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yonmei @ : The 2008 memeI've had worse years.
What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Wrote 2008 in my cheque book.
Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
As far as I remember, I didn't make any. I usually don't. This saves time.
Did anyone close to you give birth?
There's a large housing estate not a hundred yards from where I live, so the demographic odds are high that someone did. A hundred yards is close, yes?
Did anyone close to you die?
See above, though I feel less comfortable speculating.
What countries did you visit?
The usual. Narnia. Omelas. 19th century England. 17th century Scotland. Shejidan. I also went to England and to Germany, but not to Wales or Orkney.
What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A number to write on my cheques that is evenly divisible both by the first prime number of the form 6n + 1, and by 287, a prime number whose digits are all prime numbers.
There are other things I would like, actually, but this is not the place to discuss them.
What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
20.08.2008. Also, though less strongly, 8.2.08.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting 3 to cancel my account with them without forcing me to pay a cancellation fee of several hundred pounds.
What was your biggest failure?
I didn't manage to raise the minimum amount for Kaija Seifert, who died about a year ago, to have an online memorial at the Intrepid Fallen Heroes website. (And it may be too late, unless they just had a holiday server crash - their website seems to have no data on it.)
Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes.
Did you have to go to the hospital?
Several times. About evenly as visitor and as patient. Did not have to stay overnight. Also spent a fair amount of imaginary time at Princeton Plainsborough Teaching Hospital.
Are you registered to vote?
Yes.
What was the best thing you bought?
A thyroid operation for my Bob.
Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Bob's, when she started gaining weight again.
Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Bob's. Thyroid cancer! And then, after the operation, she continued to lose weight until I bought her a big bag of Hills Science Diet kitten food. Really, that is no way to behave.
Where did most of your money go?
On Bob. No. Um. Essentials. Food. Household goods. Travel. The wellbeing of a rather fluffy yet adorable cat.
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I don't think I did. This question lost me at the third "really". I did get really, really excited about the US elections.
What song will always remind you of 2008?
Democracy is coming, probably.
Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or sadder?
Happier. My period started yesterday, and this time last year, my hormones were still on their pre-period depression kick.
ii. richer or poorer?
About the same, I think.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing fanfic.
What do you wish you'd done less of?
Hanging out on stupid Internet sites getting into silly arguments with people don't matter to me.
How will you be spending Christmas?
Christmas has no monetary value.
Where did you ring in 2008?
On my mobile phone.
Actually, I spent the first few minutes of 2008 hastily downloading some important website stats for November and December that I was going to lose forever in an hour or so. But the ringing happened on my mobile phone. I got text messages wishing me a happy new year.
What was your favourite TV programme?
Have I Got News For You.
Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't think so, though had McCain been elected President, I think this would have been a different story.
What was the best book you read?
Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World. No, not really. I don't know. I don't think there is such a thing as the "best book".
What was your greatest musical discovery?
Leonard Cohen. Thank you,
whatho and jekesta.What did you want and get?
Bob to be alive and well in 2009.
What did you want and not get?
A magic Accountancy Fairy to do my tax return for me.
Were you in school (any time this year)?
Yes, every Tuesday morning, pretty much. The primary school round the corner is where the weekly fruit'n'veg coop sells its stuff.
How did you earn your keep?
I worked for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in Scotland. The things they'll pay you to do, eh?
What was your favourite film of this year?
...I'm not sure I went to see one. Er, oh, yes, I did - for my dad's birthday, a rather splendid film about a German rocket scientist in the Western Isles.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
For most of my birthday, I was almost 41 - I was born at 11:10pm. I worked a shift at the Forest, and offered free cake to all. It was kind of fun.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If someone had thrown shoes at George W. Bush and hit him in the face, twice.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Clothes. As every year.
What kept you sane?
*checks self* I... think you may be asking the wrong question.
What political issue stirred you the most?
The various anti-choice amendments that Christians kept trying to feed into the new Human Fertilisation Act - especially when Alex Salmond paid one of his rare visits to the Westminster Parliament to use his MP vote against freedom of choice for women across the UK. They all lost, which is good, but this is the main thing I actually demo'd and campaigned about that was in no way related to what I do for a living.
Who was the best new person you met?
Hm. Oddly, I think it may be my brother's girlfriend Flow. Time will tell.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008
Never give up. Never give in. Even a mobile phone company has to surrender eventually.
Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
It came upon the noontide clear,
That glorious song of Pride,
And marchers bending near the Clyde
Their rainbow banners steer.
"Peace on the earth, good will to all",
From queens and dykes drag-king
The streets and traffic do not stay
To hear the marchers sing.
Still through the traffic'd streets they come,
With rainbow banners unfurl'd
And still their whistles blow the noise
O'er all the straightly world.
Above its grim and stony roads
They march with song and Pride
And ever o'er its Babel sounds,
The Prideful marchers sing.
Yet with the woes of gay-hating
The world has suffered long;
Before the march of Pride has rolled,
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not,
The love song which we bring:
O hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the marchers sing.
And ye, beneath hate's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow
Look now! for gay and rainbow hours
Come swiftly on the wing
O rest beside the weary road
And hear the marchers sing.
For lo! the days are hastening on,
by dykes and queens descried
When, with the ever-circling years,
Shall come the Age of Pride;
When Pride shall over all the earth,
Its rainbow splendors fling,
And all the world give back the song,
Which now the marchers sing.