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2019 year in review
Well, I completely left off posting here in the latter half of the year. At least I was still journaling. In any case, here I am for the year end meme review, though now that we're moving into a new decade, I really need to change some of these questions for new ones.
1. What did you do in 2019 that you'd never done before?
Visited Japan for the first time! It was cold and delicious and lovely, and I'd love to go back. So that includes riding a shinkansen for the first time! Though I then got on another high speed train in China in May with family. Other firsts include seeing the Sleeping Beauty ballet in DC and, hm, eating a Michelin-starred restaurant, and running high school camps and being in charge of my own intern over the summer. Learning new roles and responsibilities.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I never remember my resolutions. For 2019 I had the following:
-fucking enjoy Japan!
Check!
-back to regular exercise: whether cardio or yoga or strength-building, just do it regularly!
Briefly, but then it got dark and cold and there were weird travel plans and being sick, so I fell off again. I need to get back on this with regularity, but me and everyone else making new year's resolutions, I guess. Perhaps I can ease back in with yoga first, or at least buy free weights to do some stuff at home?
-go to China to see family
Done. It was both as bad and not as bad as I'd feared, but mostly it is over. I'm glad Kevin got to see China and my family though, as it gives him a little more context and understanding for the relationship I have with my parents. He'll never fully understand and that's okay, but it helps to know a little more. And I'd love to go back to China as a tourist with a little more freedom in my plans.
-learn and grow and be great at the new exciting job with Asia Society
It has been a great year with Asia Society. A challenge in a lot of ways, but really rewarding as I build relationships not just at work but in the community and with partners, and always exciting to see our plans materialize. A lot more to work toward and I should perhaps strive for a little more ambition this next year?
-see Ted get married in LA/connect with law school friends
Done! The Trump golf course was not my fav, but seeing and reconnecting with law school friends was nice, weather was great, and we have plans to reunite in St. Louis next year. Babies are either in the mix or on the way now; I guess it was only a matter of time.
-reread Slam Dunk
I did it and it lived up to all my hopes, fears, and memories. What a great series. So funny, so dramatic.
-watch HTTYD 3, DETECTIVE PIKACHU, and am I excited about anything else? Not really.
I did not watch HTTYD 3 but I have it on Prime and could rent it in the next two days! Detective Pikachu was adorable; no regrets.
Some resolutions/goals for next year:
-keep journaling, with more mindfulness and gratitude
-go to Costa Rica, do Lille's wedding, and be Done With That
-read...anywhere between 50-100 books would be nice, maybe somewhere between 5-10 nonfiction at least
-can I try for one live hockey game a year? I managed in Dallas this year, let's try for one in 2020
-be healthy: get back into regular exercise, be mindful about what to eat/cook, do my best to feel good
-go somewhere I haven't been before
-watch the Mulan remake and Wonder Woman 1984
-visit Michelle or have her visit me, see Sonia, stay in touch
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Well, Dani W, right? And then my coworker Matt's wife, and we threw her a baby shower. But "close" is relative.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not close to me, no.
5. What countries did you visit?
Japan and China. (I gotta get to Europe soon...or South America. At least I'll hit Central America for the wedding!)
6. What would you like to have in 2020 that you lacked in 2019?
I had a lot to be grateful for this year. There's not too much more I could ask for, except for more self-discipline to get back into regular exercise and feel good about my health from that aspect as well. Also, a different president.
7. What date from 2019 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
All the dates I remember from this past year are work-related because otherwise I don't tend to remember dates well. I guess the YLI summer camps, the trip to Warrenton, VA, for Sarah's wedding, the October bachelorette trip, the December Dallas trip. Good memories.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Honestly, probably learning on the job to handle the summer camps and successfully pulling those off. With guidance and help, of course, but they really were largely under my purview. Same with the summer intern who helped out and who left me such a lovely thank you note. Gotta put some thought into designing our January internship for a high schooler, and researching and planning for this summer's programs. Also I consider it achievement to have developed bonds and friendships with coworkers!
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not enough self-discipline regarding exercise. My inability/refusal to just tell my mom that we don't plan on having kids. I can always be more self-aware, mindful, and grateful, but I don't consider those failures; I consider them reminders to try harder in the future.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Had a couple colds, I think, and they always take longer than I anticipate to recover from now. The worst of it is over in 2-3 days, but the lingering stuffiness and phlegm seems to last forever.
11. What were the best things you bought?
Excluding trips and experiences (hockey tickets! plane tickets to see friends!), a couple of cute blazers and purses that are good for work and life. Honestly my annual subscription to NHL.tv is pretty dang useful since I'm always out of market for the Canes. I bought a really cute knit Wooloo from Mochillery! I'm really not about owning stuff as much as spending on the trips and experiences, though...
