the 2008 survey post
Now Playing: helen on guitar...

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
I proposed to my girlfriend, and got a salaried job

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any.  I'll probably say something lame this year and not do it.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Helen's sister in law will give birth on Monday.  I think that's the closest.  And it's definitely this year.  

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Grandma P :(

5. What countries did you visit?
No new countries.  But a new state, Hawaii.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
a savings account

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Helen said yes on 8/28.  I'm such a romantic sap.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
well a 52 minute improvement in the inline marathon is a pretty good achievement.  most of my students work when i tell them to.  i count that.  a purple belt in shotokan

9. What was your biggest failure?
i've been lame about shotokan.  not as strict as i should be with the schuelerinnen.  saving money.  

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
no

11. What was the best thing you bought?
well there was this ring...

12. What was the biggest risk you took?
I’m not much of a risk taker.

13. What is the one decision you made that you wish you could change?
i probably should start being a more reflective person

14. Where did most of your money go?
gas, although thats getting better.  rent.  

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
i enjoyed being a best man so much that i did it twice and am now slated for the top spot next year.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
well it wont remind me of 2008 so much, but that love lockdown is playing constantly.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder - Happier
Older or wiser - yes
Thinner or fatter? - neither
Richer or poorer? – slightly richer!!! may the trend continue…

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

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

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
spending xmas day with family, then moms family, then dads family.  all the days around xmas waiting in monee for little kieran to join the world

24. What was your favorite TV program?
i watch top gear with krajniak when i want to be social.  i watch gossip girl with helen on mondays because i dont like thinking.  

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

26. What was the best book you read?
well.  it wasn't the BEST book, but i've had my nose in Deutsch Aktuell 1 more often than not this entire year.
i enjoyed cauldron by mcdevitt and firstborn by clarke/baxter to keep me in scifi funness.  i've read a handful of the ian fleming bond novels.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
i was able to deliver a keyboard to helen who misses her piano

28. What did you want and get?
a job and a fiancee

29. What did you want and not get?
a computer

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
probably "wer frueher stirbt ist laenger tod"

30b.What was your LEAST favorite film of this year?
i hate most movies.  yet i keep going back...

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
i turned 27.  helen and i went to da lucianos on the 4th.  

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
saving more money.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
shirts and ties

34. What kept you sane?
books movies and hangin with miss helen

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

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
there was an election.  i enjoyed the sarah palin rap on snl.  i didnt care that much either way other than that.

37. Who did you miss?
grandma p.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
WLFAE and FAWLE people

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
working at fry's will yield you meeting one person of intelligence and character in forty seven.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
i do not know any song lyrics