the yearend meme

What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Ah, here's an easy one. For our 25th monthsary in October I sent a bouquet of roses to Andrea; i was in cahoots with her officemates. I'd never sent her flowers before, and well. That went rather well. :) Also - hiked up a mountain in April! Pinatubo was AMAZING.

Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I've only been successful in keeping one New Year's resolution and I got it right after only so many years, in 2008, when I managed to keep myself off cigarettes. I have to renew that, since we're looking at a rather eventful year, so. Yeah let's do this! :)

Did anyone close to you give birth?
Oh college friends Jopai and Alloy had a lovely boy this year ♥

Did anyone close to you die?
This year's a year for deaths. Cory Aquino's death in August was rather important to me.

What countries did you visit?
Oh, stayed put for the most part, then went to some parts of RP when the weather was ok. Visited a few beaches, hiked up a few mountains, went to Iloilo, etc.

What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Oh man. TIME. I'd like to have more time to do everything! Energy's not a question, I'm pretty sure, but I'd really love to have ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD - for the elections, for the Read-Along, for my family, for Andrea, for my friends - there's a lot to give, really.

What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July 23, which was the date of Andrea's accident (oh god never scare me like that again, Universe); Sept 26, which is my brother's birthday and well, we all remember Ondoy; Nov 23, which is 1ce's birthday and unfortunately also the date of the Maguindanao massacre :(

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Keeping it together :)

What was your biggest failure?
I think to some degree I've been absent from family events like weddings; I have yet to master the gentle art of striking a good balance and pacing myself. Maybe 2010's that year.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Middle of the year I had a brief thing involving coughing and colds, but apart from that, none too many. I am thankful :)

What was the best thing you bought?
Oh this year was full of gadget purchases - there's Panda my pink netbook, this E71, and well, Andrea's latest gadget-present :)

Whose behavior merited celebration?
Oh, hands down, it's Andrea. :) This year has been pretty tough for her mostly -- there was the Accident in July that I have yet to write about and process myself, and a few other personal issues -- but really, I've never seen anyone get over adversity so positively and gracefully :) I love you, you inspire me ♥

Close runner-ups: Both my siblings, who graduated from elementary and college early this year, and are in the middle of important life changes :)

And as always, my team, with whom no task has been insurmountable. ♥

Whose behavior appalled you and made you depressed?
Oh, well there's that. People have their reasons to hold onto grudges; I don't have them. :)

Where did most of your money go?
FOOD. Haha. Well, there's the rent and FOOD. :)

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Skins and Glee. :)

What song/s will always remind you of 2009?
Oh my god, this. Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus and The Call by the Backstreet Boys (don't ask)

Compared to this time last year, are you:

a. Happier or sadder? Happier
b. Thinner or fatter? Fatter (hahahah is this a valid question)
c. Richer or poorer? Richer :)

What do you wish you'd done more of?
BEACHING. Haha. Partying. Reading and writing.

What do you wish you'd done less of?
LOL worrying. Dreaming of work. Also: Drinking.

How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent the eve with family, playing uno stacko and pusoy dos with my siblings while drinking red wine. Spent christmas day at work :)

Did you fall in love in 2009?
Oh, over and over, with the girl I always see first thing in the morning :)

What was your favorite TV program?
for TV, we have Katorse and Lipgloss. LOLLLLL, no, I loved Glee and Skins !!!

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Ah, no. Hate's a strong word, I love everyone in my life right now :)

What was the best book you read?
This year, definitely Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking :)

What was your greatest musical discovery?
PASSION PIT. OMG PASSION PIT. <3

What did you want and get?
Ahaha plenty :) New friends! New books! :)

What did you want and not get?
I can't think of anything. Life's been good.

Favorite film of this year?
Kimmy Dora, HANDS DOWN! :D (Yes, it trumps 500 days of Summer)

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Oh three days ago, I turned 25. Spent it with family, eating all day and taking lots of pictures. It was classic and awesome.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Oh, wow. I just wish we'd had less deaths, you know.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Flood-ready. Haha.

What kept you sane?
My girlfriend. My fabulous workmates. :) Twitter! Haha :)

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Oh jeez. I have the biggest crush on Lily Loveless, ngl.

What political issue stirred you the most?
The Maguindanao massacre. The series of calamities. Ladlad getting disqualified in the elections. The run-up to the May 2010 elections.

