Listening To: 1000 Fires : Traci Lords

It’s that time of year again … email-spam-ish ‘quiz’ time to be exact. For want of anything better to do, here are my answers to the quiz I ripped off Mellipop’s site, which she in turn ripped off someone else.

1. WHAT DID YOU DO IN 2004 THAT YOU’D NEVER DONE BEFORE?

Seriously proposed marriage to someone. Yeah, and got shot down in flames, big time !

2. DID YOU KEEP YOUR NEW YEARS’ RESOLUTIONS, AND WILL YOU MAKE MORE FOR NEXT YEAR?

The only resolutions I half-remember making last year were to have more fun, and stop being too polite / scared to go after what I want. Haven’t made any for this year yet, but then my resolutions always take a few days / weeks after NYE to crystalise !

3. DID ANYONE CLOSE TO YOU GIVE BIRTH?

My uncle’s girlfriend had a baby daughter half-way across the world in Prague. That’s as ‘close’ as it gets, at least as far as I know.

4. DID ANYONE CLOSE TO YOU DIE?

Luckily, no. Distant relative (the sister of my grandmother on dad’s side) shuffled off this mortal coil, but I don’t think I’d ever even met the woman.

5. WHAT COUNTRIES DID YOU VISIT?

Czech Republic (again) + transit in Malaysia and Germany.

6. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE IN 2005 THAT YOU LACKED IN 2004?

World domination ? Sorry … no … how about an enjoyable job WITH STABILITY ! A romantic relationship with someone who WON’T fŨck me over with stupid mind games ?

7. WHAT DATES FROM 2004 WILL REMAIN ETCHED UPON YOUR MEMORY AND WHY?

Valentines Day, midnight, when my ex ‘dumped’ my arse after a nice romantic dinner and the usual saucey shennanigans. Mid-April, when the same ex turned down my marriage proposal despite continuing to sleep with me. Late August, when I finally worked out still shagging her was a bad idea, especially given we were working together again.

8. WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR?

Networking my way to a job with real management potential and share options, despite knowing bugger all about the recruitment industry, and having to do this two days after the failed marriage proposal at my ex’s friend’s party with the ex in tow.

9. WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST FAILURE?

Not being able to stay in the above job, and ending up back here at *********.

10. DID YOU SUFFER ILLNESS OR INJURY?

Nope, apart from a few minor bouts of the flu.

11. WHAT WAS THE BEST THING YOU BOUGHT?

Canon i685 Photo Printer … photo-lab quality prints in the comfort of my own home. Yay :)

12. WHOSE BEHAVIOUR MERITED CELEBRATION?

My mum’s. She’s finally trying to be less judgemental and more supportive than she has been in the past, which I really appreciated, especially in some of the blacker moments of 2004.

13. WHOSE BEHAVIOUR MADE YOU APPALLED AND DEPRESSED?

The Australian electorate’s ! Did you guys really have to vote that fascist f*cker and his henchman back in for ANOTHER term ?

14. WHERE DID MOST OF YOUR MONEY GO?

Cigarettes, alcohol, rent and design software – in that order.

15. WHAT DID YOU GET REALLY, REALLY, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT?

Going to Prague after 3 years absence.

16. WHAT SONG WILL ALWAYS REMIND YOU OF 2004

Karma – 1200 Techniques. Not only did I re-discover my love of hip-hop last year, but it well and truly was the year of karma for this little black duck !

17. COMPARED TO THIS TIME LAST YEAR ARE YOU:

a) Happier or sadder?
Happier I do believe, yes.

b) Thinner or fatter?
Thinner … except for my face … damn that holiday-season alcohol chin-padding !

c) Richer or poorer?
Definitely poorer.

18. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU’D DONE MORE OF?

Writing, music production, saving money !

19. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU’D DONE LESS OF?

Spending money on booze and cigarettes. The eternal bloody quest …

20. DID YOU FALL IN LOVE IN 2004?

Indeedly doodley friendly neighbours … ignoring all self-preservation instincts in the process, to my own eventual detriment. Think I might be falling again in 2005 … but it’s really too early to tell with any reliability … so shhhhh ! :)

21. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE TV PROGRAM?

Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Little Britain

22. DO YOU HATE ANYONE NOW THAT YOU DIDN’T HATE LAST YEAR?

I don’t really “do” hate. Although I’ve always hated Johnny & Dubya …

23. WHAT WAS THE BEST BOOK YOU READ?

Not Happy John – Margot Kingston. Still reading it …

24. WHAT WAS YOUR GREATEST MUSICAL DISCOVERY?

The Streets, before all you other f*ckers got on the band-wagon with the second album. Close second – 1200 Techniques, but I certainly wasn’t trail-blazing there !

25. WHAT DID YOU WANT AND GET?

A job as a recruitment consultant at Medijobs.

26. WHAT DID YOU WANT AND NOT GET?

An M-Audio midi controller keyboard for $275 from the cool music shop just up from our office in Bondi Junction.

27. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE FILM OF THE YEAR?

Shaun of The Dead

28. WHAT DID YOU DO ON YOUR BIRTHDAY, AND HOW OLD WERE YOU?

Went out drinking to Roxy Parramatta with the ex. I was 27.

29. WHAT ONE THING WOULD HAVE MADE YOUR YEAR IMMEASURABLY MORE SATISFYING?

Johnny losing the election like he was supposed to, dammit ! Just lie down and stay dead, you senile old f*cker !

30. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL FASHION CONCEPT IN 2004?

Metro-sexual raver-boy. Which at several points led to unwanted, extremely-forward attention from queer boys ! Have never freaked out and virtually run from a dance-floor before.

31. WHAT KEPT YOU SANE?

Mellipop, alcohol, 1200 Techniques, Prague and my dear old Ma !

32. WHICH CELEBRITY/PUBLIC FIGURE DID YOU FANCY THE MOST?

Gwyneth, Jessica Alba.

33. WHAT POLITICAL ISSUE STIRRED YOU THE MOST?

Iraq

34. WHO DID YOU MISS?

Ma, Pa, Mellipop

35. WHO WAS THE BEST NEW PERSON YOU MET?

Well she almost didn’t make it into 2004 thanks to my slackness with email, but I think the Divine Miss L takes spot numero uno here !

36. TELL US A VALUABLE LIFE LESSON YOU LEARNED IN 2004:

If you consistently find yourself having loud discussions with yourself in an Irish accent whilst drunk along the lines of “this girl is gonna mess you up, you know that right ?”, listen to the wisdom of the Irish and take heed of your own warnings !

37. QUOTE A SONG LYRIC THAT SUMS UP YOUR YEAR.

“You better watch for Karma” – 1200 Techniques