2009 Retrospective Survey!
I did the same survey last year. Ha, I even started it the same way.
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01. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Became a dad; got my music reviewed in the magazines; received royalties for said music; drove a car by myself; lost weight; watched all five Planet of the Apes movies in one day; got a bank loan; got a Civil Union; be the sober driver on Christmas day.
02. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t do resolutions, but the regular half-assed idea to lose weight actually kicked into gear in 2009, for real. Not till October, but almost 8kg is a good effort I reckon.
03. Did someone close to you give birth?
Yes - so close in fact, she was crushing my hand at the time.
04. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
05. What countries did you visit?
Pylon country. It’s my pet name for parts of Auckland that have pylons.
06. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Same as last year: money (didn’t even have to change that from last year’s entry).
07. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
February 10 - Parker was born. October 20 - Civil Union.
08. What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year?
Releasing an album people actually said nice things about, in print; getting Parker to 10 and a half months old without anything going horribly wrong; putting (another) ring on Tariqa’s finger.
09. What was your biggest failure(s)?
I’ve been trying to record this song of mine, ‘Effortlessly’ for almost five years now, and I still can’t get it down.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Last year’s entry was about a possible ‘pinched radial nerve’. A year later, we know it’s actually torn wrist cartilage, and no, it’s no better than it was then. And in January, I got chicken pox, which sucked. Hard.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Probably the car, though my guitar - which was pretty much new, and less than half the retail price, is close. But to be honest, the dummies, exersaucer and other things that kept Parker quiet and content shouldn’t be forgotten.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Parker hasn’t yet learned how to be naughty.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I would say Michael Laws, but he was just so fucking hilarious, rather than depressing. Same goes for Melissa Lee.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Into the joint account, then on bills.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Having a baby. Getting hitched. Releasing the album. Weekends off.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2009?
Franz Ferdinand - Ulysses
Depeche Mode - Wrong
Morrissey - I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris
Manic Street Preachers - Peeled Apples (and the US mix of The Holy Bible, which I finally tracked down!)
Muse - Uprising
Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow
Dizzee Rascal - Bonkers, Dance Wiv Me
La Roux - Bulletproof
The Lonely Island - On A Boat, I’m The Boss
17. Compared to this time last year, are you
i. happier or sadder? Happier/samish
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner! First time I’ve been able to say that.
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer. I blame baby, considering I’m actually earning more.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
For the third year in a row, songwriting. The past few years I’ve slacked off, mainly because my production skills have improved, so I’m concentrating on actually recording the material I’ve already got.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Warzone Tower Defence on Facebook. Nah, not really.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Already did - with Tariqa’s side of the family, sober driving.
22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Already there!
23. How many one-night stands?
None, silly.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
Lost of course. Always, at least for one more season. But otherwise, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia. That show never fails to deliver. Also enjoyed homegrown stuff like 7 Days and The Jaquie Brown Diaries. Flashforward’s not bad either.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
See question 13.
26. What was the best book you read?
The Numbers Game, which I borrowed off Tariqa’s dad. Eye-opening look at the way stats are used and abused in journalism and politics. That, and Classic Tracks: Back To Back, which was an epic, nerdy tome about pop music.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Devo’s first album. I thought I knew it, but it turns out what I thought were tracks from Are We Not Men? were actually outtakes and demos. The album itself kicks ass.
28. What did you want and get?
A healthy, funny baby.
29. What did you want and not get?
A quiet, obedient baby.
30. Favorite films of this year?
Haven’t seen many because of aforementioned baby. Probably Star Trek. I just haven’t seen very many.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was at work, I think. For my birthday, on a different day, had a few friends over and we watched all five Planet of the Apes movies. 2008 was all six Star Wars. I think this year, we’re gonna do The Godfather.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Playing music live. But that’ll happen in 2010, I’m sure.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Threadless T-shirts, jeans, Chucks. Same as always. Except when I’m walking to work, during which I wear a light sports shirt and shorts/3/4 pants.
34. What kept you sane?
Having a focus on recording the best music I’ve ever made.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None really.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Probably the smacking referendum. We moved out of the Mt Albert electorate, so missed the by-election, and the Wanganui ‘H’ thing was hilarious, but kind of inconsequential. But the 87 percent of voters that ticked no, need a good slapping about.
37. Whom do you miss?
Kosh and Lando, the cats. I cried the day we dropped them off at the SPCA. But we had to move, and had no choice, really. And Ryan Adams didn’t release an album this year, which was stink.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Parker? I didn’t technically meet him till he popped out.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
Pays not to gossip at work, nor believe half what you hear/overhear.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
No.
