my 2011

What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before? 

rode on a private jet, drove across america, successfully conquered moguls and double blacks, swam 25m underwater, got one of the most seriously awesome hugs in history, played on stage with my favorite band, learned to rock climb, got into tiffs and/or scuffles with at least four of my best friends (and then worked things out within a week each time), hiked the arizona desert in august, and drove to the houston airport (and back) without my gps.

and i learned how to do some digital compositing and made this:

Did you keep your new years' resolutions? 
some of them.

What are some of your resolutions for 2012?

• to do better at school. specifically, to effectively utilize my time when i am at school, instead of spending all of my time being "busy." the goal is that that will lead to me producing some work that i can really be proud of. 
• to create and follow a budget. 
• to learn some about auto mechanics. 
• and to be strong in character. like lehi counseled his sons, to arise from the dust and be a man. 

Did anyone close to you get married? 
my brother.

Did anyone close to you give birth? 
a couple of friends, but i haven't seen said offspring (i'm looking at you, laurie jayne).

Did anyone close to you die? 
pete and meghan's 3-year old son. that was a sad morning.

What countries did you visit? 
all four sides of the u.s.

What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011? 
someone to look forward to at the end of the day.

What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? 
april 30 was a very happy day for me. i prefer not to go into why right now.

What was your biggest achievement of the year? 
getting a C in 654.

What was your biggest failure? 
my date in san antonio.

though i kind of want to go with that cat in the parking lot that one night and all that happened thereafter. i didn't realize it until later, but that was not my finest hour.

Did you suffer illness or injury? 
i think i stayed physically healthy this year.

What was the best thing you bought? 
layne's box of chicken fingers and the steve jobs biography on my phone.

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? 
right at the end of the year, one of the saddest and most unexpected things i never would have imagined, but out of respect for those involved, i won't go into detail here.

Where did most of your money go? 
to texas a&m.

What did you get really, really, really excited about? 
the second week of july.

What song will always remind you of 2012? 
"friday" by rebecca black. i genuinely love that song.
also, billy joel's "she's always a woman" and a handful of songs from tally hall's "good & evil."

but if i were to choose just one song, it would be "(antichrist television blues)" by arcade fire. that is everything i have felt this past year condensed into five minutes of primal cathartic exegesis. it's my favorite song of this chapter in my life, up there with "best imitation of myself" and "spring and a storm." 

Compared to this time last year, are you: much happier, richer, nicer? 
still in school, so i'm not yet any richer.
i think i'm nicer, although my sarcasm and prickliness seem to come more often that i'd like.
i am happier, though.

What do you wish you'd done more of? 
quality work towards my portfolio and demo reel.

What do you wish you'd done less of? 
spending my time and energy fretting about how busy i was, instead of actually getting things done.

How did you spend Christmas? 
genuinely enjoying my family in minnesota, even without any snow.

Did you fall in love in 2011?
i came close.

What was your favorite TV program? 
ever since bin laden was killed, i've been hooked on the daily show.

What was the best book you read this year? 
steve jobs by walter isaacson.

What did you want and get? 
long hair.

What were your favorite films of this year? 
tree of life. as soon as i saw it this summer, i knew that was the best movie of the year.

then, a few days ago, i saw the artist. that's a solid second place and not too far behind tree of life.

What were your least favorite films of this year? 
i didn't have time to waste on lousy movies.

What were your favorite albums of this year? 
i just wrote about all the good music that came out this year in the previous post.
r.e.m.'s swan song was excellent.
we finally got a sophomore release from tally hall and were not disappointed.
and coldplay continued to keep up their (more or less) perfect record.
but since you know about all of them, i'm going to list quiet company's "we are all where we belong." 

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? 
in the philosophy of "go big or go home," my big plans fell through, so i kept things low key this year; a hamburger and a japanese movie with a friend. i'm now 32.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? 
a cinnamon roll.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011? 
"awakening": i'm realizing that i want to put more sensible thought into my fashion sense. and i'm working at it.

What kept you sane? 
my other half.

Who did you miss? 
honestly?

Who was the best new person (people) you met? 
some really great artists at disney.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011. 
that i would rather take the difficult road with deep valleys and great joys along the way than the smooth and mundane path.

What are you most excited for in 2012? 
once again, the things that i never would have imagined would happen. each year has brought really cool things. and i don't just mean those "mushy, meaningful little moments" kind of stuff. i mean things like, "i drove across america" or "i flew in a private jet." so, let's see what the next trip around the sun has to offer.
mostly, though, i'm just looking forward to 2013.

What are you least excited for in 2012? 
if the mayans are actually right about the end of the world on dec. 21, 2012. i won't even be out of grad school.