Tag Archives: 40 Questions

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?
Was in the velodrome at Roubaix on Sunday 8th of April for the finish of Paris – Roubaix road race. It was amazing to be there and hear the crowd screaming as Tom Boonen got closer and closer and then finally appeared. It’s something I will never forget.

2. Did you keep your new year resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I usually fail to see the point of new year resolutions so therefore don’t make them. But this time I’ve decided it’s about time I did something the about 2.5kg I’ve put on in the last few months. Not sure if that’s really a new year resolution though, I would’ve done something about it regardless of what time of year it was, eventually.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Two friends did recently – within a few days of each other but thousands of kilometres apart. One in America, one right here in Melbourne

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope.

5. What countries did you visit?
America, France and Hong Kong.

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
Umm… fewer injuries would be nice. I could’ve really done without dislocating my thumb at the start of the year. And seriously aggravating my back again really wasn’t fun.

7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
April 11. Getting engaged whilst wandering around the Luxembourg Gardens, 6th Arrondissement of Paris does tend to stick in the memory.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Riding up Falls Creek. Okay, it was only from Mt Beauty so a total of 30kms while I had friends who rode the whole way from Bright (which means riding up Towonga Gap twice). But I figured 30kms of climbing was enough for me. Also completing Amy’s Grand Fondo was a biggie too.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I must admit that I’m disappointed in how lazy I’ve become. Being lazy means I’ve put weight back on and I worked so hard to get rid off it in the first place. Feel like I’ve let myself down a bit with that.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Dislocated my thumb. Really freaken hurt and I recommend not doing it.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Jayne – my CX bike. Makes commuting so much easier knowing I can come to a really rapid halt when I need to. Love those disc brakes.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Julia Gillard. Sure, she’s got a really annoying voice and I wish she’d quit it with the Botox (move your eyebrows Julia!!) but to hear her take Abbot to task when he tried to lecture her on sexist behaviour (!!!) and misogyny was awesome. Julia in full flight is impressive – she should get angry more often.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
The majority of Australian politicians have been behaving like spoilt children who’ve had their favourite toy taken away. Really, if I hear Abbot bitching about how Gillard and the Labor Party is ruining this country, I’ll scream.

14. Where did most of your money go?
On Rapha cycling gear. Goodness, I spent a lot with them this year. I also bought a new bike. And I discovered the joys of ModCloth. However, I have managed to nearly pay off my credit card and am still saving some money.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Taking long service leave and nicking off overseas for three and a half weeks. It was great to see some (but not enough) of my American friends. New York was pretty incredible and we really should’ve spent more time there but that’s just the way it happened. But then there was Paris. What a wonderful city. Sigh.

16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
Nothing springs to mind.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? about the same so pretty happy.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter 🙁
iii. richer or poorer? about the same

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Not been quite so anti-social. And of course – sleep!

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eat bad stuff! But I always say this. It never changes. I have a sweet tooth. I understand that if I want to eat all the yummy stuff that I apparently do, there must be a good deal more exercise going on.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Bit late putting this up so Christmas has already passed. Spent it in Shepparton with my parents.

22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Can’t do that if you already are 😉

23. How many one-night stands?
None.

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Doctor Who, Castle, Rake, Supernatural.

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

26. What was the best book you read?
Loved, loved, LOVED the Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries series by Kerry Greenwood. Bought all of them for my Kindle. Also got stuck into the Song of Ice and Fire series after watching the first season of Game of Thrones.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Umm… there wasn’t one. Stuck with what I know.

28. What did you want and get?
Well, I did treat myself to a new bike.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
The Dark Knight Rises. I’m sure you’re all shocked by this. The Avengers was pretty good too.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Ran away to Freycinet Lodge in Freycinet National Park, just near Coles Bay in Tasmania. We overnighted in Hobart on our way back so there was a trip to MONA as well. I turned 40 (which should explain the running away to Tassie.)

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Umm… not much. I achieved plenty on the bike so there’s something to be proud of there. But more than that, I actually feel like I have control over my life for once. I don’t feel like I’m bouncing from one disaster to the next which I did for such a long time. I feel so much calmer than I used to.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
The same as always but dresses have snuck in this year. What can I say? I discovered ModCloth.

