1. What did you do in 2024 that you'd never done before?
- Sold a house.
- Wrapped up the affairs of a deceased parent.
- Learned how to use QuickBooks at work.
- Saw the musical Jagged Little Pill.
- Went to an Alanis Morissette concert.
- Went to a Foo Fighters concert.
- Celebrated Dad's 70th birthday.
- Saw a caterpillar metamorphize into a butterfly on one of my plants in the back yard.
- Dyed my hair (yes, I had never ever done this--just some cool blue stripes).
- Drank black coffee (yes, I had never ever done this).
- Cosplayed a male character at a convention.
- Took photos for Pride month all month.
- Saw SIX on Broadway in New York.
- Rode an Amtrak train.
- Went to the Cartoon Network Hotel.
- Evacuated to another state for a hurricane.
- Wrote in the genre of Found Fiction.
- Broke a tooth.
- Auditioned for and got a voice acting role.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Last year, these were my resolutions, and whether I kept them:- Health Goals:
- I didn't declare a weight goal and said I would be happy with whatever happens. Result: I am.
- I decided to drink more water, which involved drinking water as my first beverage of the day and then drinking another glass of water in between every other beverage. Result: This was 100% successful and has made me feel very healthy and hydrated.
- I decided to eat more fruits and veggies, with intent to eat one meal with fruit and one meal with veggies every day. Result: I did BETTER than this by having three servings of fruits and veggies almost every day.
- I decided to walk at least 10,000 steps a day. Result: This was successful except for two days this year (I missed it by less than 200 steps both days).
- I declared an intent to go to my doctor, dentist, and dermatologist for regular appointments. Result: I did all of these.
- I thought about starting a sport and put it down as a maybe. Result: I did not end up doing it. The maybe became a no.
- I didn't declare a weight goal and said I would be happy with whatever happens. Result: I am.
- Personal Project Goals:
- Website stuff: I meant to get all my digital photos sorted into the proper years by the end of February and get them processed onto my website by the end of March, then scan some more photos from hard copies by May and process them in by June, leaving the second half of the year to tackle writing-related website projects (partially assisted by collecting some Facebook memories). Result: I did get my digital photos sorted, but did not process them onto my website since it turns out it will be easier to do it all when they are all scanned. Some of the hard copy photos from longer ago are scanned and sorted now. Some more recent ones are not. I collected Facebook memories for the skeleton of my planned essays page, but since I didn't finish the photo project, the writing site project did not materialize.
- Writing stuff: I meant to work on writing projects twice a week (aiming for Tuesdays and Sundays), including submissions if I did not do any new writing. Result: I did a fair amount of submissions this year, with some that were initially promising but did not end up landing. I did not write as much as I wanted to and did NOT finish my novel--a big disappointment. But I did write four new short stories this year, which is pretty cool.
- Music stuff: I meant to stay in practice with our band songs and learn all the songs on a list on ukulele. Result: My band songs are fine this year but I did not work on the ukulele project.
- Regular content: I resolved to keep up my weekly and monthly webcomics, post a new asexuality video monthly, and sporadically post Not-So-Giant Women whenever Daria sends me content. Result: I was completely faithful to this goal. Daria just didn't give me much to process this year, but the project is not shelved.
- Website stuff: I meant to get all my digital photos sorted into the proper years by the end of February and get them processed onto my website by the end of March, then scan some more photos from hard copies by May and process them in by June, leaving the second half of the year to tackle writing-related website projects (partially assisted by collecting some Facebook memories). Result: I did get my digital photos sorted, but did not process them onto my website since it turns out it will be easier to do it all when they are all scanned. Some of the hard copy photos from longer ago are scanned and sorted now. Some more recent ones are not. I collected Facebook memories for the skeleton of my planned essays page, but since I didn't finish the photo project, the writing site project did not materialize.
- Reading Goals: I resolved to read twice a week. Result: This was a little all over the place, but I was able to adhere to it when I wasn't sidetracked by major happenings.
- Relationship and Communication Goals:
- I meant to focus on documentation of daily life more consistently. Result: I'd say I failed on this. I'd really love to do better.
- I meant to clear my e-mail box and social media comments regularly. Result: This worked out very well. My e-mail box is empty going into the new year.
