Is this real life?

A conversation


Rebness:           Well, so long, 2010! You've been rather good, haven't you? 
2010:                   Oh, yes! :D 
Rebness:           I'll be really nice to you in my end-of-year review. I'll tell 2011 how awesome you were!
2010:                  Wait, I've got one last surprise for you! 
Rebness:           Yay! What is it? 
2010:                  Swine 'flu! :D
Rebness:          Bugger! >:| 


So, yeah. Feverish to hell and achy and really sad because my New Year will be less about frivolity than weeping about this blasted sinusal headache. Dammit, body! You always wait for the best possible moments.

2010: The Year in Review

What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?

Visited New Orleans

Visited an Asian country

Went to a baseball game

Celebrated the 4th of July

Saw real live fireflies and been captivated by them

Worked in a call centre >:|

Visited Austria

Eaten sea urchin

Stayed awake for nearly two days partying, with no side-effects

Taught children

Liked being around children

Had a proper UK bank account. Yes, really.

Signed on to the dole

Signed off the dole

Been to an aquarium

Saw a play at Stratford (it wasn't Shakespeare)

Trembled at the sight of alligators wanting to nom on me

Saw the Pacific ocean

Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any for 2010 though I am happy that some of the things I have achieved this year should've been resolutions. My resolution for 2011 is to finally pass my driving test.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, but my BFF is pregnant and I feel like I'm going to be an aunt! XD

Did anyone close to you die?
Come on. I never answer this one.

Which countries did you visit?
Austria, Italy, Spain, Greece (twice), France, America, Japan

What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Um. A car. A driving licence!

Three Four Enduring Memories of 2010:

1. Listening to Sweet About Me as the express boat to the Lido speeds through the Adriatic, mothergoddamn  and marvystoop  taking photos and gawping alongside.

 

2. On the final morning of our trip to New Orleans, annemariewrites  and I get up before dawn to wander the French Quarter soaking in the eerie ambience and take photographs sans crowds of tourists. It's beautiful and atmospheric. A drunk on Bourbon Street offers us assistance in finding where we want to go and is rather offended when we assure him we're okay. Jackson Square begins to move with life and we go back to the hotel for yet another banana muffin.

3. Dancing in some terrible smoky underground club with my old Barcelona friends and being very, very happy.

4. Snow! Everywhere!

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Doing the stuff I said I was going to do. :D

What was your biggest failure?
I don't know. Some things could've been better, but I'm... glad I did what I did.

 

Are you lighter or heavier than last year?

Lighter. WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO :D

 

Are you richer or poorer?

Tricky one. I'm no longer rich enough not to work, but my salary now amounts to more than I was getting, so yay?

 

Are you sadder or happier?

I don't know. :|

Did you suffer illness or injury?
The absolutely crazy viral infection in Japan that had me hallucinating and, uh... SWINE 'FLU. >:

What was the best thing you bought?
A ticket to Colorado.

Where did most of your money go?
Travel. I said I'd do it, though, so I don't care. :D

Which songs will always remind you of 2010?  
Love the Way You Lie due to the bleedin' X Factor.

What do you wish you'd done more of? 
Mooching on Greek beaches.

What do you wish you'd done less of? 
Chasing Caixa Catalunya around in vexed Spanglish-Catalan

How did you spend Christmas?
With the family.

What were your favourite TV programmes?
Misfits - a bunch of chavs get superpowers. It's funny, dark and fantastic in all senses of the word.

The Walking Dead - because... zombies!
Coronation Street - (yes, really!) The scriptwriting can be really acerbic... for a soap.
 

What were your favourite films?

Toy Story 3 - Devastating! I also really liked I Love You, Philip Morris and Inception. I also finally caught Let the Right One In and adored it. 

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? 
Not really, no.

Book of the Year:
I really enjoyed catching up with older books such as I Capture the Castle and A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian.

Musical Discovery of the Year:
Cee Lo Green, who isn't exactly new, but that thing mothergoddamn got me into him.

What did you want and get? 
Travel and then a job in England when funds finally ran out.

What did you want and not get?

To travel moooooooore. Yes, I'm greedy.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? 
The last year of my twenties. D:

 

I was at a spa hotel in Innsbruck, bunged with cold but determined to enjoy the spa.

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

Who was the best new person you met?
During my two-month stint at the call centre, I met some really great, career-frustrated people: nerds and musicians and fellow stans. It was worth it for them. :D

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.

I didn't, really!

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Why am I always on a plane or a fast train?

2010:  
You were rather good up until THE LAST DAY. >:| 

2011:

Hokay, that's it. I have to be sensible and grown-up now.