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2018 end of year post
Time to look back on 2018 and plan for 2019.
1. What did you do in 2018 that you'd never done before?
It took me a minute to think of things, and I had to resort to my planner this year to see. I worked adapted night shift from 7pm-3am, which was interesting. I got to see Yiruma live in concert. I saw the Swan Lake ballet live! We paid for movers for the first time. I was a maid-of-honor for the first time!
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Looking back on my resolutions for 2018:
-exercise regularly! Yoga and cardio and weight stuff!
I was good about this for the first 2/3 or so of the year, but all the traveling in August threw me off and then moving back to day shift for the last quarter made me reluctant to work out after work. So that's something I definitely need to get back on.
-put in at least 50 hours of volunteer work!
Done, mostly at Asia Society, but also with the Montgomery County Women's Center before I moved down to Houston and once through AIG sponsored volunteering.
-GO TO A LIVE HOCKEY GAME AGAIN
I made it happen! I saw Canes at Caps at the end of March in DC. Live hockey is still so great.
-help Sonia & Brendon get married, have a good time
Done. ♥
-leave the country at some point (go somewhere!)
I almost forgot I left the country, because the trip to Vancouver slipped my mind/doesn't feel like an international trip. But that counts!
-stay in touch with people, remind them that they matter to me
Yes, I managed this, I think. And I'm glad for it, because this is an important one.
-watch A Wrinkle in Time, Black Panther, Ocean's 8
Watched the latter two in theaters and they were so much fun; managed to catch the last one on Netflix and it was disappointingly disjointed, but Chris Pine was delightful.
So let's make 2019 goals:
-fucking enjoy Japan!
-back to regular exercise: whether cardio or yoga or strength-building, just do it regularly!
-go to China to see family
-learn and grow and be great at the new exciting job with Asia Society
-see Ted get married in LA/connect with law school friends
-reread Slam Dunk
-watch HTTYD 3, DETECTIVE PIKACHU, and am I excited about anything else? Not really.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Elizabeth S! I went to her baby shower. I don't understand modern baby showers, I think. I've yet to meet her kid though, so that's on the list for 2019.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not close to me, no.
5. What countries did you visit?
Canada! Took an August birthday trip to Vancouver with Michelle & Lille.
6. What would you like to have in 2019 that you lacked in 2018?
Better exercise habits in the last quarter of the year. But otherwise I actually had a really good year personally and professionally. I am very lucky and very grateful. I did well at work and turned good coworkers into good friends; I maintained my other friends; Kevin and I are doing well and really enjoy living in Houston instead of the Woodlands; our cat makes me really happy; I read so many books this year and watched things that made me feel things; we traveled a lot on short trips and enjoyed good food!
7. What date from 2018 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I honestly don't remember dates. But if we mean significant events from this year: various trips, numerous weddings (especially Sonia & Brendon's),
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
The new job thing is pretty exciting, and went very fast. Get an email recommending I apply for the position, get my shit together to reply, update my resume, write a cover letter, send that in, do two interviews. I'm impressed I survived it, but I had good support. I am also very proud of giving a matron of honor speech! I know I'm pretty good at public speaking (especially if I prep), but I get so nervouse anyway in the lead up. It's the same thing with interviews. I'm also proud I joined the March for our Lives protest in Houston and block-walked for Beto because...sometimes it's good for me to engage in things I care about beyond donating money.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not enough self-discipline regarding exercise these past two months. :( (Oh wait, this is the same as last year! The winter months kill me, don't they?)
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I broke a tooth! The permanent retainer I got years ago was terribly made/installed, so that had to be removed and I had to get a root canal/new crown. What fun dental adventures.
11. What were the best things you bought?
Excluding trips and experiences, new skirts with pockets, our new guitar pick-shaped dining table, new Away luggage. All of them get a lot of use. New sheets!
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Christine Blasey Ford.
13. Whose behaviour appalled you?
Men.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Taro's surgeries, travel (we did a lot of short trips this year), savings -- we're eventually (soon) going to get a house!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Ocean's 8!! Crazy Rich Asians!! The World Cup was this fucking year! I won my office pool and a Liverpool jersey.
16. What song will always remind you of 2018?
Uh, I guess Ariana Grande's "thank u, next"? Oh TVXQ's comeback was this year; that was really good. I'm otherwise really bad at music, okay?
