![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Thirty-Six Questions: 2013 in Review
Jan. 18th, 2014 10:47 amFor 2012 in review, see my post for January 1, 2013.
1. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?
Adopted a Humane Society kitten from our local PetValu store.
Went to Niagara-on-the-Lake and the Shaw Festival.
2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions and will you make more?
I did my best with the hypothetical resolutions mentioned last year. I haven't really made more. See also my recent post about STUPID goals.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
See last year's answer.
5. What countries did you visit?
The US - I went to Washington DC for the 25th anniversary of Malice Domestic. I also made several trips to Toronto. and one to Kingston and Wolfe Island for the Scene of the Crime festival. On my bucket list is to visit all ten provinces of Canada before I die (passing through them or flying over them doesn't count). So far I've visited: B.C., Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and P.E.I.
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
I think I'll really have to upgrade my computer equipment. My desktop system with Windows 98 is extremely reliable but definitely showing its age; I keep getting files I can't read. I'd like to keep my desktop system (after all, I'm almost halfway through my 32,000 different games of solitaire!) but I'll probably get something in the way of an Apple laptop.
In addition, I'd like a few improvements around the house: I'd like to divide it up into manageable chunks so that it's not too disruptive.
7. What dates from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
Probably the long weekend in early August when we adopted a kitten.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I can't honestly think of any great achievements for 2013 - it was sort of a holding-steady kind of a year. However, I'll note the following:
I did a lot of reading; I actually did do some sorting and repurposing of stuff, though there's always more to do.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Maybe my failure to really decide what I want out of the rest of my life? I find when I have time to call my own, I'm sort of torn between doing something that's "just for me" vs. doing something I feel I OUGHT to do, like clearing out a closet or washing the floor. And the "oughts" win, up to a point - I don't do as much as I'd hoped to do and then I'm doubly discouraged. So in 2014, I think I'd like to do more "just for me" things, maybe things I haven't thought about doing before because I always figured I just didn't have the talent. Take up painting or sculpture or something artistic, maybe?
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not that I can recall. I do find quite often when I'm in a hotel, I get nosebleeds, maybe because I'm high up (after all, they often call the highest balconies in the theatre "the nosebleed section")? I guess it's just as well I live in a bungalow!
11. What was the best thing that someone bought you?
I'd probably have to answer that the same way I did last year - not that many people buy me things but those who do buy me stuff are generally aware of my tastes. I'm always interested in the books people give me. This year, one of my Christmas presents was a book by Andrew J. Simpson, "The Big Picture" - a bunch of short pieces that are all very quirky (was it "magical realism" it was described as?) For more information on the author, see:
http://versustheneanderthals.wordpress.com
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
I'm pretty impressed with Chris Hadfield - he seems very willing to give of his time and get kids - and adults too - excited about the world and the space program.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Once again, the Harper government, especially its slash-and-burn approach to the public service, its muzzling of debate, closing of libraries, suppression of research findings that we, the taxpayers/voters have already paid for...
14. Where did most of your money go?
Home maintenance and entertainment (including three summer music festivals, crime fiction conventions, art gallery and museum memberships, etc.)
15. What did you get really, really excited about?
Our new cat. The grandchildren. Various things I encountered on my travels. Getting to experience Bach's coffee cantata sung and performed live at a coffee roastery.
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
Maybe the above-mentioned coffee cantata. Or Monteverdi's Vespers. Or any song on "The Silent I Know".
17. Compared to this time last year, are you (a) happier or sadder; (b) thinner or fatter; (c) richer or poorer?
(a) in terms of my emotional life and relationships - my partner, our cat, staying in touch with the kids and getting acquainted with our grandchildren as they grow up - I'd say happier.
As far as existential angst (to put it pretentiously) goes, maybe a little sad. I'll be celebrating a landmark birthday in 2014 and am aware that there's less of my life ahead of me than behind me. To put it selfishly, have I been doing the things in life that are really important to me? And to put it more altruistically, am I (in some very small way, of course) making a difference in the world? There are no easy answers.
(b) One of my sisters thought I was still losing weight. I think if anything, I may have started gaining back a little of the weight I lost, although I'm certainly not worried about being overweight. So I'll split the difference and say I'm about the same.
(c) In terms of family income, maybe very slightly richer as my partner started drawing CPP (though only a small amount due to few years paying in plus the consequences of drawing it early). I won't know till the end of January what increases if any there are in my government pension.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Perhaps being spontaneous. And perhaps doing NEW things.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying about things I couldn't change.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
See last year's answer.