- I meant to be present with friends and family and make time for them. Result: I think this is a yes.
- Other Goals:
- I intended to sell my mom's house this year. Result: I did it.
- I intended to watch a couple TV shows I've been putting off watching. Result: I watched some of them. Some remain.
- I intended to stop playing time-wasting games. Result: I completely quit the one I was addicted to. I did not play it at all the entire year. But what took its place was little geography quiz games. As a result I learned all the countries, capitals, and flags in the world. It made me think some kind of down time is important and I deserve it.
- Health Goals: I really liked having health goals this year and will make similar for next year.
- WEIGHT: Weight continues to be a tricky thing to talk about. I'm happy with how I handled it this past year keeping my eye on it (partially to see if I'm having any thyroid-related issues). I will be nebulously trying to stay the same or go down a few pounds, but this is all about comfort in my clothes and feeling good with my body for me.
- DRINKING WATER: Last year worked out GREAT so I will keep doing the alternating-between-beverages thing. I will up the ante by specifically aiming to drink four glasses a day, and will track it on my app. If I am going out I'll bring a water bottle to help with this.
- NUTRITION: I will continue last year's tradition to eat three servings of fruit and veggies, with one of the veggies being a green veggie. I want to keep my eye on nutritional balance and keep taking the vitamins I take.
- EXERCISE: I will continue to walk at least 10,000 steps a day (tracked with the app on my phone). I would like to increase the stakes here and do another non-walking aerobic activity once a week. Maybe I'd like to get stronger. I think this may help with metabolism issues, and I feel much better when I move around.
- HEALTH PROFESSIONALS: I plan to make and keep appointments to do the important screenings for bloodwork, physical, mammograms, dermatology, and a cleaning at the dentist once a year.
- WEIGHT: Weight continues to be a tricky thing to talk about. I'm happy with how I handled it this past year keeping my eye on it (partially to see if I'm having any thyroid-related issues). I will be nebulously trying to stay the same or go down a few pounds, but this is all about comfort in my clothes and feeling good with my body for me.
- Personal Project and Professional Goals: This is where I really want to make some progress and I'm still a little stuck regarding whether more structure or less structure is the answer. Deadlines haven't worked super well for me this year. Looking at the most successful goals of last year--the health goals--it seems like I did really well with goals that could be broken down with very specific, measurable successes--and I ALWAYS meet goals like doing my videos and webcomics. So I think for this to work better, I'll try assigning days.
- WRITING STUFF. The goal: Two novels to finish in 2025. Also at least one short story, and more if I think of them. I will write NEW CONTENT after work on Mondays and Tuesdays and sometime during the day on Saturdays if I don't have social plans. Editing active projects also counts as writing. On at least two days a week that I don't write anything new or edit anything, I will focus on submissions as well. This seems like a lot, but if I want to be serious about my writing as an art and a career, I need to treat it as more than an afterthought. I have learned that I do need down time, but I won't do any mindless scrolling or time-wasting games until after I have completed my goal that day.
- WEBSITE STUFF.
First up: The photo project, for real. First: scan the rest of my photos from physical albums. Second: go through the boxes in the closet and scan/sort those. Third: Put loose photos in albums or boxes. Fourth: Post and tag the photos on my website. I have no timeline for this. It takes how long it takes.
Second up: Once the photos are processed, I can pick up where I left off on my autobiographical website stuff. I wrote an illustrated autobio that stops at 2006. I plan to keep living and stuff, so it's going to keep getting more and more out of date if I don't catch it up. This will take a long time but is far less disorganized than writing the first 20 years because I have journals from the year 2000 on.
Third up: Revamped essays and rants for my website. I want to create a tagged, organized, somewhat comprehensive collection of writings in blog format. There will be a lot of cutting and pasting, and I want to collect some content from my old LiveJournal, my Twitter posts, and my Tumblr posts. I'd like to have my short stories, long fiction, and writings from my youth somewhere on the site too, but I haven't decided yet whether I want to keep creative writing on a separate page or just have one big one.
Fourth up (or whenever): I thought I might want to have a fan site for Steven Universe, mainly to house better photos of my collections and recipes, but also for other fan content like cosplay photos, analysis, fan art and fan comics, book reviews, interview highlights, and song covers. This is a pretty big project though and I do not know if I feel like undertaking it.
