Chicago tomorrow. And for the next two years.
Showing posts with label chicago. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chicago. Show all posts
o'hare
2008, year in review
“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day." - Edith Lovejoy Pierce
The following is brutally honest and painfully earnest, don't say you haven't been warned.
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
My first thought was get tattooed or travel a ridiculous distance for a concert, but I did both of those at the very end of 2007 so this is a tough one. Spend a lot of time in church basements? Go to two shows in one day? Learn how to silkscreen? I don't know, maybe I'll think of something a little more exciting later on.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't know that I necessarily made any resolutions, other than to be happy and positive really. I wanted 2008 to be the best year of my life and it was. So I think I'll do the same for this year and see how that goes.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, a close friend of the family had a baby boy.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
An elderly neighbor that I'd grown up with passed away, but we weren't really close. (I've had enough of this happen in my life, I'm glad for the year off.)
5. What countries did you visit?
While I did a lot of travelling this year, it was all inside the U.S. of A.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
More time with which to edit all the photos I took and get stuff for Falsestart Junkyard together.
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 7 - My Chemical Romance at the Electric Factory. Spent all day waiting in line with friends and it was worth every minute, one of the best experiences of my life. Especially since I got to talk to Frank afterward and tell him how much they mean to me.
July 25 - My first time going to Warped! Had a great time, but it was really the stuff that happened after that made it great. For a few hours, being nervous and sixteen was awesome.
December 2 - Spent almost 13 hours in the car the day before driving to Chicago. Fall Out Boy at the Chicago Theatre. Amazing seats, an amazing show and I got to share it with one of my best friends right next to me. ♥
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Deciding, in some respects, what I want to do with the rest of my life. There's going to be a long road to get there, but a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step and all that jazz.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Losing my job? I really had started to hate it though, so I guess what I really consider the biggest failure was really not being able to find another job for so long and working more.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I saw The Cab quite a few times, I was sick a lot this year. Also, I had a couple of panic attacks and those are never fun.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My DSLR. It was a splurge but it was so worth it.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Barack Obama
13. Whose behavior appalled you?
Sarah Palin
14. Where did most of your money go?
My gas tank, Pete Wentz and his affiliates.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing MCR for the first time. Empires and the Gaslight Anthem's record release shows. A joint birthday party with two of my closest friends and the field trip we took to see Robots & Racecars before hand.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Yellow Cab and a Five Cent Cigar.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier, by far.
ii. thinner or fatter? Probably about the same.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer, but only because I was dead broke this time last year.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Slept. I definitely had a lot of "I'll sleep when I'm dead" moments this year.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Been sick. I blame Alex Marshall and his disease spreading band for a lot of this.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas morning with my grandmother and parents, had lunch with them and them drove down to my aunt's house to have dinner with her and my grandfather and my cousins.
21. How will you be spending New Year's?
I spent it in Cherry Hill, NJ having a great time with friends, watching the fireworks from inside the warmth of my friend's high rise apt. and occasionally scrambling over to the tv to watch those Fall Out Boys.
22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Yes. It kind of just reaffirmed my opinion that the risk isn't worth the reward, but I don't regret it. Maybe 2009 will be different, who knows. (If this dude can live happily ever after maybe there's hope for me yet.)
23. How many one-night stands?
None. Even if I'd had the opportunity, I don't really believe in them.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Doctor Who/Torchwood was really the only thing I had time to keep up with.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nope. I am full of love, baby.
26. What was the best book you read?
I don't even remember what I read this year. Let's go with Watchmen because I know for certain that I read it this year and that it was awesome.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Gaslight Anthem (Runners up include: Robots & Racecars, Team Goldie, and Steel Train.)
28. What did you want and get?
An exciting life.
29. What did you want and not get?
To be in a relationship.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Dark Knight.
31. What did you do on your birthday?
Spent some time with my grandmother, had sushi lunch with my mom and got together with the Team Philly girls and Nicholas at the Pub for dinner.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
At the risk of being horribly inappropriate, more kissing. My 2008 was sadly lacking in that area.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Jeans, a band t-shirt, and chucks? Also, a lot more eyeliner than I have ever worn in any other year of my life.
34. What kept you sane?
Team Philly and our adventures in the local music scene.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I have no celebrity crushes. I don't know what you're talking about.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The complete and utter bullshit that is Prop 8.
(But hey, BARACK OBAMA IS GOING TO BE PRESIDENT. And just thinking that still makes me grin like an idiot.)
37. Who did you miss?
My cats. And Rei, once she left us for Chicago.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I met so many amazing people this year, it's really hard to pick just one. But if I have to choose, Jen is going to get the award for this one. As was said before, you are the best of us, and the craziest. I can hardly believe there was a time when I wasn't taking spontaneous roadtrips to Connecticut or, you know Chicago.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
1. STAY HYDRATED!
2. When you have the opportunity to use a clean bathroom, take it!
3. Trying to love someone who doesn't want your love doesn't end well.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
The following is brutally honest and painfully earnest, don't say you haven't been warned.