Who did you miss?
Oh, as always, mom.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
Love what you do and do what you love. The rest would come easy. :)

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Nodding my head like yeaaaaaah, moving my hips like yeaaaaahhhh ♥

The most touching experience you've had this year?
We did a Read-Along at the Philippine School for the Deaf in Pasay and they prayed by singing Lead me Lord in sign language. Sight had me in tears.

What did you like most about yourself this year?
My endurance and flexibility.

What did you hate most about yourself this year?
My inability to pace myself properly LOL

Was 2009 a good year for you?
At the end of everything - yes, it was. :)

twenty-oh-nine, you were mine

Oh 2009 was such a year, wasn't it?

So. It's officially the last day of the 0-something years; let's do this yearender thing, shall we:

Jan 2009
Watched: Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
Bought: Panda (A pink Acer Aspire One, my first real possession, after my cellphone)

February 2009
Watched: Lipgloss -- 18:56 POTA TINAKONG! best lipgloss moment everrr See also: Summary of Lipgloss Season 2 ender, in twitter.
Watched: You Changed My Life (John Lloyd/Sarah G!)

March 2009
Lost: Francis Magalona, 44; USB drive, 2 years old.
Went to: Crystal Beach in Zambales.
Saw/Flailed over: Bleighton Rolling Stone photoshoot
Feature family-related significant milestone: Wy's elementary grad
Feature media obsessions: Tegan and Sara (The Con! Nineteen!), Azure Ray (Sleep! Displaced!)
Read: Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking
Wrote: A season of formers, which took all of six months, sans editing.

April 2009
Went to: Pinatubo, Bataan tryst for holy week, Laiya with le familia and Andrea
Things I discovered in 2009 that I'd love to have more of in 2010: Skins!
On the news: Failon wife shooting
Survived also: Andrea's Thailand trip
Feature family-related significant milestone: Krista's university grad
Feature media obsession: Rachael Yamagata, Elephants... Teeth Sinking into Heart (OMFG HEARTBREAKING.)
Wrote: Footnotes to a Mixtape, which is set in an all-girls high school basketball team and is actually to Barbie's music from the buffet table (Belinda Bye-bye, Shiny Red Balloon, etc); Displaced, which reeks of failed stalkery.

May 2009
Went to: My father's hometown, Iloilo, Manila Ocean Park
Feature media obsessions: Bloc Party (Signs, Sunday, This Modern Love), Broken Social Scene (Superconnected, Anthems for a 17-year-old girl, I'm still your fag), Lady Gaga (I wanna take a ride on your disco stick haha), Katy Perry (Thinking of you ♥)
Watched: 30 rock
Classic sabaw moments: Maggi MySabaw, Literal version of Total Eclipse of the heart

June 2009
Read: Joshua Ferris' Then we came to the end, Letters to a Young Poet by Rilke
Feature family-related significant milestone: End of lease, maginhawa apartment, Wy moving out of the house and into the Pisay dorm
Feature sabaw moment: Getting stuck in a tricycle in shopwise amidst a downpour
News: AH1N1, ANC Leadership Forum
Watched: Hole in the Wall (TV), Pineapple Express, Tropic Thunder
Feature media obsessions: Third Eye Blind (The Background, Blinded, God of Wine), Passion Pit (Sleepyhead, Eyes as candles, Little secrets), Sexmusic.tumblr, a moment with Lily Loveless on Twitter - the zenith of my fangirling, this skins gif:


Lost: Michael Jackson, RIP.
Feature event: k1 reunion

July 2009
Feature media obsession: Counting Crows (the entire August and Everything After album = HEARTBREAK), Explosions in the Sky, Au Revoir Borealis
News: SONA 2009
Significant milestone: Epic move to Ate Adelle's room
Things I learned so much from but would rather not go through again in 2010: Andrea's accident (never again EVER)
Watched: Harry Potter 6
Lost: Tara Santelices

August 2009
Lost: Former President Corazon Aquino, RIP
Feature media obsession: Anberlin (Breathe, Retrace, Breaking -- off their "New Surrender" album), the paper raincoat (Brooklyn Blurs! ♥), something corporate (konstantine)

September 2009
News: Palanca Awards -- LOL ELIZA ♥
Blast from the past: High school reunion
Feature milestone: 24 months/2nd anniversary ♥ ♥ ♥
Watched: Kimmy Dora (HANDS DOWN THE FUNNIEST MOVIE THIS YEAR), Temptation Island, 500 days of Summer (which I liked)
Things I learned so much from but would rather not go through again in 2010: Ondoy
Things I discovered in 2009 that I'd love to have more of in 2010: Glee!