21. Did you fall in love in 2013?
This one is quite interesting when compared with last year's entry. Then, I mentioned studiously avoiding animal shelters for fear of wanting to adopt all the homeless cats. This past year, I did actually adopt one. As our vet said, pet stores are very dangerous that way!
22. How many one-night stands?
None - definitely not my thing.
23. What was your favourite TV program?
I don't think I discovered any new ones this past year, so it was just the usual: Coronation Street, Midsomer Murders, Murdoch Mysteries, Castle, Elementary, DCI Banks and Masterpiece Mystery (which included several Poirots and John Buchan's Thirty-Nine Steps). I did enjoy the movie version of Louise Penny's first Three Pines novel.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nope.
25. What was the best book you read?
I'm always hard-pressed to narrow things down to one "best". I've been reading all my favourite mystery & crime novels. I also went on something of an Iain Banks kick, particularly in light of my 2012 trip to Scotland and Banks'untimely death in 2013.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Not sure. I was looking forward to learning more about some of the great operas when I signed up for a Learning in Retirement course at Carleton (I think the title was something like "Fairy tales, myths and legends in classical music"). Unfortunately, the instructor was forced for health reasons to cancel the course after just one session (which centred around the opera Carmen).
27. What did you want and get?
I guess the cat, although I'd been saying ever since our last one died that I didn't think I was prepared to get attached to another animal.
28. What did you want and not get?
Various improvements to the house... there's always that risk of paralysis by analysis if you get a bunch of quotes from contractors and then try and figure out which one would be best.
29. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
I don't remember. As for how old I was, read this entry and my last year's one and figure it out for yourself!
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
See last year's entry.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
Pretty much the same as in 2012. In other words, practical and casual. I quite like looking at clothes and fashion but as far as wearing them, if they aren't comfortable and washable and reasonably well-made, forget it! I guess maybe I express my individuality through my choice of colours (red, purple, navy and grey seem to be current favourites) and a little bit of jewelry.
32. What kept you sane?
I think my independent time, whether spent at home or out on my Wednesday errand-mornings. It helps me to regroup.
33. What political issue stirred you the most?
Again, probably all the stuff going on with the public service.
34. Who do you miss?
I'd probably have to answer the same as last year - mainly deceased relatives. Also perhaps my younger, more energetic self (though come to think of it, I didn't tend to feel all that energetic when I was caught up in work-stress and office politics!)
35. Who was the best new person you met?
Not sure...
36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013
Ummm... how about "Life is short, eat dessert first"?
1. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?
Adopted a Humane Society kitten from our local PetValu store.
Went to Niagara-on-the-Lake and the Shaw Festival.
2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions and will you make more?
I did my best with the hypothetical resolutions mentioned last year. I haven't really made more. See also my recent post about STUPID goals.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
See last year's answer.
5. What countries did you visit?
The US - I went to Washington DC for the 25th anniversary of Malice Domestic. I also made several trips to Toronto. and one to Kingston and Wolfe Island for the Scene of the Crime festival. On my bucket list is to visit all ten provinces of Canada before I die (passing through them or flying over them doesn't count). So far I've visited: B.C., Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and P.E.I.
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
I think I'll really have to upgrade my computer equipment. My desktop system with Windows 98 is extremely reliable but definitely showing its age; I keep getting files I can't read. I'd like to keep my desktop system (after all, I'm almost halfway through my 32,000 different games of solitaire!) but I'll probably get something in the way of an Apple laptop.
In addition, I'd like a few improvements around the house: I'd like to divide it up into manageable chunks so that it's not too disruptive.
7. What dates from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
Probably the long weekend in early August when we adopted a kitten.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I can't honestly think of any great achievements for 2013 - it was sort of a holding-steady kind of a year. However, I'll note the following:
I did a lot of reading; I actually did do some sorting and repurposing of stuff, though there's always more to do.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Maybe my failure to really decide what I want out of the rest of my life? I find when I have time to call my own, I'm sort of torn between doing something that's "just for me" vs. doing something I feel I OUGHT to do, like clearing out a closet or washing the floor. And the "oughts" win, up to a point - I don't do as much as I'd hoped to do and then I'm doubly discouraged. So in 2014, I think I'd like to do more "just for me" things, maybe things I haven't thought about doing before because I always figured I just didn't have the talent. Take up painting or sculpture or something artistic, maybe?
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not that I can recall. I do find quite often when I'm in a hotel, I get nosebleeds, maybe because I'm high up (after all, they often call the highest balconies in the theatre "the nosebleed section")? I guess it's just as well I live in a bungalow!
