2007 in review
Mon, Dec. 31st, 2007 04:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
oyceterI am just so glad that this year was an improvement over 2006. I have working meds again, I like my new job, and I have Plans for the future. It's amazing how much of a weight was lifted off my back with those three things, and it's been wonderful feeling like I can enjoy the little things now that the big things aren't always there, pressing down.
On a somewhat minor note, I am also glad to see that the Absolutely Horrible Travel Karma of 2006 has largely subsided into a Minorly Annoying Travel Karma of 2007. Maybe 2008 will bring me flights that take off on time! I remain optimistic, despite my knowledge of the travel industry.
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
I started LJ communities (![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
bobthehaitian and ibarw)! I was a panelist at Wiscon! I submitted something for print publication (I've had a few reviews published online, but I've never had anything on actual paper)! I took classes online and learned some Java. I also converted to Mac! I watched Asian dramas for the first time.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I never make resolutions.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
A high school classmate -- second kid, yikes.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thank god, no.
5. What countries did you visit?
Taiwan! With![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
rachelmanija!
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Last year I asked for:
Next year, I would like acceptance to my grad school of choice, more time spent in classes, a feeling of fulfillment in my work, and bookshelves (I sold all of mine during the move and still haven't gotten new ones yet).
Well, no acceptance to grad school yet, though that's because they don't come in until mid-2008. I did spend a lot of time in classes, particularly for computer programming, and while my job isn't my dream job for the rest of my life, I enjoy it and it's something that is fulfilling what I want to get out of it at the moment. And! I HAVE BOOKSHELVES!
My priorities, let me show them to you.
For 2008, I still want acceptance to my grad school of choice. I would love to have a good scholarship as well, and to be able to stay in California, but we'll see how that works. You know, I don't actually know what else I would like in 2008 besides that; everything is so up in the air because I don't know where I'll be going. On the completely material side, I want a blocking board for my knitting.
7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
1/7/08. It's not a date from this year, but it's when my first app is due!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Wow, huh. I managed to write a personal statement, which was a painful and mortifying experience, both for me and my friends and family (to everyone who listened to me whine, THANK YOU, especially my sister and Yoon and Rilina for proofreading). I took a class in discrete math and in computer programming, and I did well in both of them, despite massive anxiety about my ability to do either (again, to everyone who listened to me whine, THANK YOU, especially to Yoon for repeatedly and patiently helping me out). I also managed to write a few things for deadlines this year, which is about a thousand times better than last year. I'm proud of myself for daring to be a panelist at Wiscon. I'm grateful and thankful and proud that we all pulled off IBARW 2, though much of me still focuses on the shortcomings, on things to fix for IBARW3.
Race and racism is becoming more of a back-brain thing, more something that is simply part of my consciousness. I'm not sure I can say I tried more to pick up things about race and racism, or about and by POC; it is becoming something that I just look for, sometimes more consciously than others. I'm also failing at putting this in words -- things about gender and sexuality and nationality and colonialism have always been cool bits for me, in that they are things I enjoy thinking and reading about. Frex, 80% or so of what I read is by and about women. It's not a conscious decision, it's just what I focus on, and I am basically trying to do the same for books and movies by and about POC, so that it's my default and my norm. I think it has been happening some this year, although of course it is very hard for me to tell. I am also hesitant about putting this in the "achievement" category, as it feels to me like fixing a deficit, not going beyond expectations.
Most of all, I am proud of myself for deciding what I wanted and going for it, be it in writing (I am still extremely neurotic about my writing, though at least now I have admitted to myself that I am doing it), in grad school goals, in being publically angry and being ok with it. The last bit was the scariest, because it was public, not private, because I was so unsure, because I was and am always afraid of letting people down and of failing. I have grown used to confrontation in the business world, but bringing it into my personal world was and is terrifying.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Probably not having a better master grad school plan. Stuff got done (and is still getting done), but I definitely could have been more organized.
The other part of me wants to put dreadful weight gain here, but you know what? Fuck that.
