2009 memes
Dec. 31st, 2009 10:43 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dolorosa_12The first is the usual 'year in review' meme.
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Go to Spain. Work on a PhD. Write fanfic. Graduate from Cambridge.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't really make any this year, but I've made about six for 2010 and plan to keep them all. I'll post them in a separate post.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and also Spain. I'm currently back in Australia, but I don't think it counts as a visit since it's my home.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Two chapters of my PhD. I think that's reasonable!
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
18th July. This was the day I graduated with my MPhil from Cambridge, and I felt, as I had felt when I got my BA at Sydney Uni, that I had finally done something with my life.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting my MPhil, and getting marks good enough to continue on for a PhD.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Let us draw a curtain around everything associated with my trip to Edinburgh.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I caught freshers' flu very badly.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My St John's College May Ball ticket.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Several family friends', who made their home in London open to me whenever I needed a break from the 'Bridge. My mother's - she continues to be as awesome as ever. Various friends', both online and irl, who listened to me when I really needed it.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Mostly my own.
14. Where did most of your money go?
As last year, uni fees.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing my mum in June and going to Spain with her. Graduating, getting accepted for the PhD. Going home to Australia in December.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
'Dreamscape' by 009 Sound System. 'Ghost' by Blue Foundation. 'Waiting For The Sun' by Powderfinger.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? I'd say I'm about the same.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner, thanks to my mother saying the unwelcome truth and guilting me into running every day.
iii. richer or poorer? Much poorer. Uni fees will do that to you.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Learning Modern Irish.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Spending money on books I didn't need.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
As I have done almost every year of my life: at my grandparents' place, with my mother, sister, aunts, uncles and cousins. The fact that it has ever been thus breaks my heart; I need my routines and rituals.
22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Emphatically no.
23. Did your heart break in 2009?
No.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
There's no point in asking this. The answer will always be Buffy The Vampire Slayer. But I also really enjoyed Supernatural and Being Human this year.
25. Where were you when 2009 began?
At the house of one of my ASNaC friends. She had invited me over for dinner (and mead!).
26. Who were you with?
My ASNaC friend and her housemates.
27. Where will you be when 2009 ends?
Either at a barbecue with some of my usydgroup people, or at home watching the fireworks from my roof. I haven't decided yet.
28. Who will you be with when 2009 ends?
Either my usydgroup friends, or my family and the other people in my apartment building.
29. What was the best book you read?
Probably Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.
30. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Not so much a discovery as a rediscovery: trance music.
31. What did you want and get?
A PhD place at Cambridge.
32. What did you want and not get?
Full funding.
33. What was your favourite film of this year?
Let the Right One In.
34. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I went out for drinks at my favourite cocktail bar, and then dinner at a fabulous Japanese restaurant, with my mother and sister. I turned 25, so no more quarter-life crises for me!
35. How many different states did you travel to in 2009?
In the UK I've been to Cambridge, London, Wales (Cardiff), Norfolk and Scotland (Edinburgh) and whatever counties I had to travel through to get to all these places. I also briefly drove through Northern Ireland en route to Donegal. In Ireland I travelled through heaps of counties as I had to get from Dublin to Glen Finn. In Australia I've only been in NSW and Victoria.
36. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
As always, attempting (and failing) to look like Amelie.
37. What kept you sane?
Just like last year: Teh 'Pub. And btts. Also the ASNaCs.
38. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I've decided that Pagan Kidrouk is a public figure.
39. What political issue stirred you the most?
Mostly things related to copyright law, fair use and sharing of content and the Internet: the Pirate Bay trial, the Internet filter in Australia. I've given up getting disgusted at US insanity over health care.
40. How many concerts did you see in 2009?
None, apart from several impromptu ones in pubs while I was in Donegal.
41. Did you have a favourite concert in 2009?
Not really.
42. Who was the best new person you met?
It was wonderful to meet![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
thelxiepia, soapyhermit, watch_them_grow and sibyllevance in person. You're all amazing.
43. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
Those of you who know, might think I'm ashamed about THAT, but I don't really think that I have anything to be ashamed about.
44. What was your most embarrassing moment of 2009?
There were several mortifying moments, when I did things that went against who I am as a person.
45. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
Don't blindly trust others if you can't even trust yourself.
46. What are your plans for 2010?
Pass my PhD registration. Do a couple of conference papers and in general build up confidence as a postgrad student.
47. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Working harder makes us better
Moving faster makes us stronger
Hour after hour after our work is never over. - 'Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger', by Daft Punk.
This next meme is one thathighandrandom introduced to me.
Post the first sentence of the first post of each month for 2008, then explain what the post was about.
