse? Same clothes size, I've just noticed gravity more.
iii.richer or poorer? Poorer. AND HOW.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Backing up my computer.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Crying. Oh, this is a miserable meme this year.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I have FIVE WHOLE GLORIOUS DAYS set aside (okay, I will be driving for two of them) in which I will be spending it entirely with my family, not with someone else's for the first time in three years. I am taking a printed copy of my dissertation for my Dad to read so someone else can spell-check and stuff, but that's only a small part of the holiday. On Christmas Eve we are going out for a Now Traditional Piss-Up Because We're All Legal For The First Time In Twenty-One Years, Christmas Day will be in front of the telly, and Boxing Day I will have turkey and chips. Then I drive back up to overtime and my dissertation. But still. It'll be a proper holiday, I've decided.
21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Simon, for the first few months. After that, probably my mother, or in close second the insurance company.
22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
I was in love in 2008, yes. That's really all I can say. I know I'm dodging the question.
23. How many one-night stands?
None. Honestly, I came all the way to uni with the intentionn of contracting syphilis...
24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Doctor Who. Merlin. Beautiful People. Really got into Life on Mars.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yes. It's not Simon, which is probably a bit surprising. I don't think I could ever hate him.
26. What was the best book you read?
Elizabeth Gaskell - North and South
(I don't think Twilight counts as 'best')
27. What was your greatest musical discovery or rediscovery?
Amanda Palmer is a good bit of both, I think.
28. What did you want and get?
The dissertation project I wanted to do.
29. What did you want and not get?
A job offer for next year.
30. What were your favourite films of this year?
Wall-E is a pretty big contender, I think.
31. What did you do on your birthday?
I saw friends, played on the Lammas Market, ate takeaway, got drunk. Good times.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Quite a lot of it not happening, to be honest.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
"Trying To Be A Grown Up And Failing". Another good alternative is "Oh, Is The Washing Machine Broken Again?"
34. What kept you sane?
The immeasurable support of my friends and family.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most/least?
You know, this year will probably be remembered as the year that I got both Myleene Klass AND Take That IN THE SAME ADVERT. I shush people and everything when it comes on, even though it contains no words. I only really fancy Myleene Klass in the M&S adverts, it's a bit mental.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
American elections. I'm also pretty riled up about transgender issues at the moment.
37. Whom did you miss?
Not really a person; I missed having a little bit of security in my future, I think. Still do, really.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Kiru and Sheriden. My academic kids. All the n00bs at DocSoc.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
It's okay to be sad; just remember to get on with things.
Also, do not eat lentils and then lots of red wine.
40. Sum up the year in a song lyric/quote
"I may be romantic
And I may risk my life for it
But I ain't gonna die for you
You know I ain't no Juliet
And I'm not gonna watch you
While you burn yourself out, baby
No I'm not gonna stop you
'Cause I'm not the one that's crazy" Amanda Palmer - Ampersand
no subject
Date: 2008-12-18 06:34 pm (UTC)I'm a little scared about the 2008 meme, not sure if I am up to doing it at this point.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-19 04:27 pm (UTC)I am, however, confident that 2009 is going to be better for everyone. Honestly.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-18 08:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-19 04:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-18 10:36 pm (UTC)