mrlich

Jill did this for the last few years, and I thought that it would be a good idea to do it myself. Even if it's just for my own review. She originally got the list of questions from

fatherbingo.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?

Got published as an artist. This is huge for me. It's quite an honor, and I'm looking forward to the sequel as I've been asked to take part in that as well! Also - on a related note: the book received praise from GeekDad. That too seems huge to me.
Became a paid part of a gaming supplement company.
Went to a boot camp for nerds. Received three certs there and one more later in the year.
Saw Ben Folds perform live.
Went to Austin Texas. Been meaning to for years, and was thankful that I got the chance to go, and for the ability to meet the people that I did!
Took a trip on Amtrak. Loved it.
Got started building both an art and a web design business

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Truthfully, if I set any last year, I don't remember them. I would have liked to accomplish a bit more in the past year, so I'll count that as a 'no'. For the coming year, I guess you could say that my resolution is to manage my time better. I need to set some goals though so I can see clearly if I accomplished that or not when I get to this time next year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousin and his wonderful wife are now parents of an adorable little man.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope. I was tremendously fortunate in this department.

5. What countries did you visit?
Just the good ol' U.S. of A. Maybe I'll work on that this year...

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2009?

A longer and more significant list of yearly accomplishments
Travel more
Proof that work I've done to help friends promote their work has had some real and lasting beneficial effects
Make more money via artwork and website design

7. What date(s) from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

August 29 - September 8: Mark and Ella's first Burning Man
October 15 - 24: The Industrial Jazz Group Rocktober tour. I wasn't able to make the whole tour, but what I did was awesome.
October 23rd: My solo trip up to Hudson NY on Amtrak. Just a fun trip.
December 3rd, which was Jill's first art show

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting published as a fantasy artist / being asked to do it again - more than once.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not being more productive.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing significant. I am beginning to feel older every year though.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
There was something. I specifically remember thinking "this is some of the best money I've ever spent!" and yet I can't remember what it was. I seem to be getting old.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Jill - for talking things through with me whenever there's a problem. Simple concept - tremendously tough reality.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Yeah - I have to say that I'm with Jill here: Anyone who voted for the various anti-gay-marriage propositions around the country. I still have yet to hear anything resembling a valid argument for why someone should, while I have heard countless arguments for why you shouldn't. In the end? It just comes down to one simple thing to me: treat others are you would want to be treated.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Bills. Local restaurants.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Nevermet Press, the Joe Trainor Trio, the Industrial Jazz Group's Rocktober Tour, Burning Man.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Pretty much all of the Joe Trainor Trio's Drive album. It's all solid, and I found myself listening to it a lot off and on throughout the year.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? - happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? - fatter . (thankfully not by much though)
iii. richer or poorer? - slightly poorer.

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

Promotion
Production of artwork
Write

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

20. How did you spend Christmas and New Year's Eve?

Christmas: Christmas Eve I arrived at my folks, while Jill and Jon headed up to her folks' place. Spent the morning at my folks' and then went to join them at her parents' place. Came back to my parents' the following day for the Sunday brunch with extended family and so my family could get some quality Jill time in.
NYE: At chez Mosk - rockin in the new year with great people.

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
I don't do phone really. Probably my Mom if I had to pick someone.

22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
As this implies 'with someone new or different' I'm going to say no. If you mean 'in a new way', and 'on a regular basis', then the answer is yes. I've said it before and I'll say it again - I'm really damn fortunate.

23. How many one-night stands?
Nope. I don't count the bavarian cheerleading squad.

24. What's your favorite TV program?
I only watch t.v. series on Netflix, but I really enjoyed the hell out of the first season of Leverage.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I wouldn't say hate. I was frustrated with some folks, but not in any way that was unmanageable.

26. What was the best book you read in 2009?
Probably Waiter Rant. It wasn't really life changing or anything, but it certainly did a great job of connecting with a huge part of my life.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Pandora.com. It's not that I didn't know about it before, but I never really started using it until this year. Now it powers most of our "I wanna listen to something somewhat random." time in the house.

28. What did you want and get?
Published. For reelz.

29. What did you want and not get?
More time for myself. More cash wouldn't have hurt things.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
There's a pretty long list. Maybe I'll come back to this.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Got home post B-Man. Unwound.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Less stress for those I care about.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Pretty much the usual: chucks, jeans, and either a button down shirt (work) or a t-shirt. I'm easy.

34. What kept you sane?
Snuggling up with and talking to Jill at the end of a trying day. Knowing that when a force comes my way, I can: embrace it, deflect it, or not be there when it passes through.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Generally? I don't give a sh!t about celebrities.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Obama election. I'm happy with the results, and more happy to have been able to witness this amazing event in history.

37. Who did you miss?
My buddy K. That's my fault.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Probably erszi or Kilowatts. Both are awesome.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:

Don't think that you know what the situation is even when you think that you know what the situation is. Have an escape route - hopefully you never need it, but having it will save you stress and grief.
Maybe you're good enough, and maybe you're not. If you don't try, you'll never know. Sometimes trying takes more than 5 minutes of effort.
Build a nest egg.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I suck at this sort of thing. Maybe I'll come back to it.