Always quirky, sometimes sweet speculative fiction

End of the Year Post – Round One

I saw this first at Blub from the Burbs and wanted to replicate it for one of my two end of the year posts.

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?
Well for starters I wrote an entire first draft of a novel in two months and change. I also participated in my first NaNoWriMo and won it too (with a different novel’s draft). I also joined a writer’s critique group.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I made no resolutions last year. I achieved very little in 2011 because I was so focused on being an awesome mum (and being totally overwhelmed by it too) so I had no expectations for 2012. That is why I am so thoroughly impressed with myself and what I managed to achieve.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Two friends gave birth this year, one to her second daughter, and the other had her son prematurely (he’s fine). Welcome to the world Florence and Link.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
I lost both of my maternal grandparents this year. They followed each other closely in their passing which compounded the loss but also had a bittersweet poetic touch to it.

5. What countries did you visit?
No travel sorry. My largest jaunt was to cross the NSW/QLD border. When I first moved to Brisbane I did that every weekend so no biggie there.

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
Is it greedy to say money? I’m not talking ludicrous piles (though I wouldn’t refuse it), just enough to keep ahead of the bills so they don’t cause stress.

7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Is it shameful to confess none? There were some great things that happened, but nothing I can imagine myself commemorating.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Toss a coin between writing the first draft of a novel in two months and change and opening this site.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not managing to get out of debt. Stupid past-self spending all my money.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I was sick CONSTANTLY from mid-May until late August. I picked up a cold and that cold became a flu, then mutated back to a cold ad infinitum. I didn’t want to take antibiotics because I was still breast-feeding Xander (which for those who don’t know means he would get dosed with the antibiotics too) and I was also working a lot because the aforementioned premmie boy was born to my boss so he went on parental leave early and for longer than originally intended. I just had no chance to recuperate.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
I didn’t buy a lot of stuff really, probably the awesome Woody (from Toy Story) doll for Xander.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My husband, T-J, for all my crazy crap he puts up with, like the entire month of November (NaNoWriMo) and my general eccentricities.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Ugh, more people than I want to list, but I’ll stick with the vast majority of politicians (both local and foreign) and people like the man who recently went on a shooting spree in a school. There are also a few people from my personal life too, but I’m not going to start shit on the internet.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Bills. I know, how depressing. Stop being a broke writer Kirstie!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My writer’s critique group – everyone is so awesome! I also was really excited about the Supanova 10th anniversary too.

16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
I didn’t listen to the radio very much so I can’t say really. I like the positive message in The Script’s “Hall of Fame”, so while it may not remind me of 2012, it’ll probably be in my inspirational playlist for a long time.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer?
I think I’m happier this year because I feel like I’m finally making progress on my dream of being a writer. I’m definitely thinner, I lost 15kgs thanks to the aforementioned illness. As far as richer and poorer I’m poorer 🙁

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Rest. I hardly take a break and just sit down anymore, I’m always trying to write, or entertain Xander all while trying to clean the house and have a cuppa. The only times I slow down and rest are when I’m seriously ill and have someone else watching Xander.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worry and stress. Oh and procrastinate. I’m sure I could have achieved even more if I procrastinated less.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
At my parents unit with T-J, Xander and my mum and dad. Small simple and by the beach. Xander loved his present so much he fell asleep with it.

21. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Stayed in love.

22. What was your favourite TV program?
New show, or carrying over from previous years? If it’s a continuing show my answer is Doctor Who, if it’s a new show I was really enjoying Emily Owens MD – then I heard it was cancelled, not happy.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don’t hate easily (not true hate) and that list is very small. No one was added to that list this year. I’m actually grateful for that.

24. What was the best book you read?
Non-fiction Stephen King’s On Writing, Fiction: Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, in manga With The Light.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I don’t think I discovered anything this year. Well, unless you count podcasts, I’ve finally started listening to them.

26. What did you want and get?
The Atelier Meruru collector’s edition game and a Kindle Paperwhite.

27. What did you want and not get?
An agent/published (but I also could have worked harder on that)

28. What was your favourite film of this year?
The Avengers, nuff said.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I held a masquerade ball and hit the big 3-0

30. What one thing made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Reading and writing again. I did so little of that in 2011 and to be back on track is a delight.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
I went with a daring style that I’ve been wearing since my teen years: geek t-shirt and jeans. If it’s cold a long sleeve shirt goes under the geek shirt, if it’s hot the jeans turn into jeans shorts.

My cutting edge style.

My cutting edge style.

In summer shorter pants may be required. Totoro cosplayer optional.

In summer shorter pants may be required. Totoro cosplayer optional.

Longer sleeved shirt worn under the geeky mash-up shirt to keep you warmer in winter

Longer sleeved shirt worn under the geeky mash-up shirt to keep you warmer in winter



32. What kept you sane?
I’m sane?

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Chris Hemsworth, again, nuff said.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
I’m generally not much of a politics kind of girl, but I was very interested when Julia Gillard called bullshit on some of the sexists in parliament.

35. Who did you miss?
My parents. They left just before my birthday and only returned home a few weeks ago. They were caravaning around Australia and I’ve never been separated from them that long. It’s also very hard to communicate with people in the Australian outback, mobile phones don’t work as well, so it was even difficult just to chat on the phone. It may seem odd that it bothers someone of my age so much, but family is extremely important to me.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

I didn’t physically meet anyone new, but I met many great people online and am loving the blogging community far more than I ever thought I would.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
Sleep is very important. You fall apart with less than five hours a night, and when you’re holding down three jobs at once you need to be together.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Why use someone else’s words when I can use my own? “The first step into the blinding light, drawing ever closer to the sun” (part of a folk song sung by people in the world of my third book (working title) Keys, Clocks and Quests).

2 Comments

  1. Mary Tod

    Well, Kirstie – all I can say is WOW. What a year. Keep going, girl.
    Mary Tod recently posted..Help was merely pixels awayMy Profile

    • Kirstie

      And people think being a stay-at-home mum is a cushy job ;p
      Thanks Mary.

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