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier
ii. thinner or fatter? probably fatter but I don't own a scale so idek
iii. richer or poorer? richer, probably, with savings and retirement accounts accumulating that compounded interest
Literally the same answers as last year, and again I am grateful. Though I should probably get a scale or at least re-commit to my daily exercise!
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
More regular excerise! Probably more cooking and trying new recipes.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
You know what, I REGRET NOTHING. OK, no, probably less office gossip.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Kevin and I spent it alone in Houston, our first time without family! His had come visit us for Thanksgiving, and we'd seen my family the week before in Myrtle Beach, so Christmas Day was just us. We opened presents in the morning and then I went to work and had to listen to my co-workers Be Extremely Exhausting Dudes complaining about mainstream media. Honestly, men need a mute button.
21. Where did you ring in 2018? How will you ring in 2019?
Apparently we visited the Shaws briefly and then went home? I assume I was asleep at midnight. I plan to do the same this year. I work December 31, my last day, and have the next day off -- so technically I could stay up. But I probably won't!
22. Did you fall in love in 2018?
With Nirvana in Fire maybe! With some books, certainly! With people? Not so much. With my cat repeatedly? Oh yes.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Still enjoying The Good Place a lot although this season feels different because they're back on earth; the overarching plot may be sufffering somewhat, but I still enjoy each individual episode and that's good enough for me. I also continue to enjoy clips of Late Night with Seth Meyer (monologues & A Closer Look predominantly) and Stephen Colbert.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is an exhausting emotion. I still hate politicians and men and society, but the intensity comes and goes in waves.
26. What was the best book you read?
Oh you could not make me pick. Bridge of Birds was shockingly good and moving and such a fun adventure set in fantastical historical China. What a climax to that book though, with all the threads tying back together. I do deal with complicated feelings about it being written by a white guy, however. Good and Mad would be my non-fiction choice; it's a book about women's anger and how it can shape politics, and it is so good and so infuriating and I want to send a copy to every woman I know.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Every year, this question trips me up because I am so bad at music. I don't discover new music; I listen to old music forever until new music accidentally falls into my lap.
28. What did you want and get?
Moving to Houston proper. This job at Asia Society. Good work friends turned actual friends. Yiruma in concert. A live hockey game. Boston, DC, San Diego, Los Alamos, Vancouver, New Orleans, Myrtle Beach.
29. What did you want and not get?
My sports teams to do well? Well, Liverpool is doing well and UNC more or less. *knocks on wood* Seriously, I have very little to complain about.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Split equally between Ocean's 8 and Crazy Rich Asians.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Turned 31 in Vancouver, dinner with Kevin and Michelle and Lille at a First Nations restaurant recommended by Mishy. ♥
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Beto winning. Oh well, he did even better than expected.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2018?
Business casual in skirts 90% of my work life. Cute/classic. But I bought some Adidas and am embracing the ~casual chic too, sure. I am old and want to be comfortable.
34. What kept you sane?
My cat, tbh. Escapism via reading as always. --> Same, still. Always forever.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Oh I was really into Yuzuru Hanyu in February during the Winter Olympics. And then I got over it again because I am fickle. Not really crushing on any celebs, though certainly there are women in politics I admire a lot.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Kavanaugh hearings.
37. Who did you miss?
I always wish my friends scattered across the country were closer for quick weekday happy hours or weekend brunches orlate night movies weekend matinees or whatever, even grocery trips. But part of settling into life is making time to let your relationships grow and change with your individual circumstances in life.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Juliana and Sherry probably! We hit it off pretty instantanouesly, though I think in both cases I made initial overtures. Different types of friendships, but both good -- though I will miss Sherry as she's heading out to NYC at the end of January.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2018.
How to separate work relationships from friendships. I apparently got very good at this, to the point of getting praise from my supervisors -- who will also remain friends even though I'm leaving. So that is one thing I take pride in figuring out; I am friendly with people and get along with them, but I don't go out of my way to be liked, and that is apparently respected in turn. And manage to deliver my work feedback in a way that is straightforward but doesn't alienate people.
A few others include how being the one to reach out is often worth it. Having healthy boundaries is always the better choice. Reading is fucking great.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I've got to change this meme, man. Can't I find a book quote or something instea?
Bonus. What was your favorite moment of the year?
All of Vancouver was fun. Anniversary dinner at Uchi. Successfully pulling off Thanksgiving dinner. Myrtle Beach dinners the first day or two. I really have so, so much I'm grateful for, looking back.