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
My first thought was get tattooed or travel a ridiculous distance for a concert, but I did both of those at the very end of 2007 so this is a tough one. Spend a lot of time in church basements? Go to two shows in one day? Learn how to silkscreen? I don't know, maybe I'll think of something a little more exciting later on.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't know that I necessarily made any resolutions, other than to be happy and positive really. I wanted 2008 to be the best year of my life and it was. So I think I'll do the same for this year and see how that goes.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, a close friend of the family had a baby boy.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
An elderly neighbor that I'd grown up with passed away, but we weren't really close. (I've had enough of this happen in my life, I'm glad for the year off.)
5. What countries did you visit?
While I did a lot of travelling this year, it was all inside the U.S. of A.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
More time with which to edit all the photos I took and get stuff for Falsestart Junkyard together.
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 7 - My Chemical Romance at the Electric Factory. Spent all day waiting in line with friends and it was worth every minute, one of the best experiences of my life. Especially since I got to talk to Frank afterward and tell him how much they mean to me.
July 25 - My first time going to Warped! Had a great time, but it was really the stuff that happened after that made it great. For a few hours, being nervous and sixteen was awesome.
December 2 - Spent almost 13 hours in the car the day before driving to Chicago. Fall Out Boy at the Chicago Theatre. Amazing seats, an amazing show and I got to share it with one of my best friends right next to me. ♥
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Deciding, in some respects, what I want to do with the rest of my life. There's going to be a long road to get there, but a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step and all that jazz.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Losing my job? I really had started to hate it though, so I guess what I really consider the biggest failure was really not being able to find another job for so long and working more.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I saw The Cab quite a few times, I was sick a lot this year. Also, I had a couple of panic attacks and those are never fun.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My DSLR. It was a splurge but it was so worth it.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Barack Obama
13. Whose behavior appalled you?
Sarah Palin
14. Where did most of your money go?
My gas tank, Pete Wentz and his affiliates.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing MCR for the first time. Empires and the Gaslight Anthem's record release shows. A joint birthday party with two of my closest friends and the field trip we took to see Robots & Racecars before hand.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Yellow Cab and a Five Cent Cigar.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier, by far.
ii. thinner or fatter? Probably about the same.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer, but only because I was dead broke this time last year.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Slept. I definitely had a lot of "I'll sleep when I'm dead" moments this year.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Been sick. I blame Alex Marshall and his disease spreading band for a lot of this.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas morning with my grandmother and parents, had lunch with them and them drove down to my aunt's house to have dinner with her and my grandfather and my cousins.
21. How will you be spending New Year's?
I spent it in Cherry Hill, NJ having a great time with friends, watching the fireworks from inside the warmth of my friend's high rise apt. and occasionally scrambling over to the tv to watch those Fall Out Boys.
22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Yes. It kind of just reaffirmed my opinion that the risk isn't worth the reward, but I don't regret it. Maybe 2009 will be different, who knows. (If this dude can live happily ever after maybe there's hope for me yet.)
23. How many one-night stands?
None. Even if I'd had the opportunity, I don't really believe in them.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Doctor Who/Torchwood was really the only thing I had time to keep up with.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nope. I am full of love, baby.
26. What was the best book you read?
I don't even remember what I read this year. Let's go with Watchmen because I know for certain that I read it this year and that it was awesome.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Gaslight Anthem (Runners up include: Robots & Racecars, Team Goldie, and Steel Train.)
28. What did you want and get?
An exciting life.
29. What did you want and not get?
To be in a relationship.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Dark Knight.
31. What did you do on your birthday?
Spent some time with my grandmother, had sushi lunch with my mom and got together with the Team Philly girls and Nicholas at the Pub for dinner.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
At the risk of being horribly inappropriate, more kissing. My 2008 was sadly lacking in that area.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Jeans, a band t-shirt, and chucks? Also, a lot more eyeliner than I have ever worn in any other year of my life.
34. What kept you sane?
Team Philly and our adventures in the local music scene.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I have no celebrity crushes. I don't know what you're talking about.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The complete and utter bullshit that is Prop 8.
(But hey, BARACK OBAMA IS GOING TO BE PRESIDENT. And just thinking that still makes me grin like an idiot.)
37. Who did you miss?
My cats. And Rei, once she left us for Chicago.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I met so many amazing people this year, it's really hard to pick just one. But if I have to choose, Jen is going to get the award for this one. As was said before, you are the best of us, and the craziest. I can hardly believe there was a time when I wasn't taking spontaneous roadtrips to Connecticut or, you know Chicago.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
1. STAY HYDRATED!
2. When you have the opportunity to use a clean bathroom, take it!
3. Trying to love someone who doesn't want your love doesn't end well.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
preshow thoughts
How are these actually my seats?
And how did I get them for only $10?
Also, the person choosing preshow music wins at life. (Gaslight! \o/)
And how did I get them for only $10?
Also, the person choosing preshow music wins at life. (Gaslight! \o/)
the coming storm
Storm, originally uploaded by falsestartjunkyard.
I really sort of love Chicago. Someday I hope to be wealthy enough to split my time between there and New Jersey. Hopefully, I can avoid the days like these though.
cool beans
Quimby's, originally uploaded by falsestartjunkyard.
Quimby's is just about the coolest damn independent book store I've ever been to.
thorne minatures
This exhibit was one of the coolest things I saw during my last trip to Chicago. If you're ever there, you need to go the Art Institute and check this out.
Thorne Minatures, originally uploaded by falsestartjunkyard.
Thorne Minatures, originally uploaded by falsestartjunkyard.