The other big failure is not budgeting well enough. I'm by no means over budget, but I need to be thinking ahead more for when I am in grad school and don't have my current salary.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Amazingly, no! Well, I think my childhood asthma has come back, but mostly it was just two colds.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac YAY. That and my swift and ball winder. Mmmm, yarn.
14. Where did most of your money go?
iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac YAY.
Well, that and online classes.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My reports are always skewed because it's around Yuletide! But I am madly excited about Yuletide right now!
I am also really, really, really excited about going back to school, even though that's been buried a little under all the finicky administrative details. I have loved going back to class, no matter how difficult or time-sucking it is. I loved learning math and computer programming despite all my whining; computer programming in particular was amazing (ha, watch me retract this next quarter). It's a new yet oddly familiar way of thinking, and it has been unbelievably cool learning a new discipline.
Despite all the racism debates this year, I was incredibly excited about IBARW and about joining sex_and_race and trying to participate more in deadbro.
I have also gotten really incredibly excited about kdramas!
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
This is hard! I picked up a lot of new music this year, from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-syndicated.gif)
vonnie_k and rilina's many music recs to rachelmanija siccing folk on me to finding more WOC in music to being introduced to hip hop.
So, a short list:
My Chemical Romance's "Welcome to the Black Parade"
The Nodame Cantabile theme song
The rock version of the Korean national anthem
Skunk Anansie (I can't narrow it down)
Imani Coppola's "Woke Up White" and "I Love Your Hair"
Ikimono Gakari's "Kira Kira Train" (different from the version I have)
Sitting in the car with Rachel, listening to three different versions of Leonard Cohen's "I'm Your Man"
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? Happier, THANK GOD.
Older or wiser? Wiser, I hope.
Thinner or fatter? Fatter. Oh well.
Richer or poorer? Richer. Yay!
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I wish I had gotten a post out for the Sankofa in Space POC in SF carnival, but given this year and last year, I suspect I hit my engagement limits near the end of the year and have to rest and regroup.
I wish I'd gotten out and danced more, but online classes kept me really busy through most of the year.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
You know, I don't know. I think I procrastinated, but I got everything done, and I had fun and did a lot of things I loved at the same time.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Christmas was here again, with a big dinner, and I successfully made chocolate souffle and bread! Then me, my sister, and a few friends played Cranium, then we watched the Grand Prix finals for figure skating.
22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Hrm, last year I did fandoms.
I didn't fall in love in 2007, but I stayed in love with my beloved Bay Area, along with continuing my on-the-side relationships with Taipei, LA and New York.
23. How many one-night stands?
I had a several-night stand with a city in Michigan, but I think ultimately we're better off separated.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
This calls for a separate post! But most memorably, I fell head-over-heels for kdramas.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't think so.
26. What was the best book you read?
Separate post!
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
See #16 for the short list.
28. What did you want and get?
My swift and ball winder, Ren-rat recovering successfully from surgery, passed classes, and a new job.
29. What did you want and not get?
To not have to write grad school apps!
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I have a whole post on this!
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
To be honest, I don't even remember, except going to my local yarn store and buying myself my ball winder and swift. And some bonus yarn. It ambushed me, I swear.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
To have gotten into grad school already? Really, though, I had a good year. The only thing that would have made it much better would be if 2007 hadn't beaten up on my friends.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
I get to wear jeans to work, bwahaha.
34. What kept you sane?
Books and music and TV and seeing the sister and dancing and knitting and rats and phone calls and visiting friends.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Er, I never really do fancy them much.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Oh year of racism debates in fandom! Fun times....
37. Who did you miss?
I wish so many LJ people and my sister weren't so far away, but I got to see a fair amount of people, and there are a lot of people to hang out with here as well.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Oh! I metconiraya and ladyjax and yeloson and vom_marlowe and veejane and ktempest and nojojojo in person and virtually met delux_vivens and magicnoire and meganbmoore and shewhohashope, and it was awesome!
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
Never depend on the post office in December!
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Looks like I'll be happy after all" ("Happy After All," Amelia)
On a somewhat minor note, I am also glad to see that the Absolutely Horrible Travel Karma of 2006 has largely subsided into a Minorly Annoying Travel Karma of 2007. Maybe 2008 will bring me flights that take off on time! I remain optimistic, despite my knowledge of the travel industry.
