1. What did you do in 2018 that you’d never done before?
• Cut waaaaay back on social media. I almost never use Facebook anymore, and I’ve massively curtailed my Twitter use.
• Solved a Rubik’s Cube. Nailed it on Christmas Eve, then kept solving it through the end of the year, so I could nail down the algorithm.
2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions and will you make more for next year?
I can’t even remember what my new years’ resolutions for 2018 were, so I’m not sweating them.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Ummmmmm….no?
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
I went to the Republic of Workdesk, and made more than one visit to Couchistan.
6. What would you like to have in 2019 that you lacked in 2018?
Impeachment hearings!
7. What date from 2018 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Mmmm. I don’t think there’s any particular day this year that will stand out in that way.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finding a job that I love working with great people and a great environment.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I didn’t manage to accomplish some of the things I had set out to do.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had a pretty bad summer cold this year, which sucked. Had to hit up urgent care for violently bad abdominal pains. But nothing serious/memorable.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Hmmm. Great question. A few things come to mind:
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for the Nintendo Switch.
• an iPhone 8 Plus, my first foray into giant-ass phones, was totally worth it.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The women of the #MeToo movement. Their courage and their strength were inspiring.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Donald Trump, his cronies, and the rest of the GOP.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage, daycare, and medical bills.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The trio of Marvel movies that came out this year — Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse.
16. What song will always remind you of 2018?
• “Have It All” by Jason Mraz
• That cover of “Africa” by Weezer.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Fatter or thinner: about the same
Richer or poorer: about the same
Happier or less happy: about the same
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Riding my bike, tinkering and making stuff, playing with the kids.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Procrastinating, playing Civilization 6, and eating too much food.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
At home, with family and friends. It was a great Xmas this year.
21. Did you fall in love in 2018?
Already there, duh.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
I didn’t have one — I don’t watch much TV anymore, and when I do, I don’t feel the need to go nuts with it or binge-watch.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No.
24. What was the best book you read?
You’ll have to wait for my update on my 2018 reading for that.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery of 2018?
The Interrupters, The Score, DJ Khalil, etc.
26. What did you want and get?
• A job I like.
• A new video game console in the house.
27. What did you want and not get?
• A new bike.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Dinner, drinks with friends, and went and saw the new Spider-Man movie, which I mentioned above.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A bigger paycheck.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2018?
Skirting the edges of the dress code.
32. What kept you sane?
My bike when I could get out on it, reading when I could find time for it, plus naps.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Getting Trump the fuck out of office.
35. Who did you miss?
Nobody, really.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
Group award: my new co-workers. Holy crap, I’ve never had a job where I laugh this much.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2018:
Always know what is expected of you.