Your year in review - 2011 Retrospective Survey

[Jay]

2011 Retrospective Survey

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

• Wrote a love letter. Sweet idea but stupid.
  
• Helped a stranger that lives outside my country. Gave my personal details to him. Stupid.
  
• A surgery. Belt lipectomy to be exact. Best thing I've done in my entire life.
  

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I don't wait until the end of year to accomplish something. If I want it now, I will do it now. No excuses whatsoever.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My boss gave birth to a baby boy.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No.

5. What countries did you visit?

Nil.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

• Lose my virginity? Nah, seriously I just want to build myself a better body than 2011. Not to show off but to satisfy myself. It's not necessarily pecs with six pack abs. Muscular tone body makes me happy enough.
  
• Get a boyfriend, perhaps? But nah, I'm not in a rush.
  
• A break for myself. I was a work machine so a vacation would be nice. Hm, how does Australia sound?
  

7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

5 December 2011. The day I had a massive surgery. It opened a new chapter in my life.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

• Being myself, believing in myself and managed to stay as myself even after ugly things threatened to change me.
  
• Went through a massive surgery that I have been waiting for years - successfully.
  

9. What was your biggest failure?

Fail to understand that not everyone in this world is nice. Just because I'm a nice guy, it doesn't mean I'm being surrounded fully by nice people. I keep forgetting that. Still repeatedly naive.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No. Just had a surgery on belt lipectomy. But it wasn't an illness.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

• Iphone. Black. Sexy. Then it was stolen right in front of my nose. I only managed to use it for a week. I deserve to lose it because I was really careless.
  
• Iphone. White. Hated it at first but fell in love after I was used to it. Protect it like crazy.
  

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Err...me? I know being modest is essential but I'm very happy with the way I have grown up and shaping up.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Chris? And most of his colleagues. All forgiven. But they have lost my respect and can never get it back. Not worthy to be my friends too.

14. Where did most of your money go?

• Surgery
  
• Bank accounts
  
• Credit card
  

15.What made you really really really excited?

My penis looks slightly longer and bigger than the usual after the surgery. I kid you not. Then again it could probably be due to being 'suppressed' for weeks. (Edit: Yeah, false alarm. Was suppressed)

16.What song will forever remind you of 2011?

Only Girl (In the World) by Rihanna.

It was one of the first 2011 tracks that I played on my Ipod during my first run on 2011. I played it constantly when I needed to run and exercise.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? Happier.
b) thinner or fatter? Thinner.
c) richer or poorer? Richer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

• Traveling
  
• Saving in multiple bank accounts
  
• Going out more. Less workaholic.
  

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Work. I'm only suppose to work on Monday till Friday. But I tend to come to office to work on Saturday and Sunday continuously.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

I'll be spending Christmas Eve with my friends. Not sure what to do on Christmas.

21. How will you be spending New Year's?

Most probably resting at home. Not crazy about joining crowds at 12 am.

22. Did you fall in love in 2011?

Stupid crush. Yeah. Love. Nay.

23. How many one-night stands?

Not possible when you are still a virgin.

24. What were your favorite TV programs?

I don't watch TV. But I did buy the first season of The Walking Dead. It was awesome.

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

Well they were a few. Okay a lot. But I didn't hate them. Hate it too strong. I was just disappointed, annoyed and upset with them. But all forgiven. It's not worth to hate people. It's not worth my time.

26. What was the best book you read?

The Best of the Best of Brochure Design: Volume II

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

• Shinee? A Korean pop boyband. Replay and Hello become my happy anthems.
  
  
  
• Britney Spears? I was a fan when she came out up until her fourth album (2003). Then I just moved on. On 2011, I decided to buy her fifth album, Blackout which was released on 2007. Get Naked (I Got a Plan) instantly becomes my official I-feel-sexy-and-slutty anthem. Roar.
  
  
  

28. What did you want and get?

• A surgery
  
• An Iphone
  
• An Ipad. I didn't buy it and wasn't planning to buy one. But I won one! A limited edition Michael Jackson Ipad. Take that!
  

29. What did you want and not get?

• A raise? Actually I got it. Sort of. But not in the usual way.
  
• A boyfriend?
  

30. What was your favorite film of this year?

I didn't get the chance to watch a lot of movies this year.

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

Work. 27.

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

• Worry less. Think less. My brain works like a factory. It doesn't want to stop thinking day and night. (Edit: Ah, what do you know. I think and worry less after surgery)
  
• Have a boyfriend? I don't know. I'm not sure.
  

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?