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
I started LJ communities (
bobthehaitian and ibarw)! I was a panelist at Wiscon! I submitted something for print publication (I've had a few reviews published online, but I've never had anything on actual paper)! I took classes online and learned some Java. I also converted to Mac! I watched Asian dramas for the first time. 2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I never make resolutions.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
A high school classmate -- second kid, yikes.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thank god, no.
5. What countries did you visit?
Taiwan! With
rachelmanija!6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Last year I asked for:
Next year, I would like acceptance to my grad school of choice, more time spent in classes, a feeling of fulfillment in my work, and bookshelves (I sold all of mine during the move and still haven't gotten new ones yet).
Well, no acceptance to grad school yet, though that's because they don't come in until mid-2008. I did spend a lot of time in classes, particularly for computer programming, and while my job isn't my dream job for the rest of my life, I enjoy it and it's something that is fulfilling what I want to get out of it at the moment. And! I HAVE BOOKSHELVES!
My priorities, let me show them to you.
For 2008, I still want acceptance to my grad school of choice. I would love to have a good scholarship as well, and to be able to stay in California, but we'll see how that works. You know, I don't actually know what else I would like in 2008 besides that; everything is so up in the air because I don't know where I'll be going. On the completely material side, I want a blocking board for my knitting.
7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
1/7/08. It's not a date from this year, but it's when my first app is due!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Wow, huh. I managed to write a personal statement, which was a painful and mortifying experience, both for me and my friends and family (to everyone who listened to me whine, THANK YOU, especially my sister and Yoon and Rilina for proofreading). I took a class in discrete math and in computer programming, and I did well in both of them, despite massive anxiety about my ability to do either (again, to everyone who listened to me whine, THANK YOU, especially to Yoon for repeatedly and patiently helping me out). I also managed to write a few things for deadlines this year, which is about a thousand times better than last year. I'm proud of myself for daring to be a panelist at Wiscon. I'm grateful and thankful and proud that we all pulled off IBARW 2, though much of me still focuses on the shortcomings, on things to fix for IBARW3.
Race and racism is becoming more of a back-brain thing, more something that is simply part of my consciousness. I'm not sure I can say I tried more to pick up things about race and racism, or about and by POC; it is becoming something that I just look for, sometimes more consciously than others. I'm also failing at putting this in words -- things about gender and sexuality and nationality and colonialism have always been cool bits for me, in that they are things I enjoy thinking and reading about. Frex, 80% or so of what I read is by and about women. It's not a conscious decision, it's just what I focus on, and I am basically trying to do the same for books and movies by and about POC, so that it's my default and my norm. I think it has been happening some this year, although of course it is very hard for me to tell. I am also hesitant about putting this in the "achievement" category, as it feels to me like fixing a deficit, not going beyond expectations.
Most of all, I am proud of myself for deciding what I wanted and going for it, be it in writing (I am still extremely neurotic about my writing, though at least now I have admitted to myself that I am doing it), in grad school goals, in being publically angry and being ok with it. The last bit was the scariest, because it was public, not private, because I was so unsure, because I was and am always afraid of letting people down and of failing. I have grown used to confrontation in the business world, but bringing it into my personal world was and is terrifying.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Probably not having a better master grad school plan. Stuff got done (and is still getting done), but I definitely could have been more organized.
The other part of me wants to put dreadful weight gain here, but you know what? Fuck that.
The other big failure is not budgeting well enough. I'm by no means over budget, but I need to be thinking ahead more for when I am in grad school and don't have my current salary.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Amazingly, no! Well, I think my childhood asthma has come back, but mostly it was just two colds.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac YAY. That and my swift and ball winder. Mmmm, yarn.
14. Where did most of your money go?
iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac YAY.
Well, that and online classes.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My reports are always skewed because it's around Yuletide! But I am madly excited about Yuletide right now!
I am also really, really, really excited about going back to school, even though that's been buried a little under all the finicky administrative details. I have loved going back to class, no matter how difficult or time-sucking it is. I loved learning math and computer programming despite all my whining; computer programming in particular was amazing (ha, watch me retract this next quarter). It's a new yet oddly familiar way of thinking, and it has been unbelievably cool learning a new discipline.