- MUSIC STUFF. I flopped on this goal last year but I am going to try again. I want to learn the Steven Universe music on ukulele so I can play it whenever I want. And I would like to do it before a summer convention comes again, so this is a goal for the first half of the year!
- REGULAR CONTENT. Same as last year, but I wanna keep it current: I resolve to continue posting a new Negative One webcomic every week and a new So You Write webcomic every month. I'll post a new asexuality video every month. I'll keep sporadically making Not-So-Giant Women with Daria but that depends on her schedule so I can't commit to a post schedule.
- VOICE ACTING. This one's new: I got a wild hair recently and decided getting into voice acting would be fun, and was a bit surprised that the first project I responded to led to an audition and getting cast. I'll be looking for more opportunities for small roles in amateur or small professional projects for a while and then see what I can do next. Hopefully by the end of next year I'll have a few roles under my belt?
- WRITING STUFF. The goal: Two novels to finish in 2025. Also at least one short story, and more if I think of them. I will write NEW CONTENT after work on Mondays and Tuesdays and sometime during the day on Saturdays if I don't have social plans. Editing active projects also counts as writing. On at least two days a week that I don't write anything new or edit anything, I will focus on submissions as well. This seems like a lot, but if I want to be serious about my writing as an art and a career, I need to treat it as more than an afterthought. I have learned that I do need down time, but I won't do any mindless scrolling or time-wasting games until after I have completed my goal that day.
- Reading Goals:
I won't resolve to read a particular number of books (again). I think my previous goal of reading at least twice a week (and combining it with exercise) will work out great. I'll keep documenting my progress here.
- Relationship and Communication Goals:
- DOCUMENTATION: This is a big one. I fell through the floor on this and don't want to be here again next year. I really want to post more private and public reflections about everyday life, more thoughts and essays and ponderings as well as documentation of daily silliness, celebrating triumphs and ranting about awfulness. Once I get to that point on my website progress, this goal will join with that one, but in the meantime I plan to do a MUCH better job sharing thoughts publicly, not just on private social media.
- COMMUNICATION: I'll continue to answer e-mails promptly and keep my e-mail box clear. I'll respond to the social media comments I get quickly and not put them off or forget about them. I'd like to post more frequently--perhaps to share photos or short thoughts--on places like Instagram, Bluesky, and Threads, and maybe it would be nice to post some of the same things on my Tumblr blog.
- SOCIAL LIFE: I'll continue to be present with friends and family and make time for them. But I think I can actually afford to be less proactive with some friends and try to meet in the middle more. I really want to get some of these creative and professional goals more front and center, and sometimes that will mean I have to fool around less--though I do not want to do that at the EXPENSE of any relationships. I plan to continue going to game night, having Jeaux Day, and hanging out with pals when they ask! We have some plans to do some friend-group karaoke in early 2025.
- Other Goals:
- Sell or donate some of the extra things in my garage.
- Paint that damn pillar I've been putting off painting.
- Keep my house clean (I do a good job with this).
- Try to watch those silly TV shows I have been talking about watching.
- Don't bite my nails. I discovered after my tooth cracked that I had been using that tooth to bite my nails. If I want to take care of the repaired tooth, I have to stop biting them. I have now been entirely successful not biting my nails at all for the three weeks since it happened, but I plan to carry this into next year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No one close to me, but Jeaux's niece Amanda gave birth to baby Ronin. What a cutie.4. Did anyone close to you die?
My beloved friend Blake passed away from leukemia on July 19. We were pals back in the Gainesville days. May his memory be a blessing. It was also a terrible day for pets this year. Meghan's family lost doggie Barney and kitties Tut and Steve. Sister L lost beloved doggie Chewbacca. Dad and Connie lost precious doggie Max. And my online acquaintance Holly just lost her good dog Meera.5. What countries did you visit?
I did not leave the USA this year.6. What would you like to have in 2025 that you lacked in 2024?
- More quiet time by myself to do projects.
- Better organization and success on those projects.
- Less stress about politics (I am not going to receive this).
- An uneventful hurricane season.
- Quieter neighbors.
- Short story sales.
- As always, a book deal.
7. What dates from 2024 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
- March 6 – March 10: Visited Charlotte for family birthdays.