34. What kept you sane?
Same as last year – my bike. At least it didn’t try to kill me this year.

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

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
It’s been a pretty crappy year in Australian politics. As I said above, the majority have been behaving like a bunch of over-sugared spoilt children. Perhaps next year they’ll grow up and some civility will return.

37. Who did you miss?
I miss my American peeps. I write this every year but that’s because it’s always true. I do miss them.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Is it terrible that no one is springing to mind? Or does that make me really anti-social?

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012
Sometimes you take the twisty, long route to get where you’re going.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Can’t think of anything!

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
Rode up a freaken mountain. With a cold no less. It was a really, really long way up.

2. Did you keep your new year resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I fail to see the point of new year resolutions so therefore don’t make them.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My brother and his partner welcomed a daughter into the world on Jan 6 🙂

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope.

5. What countries did you visit?
None! And that’s just wrong!!

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
A trip overseas. I really hated not going anywhere this year. Already planning a trip for 2012.

7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
4 – 5 June and 11 November (because riding up a mountain tends to stick in the memory).

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
See question 1.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I don’t know if I really failed at anything. I didn’t get the job I wanted but that’s not me failing, that’s me not being the best candidate for the job.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Head injury for the first time ever (as far as I can remember anyway). And my first cold in about 18 months (which has been quickly followed by another one!).

11. What was the best thing you bought?
New brakes and shifters for my Cannondale. I’m still enjoying the novelty of being able to stop without over-shooting.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Marissa the occupational therapy student who assisted me when I fell of my bike in August. She didn’t know me from a bar of soap but she still knelt in the gutter in the rain to check that I hadn’t totally scrambled my brains.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
You know, I see shitty things happen every day and now I’m trying to ignore it. I see people who are oblivious to their surrounding and have a total disregard for their own personal safety. If I saw them about to do something stupid like cross a road against the lights, I’d shout out. But after copping an earful from one guy, not any more.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Bike bits, comic books and a few dvds. And, well, just general living.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I was going to say nothing but I got pretty excited about my super-dooper birthday present from my best friend: a weekend in Sydney to see Kevin Spacey in Richard III. Richard III was not a nice man.

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Sticks and Stones by Jonsi.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier!
ii. thinner or fatter? About the same I think
iii. richer or poorer? Richer

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

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eat junky food. I write this down every year whilst filling in this survey and it never changes. Guess I’m never going to change.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I’ll be Barwon Heads with Richard’s family. First time in years I haven’t been at my parents’ place.

22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
Yup.

23. How many one-night stands?
None.

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Doctor Who, Castle.

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

26. What was the best book you read?
The Rider by Tim Krabbe. Yes, it’s a book about cycling. I also really enjoyed the three volumns of Gotham City Central that were finally published in order this year. The comic finished ages ago but for some reason when DC originally published the TPBs they didn’t have the stories in publication order.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
How To Destroy Angels. I do wonder if it counts as it’s Trent Reznor but it’s a new thing for him.

28. What did you want and get?
Well, in last year’s meme I mentioned sorting out my emotional baggage and meeting someone so I suppose I wanted that quite a lot. I honestly don’t know if I sorted through all my baggage but apparently it was enough to actually be open to the possibility of a relationship when it came along.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
I was surprised by how much I liked Captain America and Thor. The former because it’s essentially a World War II film and I generally don’t like them. The latter because I expected it to be very silly with no heart. So while it was very silly, it had way more heart than I thought it would.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was whisked away to Chateau Yering at Yering Station for the night. I turned 39.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
You know, not a lot. This year has been way better than the last few and I’m pretty happy with how things are right now.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Same as last year. I have a pair of Chuck Taylors that say KA-BOOM!!

34. What kept you sane?
Same as last year – my bike. Although this year, I think Lisa actively tried to kill me. You know, with the head injury and all…

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Got say that one scene with Chris Helmsworth when he had his shirt off in Thor was pretty phooooooaw!!!! worthy.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Kinda annoyed at how the Victorian Government is trying to screw over nurses and their ilk after giving the police a rather healthy pay rise. And I had to change channels or turn the tv off every time Alan Joyce was on during the QANTAS debacle.

