From sarisynn.

[ladyofleithian]

1. What did you do in 2014 that you'd never done before?

Read Stephen King, went to London, went to a wedding (which I haven't done in a while). Oh yeah, and I went to a movie with just my brother (which my Mom appreciated because it was during a time of the year we didn't do much together). Oh yes, and bought people Christmas presents. Which was great. Just seeing the looks on their faces when they got them...


2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I can't say I remember. I will make more for next year, but I'm unsure if I'll be able to keep them. I mean, they are New Year's Resolutions, after all. New Year's Resolutions, I've learned time and again, are made to be broken.


3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

No.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No.

5. What countries did you visit?

England. That was fun.

6. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?

A degree of perspective. A purpose, because one thing that's troubled me (especially now that I'm older) is the fact I haven't really done anything with my life. I feel like I'm mostly going through the motions, and I want to be able to do something. That and the ability to think deeper about things and really analyze them, the ability to let things go (no, I'm not going to start singing) and generally be a better person. (Not like Jesus or anything, because let's face it, Jesus is an unattainable standard for us anyway, but just happier, and generally better)


7. What date from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

The day Justin "JewWario" Carmical died. That was a shocker, to say the least. And the matter of Ferguson...just terrible on all fronts. And on a lighter note, the day I went to London, the day I won NaNo, and of course, Christmas, because Christmas is just about always wonderful.


8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Winning NaNo again.

9. What was your biggest failure?

French. I was under a lot of stress, and I let that impact my schoolwork when it shouldn't have.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nothing serious, really.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Can't say I bought much for myself.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My brother's, my mom's.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Honestly, a lot of people's behavior (mostly Internet celebrities that back in my teen years I admired greatly making an ass of themselves on Twitter and such. I guess I shouldn't be shocked, but...I guess I was shocked that they went down that road) made me pretty appalled and depressed. 2014...it was definitely a year for revealing the people I wanted to emulate and the people who didn't, so I guess some good came of that. I suppose it is part of being an adult anyway. Forging your own path. Hella confusing, though.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Mostly in terms of buying Christmas presents.


15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

The Force Awakens trailer. Needless to say, I got psyched for that. Also, the third installment of a KOTOR machinima I've been following for a while (and which I recommended back in 2011). Two things about next year I am psyched for, though it will be surreal seeing Luke and the gang on the big screen again.


16. What song will always remind you of 2014?

Probably a hell of a lot of Depeche Mode and The Ramones thanks to how much I listened to them. Also, "Hopeless Case" and "The Rest of My Life" by Less Than Jake. Also, Weird Al Yankovic's new album, Mandatory Fun. And "Happy" by Pharrell Williams. Also, "Song For Zula", and "Cherry Bomb" by the Runaways.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

Happier or sadder? Happier in some areas (at least I'm slightly better at just fucking dealing with things), sadder in others.

Fatter or thinner? Thinner. At least more fit/in shape.

Richer or poorer? The same.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Focusing on the things that mattered. Not worrying as much. Enjoying life more. Not worrying about who I "should" be. Being more independent in general.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Trying to hide from things, school and otherwise. I admit that 2014 was a year I kind of closed myself off, because...well, I was trying to sort some things out. I was a bit scared, I was busy with school, and...yeah, basically I was scared shitless. I may have been better at weathering things than in previous years, but it was still scared about some things. Actually, a lot of things. So being less afraid is one thing. Also, not focusing as much on the negative (I'm not terribly good at that).

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

More like how I spent Christmas. It went great. My Aunt came over, we watched Christmas movies, we talked, we did some Christmas shopping, we went out for dinner, we opened Christmas crackers, and on Christmas Day, we opened presents, played Doctor Who Yahtzee (which, apparently, my aunt is really good at. She's just really good at Yahtzee, apparently), played Doctor Who Trivial Pursuit (which I was pretty good at), and had early Christmas dinner. I think my only complaint is that Christmas is over. I always get sad when it's over, I confess. There can be a lot of stress leading up to it, but it's worth it just to spend time with friends and family, and maybe be a little kinder. (There's the few dickheads on Christmas, but I think most of the time, Christmas is one of those few times when people are a lot nicer to one another)

21. Did you fall in love in 2014?

Not really.

22. How many one-night stands?

None.