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
It has been nice getting to know Chris from work, as someone who is also Asian-American and cares a lot about the same kind of race/class/social justice issues, but who in a lot of ways has a very different experience and outlook than I do.
13. Whose behaviour appalled you?
Men, especially Republican men of all kinds and especially those in government. Hockey fans.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, travel, food and experiences.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Canes making the fucking playoffs! Liverpool winning the Champions League! Seeing live hockey in Dallas! Okay, surely there were non-sports related things... Books! Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid hit my "original" m/m hockey players falling in love id so hard. Getting to read the end of Holly Black's Folk of the Air series. Oh! The Farewell. Fantastic, moving, funny. And in a totally different vein, so glad I got to see the documentary The Kingmaker about Imelda Marcos as well.
16. What song will always remind you of 2019?
Probably Taylor Swift's entire Lover album, which I listened to a fair bit this year. Some of Suju's comeback was catchy: I Think I, The Crown, Super Clap.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? probably the same? let's say happier for optimism, although when I pause to think about news and the world, it always stresses me out and makes me alternately angry and despairing
ii. thinner or fatter? probably fatter but I don't own a scale so idek (same answer as before -- it matters more to me that I feel healthy, and I could feel healthier, so that's something to work on next year)
iii. richer or poorer? richer, probably, with savings and retirement accounts accumulating that compounded interest (ditto last year, and knock on wood that it will remain this way in the future; I realize how fortunate I am in this regard)
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Still: More regular excerise! Going to more of the cool local festivals and events around Houston.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Online shopping probably, and I didn't do that much to start with. But meh. Shop local where possible!
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Kevin and I spent it alone in Houston again, our second year in a row. Kevin's family came to visit us for Thanksgiving, and we'd already spent two weeks with my family in China, so we decided to take it easy. Planned to go out to eat Japanese KFC style at Shun but forgot to make reservations, because I didn't realize they started taking reservations...ended up at Peli Peli (South African food) at the Galleria, and it was good! It's the first time in years I actually had Christmas Eve & Day off, rather than having to work for bonus pay or schedule time off, and over the holiday I watched a couple movies (Jumanji 2, Paddington 2), read a few books (The Santa Klaus Murder, Leave It to Psmith, The Queen of Nothing), did a 1000-piece holiday book jigsaw puzzle, cooked, mulled some wine, pet my cat, watched some hockey and football, and overall relaxed.
21. Where did you ring in 2019? How will you ring in 2020?
Hmm, so apparently I went to work for the last day at AIG and otherwise had a chill night! This year I am still anti-staying up late for parties, but we're doing a prix fixe NYE meal at Hugo's, which I'm looking forward to. New Year's day will have football I don't care about and the Winter Classic between Nashville and Dallas! Which will be cool. Have a lot of books on hold so who knows what I'll be reading. Gotta get a lot done at work tomorrow, then two days off, then back to the routine grind.
22. Did you fall in love in 2019?
Not so much. Fandomwise, maybe with Heated Rivalry, which I've reread like 10 times now. Oh god, I fell in love with Kent Parson. I only care about Kent Parson. I have so many feelings about Kent Parson.
23. How many one-night stands?
Why do I leave this question here? It's always none.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Enjoying The Good Place and amused at the few episodes of the new Netflix Chinese drama version of The Prince of Tennis. I don't watch enough to count any TV as my fave. We watch a lot of Wheel of Fortune over dinner? I miss Jeopardy being on around that time; 3:30pm is useless to me.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Same as 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 jeez. I'm going to have to do a book wrap-up post along with this and think about what I read this year. There was a lot I liked, a lot that was middling to okay, and clearly Heated Rivalry resonated because I keep rereading it and talking about that. But it might have been Shrill by Lindy West, because it was a series of essays that not only affirmed and validated a lot of my anger, but also helped me confront to a lot topics/trendds/truths that are uncomfortable to face, especially about the way society deals with fat people. I'm looking forward to reading The Witches are Coming, which I'm...somewhere in the hold line for.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Did I discover anything musically this year? I rediscovered old Shania Twain for a while and that was great. She was gorgeous and those songs are catchy af.
28. What did you want and get?
Japan! A Dallas hockey trip. To be entertained by Zombieland 2 and Jumanji 2 (and Paddington 2). All sequels! To finish the Folk of the Air series by Holly Black as well as the fantasy China series by Barry Hughart. Friends at work; friends outside work. Michelle visiting Houston. Canes making the playoffs and staying pretty good so far this season. Liverpool doing well. A trip back to Rehoboth Beach. Good food, good company, a supportive husband, a fluffy cat. Trump got impeached.
