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What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?
Strung Christmas lights on my house, together with Mr. Darcy, both of us overcoming near-crippling phobia (him: heights; me: falling off ladders) to do it. It was quite a bonding experience. Next year we're hiring someone.
Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I tried. Totally failed on the getting more sleep part.
Did anyone close to you give birth?
World's Awesomest Niece 2.0 was born in August. Her one-month dinner happened to coincide with Niece 1.0's third birthday, so we just let her believe it was part of her birthday celebration. ;)
Did anyone close to you die?
I put my 18-year-old cat to sleep in November. Today's the first day I've been able to work in my office again; for his last weeks he was pretty much ensconced in here, and this is where we did it when the time came—I couldn't subject him to another vet visit. Dr. Gomez from the West Seattle Animal Hospital is a kind and compassionate woman.
What countries did you visit?
Canada.
What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
For the universe to stop serving my friends shit sandwiches. Seriously, 2013 sucked unremittingly for far too many people who I care about. Most of us are at the age where we start losing people—parents, aunts and uncles, even siblings. And the economic recovery is still only on paper for way too many people.
What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory?
July 26, for why see below. And August 1, my niece Kiranna Lea was born.
What was your biggest achievement of the year? What was your biggest failure?
Biggest achievement was selling a short story to Asimov's Science Fiction (March 2014 issue if you're curious; July 26 was the day I got the acceptance letter). Close second was bringing off Stepping into Darkness: An Underworld Journey, a weekend-long ritual event.
I still feel like I'm failing at constructing, or re-constructing, a social and spiritual life after walking away from the groups and communities I used to be affiliated with, although I'm still friends with a lot of these people and, in fact, stood on circle with my former coven last night for Yule. No slam on those groups or anyone involved with them, whether we're currently in contact or not.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
I'm really in the kung fu gang now—I've got some sort of joint injury to my shoulder, which I will get checked out with my next physical. It doesn't bother me most of the time but I'm being a lot more careful when training, especially load-bearing exercise.
What was the best thing you bought?
Tickets to a Loreena McKennitt concert which almost coincided with Mr. Darcy's and my anniversary. She's just about the only musical artist who we both like, which is why we had two of her songs sung at our wedding.
Whose behavior merited celebration?
Mr. Darcy. He's been really awesome in a lot of ways, including some that would surprise quite a few people.
Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Numerous politicians. I'm sure you've heard of them.
Where did most of your money go?
Between two MFA residencies in Maine, an anniversary trip to San Francisco, a conference in Madison, and a road trip to Canada, not to mention a few trips to the coast, travel was probably my biggest expenditure, second only to taxes. (I have a fair chunk of investments. Hence, capital gains.)
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My sale to Asimov's. My MFA program. Releasing series 1 of The Hermes & Hekate Road Show and working on series 2.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Hiking. Sleep. Playing my fiddle.
What do you wish you'd done less of?
Surfing the Internet at 2 a.m., knowing I should go to bed but almost too tired to make the effort.
What was your favorite TV program?
I don't watch enough TV for this to be a meaningful question. The only show I watched was Game of Thrones, so that one, I guess.
Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't really hate anyone. There are a few people I'm disappointed in, but that's probably more about me than about them.
What was the best book you read?
Ann Leckie's Ancillary Justice.
What did you want and get?
A short story sale.
What did you want and not get?
Closure.
What was your favorite film of this year?
I watch movies a little bit more than I watch television. However, I liked The Hunger Games: Catching Fire a lot, even though I couldn't get anyone to go with me.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
On my birthday proper I drove back from the Wild Gods retreat and campout. The following weekend, however, Mr. Darcy contrived a surprise during a Green Star Grove and friends ritual wherein he gifted me with a replica of this painting, the acquisition and staging of which had apparently required a conspiracy of about half a dozen people all of whom managed to keep it quiet until it was presented.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Selling another story that I've been trying to find a home for for awhile.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
Soft butch, with occasional skirt.
What/who kept you sane?
Mr. Darcy. Mr. and Mrs. P.
What political issue stirred you the most?
Please, I just got my blood pressure back down. Economic inequality and the lack of will on both sides to do anything about it is probably at the top of the list, though.
Who did you miss?
Several friends.
Who was the best new person you met?
Several new students in my MFA program. I also really liked Marjorie Liu, who ran one of my workshops, though I hadn't previously been familiar with her work (she writes comics for Marvel and a lot of UF/paranormal romance, not genres I normally read much). And Kiranna, of course, though she's just now moving out of her Winston Churchill phase.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.
God damn it, you've got to be kind. (Attribution dammit: Kurt Vonnegut.)