1. What did you do in 2018 that you'd never done before?
It took me a minute to think of things, and I had to resort to my planner this year to see. I worked adapted night shift from 7pm-3am, which was interesting. I got to see Yiruma live in concert. I saw the Swan Lake ballet live! We paid for movers for the first time. I was a maid-of-honor for the first time!
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Looking back on my resolutions for 2018:
-exercise regularly! Yoga and cardio and weight stuff!
I was good about this for the first 2/3 or so of the year, but all the traveling in August threw me off and then moving back to day shift for the last quarter made me reluctant to work out after work. So that's something I definitely need to get back on.
-put in at least 50 hours of volunteer work!
Done, mostly at Asia Society, but also with the Montgomery County Women's Center before I moved down to Houston and once through AIG sponsored volunteering.
-GO TO A LIVE HOCKEY GAME AGAIN
I made it happen! I saw Canes at Caps at the end of March in DC. Live hockey is still so great.
-help Sonia & Brendon get married, have a good time
Done. ♥
-leave the country at some point (go somewhere!)
I almost forgot I left the country, because the trip to Vancouver slipped my mind/doesn't feel like an international trip. But that counts!
-stay in touch with people, remind them that they matter to me
Yes, I managed this, I think. And I'm glad for it, because this is an important one.
-watch A Wrinkle in Time, Black Panther, Ocean's 8
Watched the latter two in theaters and they were so much fun; managed to catch the last one on Netflix and it was disappointingly disjointed, but Chris Pine was delightful.
So let's make 2019 goals:
-fucking enjoy Japan!
-back to regular exercise: whether cardio or yoga or strength-building, just do it regularly!
-go to China to see family
-learn and grow and be great at the new exciting job with Asia Society
-see Ted get married in LA/connect with law school friends
-reread Slam Dunk
-watch HTTYD 3, DETECTIVE PIKACHU, and am I excited about anything else? Not really.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Elizabeth S! I went to her baby shower. I don't understand modern baby showers, I think. I've yet to meet her kid though, so that's on the list for 2019.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not close to me, no.
5. What countries did you visit?
Canada! Took an August birthday trip to Vancouver with Michelle & Lille.
6. What would you like to have in 2019 that you lacked in 2018?
Better exercise habits in the last quarter of the year. But otherwise I actually had a really good year personally and professionally. I am very lucky and very grateful. I did well at work and turned good coworkers into good friends; I maintained my other friends; Kevin and I are doing well and really enjoy living in Houston instead of the Woodlands; our cat makes me really happy; I read so many books this year and watched things that made me feel things; we traveled a lot on short trips and enjoyed good food!
7. What date from 2018 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I honestly don't remember dates. But if we mean significant events from this year: various trips, numerous weddings (especially Sonia & Brendon's),
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
The new job thing is pretty exciting, and went very fast. Get an email recommending I apply for the position, get my shit together to reply, update my resume, write a cover letter, send that in, do two interviews. I'm impressed I survived it, but I had good support. I am also very proud of giving a matron of honor speech! I know I'm pretty good at public speaking (especially if I prep), but I get so nervouse anyway in the lead up. It's the same thing with interviews. I'm also proud I joined the March for our Lives protest in Houston and block-walked for Beto because...sometimes it's good for me to engage in things I care about beyond donating money.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not enough self-discipline regarding exercise these past two months. :( (Oh wait, this is the same as last year! The winter months kill me, don't they?)
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I broke a tooth! The permanent retainer I got years ago was terribly made/installed, so that had to be removed and I had to get a root canal/new crown. What fun dental adventures.
11. What were the best things you bought?
Excluding trips and experiences, new skirts with pockets, our new guitar pick-shaped dining table, new Away luggage. All of them get a lot of use. New sheets!
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Christine Blasey Ford.
13. Whose behaviour appalled you?
Men.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Taro's surgeries, travel (we did a lot of short trips this year), savings -- we're eventually (soon) going to get a house!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Ocean's 8!! Crazy Rich Asians!! The World Cup was this fucking year! I won my office pool and a Liverpool jersey.
16. What song will always remind you of 2018?
Uh, I guess Ariana Grande's "thank u, next"? Oh TVXQ's comeback was this year; that was really good. I'm otherwise really bad at music, okay?