January
'I just got back from a New Year's party with some of my friends.'
I randomly pick a song ('Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger' by Daft Punk) on iTunes to sum up what 2009 will be for me.
February
'I've had a fabulous 24 hours.'
I post about the snow that has swept through Cambridge. It's a very photo-heavy post.
March
'So true'.
A very short post, linking to an article on Dollhouse which claims that the series won't start to pick up until Episode 6, when 'Joss's vision will be revealed'.
April
'The background to this: I had a dream where Peter Costello, the former Treasurer of Australia, read fanfiction.'
I relate a Facebook IM conversation I had with a friend of mine.
May
'Well, if they relate to a certain blog about a certain alternative history series, that is.'
I link to a post on my Longvision blog and post a superhero version of myself, which was obviously a meme that was floating around at that time.
June
'I've just written the third of my Romanitas character studies.'
I link to another Longvision blog post. I think this one was a character-study of Marcus. I then provide another couple of links. All in a all, a typical link-post for me.
July
'What Ronni didn't say to the whistling cretin'.
I rant at a guy who whistled at me while I was running.
August
'Late last night, I got back from a week-long Modern Irish language course.'
I talk about my experiences learning Modern Irish in Donegal.
September
'I can see this post getting quite long, so I'll put most of it behind a cut, but the first bit is the most important, and so I'm keeping it out of the cut.'
I talk about my idea for a multifandom fanfic, which I eventually wrote, claim that I'm exactly like Summer in 500 Days (of Summer) and talk about Harry Potter.
October
'So, you may all recall that last time I posted, I was whining about accommodation.'
A locked post where I complain about the problems with my college network.
November
'While I was talking on Skype with my mother on Sunday, we had a minor disagreement about something we've argued about in the past.'
A rather longwinded post where I talk about passivity and the impossibility of making other people change to suit your demands. This one drew a lot of comments from people who disagreed with me.
December
'romen_dreamer reposted this this morning.'
I link to a post about consent:
"In your response to the young woman who was raped at a frat party you repeated the old saying, “No means no.” This is an outdated model of consent. Women do not exist in a state of perpetual consent to sex, which they must cancel out by saying “no” in order to prevent a man from having sex with them. Consent means an enthusiastic “yes” from both parties, not just a lack a “no.” I hope you will use your column to remind people that yes, and only yes, means yes."
An important, but somber, end to the year.
There you have it. 2009.
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Go to Spain. Work on a PhD. Write fanfic. Graduate from Cambridge.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't really make any this year, but I've made about six for 2010 and plan to keep them all. I'll post them in a separate post.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and also Spain. I'm currently back in Australia, but I don't think it counts as a visit since it's my home.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Two chapters of my PhD. I think that's reasonable!
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
18th July. This was the day I graduated with my MPhil from Cambridge, and I felt, as I had felt when I got my BA at Sydney Uni, that I had finally done something with my life.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting my MPhil, and getting marks good enough to continue on for a PhD.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Let us draw a curtain around everything associated with my trip to Edinburgh.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I caught freshers' flu very badly.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My St John's College May Ball ticket.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Several family friends', who made their home in London open to me whenever I needed a break from the 'Bridge. My mother's - she continues to be as awesome as ever. Various friends', both online and irl, who listened to me when I really needed it.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Mostly my own.
14. Where did most of your money go?
As last year, uni fees.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing my mum in June and going to Spain with her. Graduating, getting accepted for the PhD. Going home to Australia in December.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
'Dreamscape' by 009 Sound System. 'Ghost' by Blue Foundation. 'Waiting For The Sun' by Powderfinger.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? I'd say I'm about the same.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner, thanks to my mother saying the unwelcome truth and guilting me into running every day.
iii. richer or poorer? Much poorer. Uni fees will do that to you.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Learning Modern Irish.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Spending money on books I didn't need.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
As I have done almost every year of my life: at my grandparents' place, with my mother, sister, aunts, uncles and cousins. The fact that it has ever been thus breaks my heart; I need my routines and rituals.
22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Emphatically no.
23. Did your heart break in 2009?
No.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
There's no point in asking this. The answer will always be Buffy The Vampire Slayer. But I also really enjoyed Supernatural and Being Human this year.
25. Where were you when 2009 began?
At the house of one of my ASNaC friends. She had invited me over for dinner (and mead!).
26. Who were you with?
My ASNaC friend and her housemates.
27. Where will you be when 2009 ends?
Either at a barbecue with some of my usydgroup people, or at home watching the fireworks from my roof. I haven't decided yet.
28. Who will you be with when 2009 ends?
Either my usydgroup friends, or my family and the other people in my apartment building.
