Beyond Selidor

Thanks to highandrandom for this meme.
Post the first sentence of the first post of each month for 2008, then explain what the post was about.

January
Meme swiped from soapyhermit, angelofboox etc etc.

This was the '2007 in review' meme.

February
I was hovering around on OberNet and someone put up this fantastic link to the world's worst fantasy clichés.

A post where I rant about Christopher Paolini's Inheritance trilogy for being derivative and giggle at the Grand List of Fantasy Clichés.

March
I went babysitting on Friday night.

I recount an amusing conversation I had with the twins I babysat, and post photos from my grandmother's 80th birthday. I sense an undercurrent of relief in this post about being back in Sydney and with my family.

April
Subs' humour, Star Wars Facebook groups, picture book nostalgia and poetry over here at Geata Póeg na Dainann.

A link to a post on my Wordpress blog. In the Wordpress post, I quote a column by the wonderfully hilarious Aaron Timms, giggle about the Facebook group "I lost my hand in a Star Wars movie. Dammit" and discuss the way the passage of time makes me feel melancholy.

May

Swiped from ondes_martenot.
A generic quizzy meme, a link to the clip for the song Somebody's Watching Me by Beatfreakz and some squeeing over my new boots.

June
Thanks to cereswunderkind

More quizzes. My eyes should be green and my Irish name should be Aisling Kennedy, apparently.

July
From soapyhermit who got it from Peter.

Yet another meme, this one a list of The Big Read's top 100 books, with those I've read, love, intend to read and haven't read marked in bold. My God I do a lot of memes.

August
It's the sound of a million fangirls, sighing in contented unison.

My take on the publication of the final book in Stephanie Meyer's disturbingly popular Twilight series.

September
Anyone else noticed the similarities in theme between Regurgitator's early 2000s song 'Freshmint!' and the MGMT song 'Time To Pretend'(which for some reason won't let me copy-paste the embedding code?

A post where I muse about two of my favourite bands and their respective interpretations of the theme of the iniquities of fame.

October
I read a few authors' blogs, and the entry, today, by karenmiller really struck a chord with me.

A discussion of the idea that great books are made up of a series of memorable moments.

November
...NOT forgetting everything you ever dreamed years ago!'

The opening sentence is the modified second half of a quote from Calexico's song All Systems Red (the first half is 'Staying up with the blue screen glow'). This post was about the US election, and my elation. It was a chance for me to quote All Systems Red at everyone again, and hope that, with Obama in power, we'd be able to 'tear it all down and build it up again'. I know I bang on about that song all the time, but I truly believe it is the greatest political song written in the past 10 years, and the album on which it appears (Garden Ruin) is the one of the best commentaries on the Bush years.

December
Okay, now this is just cool.
A short post linking to a list of the best book covers of 2008 and a post on the RiotACT about a YouTube clip of the roundabouts of Canberra made by some lunatic Canberra. A post combining two of my favourite things: books and Canberran quirkiness.

The first one, I did last year, and have started to see it pop up again. I swiped it from stephstar this time.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Study at Cambridge!

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I actually did this year! I think it must be the first time ever. In the face of this success, I might make some more this year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not this year.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank goodness.

5. What countries did you visit?
England. I also spent an hour in Bangkok airport - does that count?

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A full scholarship. And unlimited internet.


7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
26th September. The day I turned my back on my mother at Sydney airport, got onto a plane, and then thought in horror, 'What have I done?'

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Returning to full-time study, looking after myself in a foreign country, coping without the massive security blanket that having grown up in Canberra and living a short train-ride from all family members provides.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Failing to avoid periods of bleakness and angst.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had some horrendous flus, but that's all.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A plane ticket and part of the fees for my degree.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Certain family members'. You know who you are. The American voting public's behaviour is very worthy of celebration.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
I'm going to have to go with last year's answer: various world leaders'.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Uni fees.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
CAMBRIDGE! And meeting sraffies.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
All Systems Red by Calexico. Same as last year. But also Time To Pretend by MGMT, just about every song on Van She's V album, and the opening three songs on the Ministry of Sound Sessions 5 album (disc 1): Body Crush by Buy Now, This Boy's In Love by the Presets and More Than I Wanted by John Dählback. Mimi knows why.