Despite all the racism debates this year, I was incredibly excited about IBARW and about joining sex_and_race and trying to participate more in deadbro.
I have also gotten really incredibly excited about kdramas!
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
This is hard! I picked up a lot of new music this year, from
vonnie_k and rilina's many music recs to rachelmanija siccing folk on me to finding more WOC in music to being introduced to hip hop.So, a short list:
My Chemical Romance's "Welcome to the Black Parade"
The Nodame Cantabile theme song
The rock version of the Korean national anthem
Skunk Anansie (I can't narrow it down)
Imani Coppola's "Woke Up White" and "I Love Your Hair"
Ikimono Gakari's "Kira Kira Train" (different from the version I have)
Sitting in the car with Rachel, listening to three different versions of Leonard Cohen's "I'm Your Man"
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? Happier, THANK GOD.
Older or wiser? Wiser, I hope.
Thinner or fatter? Fatter. Oh well.
Richer or poorer? Richer. Yay!
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I wish I had gotten a post out for the Sankofa in Space POC in SF carnival, but given this year and last year, I suspect I hit my engagement limits near the end of the year and have to rest and regroup.
I wish I'd gotten out and danced more, but online classes kept me really busy through most of the year.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
You know, I don't know. I think I procrastinated, but I got everything done, and I had fun and did a lot of things I loved at the same time.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Christmas was here again, with a big dinner, and I successfully made chocolate souffle and bread! Then me, my sister, and a few friends played Cranium, then we watched the Grand Prix finals for figure skating.
22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Hrm, last year I did fandoms.
I didn't fall in love in 2007, but I stayed in love with my beloved Bay Area, along with continuing my on-the-side relationships with Taipei, LA and New York.
23. How many one-night stands?
I had a several-night stand with a city in Michigan, but I think ultimately we're better off separated.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
This calls for a separate post! But most memorably, I fell head-over-heels for kdramas.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't think so.
26. What was the best book you read?
Separate post!
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
See #16 for the short list.
28. What did you want and get?
My swift and ball winder, Ren-rat recovering successfully from surgery, passed classes, and a new job.
29. What did you want and not get?
To not have to write grad school apps!
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I have a whole post on this!
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
To be honest, I don't even remember, except going to my local yarn store and buying myself my ball winder and swift. And some bonus yarn. It ambushed me, I swear.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
To have gotten into grad school already? Really, though, I had a good year. The only thing that would have made it much better would be if 2007 hadn't beaten up on my friends.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
I get to wear jeans to work, bwahaha.
34. What kept you sane?
Books and music and TV and seeing the sister and dancing and knitting and rats and phone calls and visiting friends.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Er, I never really do fancy them much.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Oh year of racism debates in fandom! Fun times....
37. Who did you miss?
I wish so many LJ people and my sister weren't so far away, but I got to see a fair amount of people, and there are a lot of people to hang out with here as well.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Oh! I met
coniraya and ladyjax and yeloson and vom_marlowe and veejane and ktempest and nojojojo in person and virtually met delux_vivens and magicnoire and meganbmoore and shewhohashope, and it was awesome!39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
Never depend on the post office in December!
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Looks like I'll be happy after all" ("Happy After All," Amelia)
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Tue, Jan. 1st, 2008 01:02 am (UTC)You know this is what
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Tue, Jan. 1st, 2008 01:05 am (UTC)(no subject)
Tue, Jan. 1st, 2008 06:13 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Wed, Jan. 2nd, 2008 06:48 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Tue, Jan. 1st, 2008 09:09 am (UTC)(no subject)
Tue, Jan. 1st, 2008 12:15 pm (UTC)I'm not sure I can do one of these, most of my answers at this point would be 'it's hard to say'. I don't really consider this the end of the year, though. I'm still too into the mindset of the september-august year, and then there's the time between birthdays and I have my own individual time frame beyond that. I'll know when I've moved onto the next year in my life. And hopefully it won't be so generally crappy.
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Wed, Jan. 2nd, 2008 06:42 pm (UTC)