Strung Christmas lights on my house, together with Mr. Darcy, both of us overcoming near-crippling phobia (him: heights; me: falling off ladders) to do it. It was quite a bonding experience. Next year we're hiring someone.
Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I tried. Totally failed on the getting more sleep part.
Did anyone close to you give birth?
World's Awesomest Niece 2.0 was born in August. Her one-month dinner happened to coincide with Niece 1.0's third birthday, so we just let her believe it was part of her birthday celebration. ;)
Did anyone close to you die?
I put my 18-year-old cat to sleep in November. Today's the first day I've been able to work in my office again; for his last weeks he was pretty much ensconced in here, and this is where we did it when the time came—I couldn't subject him to another vet visit. Dr. Gomez from the West Seattle Animal Hospital is a kind and compassionate woman.
What countries did you visit?
Canada.
What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
For the universe to stop serving my friends shit sandwiches. Seriously, 2013 sucked unremittingly for far too many people who I care about. Most of us are at the age where we start losing people—parents, aunts and uncles, even siblings. And the economic recovery is still only on paper for way too many people.
What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory?
July 26, for why see below. And August 1, my niece Kiranna Lea was born.
What was your biggest achievement of the year? What was your biggest failure?
Biggest achievement was selling a short story to Asimov's Science Fiction (March 2014 issue if you're curious; July 26 was the day I got the acceptance letter). Close second was bringing off Stepping into Darkness: An Underworld Journey, a weekend-long ritual event.
I still feel like I'm failing at constructing, or re-constructing, a social and spiritual life after walking away from the groups and communities I used to be affiliated with, although I'm still friends with a lot of these people and, in fact, stood on circle with my former coven last night for Yule. No slam on those groups or anyone involved with them, whether we're currently in contact or not.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
I'm really in the kung fu gang now—I've got some sort of joint injury to my shoulder, which I will get checked out with my next physical. It doesn't bother me most of the time but I'm being a lot more careful when training, especially load-bearing exercise.
What was the best thing you bought?
Tickets to a Loreena McKennitt concert which almost coincided with Mr. Darcy's and my anniversary. She's just about the only musical artist who we both like, which is why we had two of her songs sung at our wedding.
Whose behavior merited celebration?
Mr. Darcy. He's been really awesome in a lot of ways, including some that would surprise quite a few people.
Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Numerous politicians. I'm sure you've heard of them.
Where did most of your money go?
Between two MFA residencies in Maine, an anniversary trip to San Francisco, a conference in Madison, and a road trip to Canada, not to mention a few trips to the coast, travel was probably my biggest expenditure, second only to taxes. (I have a fair chunk of investments. Hence, capital gains.)
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My sale to Asimov's. My MFA program. Releasing series 1 of The Hermes & Hekate Road Show and working on series 2.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Hiking. Sleep. Playing my fiddle.
What do you wish you'd done less of?
Surfing the Internet at 2 a.m., knowing I should go to bed but almost too tired to make the effort.
What was your favorite TV program?
I don't watch enough TV for this to be a meaningful question. The only show I watched was Game of Thrones, so that one, I guess.
Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't really hate anyone. There are a few people I'm disappointed in, but that's probably more about me than about them.
What was the best book you read?
Ann Leckie's Ancillary Justice.
What did you want and get?
A short story sale.
What did you want and not get?
Closure.
What was your favorite film of this year?
I watch movies a little bit more than I watch television. However, I liked The Hunger Games: Catching Fire a lot, even though I couldn't get anyone to go with me.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
On my birthday proper I drove back from the Wild Gods retreat and campout. The following weekend, however, Mr. Darcy contrived a surprise during a Green Star Grove and friends ritual wherein he gifted me with a replica of this painting, the acquisition and staging of which had apparently required a conspiracy of about half a dozen people all of whom managed to keep it quiet until it was presented.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Selling another story that I've been trying to find a home for for awhile.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
Soft butch, with occasional skirt.
What/who kept you sane?
Mr. Darcy. Mr. and Mrs. P.
What political issue stirred you the most?
Please, I just got my blood pressure back down. Economic inequality and the lack of will on both sides to do anything about it is probably at the top of the list, though.
Who did you miss?
Several friends.
Who was the best new person you met?
Several new students in my MFA program. I also really liked Marjorie Liu, who ran one of my workshops, though I hadn't previously been familiar with her work (she writes comics for Marvel and a lot of UF/paranormal romance, not genres I normally read much). And Kiranna, of course, though she's just now moving out of her Winston Churchill phase.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.
God damn it, you've got to be kind. (Attribution dammit: Kurt Vonnegut.)