23. What was your favourite TV program?

Well, thanks to our trip to London, Mom's gotten into Sherlock. I watched an episode ("The Reichenbach Fall", more precisely, which is kind of a weird way to get into a show, but...whatcha gonna do?) and liked it. Might watch more Sherlock in the future. I really liked Sherlock Holmes when I was probably, like, a little girl or something (they had these illustrated versions at a sort of camp thing I went to and I just loved them. I'd pore over them, just fascinated, scared with some of them, but really just fascinated with these cases and Sherlock and Watson), so I guess it's high time I get into the show. (I also heard Elementary is a pretty good show. Maybe I'll get it on DVD or something)

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

Well, "hate" is a strong word, come to think of it. But I'm definitely pissed off at a few people I used to look up to, basically.


25. What was the best book you read?

Pet Sematary by Stephen King. I've been getting into a lot of his work this year (including some of his more recent stuff like Joyland and Revival ) simply because...well, when I was a kid, my mom didn't want me to read his stuff (didn't help that I got scared just hearing about it, e.g. Cujo ); hell, the most I read when I was a kid was On Writing , which taught me a lot of valuable lessons, such as not to use adverbs (too often). (There was also The Green Mile , which I read in my freshman or sophomore year of high school, and 11/22/63 , which was actually on my mom's Kindle)

But yeah...I love the other stuff I read. The Dead Zone , one of his only works my mom liked, and The Stand , another one of his few works that my mom liked (she actually said it was a pretty good cautionary tale regarding politicians, and I can see that allegory in Randall Flagg, although I think Stillson fits the bill also), Needful Things , which I find underrated, Cujo (although thanks to the fact that I own a dog, I don't think I'll reread because it's incredibly sad), Salem's Lot , which I thought was a great vampire story, The Shining , which was excellent, and (non-fiction but still great) Danse Macabre , which I think is one of the best books about horror and the history of the horror genre, how it's made up, etc. I love all of the King books I read this year. But somehow, Pet Sematary holds a special place in my heart. Haunting, scary as shit, examining the topic of death really well, heartbreaking, fantastic characters, beautifully handled writing (his descriptions are just fantastic), even some genuinely funny moments and genuinely sweet moments in between the horror. And one hell of an ending. It's not an easy read necessarily, but it's definitely one of King's best.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Depeche Mode, The Doors, Less Than Jake, The Ramones.

27. What did you want and get?

Writing books. The rest were gifts that I wasn't expecting but were awesome nonetheless.

28. What did you want and not get?

The Halloween movie box set. Then again, no big deal. *Shrugs*

29. What was your favorite film of this year?

Guardians of the Galaxy.

30. What did you do on your birthday?

Opened presents, chilled. And a week or so after, I went to London.


31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Being able to handle things better.


32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?

Very, very casual.


33. What kept you sane?

My family, my writing, reading.


34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Don't really know if I fancied anyone this year.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?

ISIS, Ebola, and Eric Garner. Just to name three.

36. Who did you miss?

Well, I did miss talking with everyone here (mostly because college work and such). I missed talking with my real life friends as well (they're probably swept up in school and work and such also). I originally missed talking with my brother a bit earlier in the year (he was going through some rough patches, let's put it that way). But he got through said patches, and we got to talk more, kind of like old times. (Sort of old times) And in terms of people who died...I do miss JewWario. I didn't know him as well as I should have, but I remember seeing him in the anniversary specials and in the WTFIWWY Live episodes, and from what I saw (and heard), he was a genuinely great guy, and funny. (I remember one WTFIWWY Live where he wore these motorized cat-ears, and they were probably one of the best parts of the episode) And I miss Robin Williams as well. He was fantastic.

In terms of recent members of the family who've died...well, my aunt's cats recently passed away. I can't say that me and them got along well (they didn't really like people, and one of them did scratch me once, when I was visiting as a kid), but I do miss them nonetheless.

37. Who was the best new person you met?

The guys in my Film and Lit class. They were cool guys.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014:

Growing up isn't an easy process. Just go at your own pace, do what you want and not what others think you should want, learn independence, carve out a little niche of happiness for yourself when things get rough, and don't give up.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

When logic and proportion
Have fallen sloppy dead
And the white knight is talking backwards
And the red queen's off with her head

Remember
What the doormouse said
Feed your head
Feed your head

-"White Rabbit" ( Emiliana Torrini cover )

Weird lyrics, you probably think, to sum up my year, but they're the best lyrics to sum up how I felt. I really did feel like Alice in Wonderland at times this year -- confused, lost, changing a lot, etc. Hopefully next year will be more certain.