2014: The Year in Review
Thu, Jan. 1st, 2015 10:59 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
scarlettinaMy annual round-up. I'm posting it on New Year's Day rather than New Year's Eve because I had to sleep on what my lesson from the year might be. I may have missed more than one lesson this year, but the one I'm taking with me is the one that I think is most important in the end.
I'm so thankful for the friends and family who are my companions on this journey. It would be a long lonely trip without you all.
1. What did you do in 2014 that you'd never done before?
2. Did you make any New Year's Goals for 2014 and, if so, did you meet them?
Yes! I did, in fact, do more than one house project. I replaced the light fixture in the upstairs livingroom, had the upstairs bathroom repaired, and replaced all the appliances in the kitchen.
I attended theater. Did I attend more than in 2013? I'm not sure about that, but what theater I saw was, for the most part, very good indeed.
I suspect that I journaled less in 2014 than I did in 2013, which was directly contrary to my goal. On the other hand, I'm virtually certain that I posted more to Facebook than I did to LiveJournal, which isn't necessarily a good thing. I need to reverse that trend.
3. Any goals for 2015?
These goals are identical to goals for 2014--with two exceptions, those being the last two points--because they're valid and achievable.
4. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Close to me, no.
5. Did anyone close to you die?
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
jaylake, about whose passing I wrote at the time.
6. What cities and towns did you visit?
7. What countries did you visit?
This year, none. I stayed in the US.
8. How many nights did you spend away from home?
27 nights total and, as in 2013, I never left the country, but I certainly did cross it. 2015 already holds plans for three visits to Portland (in the space of something like 7 weeks), one to Lake Quinault, one to Spokane and, in theory, one overseas. We shall see.
9. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?
As in 2014, more focus to nurture myself as an artist. More belief in myself and my worthiness for good things.
10. What date from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
June 5 was the day that Jay died. It was the end of an era in so many ways.
11. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Completing work on the Kobold Guide to Combat and getting the signing at University Bookstore nailed down. At the day job, completing work on the 2015 health plans.
12. What was your biggest failure?
Not paying sufficient attention to my weight. Not finishing and submitting any fiction. Not giving myself more credit for the good things I have done. Not loving myself more.
13. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope, although the preparation for my colonoscopy was pretty damn miserable.
14. What was the best thing you bought?
Several things:
15. Whose behavior merited celebration?
This year? As with last year, I think all of us merited celebration. We've had tough times this year and we've all persevered with great strength.
16. Whose behavior, what situations appalled and depressed you?
Appalled: The Republican party in Congress, as ever. Depressed: The diagnosis ofkateyule's brain tumor and girasole's illness.
17. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage and paying down debt. The answer to this question rarely changes.
18. What events did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Kobold Press signing at University Bookstore. Going to California both times. Attending the powwow with friends. Getting the new light fixture upstairs.
19. Compared to this time last year, you are . . .
Heavier and pretty frustrated about it. Unhappy with myself about the state of my writing, well, about the state of my creativity in general. More financially stable.
20. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Being more creative in general. Being more aggressive about meeting new people. Saving more money.
21. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Wishing.
22. How did you spend Christmas?
Quietly.
23. What were your favorite TV programs? Were there programs you stopped watching?
Favorites were Big Bang Theory, Project Runway (although not consistently), Downton Abbey, The Librarians. I stopped watching Sleepy Hollow; I felt like it moved so fast that developments piled on top of each other almost senselessly, despite how much I liked the characters. I watched less Castle, too.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nope.
25. What was the best book you read?
Can't pick just one, but among my favorites were People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks, Truth Like the Sun by Jim Lynch, the many Patrick O'Brian novels I read, and Codex Born by Jim C. Hines. I'm currently reading Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton and enjoying it quite a bit. I didn't keep a proper list of the books I read this year so I figure that if I remember them as well as I do these, then they made a significant impression.
26. What did you want and get?
The good company of congenial, entertaining, kind and well-informed people, good meals, good trips.