At work, I always emphasize on being dapper and professional with bow tie.

Outside, I always emphasize on being lousy, casual and relax as possible. White plain t-shirt with gray cotton pajama pants with pockets inside out and slippers. Or old black cotton track suit with old running sneakers. I'm not trying to impress anyone.

34. What kept you sane?

Music.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Nil. Probably Ellen DeGeneres.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

We want to help our people by pocketing people's money into ours

37. Who did you miss?

Nothing really. Maybe Sam. I wasn't close to him but I always thought he was a nice friend. I saw him as an inspiration. Then I found out that he is Chris' alliance. Stupid. Now to think of it, nah I don't miss him.

38. Who was the best new person(s) you met?

• Vincent - My new colleague who I can rely upon anything. He instantly becomes my good friend. We think alike. He knows that I am gay and respect me for being myself.
  
• My office building female friend - I lost a number of so called guy friends. But I strengthened my friendship with one.
  
• Daz - Sweet gentleman caring guy.
  

38. Side question...who would I like to get to know better?

If possible, Daz

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:

• It's okay to be kind and generous but there is a limit, time and place.
  
• Naive has no place. But I'll probably repeat this attitude again from time to time out of my own awareness.
  
• Someone really opened up my eyes about being myself. I don't need to prove to anyone or do something special to appeal to someone. I don't need to be perfect. I can be a bit kind, a bit naive and be a bit of everything. I may be not your cup of tea but I am to someone else.
  

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year (any song from any year):

Walk Like A Man by Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons

Oh, how you tried to cut me down to size
Tellin' dirty lies to my friends
But my own father said "Give her up, don't bother
The world isn't comin' to an end

Walk like a man, talk like a man
Walk like a man my son
No woman's worth crawlin' on the earth
So walk like a man, my son

Bye bye baby, I don't-a mean maybe
Gonna get along somehow
Soon you'll be cryin' on account of all your lyin'
Oh yeah, just look who's laughin' now

Walk like a man, fast as I can
Walk like a man from you
I'll tell the world "forget about it, girl"
And walk like a man from you

[AirBorn]

2011 Retrospective Survey


1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
I wake-boarded for my first time.

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I did not make a new years resolution and am not sure if I will make one this year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. What countries did you visit?
None

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
more happiness

7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 14, 2011 - the day wake came out to me and our relationship took to new heights

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
another year of raising a really good boy - we have a 5 year old son who I can see growing into an amazing man

9. What was your biggest failure?
not loosing weight

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
nope - besides the normal sicknesses

11. What was the best thing you bought?
stuff to fix our old 1977 acoustic guitar, a learning how to play guitar book and pics (teaching myself to play)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
wakeboarders

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
my dad

14. Where did most of your money go?
probably fast food and alcohol and BILLS!

15.What made you really really really excited?
Going to the Club and DANCING with wake for the first time in our 9 YEAR relationship.

16.What song will forever remind you of 2011?
I could have danced all night....

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? happier (although Christmas last year was much better)
b) thinner or fatter? same
c) richer or poorer? poorer - no more additional income through roommates

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
exercise

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
complain

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
split between wakes and my parents

21. How will you be spending New Year's?
not sure yet

22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
I did.... all over again

23. How many one-night stands?
None

24. What were your favorite TV programs?
Glee, X-Factor, American Idol, House, and more....

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Dislike VERY Much, yes - Hate, no

26. What was the best book you read?
Breaking the Worry Habit

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Drum and base/break beat/jungle

28. What did you want and get?
I wanted for wake and I to improve our relationship - and we are

29. What did you want and not get?
Debt free

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Eat, Pray, Love

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Costume party at my house and then went to the club to dance a bit - turned 25

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
had I improved my health and lost weight

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
um - same

34. What kept you sane?
will power

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
adeal

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
hillary clintons speach on lgbt rights

37. Who did you miss?
my dad

38. Who was the best new person(s) you met?
my friend misty

38. Side question...who would I like to get to know better?
myself

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:
hmmm, not sure

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year (any song from any year):[/QUOTE]
not sure.......will edit later

[colinmackay]

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

I quit my job before having a new one to go to.

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

No, yes.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

No.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No.

5. What countries did you visit?

France.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

My own company. Third time's the charm as they say. Unfortunately I need a good business plan first.

7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Nothing in particular. No particular date was more of less special. No significant anniversaries...

