Friday, January 3, 2014

Yes, I'm Overusing Tags... Hush.


I've seen the New Year's tag floating around for three new years now, and I figured it was about time I answered it.  :D  It's tremendously long, so consider yourself warned.  

What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before?

~Graduated high school!
~Met my best friend face-to-face.  :D
~Took an eight-day vacation (that turned into nine days when our connecting flight got delayed, cough) with my mom to a state we'd never visited.  (see above :D)
~Got excited about the Academy Awards.  Heehee.
~Started taking voice lessons.
~Started tutoring.
~Started Civil War reenacting, joined a local military group and began volunteering at a historical mansion for their living history programs.
~Launched my historical costuming business.
~Got my own cell phone.
~Got my driver's permit!


Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make one this year?

I don't really make New Year's resolutions, so... nope.  :P  

Did anyone close to you give birth?

Our next-door neighbors had an adorable baby boy, and my youngest sister is completely in love with him. :D

Did anyone close to you die?

My great-grandmother passed away on June 6th.

What countries/states did you visit?

Stayed in the U.S., heehee.  Mostly in my own state, too.  I did go out and visit Melody's in July, but I'm not going to tell you what it is.  :P



What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?

A driver's license.  More patience with people.  Less desire to control things.  More sewing experience. More compassion and a better ability to encourage people.

What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory?

July 9th.  :D

Did you move anywhere?

Nope!  And after having moved six times in my life, I'm quite happy to stay where I am for now.


What was the best month?

July.  Can't think why.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Finishing high school at long last.  Heehee.  Also finishing the first draft of the book I'd been working on for over a year.

What was your biggest failure?

Losing my temper so often.

Did you suffer illness or injury?

Umm... I got sick quite a few times, but nothing serious.

What was the best thing you bought?

My laptop.  I love her to pieces.  Her name is Kevin (and yes, Kevin's a girl).

(read this book, it's good)

Whose behavior merited celebration?

I was incredibly proud of my sisters for their hard work on their National History Day projects.  One of them even made it to the national competition, which was awesome.  

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Um... the people at the top of the U.S. government food chain.  Heh.

Where did most of your money go?

Joann Fabrics, Goodwill and the Apple store.  :P

What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Visiting Melody!  Petie's visit!  The prospect of visiting Ally!  Seeing the Les Mis movie for the first time!

What was the best concert you’ve been to this year?

I've been to more musical events this year than any other year in my life, I do believe.  Les Miserables in January, a friend's private cello recital in January, a local symphony orchestra's open rehearsals throughout most of the school year (we made it to all seven of them this year and they were fabulous), my sister's piano recital in February, my aunt's community theatre production of The Sound of Music in July, our local community theatre's production of Fiddler on the Roof in December and then our local regional theatre's production of Mary Poppins, also in December.  


What song/album will always remind you of 2013?

The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall.  This was the year I really got into Phantom, and it will always have special memories attached to it because of how much Melody and I sang snatches of it together.  Heehee.  

Compared to this time last year, are you:
1. happier or sadder?  Happier!
2. thinner or fatter?  Actually a bit thinner.  This pleases Cute Owl.  :P
3. richer or poorer?  Slightly richer.  I've been working longer.  Heehee.


What do you wish you’d done more of?

Spent more time with my siblings.  Written more.

What do you wish you’d done less of?

Waste time on the Internet.  Ahem.


What was your greatest musical discovery?

I discovered a ton of great artists/songs this year... Bernadette Peters, Cecilia Bartoli, Aaron Tveit, Natalie Dessay, Barbra Streisand, Mark Vincent, and kind of rediscovered Italian opera in general.  It's so awesome. :D

How did you spend Christmas?

With my family at my maternal grandmother's.  Almost everyone on my mom's side was there this year, which was great.

How are you spending New Year’s?

Well, it's over now, but I spent NYE with my family having a movie marathon and then NYD with Margaret Hale and Marie and their family, which was lovely. 

Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?

Melody.  :P



What was the best book you read?

Ummmmmm.  I read a lot of good ones.  

Did you fall in love in 2013?

Do fictional characters count?  :P


What was your favorite TV show?

Road to Avonlea!!

Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Do fictional characters count? :P

What did you want and get?

My own computer!

What did you want and not get?

Ummmmm... a 19th-century cottage in England?


What were your favourite films of this year?

I'm taking this to mean movies I saw for the first time this year, not necessarily movies that came out this year, so...

Les Miserables (2012)
Great Expectations (2011)
The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
Jane Eyre (2006)
A Tale of Two Cities (2009 concert)
Old Yeller (1957)
Lark Rise to Candleford (2008-2011) Yes, I'm including TV shows in this, it's my list.
Jeeves and Wooster (1990-1993)
Cars 2 (2011)  Don't judge me.
Emma Approved (2013-)  This is a web series, but hush.  GO WATCH IT.



What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?


My eighteenth birthday coincided with another family event so we ended up celebrating on a different day (which we usually end up doing with birthdays anyway :D)-- had a quiet family party at home (lemon cake and Anne of Green Gables) two days before and then went out to dinner with my family on the actual day.  And talked on the phone with Melody. :D



How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?


Twenty-first century librarian.  Heehee.  Sweaters, skirts, collared blouses... and more contemporary-looking tops and scarves.  But if I could wear any era's clothing all day long, I'd pick outfits from the 40's and 50's.  

What kept you sane?

God.  And I don't mean that flippantly-- I just mean that I can't imagine where I'd be or what state my mind would be in without Him.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

*ahem* It was actually a tie...



What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Ummmm... getting a book published?  Honestly, this was a great year, and I'm very thankful for it.  Not in an Elsie Dinsmore way-- it definitely wasn't perfect, but overall I was quite satisfied.  I'm trying to get better at being satisfied with things in general.


