1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

Applied to grad school, wrote a screenplay, became close friends with people WITHOUT dating them first (woopackers! emotional-intimacy-five!).

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I can’t really remember my resolutions from last year, if that says anything. Well, there was one big one, but that wasn’t in my control as much as I wanted or hoped it could be; I really needed to learn to let that one go. I’ve got some more for this year. More concrete, day-by-day sorts of things, to start.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

No.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

I wouldn’t say we were close, but it’s still strange to think that you didn’t live to see this year, Emily. I only knew you as a friend’s sister, and I didn’t even know you as that in the last few years, but you were always there. I watched you grow up just a couple years behind me. Rest in peace.

5. What countries did you visit?

Just the good old USA (although I did live in New York for the summer, which was pretty big for me, and far from home). Gotta make it big, so I can see all the things I’ve missed :P

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

Not really a lack, but I want to keep pushing myself to try new things. There’s still so much out there to see and experience. 

A relationship. I don’t feel the lack like I used to, but I’m ready for the next big thing in that part of my life, and there are definitely a lot of things about that kind of experience that I miss.

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

June 23rd—Best birthday I’ve had in a long time, maybe ever. Stupidly good birthday week overall.

August 23rd—Started to let go of a grudge that I’d been keeping (one that wasn’t really deserved).

December 19th—Turned in my final grad school portfolio applications.

February 24th—The end of something huge. It was a long time coming, but it still broke my heart.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Grad school applications. Definitely. I rewrote pretty much every story of any merit that I’d written in the last four years. I feel better than ever about my writing.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Hating someone who didn’t deserve it (got better, though).

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Had another gum surgery (yay…), but that was planned and all, so it doesn’t really count.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Books (god I love books), FOOD (We had some good times, New York), concert tickets.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Abby & Brittany, always. Grg (especially for getting me to live in our house for this academic year—holysweetgodthankyou), Annie, and Simon. Sasha, Duncan, and Claire. Jackson & Vicky. Too many to list.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

A couple people who I felt treated my friends or others poorly. That said, I judged too harshly, or at least too blindly sometimes.

14. Where did most of your money go?

New York, books, children’s card games (yeah… I really need to cut back, at least for this semester…).

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Summer internship, screenwriting, Hunger Games, Homestuck.

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?

The Only Exception, Exile Vilify, Combat Baby, Black Sheep, I Wish I Was the Moon Tonight, Merry Happy, Foundations, Amsterdam, At Least it Was Here, Why Won’t You Stop, Sometime Around Midnight, really all of the album “Grow Up and Blow Away,” but especially Soft Rock Star.

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

(a) happier or sadder? Happier. Good god, happier. You really don’t realize how far down the rabbit hole you’ve gone at the time… because you’re in a fucking rabbit hole.

(b) thinner or fatter? About the same. Pretty consistent metabolism.

(c) richer or poorer? Poorer. Got to start saving better, especially after New York (aka Land of Good Times and an Unpaid Internship).

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

Meeting new people, trying new things. Writing, reading (as always). Keeping in touch with old friends. I’m getting better, but good god do I suck at long-distance communication.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Being angry, being hung up on what’s gone, wasting time. I passed up a couple of opportunities that maybe I shouldn’t have, and some that, however confident I am that I made the right choice, I could have let pass without hurting or bothering others.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

With the family, at my Uncle Dan’s house in Santa Barbara. It was quite nice, actually.

21. Did you fall in love in 2011?

No. 2011 was about falling out of love, and realizing that there’s enough love to go around, even if I’m not IN love.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Community. Just… Community #sixseasonsandamovie

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Tough question. That break-up had a lot of casualties in terms of my personal opinions of people. So yeah, there’s probably some bad stuff that wasn’t there before, but I’ve already let some of the bad blood go and stopped hating somebody this year. So I think it’s been a net improvement. 

24. What was the best book you read?

Tough call. Maybe The Magicians, that one just really hit me on a good level.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Matt Pond PA (thanks, Quinton), The National (thanks, Ben), Homestuck music (thanks, Emma, for indulging me).

26. What did you want and get?

Better self-respect and understanding. Great strides in friendship.

27. What did you want and not get?

A relationship. But I spent about half the year not ready for one, and most of the other half too busy to get out and date, etc. So there you go.

28. What was your favourite film of this year?

Either The Artist or Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (though I saw both of those in the last three days; whoops). I also had a great (and, I think, rational) fondness for Suckerpunch—fight me, internet.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

Great 21st birthday. Champagne with my hosts, and then Amanda Palmer in concert, with many drinks purchased for me by friends. I actually got drunk in such a way that I was smashed for the first opener, still quite drunk for the second opener, and just pleasantly buzzed for Amanda herself. Bloody brilliant evening.

That week also included a great dinner out with some friends, and seeing Neil Gaiman and Lev Grossman for the 10th anniversary tour for American Gods. 

30. What one thing made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Becoming close friends with Abby. Through thick and thin, an absolute highlight.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?

More simple, button-down shirts with rolled-up sleeves and decent jeans. More black socks. My beard in a state I’m pretty pleased with (though I really let myself go on that one towards the end of the year). New hat that I’m quite enamored with.

32. What kept you sane?

“As usual: writing and friends.” Couldn’t say it better, so I’ll borrow your words again, Ben.

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

Maybe Neil Gaiman. A lot of personal aspiration towards his life, and how much he seems to love it.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

Occupy Wall Street, the Republican primary candidates and the fears they inspire in me.

35. Who did you miss?

Abby while she was away in Munich. Moms, at Christmas just as much as ever; Rest in Peace. Sophie, in spite of—and sometimes because of—everything.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

I’m not sure how many new people I actually met this year. Definitely more a time for getting closer to old ones. There were definitely some people I was aware of but didn’t really know at all whom I had a great time getting to know at various points this year though. Alyssa and Katie definitely provided some highlights this summer, and it was great getting to know Emma in screenplay this fall.

This could go on forever though, because I think I got closer with almost every single one of my friends this year. Love you all, guys.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

Say yes to things. Take friendship deeper. Give people another chance.

This is the big one:

Fight for what you want. Fight as hard as you can for as long as you can. But if you find that you can’t fight anymore, if your sword rusts and chips instead of singing, if there’s no joy in the fight, then maybe it’s time to lay down your arms and find a battle worth fighting again. 

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

And I will never see the sky the same way

And I will learn to say goodbye to yesterday

And I will never cease to fly if held down and

I will always reach too high