2008 Retrospective Survey!
I did the same survey last year.

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01. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
I had heaps of answers to this question last year, but I'm struggling this time around. I worked my first proper full-time media job; went to a multi-day music festival; planned a baby; did a Star Wars ultramarathon; saw the Smashing Pumpkins; and for the first time since early 1996, I don't own an electric guitar.

02. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Didn't make any, won't make any.

03. Did someone close to you give birth?
No, thank god, cause she's not due till February.

04. Did anyone close to you die?
No.

05. What countries did you visit?
The country.

06. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Same as last year: money.

07. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
April 14 - started working at TV3

08. What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year?
Getting the job at TV3; completing over 40 entries on Fighting Dantasy, without slacking off; getting tariqa all pregnant and stuff; playing the opening of Camp A Low Hum.

09. What was your biggest failure(s)?
Not so sure it's a failure, but the end of KittyHawk was pretty stink.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I'm currently typing with a wrist splint thingee on due to what is probably a pinched radial nerve That'll learn me for mowing the lawn..

11. What was the best thing you bought?
tariqa 's engagement ring - proper one, this time.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Tariqa has been really good at growing baby, and hasn't complained all that much!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
John McCain. I mean, he never went near what Sarah Palin was doing, but still, he should have known better.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, bills, Baby Factory and TradeMe.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Having a baby. Starting my new job. Camp A Low Hum. My new recordings.

16. What songs will always remind you of 2007?
Weezer - Pork and Beans
Oasis - Bag It Up
LadyHawke - Magic
Coldplay - Viva La Vida
MC Stormtroopa - Lord Vader
Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire
My Morning Jacket - Highly Suspicious
Suede - The Asphalt World

17. Compared to this time last year, are you
i. happier or sadder? Happier
ii. thinner or fatter? Slightly fatter
iii. richer or poorer? Same

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Once again, more songwriting. I've recorded a ton of music, yet to do vocals, but didn't write much. A bit earlier in the year, and finished a few songs/wrote melodies for backing tracks, but not a lot more.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Drinking red wine at work when all the beers and white wines are finished.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
At Tariqa's dad's place with that side of her whanau.

22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Already there!

23. How many one-night stands?
None, silly.

24. What was your favourite TV program?
Lost is still good, as are the other usuals like Mythbusters; I've gotten right into watching late-night documentaries, particularly anything to do with time and space, or Bible-era conspiracies and alternative histories.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
The neighbours.

26. What was the best book you read?
I read magazines (galore) and the interwebs, but not too many books. Did I even read any this year? I must have, cause I definitely remember going to the library, but jebus.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
LadyHawke, and finally 'getting' Portishead and Kings of Leon with Third and Only By the Night.

28. What did you want and get?
A good job, a pregnant Tariqa and a good start on a new album.

29. What did you want and not get?
Success with KittyHawk, the album done, and to not get robbed again.

30. Favorite films of this year?
Wall-E, Tropic Thunder, Idiocracy (an oldie but saw it for the first time).

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Not sure, but on the 5th I watched all six Star Wars films with Tariqa and friends.

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

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Threadless T-shirts, jeans, Chucks and a Paper Plus bag.

34. What kept you sane?
Getting a job as far away from customers as possible.

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

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
We had an election, as did the US, so there was plenty to bitch about, but the 'time for a change' meme that made sense in the US bizarrely and incomprehensibly being adopted by the Nats here was annoying.

37. Whom do you miss?
My sister's growing up and getting to that age, I suppose it would be cool to see her more often to make sure she's not going off the rails too far.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
I'm now friends/workmates with a lot of cool new people, and even the most of the ones that aren't minor celebrities are cool.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
If you want something to change at work, there's no point in complaining to people who can't affect the change.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Nothing, really. I've decided this is a silly question for emos and the kinds of people who are into bad poetry and shit.

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TOP 5 ALBUMS OF THE LAST WEEK!

1. Ben Folds - Way to Normal
2. The Killers - Day & Age
3. Kanye West - 808s and Heartbreak
4. Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy
5. Over the Atlantic - Dimensions