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

i. happier or sadder? So so so much happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter, unfortunately. Sainbury's mini caramel slice biscuits are my great weakness.
iii. richer or poorer? Much poorer. This is the first time in my life that I haven't saved money.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Study and writing in preparation for coming to Cambridge.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I'll have to go with last year's answer: being self-absorbed. I fear it's my fatal flaw.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With random relatives that I'd never met before. Oddly enough, I had a great time.

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
I fell in love with a library. I fell in love with a lot of songs. I fell in love with a few more fictional characters. But with a person? No.

23. Did your heart break in 2008?
Yes, but not due to unrequited love.

24. What was your favourite TV program?
There's no point in asking this. The answer will always be Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

25. Where were you when 2008 began?
Moping alone at my share-house in Canberra, despairing at the thought of having to go back and work at the newspaper for another month.

26. Who were you with?
I was with some online people.

27. Where will you be when 2008 ends?
I will be at a small gathering at the house of one of my Cambridge friends.

28. Who will you be with when 2008 ends?
I'm not sure exactly who'll be there.

29. What was the best book you read?
If I have to limit it to one, I'd say American Gods by Neil Gaiman.

30. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Van She and MGMT.

31. What did you want and get?
A uni place at Cambridge.

32. What did you want and not get?
A way to transport all my loved ones over to Cambridge.

33. What was your favourite film of this year?
Waltz With Bashir.

34. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
My flatmates and I had raclette for dinner and then we went out for drinks at the Maypole. I turned 24.

35. How many different states did you travel to in 2008?
In Australia, the usual three: NSW, the ACT and Victoria. Why would I want to go to any other states? In the UK, I'm not sure. I've been to Cambridge, London and Southport, and hung out at Liverpool and Birmingham stations. Presumably that's several states, or counties or whatever.

36. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Amelie meets nerdgirl, with a touch of darkness.

37. What kept you sane?
Just like last year: Teh 'Pub. And btts. Also, being back home with Mum and Mimi for most of the year. It's slowly fading into the background, but God, I had a ghastly time living away from home last year.

38. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Does Pagan Kidrouk count? If they're only allowed to be real people, I'll stick with my Paul Keating love, thanks.

39. What political issue stirred you the most?
The US elections, like half the world.

40. How many concerts did you see in 2008?
None, actually. I'm back to having The Song Formerly Known As as my theme song: "I don't go to concerts baby/ The music's always up too loud/ Cigarettes and alcohol get up my arse/ I always lose you in the crowd."

41. Did you have a favourite concert in 2008?
Um, see above.

42. Who was the best new person you met?
Too many to name, but special mention must go to the sraffies who came to visit, my new housemates and the ASNaCs. Also the some of the kids at the school, and the child care workers who were my coworkers from February to September. You guys have my unstinting respect and praise.

43. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
Oh yeah.

44. What was your most embarrassing moment of 2008?
I'm not even going to talk about it, but if you've been reading this blog, you know what it was.

45. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008
Don't get drunk with strangers.

46. What are your plans for 2009?
Get good marks for my M.Phil. Get accepted for my PhD.

47. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
There are quite a few. First, the shorter ones:
(This one is sort of a personal mantra, too.)
"I quietly observe standing in my space,
Daydreaming" - Massive Attack, Daydreaming.

"I'll miss the playgrounds and the animals and digging up worms
I'll miss the comfort of my mother and the weight of the world
I'll miss my sister, miss my father, miss my dog and my home
Yeah, I'll miss the boredom and the freedom and the time spent alone." - MGMT, Time To Pretend.

And I feel I must post the lyrics to All Systems Red yet again, simply because of the US elections:
Felt a tremor stir beneath my breath
That forecasts storms on the gallup poll
Waking up from the nightmare news
Hoping to read a sign in the morning air

Nothing changes here and nothing improves
All say my friends who just want out
And leave these troubles behind
Scatter like paper in the eye of the storm
Documented with a silenced note
That's only heard from far away

More cards in play, following suit
Everywhere you look, you only see red
Wonder when to call off the race
Watching a horse running down its last legs
When you think it couldn't get much worse
The numbers rise on the death toll
And the chimes of freedom flash and fade
Only heard from far, far away

I hear you can't trust in your own
Now the grey is broken in the early morn
And the words forming barely have a voice
It's just your heart that's breaking without choice

Everything you hear is distorted in your head
Bouncing off the walls, unraveling the thread
Staying up with the blue screen glow
Forgetting everything you ever dreamed years ago

When the dread is flowing down my veins
I want to tear it all down and build it up again
Hear your heart that's breaking without choice
I want to hear those chimes ring again
Ring again"

Oddly enough, I discovered that Calexico dislike the album on which All Systems Red appears, and it's considered a sort of anomaly in their discography. They're embarrassed at its overt political content.