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Quitting a really shitty job... Although it did have to have an anxiety attack and get medicated for it before I realised I had to leave.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Allowing myself get to the point I had an anxiety attack. I should have left the job ages before.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

See above.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My Samsung Galaxy S II

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Couldn't really say. No one springs to mind as being especially great thus year.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

The catholic Church in Scotland who have been waging a war against equal marriage rights which is about to make its way through the Scottish Parliament.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Tax. My annual tax bill is now more than the gross income I made for the first year I had a full time job.

After that it is my mortgage.

15.What made you really really really excited?

The possibility that scientists discovered a faster than light particle.

16.What song will forever remind you of 2011?

Not so much an individual song, the but Erasure's album "Tomorrow's World"

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
b) thinner or fatter?
c) richer or poorer?

Happier, fatter, poorer (two months off work for anxiety drains the savings somewhat!)

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Exercised.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Eat crap... But I'm a comfort eater.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

Variously between parents (Christmas eve) , future in-laws (Christmas day) , and friends (boxing day) .

21. How will you be spending New Year's?

For hogmanay, we're going to friends.

22. Did you fall in love in 2011?

Yes, every day, to the same man. :-)

23. How many one-night stands?

None.

24. What were your favorite TV programs?

That were aired for the first time in 2011: glee.

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

Kind of, but it isn't worth dwelling on.

26. What was the best book you read?

I'm good at starting books but not finishing them.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

None really.

28. What did you want and get?

Don't know.

29. What did you want and not get?

Lots of things.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?

Harry Potter 7 part 2

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

Can't remember, 37

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

Not being off work for two months.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?

Hanging on to thinner times when I really should let go... Or just get thinner again.

34. What kept you sane?

My fiancé

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Daniel Radcliffe... He's lovely.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

Equal Marriage in Scotland.

37. Who did you miss?

My friend Seb... We keep passing each other without being able to catch up (most recently today in Paris. He arrived on the eurostar as I was flying out!)

38. Who was the best new person(s) you met?

No one really.

38. Side question...who would I like to get to know better?

Can't think of anyone really.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:

If your employer invokes suicidal thoughts its time you got out... Pronto!

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year (any song from any year):

I'm not good with lyrics. There's a line in Wicked's Defying Gravity about not accepting limits because some one else says they're so.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

[Person66]

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
Travel cross- country

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My New Years resolutions was to stop making New Years resolutions. So far, so good

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My maternal grandfather

5. What countries did you visit?
Mexico

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
A saner and happier family

7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Having lunch with a dear friend I've known for almost 15 years, but hadn't seen for 4 years, catching up on old times and star sighting at a delicious restaurant in Los Angeles.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Being able to help my grandfather die with dignity (think Terry Schiavo))

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not being able to comfort my mother during this difficult time for her.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
My health remained the same.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My iPad and Gucci bag

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My boyfriend's

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My Aunt Peggy's

14. Where did most of your money go?
A lot went towards buying tickets for live entertainment (Operas, musicals, Ballets, etc.)

15.What made you really really really excited?
Going to Disneyland (where I lost my virginity at 14 [with a girl] at the now defunct Disney Pacific Hotel)

16.What song will forever remind you of 2011?
"Born this Way" by Lady Gaga

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Both, depending on what part of my life you are referring to.
b) thinner or fatter? Thinner and fitter
c) richer or poorer? Poorer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Fun

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worry (same as every year)

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With my family.

21. How will you be spending New Year's?
With my boyfriend

22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
Yes, for the first time with a man!

23. How many one-night stands?
None

24. What were your favorite TV programs?
"Life with Derek" a Canadian TV show I bought the DVDs for all 4 seasons

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No

26. What was the best book you read?
"Room" by Emma Donahue. And "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" by Amy Chua

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Meeting international superstar operatic soprano Anna Netrebko and watching her perform the title role in Donizetti's "Anna Bolena"
28. What did you want and get?
We'll see on Christmas day

29. What did you want and not get?
A 13" MacBook Air Laptop

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2"

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Nothing, 23

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A Vacation ( my cross country trip doesn't count because I was going to see my dying grandfather)

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Better than average for me and more in style

34. What kept you sane?
My friend Veronica (my boyfriend too)

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Charlize Theron, Ryan Reynolds@@

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Penn State molestation scandal

37. Who did you miss?
My friend in L.A.

38. Who was the best new person(s) you met?
a new friend while waiting to see Anna Netrebko (I had already met my boyfriend years ago)

38. Side question...who would I like to get to know better?
My friend's younger daughter (2 years old)

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:
Doing the right thing sometimes means you alienate your loved ones

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year (any song from any year):
"Now that it's raining more than ever you can stand under my umbrella"
-Rihanna "Umbrella"