2009

Because it's one of those nights when I come home and, instead of crashing into bed, I just couldn't sleep. If anyone wanted to play Frisbee with me, I would have accepted the challenge! Right now, at 3:30 a.m..

What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?

Have a major breakdown in front of pedicab drivers!

Travel outside of Asia

Travel alone (which includes taking a long flight home, taking the bus and the train from one city to another late at night)

Loaded unleaded gas on a diesel car – of course the car broke down haha

Lived on Gatorade for two full days without solid intake

Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

No. I don’t make resolutions.

Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes.

Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no.

What countries did you visit?
U.S., HK, Singapore. All work-related. Dad planned on Thailand but mom’s health didn’t make it possible.

What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
What did I lack in 2009? Hmmmmm... I don’t know. I mean, my life is not perfect but it’s also not that bad. I enjoy whatever I have. I wasn’t short on money or love or anything so I don’t know what I lacked in the previous year which I’d like to have in 2010.

This question made me think and I realized it’s similar to an observation I had during one of those highschool retreats when everyone opened up and shared their problems with the class.  While the rest had huge issues (broken families, drunk daddies, second families, sibling rivalry, etc), I didn’t have anything of that magnitude to share during my turn.

Perhaps I’d just like to have more strength, patience, fortitude, resilience and perseverance – not for lack thereof. I just want to have more.

What sporting events did you go to?
Just UAAP.

What concerts did you go to?
Eraserheads. 2009 was more of an R&B concert year, which of course didn’t interest me. Was supposed to see NIN but...

Who was your Valentine in 2009?
Valentines? I will file a motion to remove it from the calendar.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Had an AH1N1 scare but that was just paranoia on my end. Turned out to be a unique case of stomach flu.

What was your best month?
A toss-up between March and October. I always like March.

Where did most of your money go?
Random stuff not relevant to the future.

Did you fall in love in 2009?
Errrr... Did I? :)

How many one-night stands?
None.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Formula 1. It’s a good diversion and I like following it a lot.  2009 was a pretty interesting season with Lewis Hamilton’s liegate scandal, then Renault’s crashgate, Ferrari’s threat to leave the sport, Massa’s accident, Schumi’s return, Kimi’s sabbatical, Toyota and BMW’s departure, Brawn’s Victory, and Abu Dhabi.

Ateneo’s 2^nd consecutive UAAP Men’s Basketball Victory

First trip to the U.S.

There were times when I got excited about life in general, for no specific reason. Like the opposite of random depression when I couldn’t point out why but I just know I’m sad. I can get really, really, really excited about simple things like going on road trips, seeing my cousins/friends, etc.

What songs will always remind you of 2009?

I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas

Use Somebody / Sex on Fire by Kings of Leon

Time to Pretend by MGMT

And the annoying Nobody Nobody but You.

What were the best...

* books you read?
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo / The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson. Really good murder mystery series.  I’ve yet to acquire a copy of the third and final book.

Invisible Monsters by Chuck Pahlaniuk. Psycho-thriller with an interesting twist. Exactly what you’d expect from the author of Fight Club.

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. A really funny and witty portrayal of Angels and Devils, the Good and Bad. Love it!

* movies you saw? 
Avatar

500 Days of Summer

The Hangover

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (a lot of people didn’t like this but the action alone made me love it!)

Monsters vs. Aliens (LOVE Seth Rogen!)
Xmen Origins: Wolverine

Watchmen

Star Trek (one of the best!)

* CDs you listened to?
Day & Age, The Killers
Only by the Night, Kings of Leon

Intimacy, Bloc Party

Perfect Symmetry, Keane

Endings of a New Kind, Taken by Cars (only local artist in my 2009 playlist!)

What do you wish you'd done more of?
Sports. Who am I kidding? Haha

What do you wish you'd done less of?
I don’t know... seriously. I might have wasted my time on Vampire Wars.

How did you spend Christmas?
With the family as per tradition. It’s one of the funnest Christmases ever.

What was your favorite TV program?
Didn’t get to watch as much TV as I would’ve wanted but in terms of series, I liked True Blood, Entourage (always), Gossip Girl (of course) & Grey’s Anatomy.

Glee was perhaps the big reveal in 2009 but I’m not as into it as the others. It bores me sometimes.

Compared to this time last year, are you:

* happier or sadder?
Happier.

* thinner or fatter?
uhmmmm.... (falls asleep)

* richer or poorer?
Richer?

What was your favorite summer memory of 2009?
Spending a weekend in Tagaytay with the family. That was a lot of fun; Driving to Batangas and Tagaytay with friends. I love road trips especially when I’m behind the wheel; and Boracay for the office outing (it wasn’t as fun as the previous ones but fun nonetheless. I always get a natural high when I’m on the beach).

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
What did I do... I don’t remember the specifics. Too bad I don’t blog about my birthday! Definitely dinner with the fam, drinks with friends... But I don’t remember right now where.

What was your greatest musical discovery?
None. The artists I listened to in 2009 aren’t new.  Does rediscovering Michael Jackson count?

Which celebrity/public figures did you fancy the most in 2009?
Kimi Raikkonen, Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg; James Franco & Ed Westwick; Locally, there’s Derek Ramsay (!)

Who was the best new person you met?
Best new person... Nobody stands out. Although I wish somebody did.

Where were you when 2009 began and who were you with?
Family then friends.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I had seen the F1 race in Belgium from the grandstands. I like that track a lot. Would've been nice to have seen a race while Raikkonen was still in F1. If I'm going to invest in a race ticket, it would have to be in a guaranteed exciting track like Spa Francorchamps in Belgium, Interlagos in Brazil, Suzuka in Japan, Monza in Italy (pure Ferrari passion), Silverstone in Britain, and of course Monaco (as if we can afford it. We're going to look like peasants there!). In Asia, China, Malaysia are okay.

Herman Tilke designed tracks have not produced anything exciting over the past couple of years. Singapore's only claim is that racing is done at night but there's no action because the track does not inspire overtaking. Same with other Tilke tracks like Valencia (procession), and Abu Dhabi (spectacular backdrop, dullest race ever). So if you just wanna be there to hear burning rubber and look at the cars, Singapore should be fine. If you want racing action, it's not the most ideal track to visit.

What kept you sane?
Friends. Beer. Music. Twitter, Facebook and Blogger.

What political issue stirred you the most?
Ampatuan Massacre

Who did you miss the most?
My brother. Every damn year since 2000.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
There’s no use in worrying about things you cannot change.

Quote lyrics of a song that sums up your year.

We need to rage through this life
There might be ones who are smarter than you
That have the right answers, that wear better shoes
Forget about those melting ice caps, 
We're doing the best of what we've got.


-Sunday, Bloc Party


Such a sweet song. Romantic but not mushy.

What are your plans for 2010?
Nothing. For once, I’ll take it easy and go with the flow.

Answered a similar questionnaire in 2007. See here.