29. What did you want and not get?
Oh man, well, all politics stuff. To do a timely program on China and the NBA, though that may still be on the table for a less contentious timeframe next year (with a larger business focus).
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
The Farewell. Though having just watched it today, really, really fond of Paddington 2 also. Recency bias, I know.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 32 and Michelle was visiting for the weekend! We went to Uchi, and it was fun and delicious.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Mitch McConnell dying. Oh well, there's always next year.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2019?
I guess still business casual in skirts? Picked up a few more blazers and work pants though. Giant totes to throw all my stuff in and rotate to match the shoes/outfit/whatever. Dressier side of business casual, but nothing terribly exciting.
34. What kept you sane?
Petting my cat, venting to Kevin, reading for escapism. (Whoa, I forgot about my foray into JJ/Yuri early in the year, then BakuDeku, thenCheck Please Kent Parson.)
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Okay, Kent Parson isn't real but I definitely had the most feelings for him. IRL, really fond of Andrei Svechnikov and Connor McDavid and Jonathan Toews for being adorable weirdos. Got over my hatred of Sidney Crosby so now it's a grudging admiration. But I don't really stan real people anymore, I feel like? They inevitably disappoint you. Oh I was briefly into Jack Hughes around the draft, just reading up on him and watching the vids. He'll definitely be a disappointment. US only produces dickback hockey stars, ugh.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Hong Kong. Uighur camps too, but those were underreported for a long time.
37. Who did you miss?
Always my friends scattered around the country, but Sherry moved to NYC this year and I also haven't seen much of Manar in the later half of the year.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
All my new coworkers, especially those who have turned into good friends: Chris, Janine, Nina, Rebecca. Doing stuff outside of work! Traveling to Dallas for food and museums and hockey! Of course, still important to have appropriate boundaries.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2019.
I'm not as bad at networking or small talk as I think, even if I will never enjoy it.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Okay, once it's officially 2020 I'm officially changing up this meme. I think Courtz has a different version I should steal...
Bonus. What was your favorite moment of the year?
JAPAN. Guilin river cruise. Uchi birthday dinner with my favorite people. Dallas road trip for food and hockey.
1. What did you do in 2019 that you'd never done before?
Visited Japan for the first time! It was cold and delicious and lovely, and I'd love to go back. So that includes riding a shinkansen for the first time! Though I then got on another high speed train in China in May with family. Other firsts include seeing the Sleeping Beauty ballet in DC and, hm, eating a Michelin-starred restaurant, and running high school camps and being in charge of my own intern over the summer. Learning new roles and responsibilities.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I never remember my resolutions. For 2019 I had the following:
-fucking enjoy Japan!
Check!
-back to regular exercise: whether cardio or yoga or strength-building, just do it regularly!
Briefly, but then it got dark and cold and there were weird travel plans and being sick, so I fell off again. I need to get back on this with regularity, but me and everyone else making new year's resolutions, I guess. Perhaps I can ease back in with yoga first, or at least buy free weights to do some stuff at home?
-go to China to see family
Done. It was both as bad and not as bad as I'd feared, but mostly it is over. I'm glad Kevin got to see China and my family though, as it gives him a little more context and understanding for the relationship I have with my parents. He'll never fully understand and that's okay, but it helps to know a little more. And I'd love to go back to China as a tourist with a little more freedom in my plans.
-learn and grow and be great at the new exciting job with Asia Society
It has been a great year with Asia Society. A challenge in a lot of ways, but really rewarding as I build relationships not just at work but in the community and with partners, and always exciting to see our plans materialize. A lot more to work toward and I should perhaps strive for a little more ambition this next year?
-see Ted get married in LA/connect with law school friends
Done! The Trump golf course was not my fav, but seeing and reconnecting with law school friends was nice, weather was great, and we have plans to reunite in St. Louis next year. Babies are either in the mix or on the way now; I guess it was only a matter of time.
-reread Slam Dunk
I did it and it lived up to all my hopes, fears, and memories. What a great series. So funny, so dramatic.
-watch HTTYD 3, DETECTIVE PIKACHU, and am I excited about anything else? Not really.
I did not watch HTTYD 3 but I have it on Prime and could rent it in the next two days! Detective Pikachu was adorable; no regrets.