What political issue stirred you the most?

"From politics it was an easy step to silence."
~Jane Austen


Who did you miss?

Melody.  Um, duh.  All my lovely bloggy friends who live so very far away.  :(

Who was the best new person you met?


I've met several fantastic people through Civil War reenacting and am looking forward to getting to know them better in 2014!

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.


The more you think you know, the more you have to learn.  :P
    
Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

So much of me
Is made from what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...
...I do believe I have been changed for the better
And because I knew you
I have been changed for good.

~"For Good," by Stephen Schwartz, Wicked



Five personally significant events of 2013:

~Graduating high school
~Launching my sewing business
~Starting voice lessons
~Getting my driver's permit
~Flying out of state to visit Melody (there seems to be a theme in a lot of these answers...)

Five things I want to do in 2014:

Visit Ally :D
Sing in a recital
Publish a book with an agent
Attend more Civil War reenactments
See Melody again (praying it will happen!)

Five people I’d like to know better in 2014:


All my blogging friends! Thanks so much for staying with me through 2013, folks!  I'm so looking forward to what this new year holds!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Aww, that's so great! So happy that you've had a good year!

-Eowyn-

Alexander said...

I loved the driving picture!

Melody said...

Hahaha, thank you for not divulging my location information. Snort. ;P

Okay, your July stuff is really MingMFHI... :) Same answers I'd be putting, obviously. Heehee.

It's kind of amazing how you don't really lose your temper at me. :P Or at least you don't show it. Haha. I won't be surprised if you do sometimes, though... not because I think you're prone to temper, but because I'm prone to being... what's that word?... ****

Hahaha, I had no idea that you watched Old Yeller this year. And you actually liked it? (not like I'm one to talk, never having seen it myself... but I don't really want to... :P) Waait, do you like EA better than LBD, or do you just have more issues with the latter and don't want to mention it? Hahahaha.

Haha, we didn't talk on the phone for very looong, but... yeah. And that aws the first time *I* ever called *you*. WHY DOES YOUR BIRTHDAY SEEM LIKE SO MUCH LONGER AGO WHEN IT HASN'T EVEN BEEN A YEAR YET. This is weird for me, haha.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME, Tom Hiddleston and Aaron Tveit are a TIE? Okay, I guess you've talked a lot less about TH than you've that about him, BAHAHAHAHA. (I didn't particularly notice you squealing or anything during MAR. Just sayin'. :P)

LOVED. YOUR. POLITICS. ANSWER. Well, duh. ;)

Any particular story behind your "the-more-you-think-you-know" thing? o.O

I love that driving picture. It was so me, too.

I wish I could be there if you were going to sing in a recital... SOMEBODY HAS TO FILM THIS. HAS TO. I DEMAND IT.

And publishing a book with an agent... :D This is extremely interesting to me, you know. You have to keep me updated the whole time. It's one of those things I've always found Highly Intriguing. ;)

I liked this post! Although I don't think you mentioned me enough.

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

(I'm being facetious. Obviously. Not really sarcastic, because the opposite would mean I thought you mentioned me too much, and... I don't miiiiiind. *grins cheesily at everyone who rolls their eyes*)

Kirsten Fichter said...

Excessively diverting, Amy!!

Oohh... I didn't even think about Road to Avonlea! But... sufferin' cats, we didn't watch that this year. 'Nuff said. I need to find Season One in the library or something and make my family watch all of that again. Ha! I love that episode... "I said, 'Where's my hat?' you old bat." :)

Cars 2... nope, I'm not judging. I thought that one was better than the first... and Planes. Blame it on the whole spy deal. Spies are always interesting.

Ooh! Emma Approved! I want to watch that! Is the series any good? I began the Lizzie Bennet Diaries, but stopped because of the language.

Naomi said...

Seems like your years was a lovely one!!!!
And I really want to see 'Road to Avonlea'.
And I hope you get to see Melody this year :)

Hayden said...

Loved reading this! It sounds like you had a marvelous year :)

By the way, on a totally unrelated note, are you on Pinterest?

Unknown said...

OOH this looks like a really neat post!!

YOU GOT YOUR OWN CELL PHONE?! I did not know this *pouting face* maybe you could umm give me your number sometime (ha, obviously not here and I could give you mine! ;))

Amy!! You are so good at encouraging people!! :D Take it from me, you have encouraged me muchly!!

Joann fabrics!! I love that place.. we should go together sometime! ;)

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF!!!! SO. MUCH. FUN. You saw Mary Poppins? Did you like it?!

Hahaha Aaron Tveit... yes, yes. :D (And yes the picture for I'd Like to Share was very nice, very nice indeed)

HAHA I like the cottage, that would be so awesome!! You just might get a maid quite rapidly if you ever did buy one.. (heehee) (ME OF COURSE) haha

Yes, I am rather jealous of your nice computer! ;)

I am very surprised that you liked Cars 2!! I am glad though, because so do I. :D I have never heard of The Shop Around the Corner.. will you tell me about it sometime?

Wait did you actually take a picture of me when I started driving?? haha.. oh, I was the cool as a cucumber one for sure... right right.. HA




Alexandra said...

UM. Your feelings for AT and TH are a TIE?! No. So NOT a tie. It's NOT. Do not TRY and tell me that it's a tie after everything I've heard/seen/observed. You little lying Delilah.

:P

Arielle Melody Bailey said...

Hey Amy!!!

I have so much to catch up on in the blogging world... including properly reading this post.

Anyway, I tagged you!! (I can't remember if you still take tags or if you're off both tags and awards.) http://thesplendorfalls.blogspot.com/2014/01/tags-part-two-elevens.html