27. What did you want and not get?
A feeling of general satisfaction. A personal direction.
28. What were your favorite films of this year?
This is always a tough question for me, but these are the films that stuck with me:
29. What was your favorite play or musical of the year?
I think it's a tie between the production of "Pippin" that I saw in New York City and "Truth Like the Sun" at Book-it Rep. I can't say that "Waiting for Godot" with Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan was my favorite play of the year, because it wasn't, but it was certainly an extraordinary experience.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 52 this year, and had dinner with friends.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Feeling like I'd accomplished more than I have.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept this year?
Stylish, comfortable with an emphasis on accessories.
33. What kept you sane?
Sleep. Books. My cats. My amazing circle of friends.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
I was so disgusted with so much of what went on this year politically that after a while I was too exhausted to engage, to be perfectly frank. I always care about environmental issues and animal conservation. I always care about women's rights.
35. Whom did you miss?
My mom, as ever, and someone else who will go unnamed here.
36. Who was the best new person you met? Who did you reconnect with?
I met JL via EB; our culinary adventures have been some of the high points of the year. MNR has turned out to be a good person whom I'd like to get to know better. I reconnected with JB after years of distant acquaintance, and it has been delightful, one of the highlights of the year.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned--or relearned--in 2014.
Whenever God closes a door, she opens a window. No one ever said she'd show you how to find that window though. That part is up to you.
I send my wishes to everyone here for a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year. May we all have and keep the good things and successes that we strive for, and may we all survive and thrive in 2015. I send my love.
I'm so thankful for the friends and family who are my companions on this journey. It would be a long lonely trip without you all.
1. What did you do in 2014 that you'd never done before?
- Attended a pow-wow
- Had a sleep-over party for two little girls
- Made hummus from scratch
- Organized and featured in a book signing at University Bookstore
2. Did you make any New Year's Goals for 2014 and, if so, did you meet them?
Yes! I did, in fact, do more than one house project. I replaced the light fixture in the upstairs livingroom, had the upstairs bathroom repaired, and replaced all the appliances in the kitchen.
I attended theater. Did I attend more than in 2013? I'm not sure about that, but what theater I saw was, for the most part, very good indeed.
I suspect that I journaled less in 2014 than I did in 2013, which was directly contrary to my goal. On the other hand, I'm virtually certain that I posted more to Facebook than I did to LiveJournal, which isn't necessarily a good thing. I need to reverse that trend.
3. Any goals for 2015?
These goals are identical to goals for 2014--with two exceptions, those being the last two points--because they're valid and achievable.
- Attend to at least one house project.
- Attend more theater.
- Journal more.
- Live more healthfully.
- Take one international trip.
- Pursue one art consistently and achieve some level of competence.
4. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Close to me, no.
5. Did anyone close to you die?
jaylake, about whose passing I wrote at the time.6. What cities and towns did you visit?
- Centralia, WA
- Kent, WA
- Lake Quinault, WA
- Mendocino, CA
- New York, NY
- Portland, OR
- Seatac, WA
- Troutdale, OR
- Valencia, CA
7. What countries did you visit?
This year, none. I stayed in the US.
8. How many nights did you spend away from home?
- Lake Quinault, WA (4)
- New York, NY (5)
- Seatac, WA for Norwescon (3)
- Valencia, CA (5)
- Portland, OR (6)
- Mendocino, CA (3)
- Troutdale, OR (company retreat) (1)
27 nights total and, as in 2013, I never left the country, but I certainly did cross it. 2015 already holds plans for three visits to Portland (in the space of something like 7 weeks), one to Lake Quinault, one to Spokane and, in theory, one overseas. We shall see.
9. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?
As in 2014, more focus to nurture myself as an artist. More belief in myself and my worthiness for good things.
10. What date from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
June 5 was the day that Jay died. It was the end of an era in so many ways.
11. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Completing work on the Kobold Guide to Combat and getting the signing at University Bookstore nailed down. At the day job, completing work on the 2015 health plans.
