1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
Led a climbing expedition of 3 other people. Rode an actual century ride.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Made none, kept none.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, their first and it sounded like a really hard time gettin that baby out.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Sort of, the father of some very good friends who I met this summer. A very interesting man with a lot of stories who I know will be missed.
5. What countries did you visit?
Made it back up to Canadia for a visit.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
An idea of what my future will be next year.
7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
December 27th, the day my dental school application was rejected.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Summiting Mt. Rainier a second time leading a group of three other climbers, plus riding over 200 miles the previous weekend from Seattle to Vancouver BC.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Getting into dental school
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Stayed mostly healthy, though I kept getting stomach bugs in the spring which made me bail on climbing Mt Hood in February and kept me home on Bike to Work day (one of my favorite days of the who year)
11. What was the best thing you bought?
New AT ski boots
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Oddly enough Aaron Hughes, yes I know we all joke about how trashed he was at his own wedding. But I’ve definitely seen him become a more responsible man this year, he is growing up bit by bit.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled?
I’ll judge myself here, no matter how much I think I want something my own lack of drive keeps holding me back.
14. Where did most of your money go?
REI. Kids take a lot of money as well, but I do spend a lot of money at REI. Oh and house payments, but since I like living not with parents I don’t see this as an expense so much as a given.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The prospect of getting accepted to dental school.
16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
No song will ever stand out in my mind as being special to 2012, nothing that will stand the test of time anyway. I don’t pay that much attention to music.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
- i. happier or sadder?
As of this writing, sadder.
- ii. thinner or fatter?
Probably about the same, maybe a bit better.
- iii. richer or poorer?
Maybe a hair richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Outdoor activity and adventures, both with and without my oldest son.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Sitting around wishing I could be out climbing mountains instead of figuring out and scheduling actually doing it.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Running between 5 different houses trying to make family happy.
22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Only the every day kind of falling in love. I’m probably happier in this 9th year of marriage than I’ve been in any other.
23. How many one-night stands?
I stand every night, and they only come one at a time anyway.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Made it through the whole year without a single fuck given to TV.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
26. What was the best book you read?
I actually did more reading this year than in the last several combined. The best probably was the Hunger Games trilogy. Moby Dick was not what I expected, and while I love re-reading the Silmarillion I feel this is best answered by a new book from 2012.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
New albums by old favorites, nothing radical this year.
28. What did you want and get?
New AT ski boots that don’t leave giant blisters all over my feet when touring.
29. What did you want and not get?
Did not get accepted to school.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I think the only new movie I saw this year that I can answer this question with was the Avengers, it was fun.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Turned 27, got a bit drunk then alienated some friends so badly that the entire party pretty much died and everyone left early. Some people really can’t handle small penis jokes.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Acceptance
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Tried to not wear pants with holes worn in the crotch.
34. What kept you sane?
An easy going temperment.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
none
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
none really
37. Who did you miss?
Everyone, all my friends in Anchorage, Aaron down in California.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
This cool dentist I’ve been shadowing the last month or so.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012:
Shit happens, sometimes the shit that happened years ago still has a huge effect on your life and there’s little you can do about it but try harder and not be a shit and slip into the feeling where everyone is against you or the system is against you.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Tonight we ride on clouds of Fire.