October 2009
Lost sleep over: PLANTS VS ZOMBIES; see also: Maps of dams.
Watched: Dr Horrible's Sing Along Blog, Techyromantics
Read: Blue Bloods, End of the Alphabet
Plotted: The Surprise.
Wrote: Mnemonics (Arguably the best thing I came up with this year.)
Feature media obsession: Mazzy Star (Fade into You)
Significant milestones: Haircut, Comelec registration, Andrea winning the Gig book contest - ♥

November 2009
Lost: 57 people in the Maguindanao massacre
Feature media obsession: Party in the USA, Kings of Convenience (Gold in the Air of Summer)
A rare moment of sentimentality: The Art of Precarious Photographs
Bought: A red Nokia E71.
Read: Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird, Erica Jong's Seducing the Demon, Joan Didion's Slouching Towards Bethlehem.
Watched: KATY PERRY LIVE OMFG. ♥

December 2009
Bought: A present . ♥
Partied: Inquirer's anniversary party on the 9th; editorial party on the 22nd.
Feature media obsessions: Augustana (rediscovering Boston off their All the Stars and Boulevards album - ♥), Something Corporate (She paints me Blue off their "North" album makes me feel like a giddy 17-year-old boy with a crush, ffs), John Mayer (Edge of Desire off the "Battle Studies" album - JFC HOT), Paolo Nutini (Rewind, off the These Streets album), Sara Bareilles' Gravity remix in her Careful Confessions album; Jack's Mannequin (What Gets you Off in their Glass Passenger album - JFC HOT), and that piano version of Sleepyhead by Passion Pit *swoon*
Significant events: Christmas, New Year with the family ♥ turning 25.

Well, that was strangely cathartic, and I know I missed a LOT of things, heh, pardon my memory. We're gearing up for a big 2010 - be safe guys! Happy New Year! :)

ETA:
THE MASHUP TO END ALL MASHUPS, 2009:

christmas, 2009.

My parents agreed to come for me yesterday, but then our pickup truck chose that moment for its yearly breakdown. Last year, I remember the engine conking out on Skyway, while we were paying the toll. So, definitely luckier this year that we were still in the Inquirer parking lot when it happened. LOL. Ended up taking the 16-year-old (!!!) Lite Ace from somewhere along C-5, where my uncle and his family were spending Christmas. Ah, family.

Speaking of that, this was what I got them for Christmas (yes, all of them):



LOL. My family = adorbs, GOD. I left around noontime and by the time I was in the office, this was already up at Krista's tumblr. LOL FOREVER. Don't you just love family?

Anyway, spent most of last night hanging out with the sibs, playing uno stacko (27 LEVELS! WTF CRAZY!) and cards until about 4 a.m., while playing an assortment of Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry songs; Party in the USA was also on loop for some time. Heh. I was drinking Dad's red wine, for the lack of anything resembling alcohol in the house (Maybe New Year's, then.)

All in all, Christmas well-spent. :)

a present to end all other presents

Oh man, this Christmas rush is precious. Nothing says Christmas like these aching limbs. :)

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So the other day I was walking along Mascardo when I saw these children running around carrying kittens in their hands. No, really, I mean, a kitten in each hand. So that's four children with EIGHT kittens. Or maybe more. Judging by how they were running, I suppose it's a catnap or something.

When I was a kid, we couldn't find kittens we could steal. This is sad, of course.

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I am praying for you.

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So I finished (after ten yearrrsssss) Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird and man it is AWESOME. Which is not to say I am back to writing, because I'm not LOL. Instead, I am reading another writing guide-book-whatever, and it's Erica Jong's Seducing the Demon. Yes, she's that girl who coined the phrase, zipless fuck. It will be amazing, I KNOW.

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Here, have a panda:



OH MY HEART MY HEART ♥

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Also: GUYS! You know what you should do this season when you have enough time off for it:

REWATCH GLEE 1 to 13. ♥

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This entirely nonsequitur entry is brought to you by... the present that will end all the others. (smile)