Some resolutions/goals for next year:
-keep journaling, with more mindfulness and gratitude
-go to Costa Rica, do Lille's wedding, and be Done With That
-read...anywhere between 50-100 books would be nice, maybe somewhere between 5-10 nonfiction at least
-can I try for one live hockey game a year? I managed in Dallas this year, let's try for one in 2020
-be healthy: get back into regular exercise, be mindful about what to eat/cook, do my best to feel good
-go somewhere I haven't been before
-watch the Mulan remake and Wonder Woman 1984
-visit Michelle or have her visit me, see Sonia, stay in touch
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Well, Dani W, right? And then my coworker Matt's wife, and we threw her a baby shower. But "close" is relative.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not close to me, no.
5. What countries did you visit?
Japan and China. (I gotta get to Europe soon...or South America. At least I'll hit Central America for the wedding!)
6. What would you like to have in 2020 that you lacked in 2019?
I had a lot to be grateful for this year. There's not too much more I could ask for, except for more self-discipline to get back into regular exercise and feel good about my health from that aspect as well. Also, a different president.
7. What date from 2019 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
All the dates I remember from this past year are work-related because otherwise I don't tend to remember dates well. I guess the YLI summer camps, the trip to Warrenton, VA, for Sarah's wedding, the October bachelorette trip, the December Dallas trip. Good memories.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Honestly, probably learning on the job to handle the summer camps and successfully pulling those off. With guidance and help, of course, but they really were largely under my purview. Same with the summer intern who helped out and who left me such a lovely thank you note. Gotta put some thought into designing our January internship for a high schooler, and researching and planning for this summer's programs. Also I consider it achievement to have developed bonds and friendships with coworkers!
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not enough self-discipline regarding exercise. My inability/refusal to just tell my mom that we don't plan on having kids. I can always be more self-aware, mindful, and grateful, but I don't consider those failures; I consider them reminders to try harder in the future.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Had a couple colds, I think, and they always take longer than I anticipate to recover from now. The worst of it is over in 2-3 days, but the lingering stuffiness and phlegm seems to last forever.
11. What were the best things you bought?
Excluding trips and experiences (hockey tickets! plane tickets to see friends!), a couple of cute blazers and purses that are good for work and life. Honestly my annual subscription to NHL.tv is pretty dang useful since I'm always out of market for the Canes. I bought a really cute knit Wooloo from Mochillery! I'm really not about owning stuff as much as spending on the trips and experiences, though...
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
It has been nice getting to know Chris from work, as someone who is also Asian-American and cares a lot about the same kind of race/class/social justice issues, but who in a lot of ways has a very different experience and outlook than I do.
13. Whose behaviour appalled you?
Men, especially Republican men of all kinds and especially those in government. Hockey fans.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, travel, food and experiences.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Canes making the fucking playoffs! Liverpool winning the Champions League! Seeing live hockey in Dallas! Okay, surely there were non-sports related things... Books! Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid hit my "original" m/m hockey players falling in love id so hard. Getting to read the end of Holly Black's Folk of the Air series. Oh! The Farewell. Fantastic, moving, funny. And in a totally different vein, so glad I got to see the documentary The Kingmaker about Imelda Marcos as well.
16. What song will always remind you of 2019?
Probably Taylor Swift's entire Lover album, which I listened to a fair bit this year. Some of Suju's comeback was catchy: I Think I, The Crown, Super Clap.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? probably the same? let's say happier for optimism, although when I pause to think about news and the world, it always stresses me out and makes me alternately angry and despairing
ii. thinner or fatter? probably fatter but I don't own a scale so idek (same answer as before -- it matters more to me that I feel healthy, and I could feel healthier, so that's something to work on next year)
iii. richer or poorer? richer, probably, with savings and retirement accounts accumulating that compounded interest (ditto last year, and knock on wood that it will remain this way in the future; I realize how fortunate I am in this regard)
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Still: More regular excerise! Going to more of the cool local festivals and events around Houston.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Online shopping probably, and I didn't do that much to start with. But meh. Shop local where possible!
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Kevin and I spent it alone in Houston again, our second year in a row. Kevin's family came to visit us for Thanksgiving, and we'd already spent two weeks with my family in China, so we decided to take it easy. Planned to go out to eat Japanese KFC style at Shun but forgot to make reservations, because I didn't realize they started taking reservations...ended up at Peli Peli (South African food) at the Galleria, and it was good! It's the first time in years I actually had Christmas Eve & Day off, rather than having to work for bonus pay or schedule time off, and over the holiday I watched a couple movies (Jumanji 2, Paddington 2), read a few books (The Santa Klaus Murder, Leave It to Psmith, The Queen of Nothing), did a 1000-piece holiday book jigsaw puzzle, cooked, mulled some wine, pet my cat, watched some hockey and football, and overall relaxed.