37. Who did you miss?
My American peeps. The Tim Sale board disappeared in about April and then they were still all talking about getting together for the Boston comic con and I didn’t go. That was really hard.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Richard *blushes* We met in January this year on a ride, although I think he’d been in a few other group rides before that but we’d never officially meet.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011
That I’m stronger than I think I am.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Absolutely nothing is springing to mind.

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
Ummm… did a 100km ride. In terrible weather no less.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t do new year resolutions. They seem pointless.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not yet. One of my workmates is due to give birth right around xmas so there’s still time.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No and that’s a really good thing.

5. What countries did you visit?
America (again) in March.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
I’d like to work out some of my “relationship” issues and maybe actually meet someone. That’d be nice.

7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory?
To be honest this year has mostly sucked so I’m looking forward to it ending. No date in particular stands out.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I feel like I’ve made real progress with my riding. I’m proud of myself for making it up to Kinglake and then doing the Degani Kinglake ride, even though my back was giving me so much grief. I’m also proud of myself to sticking it out during the 100km Fruit Loop ride when the weather was so terrible and I really wanted to quit.

9. What was your biggest failure?
The fact I’ve become so emotionally shut down. Does the fact I worry about being emotionally shut down means that I’m not?

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Tendon problems with my left knee and my back flared up again big time. I did better on the illness front. Only had one or two colds and I unfortunately got gastro at Easter. And how could I forget my trip to the E.R. when I crashed into a car?

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Without a doubt, my Cannondale. Love her to death, especially now she has new wheels.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My family. They always welcome me with open arms and make me feel part of something even when I feel totally cut off from everyone.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Car drivers who think it’s acceptable to to attack, abuse or generally attempt to terrify cyclists.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Cycling stuff. Comics. General living. Living alone isn’t cheap.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I was pretty excited about my trip to America. It turned out to be the highlight of my year.

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
There isn’t one.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? – probably about the same.
ii. thinner or fatter? – thinner.
iii. richer or poorer? – poorer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Made an effort to not be so socially retarded. And of course, there was always time to do more riding.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Over-indulged on bad food. Been such a social retard. It leads me to thinking that I don’t have worth, that I’m not deserving of love or affection. And I know that’s not true.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
I’ll be spending xmas with my family. As I do every year. At least this year I’ll be able to watch the Doctor Who xmas special when it’s meant to be on.

22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
Nope. Wait… does my bike count?

23. How many one-night stands?
None. And I’m fine with that.

24. What was your favourite TV program?
Castle. Sherlock.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nope. Although I’m not too keen on one particular woman at work. Don’t hate her though. She just irritates me.

26. What was the best book you read this year?
 I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Umm… I don’t think I uncovered anything new this year. But I have developed an affection for music from the 60s.

28. What did you want and get?
I wanted my Cannondale pretty badly. And new wheels. Got both of ’em!!

29. What did you want and not get?
Umm… nothing is springing to mind. There are plenty of things I want but I can obviously live without them.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
How to train your dragon. And Inception.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was with my parents on my birthday. I turned 38.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I’m not sure why but I pulled away from everyone this year. I think I would’ve had an easier time if I worked out what was going on and attempted to fix it.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
The same as last year? Kinda found my fashion groove awhile ago and I’m sticking with it.

34. What kept you sane?
My bike. Without it, I think I would’ve gone totally crazy.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
No one.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
I got really annoyed with the federal and state elections. The advertising was unbelievable. So negative and then when we finally got to vote, no one could make their damn minds up!

37. Who did you miss?
As always, I miss my American peeps. It’s hard being so far away from people I wish I could spend more time with.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
My cycling buddies, Rebekah, Helen and David.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
Pain is temporary. Quitting is forever.

40. What are you most looking forward to in 2011?
Uuummm… I really don’t know. To be honest, I’m just hoping it’ll be a better year with less emotional complications.

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.