29. What was the best book you read?
Probably Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.
30. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Not so much a discovery as a rediscovery: trance music.
31. What did you want and get?
A PhD place at Cambridge.
32. What did you want and not get?
Full funding.
33. What was your favourite film of this year?
Let the Right One In.
34. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I went out for drinks at my favourite cocktail bar, and then dinner at a fabulous Japanese restaurant, with my mother and sister. I turned 25, so no more quarter-life crises for me!
35. How many different states did you travel to in 2009?
In the UK I've been to Cambridge, London, Wales (Cardiff), Norfolk and Scotland (Edinburgh) and whatever counties I had to travel through to get to all these places. I also briefly drove through Northern Ireland en route to Donegal. In Ireland I travelled through heaps of counties as I had to get from Dublin to Glen Finn. In Australia I've only been in NSW and Victoria.
36. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
As always, attempting (and failing) to look like Amelie.
37. What kept you sane?
Just like last year: Teh 'Pub. And btts. Also the ASNaCs.
38. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I've decided that Pagan Kidrouk is a public figure.
39. What political issue stirred you the most?
Mostly things related to copyright law, fair use and sharing of content and the Internet: the Pirate Bay trial, the Internet filter in Australia. I've given up getting disgusted at US insanity over health care.
40. How many concerts did you see in 2009?
None, apart from several impromptu ones in pubs while I was in Donegal.
41. Did you have a favourite concert in 2009?
Not really.
42. Who was the best new person you met?
It was wonderful to meet
thelxiepia, soapyhermit, watch_them_grow and sibyllevance in person. You're all amazing.43. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
Those of you who know, might think I'm ashamed about THAT, but I don't really think that I have anything to be ashamed about.
44. What was your most embarrassing moment of 2009?
There were several mortifying moments, when I did things that went against who I am as a person.
45. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
Don't blindly trust others if you can't even trust yourself.
46. What are your plans for 2010?
Pass my PhD registration. Do a couple of conference papers and in general build up confidence as a postgrad student.
47. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Working harder makes us better
Moving faster makes us stronger
Hour after hour after our work is never over. - 'Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger', by Daft Punk.
This next meme is one that
highandrandom introduced to me.Post the first sentence of the first post of each month for 2008, then explain what the post was about.
January
'I just got back from a New Year's party with some of my friends.'
I randomly pick a song ('Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger' by Daft Punk) on iTunes to sum up what 2009 will be for me.
February
'I've had a fabulous 24 hours.'
I post about the snow that has swept through Cambridge. It's a very photo-heavy post.
March
'So true'.
A very short post, linking to an article on Dollhouse which claims that the series won't start to pick up until Episode 6, when 'Joss's vision will be revealed'.
April
'The background to this: I had a dream where Peter Costello, the former Treasurer of Australia, read fanfiction.'
I relate a Facebook IM conversation I had with a friend of mine.
May
'Well, if they relate to a certain blog about a certain alternative history series, that is.'
I link to a post on my Longvision blog and post a superhero version of myself, which was obviously a meme that was floating around at that time.
June
'I've just written the third of my Romanitas character studies.'
I link to another Longvision blog post. I think this one was a character-study of Marcus. I then provide another couple of links. All in a all, a typical link-post for me.
July
'What Ronni didn't say to the whistling cretin'.
I rant at a guy who whistled at me while I was running.
August
'Late last night, I got back from a week-long Modern Irish language course.'
I talk about my experiences learning Modern Irish in Donegal.
September
'I can see this post getting quite long, so I'll put most of it behind a cut, but the first bit is the most important, and so I'm keeping it out of the cut.'
I talk about my idea for a multifandom fanfic, which I eventually wrote, claim that I'm exactly like Summer in 500 Days (of Summer) and talk about Harry Potter.
October
'So, you may all recall that last time I posted, I was whining about accommodation.'
A locked post where I complain about the problems with my college network.
November
'While I was talking on Skype with my mother on Sunday, we had a minor disagreement about something we've argued about in the past.'
A rather longwinded post where I talk about passivity and the impossibility of making other people change to suit your demands. This one drew a lot of comments from people who disagreed with me.
December
'
romen_dreamer reposted this this morning.'I link to a post about consent:
"In your response to the young woman who was raped at a frat party you repeated the old saying, “No means no.” This is an outdated model of consent. Women do not exist in a state of perpetual consent to sex, which they must cancel out by saying “no” in order to prevent a man from having sex with them. Consent means an enthusiastic “yes” from both parties, not just a lack a “no.” I hope you will use your column to remind people that yes, and only yes, means yes."
An important, but somber, end to the year.
There you have it. 2009.