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier
ii. thinner or fatter? probably fatter but I don't own a scale so idek
iii. richer or poorer? richer, probably, with savings and retirement accounts accumulating that compounded interest
Literally the same answers as last year, and again I am grateful. Though I should probably get a scale or at least re-commit to my daily exercise!
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
More regular excerise! Probably more cooking and trying new recipes.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
You know what, I REGRET NOTHING. OK, no, probably less office gossip.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Kevin and I spent it alone in Houston, our first time without family! His had come visit us for Thanksgiving, and we'd seen my family the week before in Myrtle Beach, so Christmas Day was just us. We opened presents in the morning and then I went to work and had to listen to my co-workers Be Extremely Exhausting Dudes complaining about mainstream media. Honestly, men need a mute button.
21. Where did you ring in 2018? How will you ring in 2019?
Apparently we visited the Shaws briefly and then went home? I assume I was asleep at midnight. I plan to do the same this year. I work December 31, my last day, and have the next day off -- so technically I could stay up. But I probably won't!
22. Did you fall in love in 2018?
With Nirvana in Fire maybe! With some books, certainly! With people? Not so much. With my cat repeatedly? Oh yes.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Still enjoying The Good Place a lot although this season feels different because they're back on earth; the overarching plot may be sufffering somewhat, but I still enjoy each individual episode and that's good enough for me. I also continue to enjoy clips of Late Night with Seth Meyer (monologues & A Closer Look predominantly) and Stephen Colbert.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is an exhausting emotion. I still hate politicians and men and society, but the intensity comes and goes in waves.
26. What was the best book you read?
Oh you could not make me pick. Bridge of Birds was shockingly good and moving and such a fun adventure set in fantastical historical China. What a climax to that book though, with all the threads tying back together. I do deal with complicated feelings about it being written by a white guy, however. Good and Mad would be my non-fiction choice; it's a book about women's anger and how it can shape politics, and it is so good and so infuriating and I want to send a copy to every woman I know.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Every year, this question trips me up because I am so bad at music. I don't discover new music; I listen to old music forever until new music accidentally falls into my lap.
28. What did you want and get?
Moving to Houston proper. This job at Asia Society. Good work friends turned actual friends. Yiruma in concert. A live hockey game. Boston, DC, San Diego, Los Alamos, Vancouver, New Orleans, Myrtle Beach.
29. What did you want and not get?
My sports teams to do well? Well, Liverpool is doing well and UNC more or less. *knocks on wood* Seriously, I have very little to complain about.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Split equally between Ocean's 8 and Crazy Rich Asians.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Turned 31 in Vancouver, dinner with Kevin and Michelle and Lille at a First Nations restaurant recommended by Mishy. ♥
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Beto winning. Oh well, he did even better than expected.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2018?
Business casual in skirts 90% of my work life. Cute/classic. But I bought some Adidas and am embracing the ~casual chic too, sure. I am old and want to be comfortable.
34. What kept you sane?
My cat, tbh. Escapism via reading as always. --> Same, still. Always forever.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Oh I was really into Yuzuru Hanyu in February during the Winter Olympics. And then I got over it again because I am fickle. Not really crushing on any celebs, though certainly there are women in politics I admire a lot.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Kavanaugh hearings.
37. Who did you miss?
I always wish my friends scattered across the country were closer for quick weekday happy hours or weekend brunches or
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Juliana and Sherry probably! We hit it off pretty instantanouesly, though I think in both cases I made initial overtures. Different types of friendships, but both good -- though I will miss Sherry as she's heading out to NYC at the end of January.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2018.
How to separate work relationships from friendships. I apparently got very good at this, to the point of getting praise from my supervisors -- who will also remain friends even though I'm leaving. So that is one thing I take pride in figuring out; I am friendly with people and get along with them, but I don't go out of my way to be liked, and that is apparently respected in turn. And manage to deliver my work feedback in a way that is straightforward but doesn't alienate people.
A few others include how being the one to reach out is often worth it. Having healthy boundaries is always the better choice. Reading is fucking great.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I've got to change this meme, man. Can't I find a book quote or something instea?
Bonus. What was your favorite moment of the year?
All of Vancouver was fun. Anniversary dinner at Uchi. Successfully pulling off Thanksgiving dinner. Myrtle Beach dinners the first day or two. I really have so, so much I'm grateful for, looking back.
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When are you going to Japan/China?
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Japan in less than a week! 5-12 Jan, and then probably mid to late May for the family trip to China.
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Also was Banff already last year? jfc. TIME FLIES
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