Now time for the second meme. This one's very long, so I'll put it behind a cut. anya_1984 was the last of my friends to post it.

( You know the deal. Follow the white rabbit. )

Meme swiped from soapyhermit, angelofboox etc etc.

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Live away from home, work full-time.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Not completely.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My stepmother gave birth to my newest half-sister, the glorious Nell.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. What countries did you visit?
I stayed in Australia, tragically.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Life as a student.


7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
September 23. The day I met my newest sister for the first time.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Learning to be a sub-editor, being accepted by Edinburgh for a Masters, and possibly also being accepted by Cambridge.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Failing to avoid getting depressed about not being in Sydney with my family.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Only being diagnosed with being almost anaemic.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Books. And books. And books.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Everyone deserves to be celebrated for having to put up with my neuroses.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Various world leaders'.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, phone bills, food, books.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to an overseas uni in 2008.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
All this love by The Similou. All Systems Red by Calexico.

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

i. happier or sadder? Mostly happier. But happier because 2007 is over, whereas last year I was sad that 2006 was over.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner
iii. richer or poorer? Strangely enough, richer.

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

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Being self-absorbed.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With my wonderful, wacky family.

22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
I find it very hard to fall in love.

23. Did your heart break in 2007?
No.

24. What was your favourite TV program?
Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I don't change much.

25. Where were you when 2007 began?
At Nic's house, contemplating the myriad spirits and liqueurs ranged along his kitchen counter.

26. Who were you with?
Nic, Lachlan, Julian, CC and Melanie.

27. Where will you be when 2007 ends?
I'm not sure.

28. Who will you be with when 2007 ends?
Not sure.

29. What was the best book you read?
Romanitas by Sophia McDougall.

30. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Calexico.

31. What did you want and get?
A job, a uni place overseas, a new sister. Not necessarily in that order.

32. What did you want and not get?
Nothing much.

33. What was your favourite film of this year?
Forbidden Lies.

34. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 23. I went out for drinks and dinner with Mum and Mimi.

35. How many different states did you travel to in 2007?
Three.

36. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Amelie meets nerdgirl.

37. What kept you sane?
Teh 'Pub. And btts.

38. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Scott Westerfeld. Paul Keating. heh.

39. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Australian federal election.

40. How many concerts did you see in 2007?
Two. Snow Patrol with Raphael, and Monsieur Camembert with my mum and some family friends.

41. Did you have a favourite concert in 2007?
They both were excellent.

42. Who was the best new person you met?
A whole bunch of people. But in real life, probably Raphael and my new baby sister Nell.

43. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
Heaps of stuff.

44. What was your most embarrassing moment of 2007?
Too many to pick one.

45. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007
I finally understood the meaning of 'build the Republic of Heaven where you are, because for us, there is no elsewhere.' It took dissatisfaction to teach me that life is something you have to work at and struggle with and think about and worry about and enjoy every single day.

46. What are your plans for 2008?
Study at an overseas uni and begin becoming an academic.

47. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
'I like your old stuff better than your new stuff' - Regurgitator, I like your old stuff better than your new stuff

Felt a tremor stir beneath my breath
That forecasts storms on the gallup poll
Woke up from the nightmare news
Hoping to read a sign in the morning air

Nothing changes here and nothing improves
All say my friends who just want out
And leave these troubles behind
Scatter like paper in the eye of the storm
Documented with a silenced note
That's only heard from far, far away

More cards in play, following suit
Everywhere you look, you only see red
Wonder when to call off the race
Watching a horse running down its last legs
Just when you think it couldn't get much worse
Watch the numbers rise on the death toll
And the chimes of freedom flash and fade
Only heard from far, far away

I hear you can't trust in your own
Now the grey is broken in the early morn
And the words forming barely have a voice
It's just your heart that's breaking without choice

Everything you've learned is distorted in your head
Bouncing off the walls, unraveling the thread
Staying up with the blue screen glow
Forgetting everything you ever dreamed years ago

When the dread is flowing down my veins
I want to tear it all down and build it up again
Tear it all and build it up again
Hear your heart that's breaking without choice
I want to hear those chimes ring again
Ring again

- Calexico, All Systems Red Kind of melancholy but hopeful at the same time.