1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Left the country.

2. Did you keep your new year resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
New year resolutions aren’t my thing at all.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Uuummmm… the fact I can’t think of anyone heavily suggests that’d be a no.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes. And it was awful because it felt like it was a life that had been cut way too short.

5. What countries did you visit?
America.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Hhhhmmm… more money would be nice but realistically it’s not going to happen. Realistically, I think greater self-discipline when it comes to food and going to the gym would be helpful.

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
September 21. It’s the day I left Australia for the first time. My longest flight before that was three hours. It was also the day I arrived in foreign country and was finger-printed.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I don’t know. 2008 hasn’t really featured any major achievements. Still, one big achievement was being the lightest I’ve been in a long time. It’s not terribly significant in the grand scale of things but it’s still a big deal for me. And I say this even though I want to be more disciplined about going to the gym.

9. What was your biggest failure?
My inability to be more disciplined when it came to going to the gym and the food I ate.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I tore one of the muscles in my right hip. It was unbelievably painful and an injury I hope to never do again. And it appears I’m going to end 2008 with damaged nerves in my shoulder. Yay.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Toss up between my macbook pro and all the art I bought in Baltimore.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
All my peeps in the States who made me feel so welcome when I landed on their various doorsteps. I’ve never felt so welcome by a group of people.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
All those evil people in the world who think of it’s fine to exploit others.

14. Where did most of your money go?
On my trip and comics. I also spent a fair amount on clothing this year as well.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My trip. I set up a blog to write about it. When it was over, I was crushed.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Ampersand by Amanda Palmer.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Right now, sadder.
ii. thinner or fatter? But I’m definitely thinner.
iii. richer or poorer? About the same

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
To be honest, I don’t know. I did pretty much everything I wanted to. Well, the stuff I really wanted to anyway. Some things had to be sacrificed for – you guessed it! – my trip. And I wish I’d had the guts to ask someone out but I didn’t and I probably never will.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying so much about what other people think.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With the family.

21. What was your favorite month of 2008?
September

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Hhmm… if I didn’t fall all the way, I was definitely heading towards it.

23. How many one-night stands?
None.

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Doctor Who

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nah, that requires too much energy. And besides, who need that sort of negativity in their lives?

26. What was the best book you read?
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Amanda Palmer.

28. What did you want and get?
A commission piece from Tim Sale and a colour pencil Green Arrow sketch from Matt Wagner

29. What did you want and not get?
I don’t know the answer to this one. If I really wanted something, I worked out a way to get it.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
The Dark Knight, followed closely by Iron Man and Wall-e.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
On the day, I was at home sick. But the day before I went to see Wicked with my mum. Then I went out of dinner with some friends. I turned 36.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I dunno… Probably less drama and more trips to the gym so I could look my best. Also, staying longer in America would’ve been great.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Errr… the same as always? I don’t think I really have a look but I love my red sneakers and superhero t-shirts.

34. What kept you sane?
Not much.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Robert Downey Jr. Damn, he looked fine in Tony Stark’s suits.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The election of Obama. I’m not even American but I found myself caring intensely about it because it represented so much for not only the USA but the rest of the world.

37. Who did you miss?
My American peeps.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
All my American peeps. I wish I could see them more often but alas I am too poor for that.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
Happiness can only come from yourself. You can’t rely on anyone else to do it for you.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I’m not going to live my life on one side of an ampersand.