21. Where did you ring in 2019? How will you ring in 2020?
Hmm, so apparently I went to work for the last day at AIG and otherwise had a chill night! This year I am still anti-staying up late for parties, but we're doing a prix fixe NYE meal at Hugo's, which I'm looking forward to. New Year's day will have football I don't care about and the Winter Classic between Nashville and Dallas! Which will be cool. Have a lot of books on hold so who knows what I'll be reading. Gotta get a lot done at work tomorrow, then two days off, then back to the routine grind.
22. Did you fall in love in 2019?
Not so much. Fandomwise, maybe with Heated Rivalry, which I've reread like 10 times now. Oh god, I fell in love with Kent Parson. I only care about Kent Parson. I have so many feelings about Kent Parson.
23. How many one-night stands?
Why do I leave this question here? It's always none.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Enjoying The Good Place and amused at the few episodes of the new Netflix Chinese drama version of The Prince of Tennis. I don't watch enough to count any TV as my fave. We watch a lot of Wheel of Fortune over dinner? I miss Jeopardy being on around that time; 3:30pm is useless to me.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Same as 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 jeez. I'm going to have to do a book wrap-up post along with this and think about what I read this year. There was a lot I liked, a lot that was middling to okay, and clearly Heated Rivalry resonated because I keep rereading it and talking about that. But it might have been Shrill by Lindy West, because it was a series of essays that not only affirmed and validated a lot of my anger, but also helped me confront to a lot topics/trendds/truths that are uncomfortable to face, especially about the way society deals with fat people. I'm looking forward to reading The Witches are Coming, which I'm...somewhere in the hold line for.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Did I discover anything musically this year? I rediscovered old Shania Twain for a while and that was great. She was gorgeous and those songs are catchy af.
28. What did you want and get?
Japan! A Dallas hockey trip. To be entertained by Zombieland 2 and Jumanji 2 (and Paddington 2). All sequels! To finish the Folk of the Air series by Holly Black as well as the fantasy China series by Barry Hughart. Friends at work; friends outside work. Michelle visiting Houston. Canes making the playoffs and staying pretty good so far this season. Liverpool doing well. A trip back to Rehoboth Beach. Good food, good company, a supportive husband, a fluffy cat. Trump got impeached.
29. What did you want and not get?
Oh man, well, all politics stuff. To do a timely program on China and the NBA, though that may still be on the table for a less contentious timeframe next year (with a larger business focus).
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
The Farewell. Though having just watched it today, really, really fond of Paddington 2 also. Recency bias, I know.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 32 and Michelle was visiting for the weekend! We went to Uchi, and it was fun and delicious.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Mitch McConnell dying. Oh well, there's always next year.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2019?
I guess still business casual in skirts? Picked up a few more blazers and work pants though. Giant totes to throw all my stuff in and rotate to match the shoes/outfit/whatever. Dressier side of business casual, but nothing terribly exciting.
34. What kept you sane?
Petting my cat, venting to Kevin, reading for escapism. (Whoa, I forgot about my foray into JJ/Yuri early in the year, then BakuDeku, then
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Okay, Kent Parson isn't real but I definitely had the most feelings for him. IRL, really fond of Andrei Svechnikov and Connor McDavid and Jonathan Toews for being adorable weirdos. Got over my hatred of Sidney Crosby so now it's a grudging admiration. But I don't really stan real people anymore, I feel like? They inevitably disappoint you. Oh I was briefly into Jack Hughes around the draft, just reading up on him and watching the vids. He'll definitely be a disappointment. US only produces dickback hockey stars, ugh.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Hong Kong. Uighur camps too, but those were underreported for a long time.
37. Who did you miss?
Always my friends scattered around the country, but Sherry moved to NYC this year and I also haven't seen much of Manar in the later half of the year.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
All my new coworkers, especially those who have turned into good friends: Chris, Janine, Nina, Rebecca. Doing stuff outside of work! Traveling to Dallas for food and museums and hockey! Of course, still important to have appropriate boundaries.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2019.
I'm not as bad at networking or small talk as I think, even if I will never enjoy it.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Okay, once it's officially 2020 I'm officially changing up this meme. I think Courtz has a different version I should steal...
Bonus. What was your favorite moment of the year?
JAPAN. Guilin river cruise. Uchi birthday dinner with my favorite people. Dallas road trip for food and hockey.
no subject
Ugh, yeah, I've pretty much owned not having kids and feel comfortable with it for every part of my life except letting my parents know. I'm hoping once that hurdle is cleared, for better or worse, I can continue on in peace about it. I hope for you as well! ♥