12. What was your biggest failure?
Not paying sufficient attention to my weight. Not finishing and submitting any fiction. Not giving myself more credit for the good things I have done. Not loving myself more.
13. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope, although the preparation for my colonoscopy was pretty damn miserable.
14. What was the best thing you bought?
Several things:
- My lovely crow painting
- The new light fixture for my upstairs living room
- The new kitchen appliances
15. Whose behavior merited celebration?
This year? As with last year, I think all of us merited celebration. We've had tough times this year and we've all persevered with great strength.
16. Whose behavior, what situations appalled and depressed you?
Appalled: The Republican party in Congress, as ever. Depressed: The diagnosis of
kateyule's brain tumor and girasole's illness. 17. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage and paying down debt. The answer to this question rarely changes.
18. What events did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Kobold Press signing at University Bookstore. Going to California both times. Attending the powwow with friends. Getting the new light fixture upstairs.
19. Compared to this time last year, you are . . .
Heavier and pretty frustrated about it. Unhappy with myself about the state of my writing, well, about the state of my creativity in general. More financially stable.
20. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Being more creative in general. Being more aggressive about meeting new people. Saving more money.
21. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Wishing.
22. How did you spend Christmas?
Quietly.
23. What were your favorite TV programs? Were there programs you stopped watching?
Favorites were Big Bang Theory, Project Runway (although not consistently), Downton Abbey, The Librarians. I stopped watching Sleepy Hollow; I felt like it moved so fast that developments piled on top of each other almost senselessly, despite how much I liked the characters. I watched less Castle, too.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nope.
25. What was the best book you read?
Can't pick just one, but among my favorites were People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks, Truth Like the Sun by Jim Lynch, the many Patrick O'Brian novels I read, and Codex Born by Jim C. Hines. I'm currently reading Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton and enjoying it quite a bit. I didn't keep a proper list of the books I read this year so I figure that if I remember them as well as I do these, then they made a significant impression.
26. What did you want and get?
The good company of congenial, entertaining, kind and well-informed people, good meals, good trips.
27. What did you want and not get?
A feeling of general satisfaction. A personal direction.
28. What were your favorite films of this year?
This is always a tough question for me, but these are the films that stuck with me:
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Unforgiven (the Japanese remake that I saw at SIFF)
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, part 1
- I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story
- The Grand Budapest Hotel
- Into the Woods
29. What was your favorite play or musical of the year?
I think it's a tie between the production of "Pippin" that I saw in New York City and "Truth Like the Sun" at Book-it Rep. I can't say that "Waiting for Godot" with Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan was my favorite play of the year, because it wasn't, but it was certainly an extraordinary experience.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 52 this year, and had dinner with friends.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Feeling like I'd accomplished more than I have.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept this year?
Stylish, comfortable with an emphasis on accessories.
33. What kept you sane?
Sleep. Books. My cats. My amazing circle of friends.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
I was so disgusted with so much of what went on this year politically that after a while I was too exhausted to engage, to be perfectly frank. I always care about environmental issues and animal conservation. I always care about women's rights.
35. Whom did you miss?
My mom, as ever, and someone else who will go unnamed here.
36. Who was the best new person you met? Who did you reconnect with?
I met JL via EB; our culinary adventures have been some of the high points of the year. MNR has turned out to be a good person whom I'd like to get to know better. I reconnected with JB after years of distant acquaintance, and it has been delightful, one of the highlights of the year.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned--or relearned--in 2014.
Whenever God closes a door, she opens a window. No one ever said she'd show you how to find that window though. That part is up to you.
I send my wishes to everyone here for a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year. May we all have and keep the good things and successes that we strive for, and may we all survive and thrive in 2015. I send my love.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: Thu, Jan. 1st, 2015 07:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Thu, Jan. 1st, 2015 08:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Fri, Jan. 2nd, 2015 08:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Fri, Jan. 2nd, 2015 02:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Thu, Jan. 1st, 2015 10:10 pm (UTC)That is true entirely.