11. What was the best thing that someone bought you?
I'd probably have to answer that the same way I did last year - not that many people buy me things but those who do buy me stuff are generally aware of my tastes. I'm always interested in the books people give me. This year, one of my Christmas presents was a book by Andrew J. Simpson, "The Big Picture" - a bunch of short pieces that are all very quirky (was it "magical realism" it was described as?) For more information on the author, see:
http://versustheneanderthals.wordpress.com
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
I'm pretty impressed with Chris Hadfield - he seems very willing to give of his time and get kids - and adults too - excited about the world and the space program.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Once again, the Harper government, especially its slash-and-burn approach to the public service, its muzzling of debate, closing of libraries, suppression of research findings that we, the taxpayers/voters have already paid for...
14. Where did most of your money go?
Home maintenance and entertainment (including three summer music festivals, crime fiction conventions, art gallery and museum memberships, etc.)
15. What did you get really, really excited about?
Our new cat. The grandchildren. Various things I encountered on my travels. Getting to experience Bach's coffee cantata sung and performed live at a coffee roastery.
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
Maybe the above-mentioned coffee cantata. Or Monteverdi's Vespers. Or any song on "The Silent I Know".
17. Compared to this time last year, are you (a) happier or sadder; (b) thinner or fatter; (c) richer or poorer?
(a) in terms of my emotional life and relationships - my partner, our cat, staying in touch with the kids and getting acquainted with our grandchildren as they grow up - I'd say happier.
As far as existential angst (to put it pretentiously) goes, maybe a little sad. I'll be celebrating a landmark birthday in 2014 and am aware that there's less of my life ahead of me than behind me. To put it selfishly, have I been doing the things in life that are really important to me? And to put it more altruistically, am I (in some very small way, of course) making a difference in the world? There are no easy answers.
(b) One of my sisters thought I was still losing weight. I think if anything, I may have started gaining back a little of the weight I lost, although I'm certainly not worried about being overweight. So I'll split the difference and say I'm about the same.
(c) In terms of family income, maybe very slightly richer as my partner started drawing CPP (though only a small amount due to few years paying in plus the consequences of drawing it early). I won't know till the end of January what increases if any there are in my government pension.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Perhaps being spontaneous. And perhaps doing NEW things.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying about things I couldn't change.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
See last year's answer.
21. Did you fall in love in 2013?
This one is quite interesting when compared with last year's entry. Then, I mentioned studiously avoiding animal shelters for fear of wanting to adopt all the homeless cats. This past year, I did actually adopt one. As our vet said, pet stores are very dangerous that way!
22. How many one-night stands?
None - definitely not my thing.
23. What was your favourite TV program?
I don't think I discovered any new ones this past year, so it was just the usual: Coronation Street, Midsomer Murders, Murdoch Mysteries, Castle, Elementary, DCI Banks and Masterpiece Mystery (which included several Poirots and John Buchan's Thirty-Nine Steps). I did enjoy the movie version of Louise Penny's first Three Pines novel.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nope.
25. What was the best book you read?
I'm always hard-pressed to narrow things down to one "best". I've been reading all my favourite mystery & crime novels. I also went on something of an Iain Banks kick, particularly in light of my 2012 trip to Scotland and Banks'untimely death in 2013.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Not sure. I was looking forward to learning more about some of the great operas when I signed up for a Learning in Retirement course at Carleton (I think the title was something like "Fairy tales, myths and legends in classical music"). Unfortunately, the instructor was forced for health reasons to cancel the course after just one session (which centred around the opera Carmen).
27. What did you want and get?
I guess the cat, although I'd been saying ever since our last one died that I didn't think I was prepared to get attached to another animal.
28. What did you want and not get?
Various improvements to the house... there's always that risk of paralysis by analysis if you get a bunch of quotes from contractors and then try and figure out which one would be best.
29. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
I don't remember. As for how old I was, read this entry and my last year's one and figure it out for yourself!
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
See last year's entry.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
Pretty much the same as in 2012. In other words, practical and casual. I quite like looking at clothes and fashion but as far as wearing them, if they aren't comfortable and washable and reasonably well-made, forget it! I guess maybe I express my individuality through my choice of colours (red, purple, navy and grey seem to be current favourites) and a little bit of jewelry.
32. What kept you sane?
I think my independent time, whether spent at home or out on my Wednesday errand-mornings. It helps me to regroup.
33. What political issue stirred you the most?
Again, probably all the stuff going on with the public service.
34. Who do you miss?
I'd probably have to answer the same as last year - mainly deceased relatives. Also perhaps my younger, more energetic self (though come to think of it, I didn't tend to feel all that energetic when I was caught up in work-stress and office politics!)
35. Who was the best new person you met?
Not sure...
36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013
Ummm... how about "Life is short, eat dessert first"?