- June 14: Sold Mom's house.
- September 27: Hurricane Helene came for Asheville.
- October 2 - October 7: Went to New York City on a vacation with Jeaux.
- October 8 - October 13: Evacuated for Hurricane Milton.
- November 5: Trump somehow got elected President again. . . .
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Probably getting Mom's house ready to sell and on the market, selling it, and wrapping up all the paperwork required to properly settle the estate. There was also the whole pulling off a surprise for my dad's 70th birthday to go see his favorite band and he had no idea what we were planning! I also think finishing four short stories was very good. And I hit 1000 issues of my webcomic!9. What was your biggest failure?
Not completing the novel I was working on and not spending NEARLY enough time on my creative projects.10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No! I didn't get sick AT ALL this year, unless you count the down time I had after getting my Covid booster. I did have to get a cavity filled (second time ever in my life), and broke a tooth (randomly just cracked--I wasn't even eating when it happened).11. What was the best thing you bought?
For items: Steven Universe rare zines that I NEVER thought I'd see. For experiences: Alanis tickets, New York tickets, and North Carolina tickets!12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Civil liberty fighters and queer rights activists who are NOT LETTING THIS COUNTRY GO. I will be with them.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The usual list:- Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Elon Musk, Matt Gaetz, and their supporters.
- Warmongers, torturers, and kidnappers participating in these terrible wars.
- People who spread lies and conspiracy theories (many of which have their roots in racism, sexism, queerphobia, and antisemitism).
- All the bastards who have been feeding the fire on "trans women are men who want access to single-sex spaces to do harm to REAL women" and "LGBTQ+ people are groomers."
- Fake friends.
- People who use tragedy to capitalize.
- Every single fatphobe.
- People who blamed oppressed people for their own oppression.
- People who expect me and others to clean up the messes they made.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Travel and travel-related expenses, I guess! I went to Charlotte, New York, and Georgia this year.15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
- Steven Universe zines
- Pot pies
- Birdle
- My hilarious Halloween costume
- Surprising my dad with concert tickets for his birthday
- Birds
- Seeing the Cartoon Network Hotel
- Chocolate coffee
- Broadway productions
- My short stories
- Finally selling Mom's house and getting to eventually give my sisters their cut
- Seeing my family every time we got to
- Jeaux getting a new apartment that he was so excited about
- Getting to do a blurb for Cody's book The Ace and Aro Relationship Guide
- Metrocon 2024
- The Alanis concert
- Game Night with friends
16. What song will always remind you of 2024?
"Reasons I Drink" by Alanis Morissette.17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
- i. happier or sadder? Happier, marginally, but scared of some aspects of the near future.
- ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner.
- iii. richer or poorer? Hard question. Technically richer. But operating like I'm poorer because I'm not being paid regularly despite having a full-time job. (Long story.)
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Reading and writing! Writing of all kinds.19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Getting stressed about politics, being patient with people who treated me badly, scrolling to read random stories that make me mad.20. How did you spend Christmas?
I spent Christmas day with Jeaux making cookies. The day after, we had family over for our holiday dinner.21. How will you be spending New Year's Eve?
Writing this blog entry and evaluating what my plans will be for next year.22. Did you fall in love in 2024?
I did not "fall." I have all the love I want in my life.23. How many one-night stands?
I should probably just delete this question from the survey. But then I'd have to re-number and ew.24. What was your favorite TV program?
Steven Universe is still my undisputed favorite, but this year I saw the following new seasons or new series: Our Flag Means Death, Heartstopper, The Last Airbender live action, What We Do in the Shadows, Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, Delicious in Dungeon, and Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld. The one that was new to me that I liked the best was Delicious in Dungeon. So much fun and so unexpected.25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.26. What was the best book you read this year?
Down Girl by Kate Mann. I read some good fiction too but that book on the logic of misogyny was incredible.27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The SIX soundtrack!28. What did you want and get?
A resolution for my mom's estate, a cool new artistic opportunity, a Covid-free year, a lot of quality time with friends and family, good coffee, good health, a happy home, love and humor, good entertainment.29. What did you want and not get?
A different result for the election, positive responses for some of my submissions, a hurricane-free year, a better resolution for my job situation.30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I didn't watch any movies this year except Wicked and The Big Year. They were both great but I did appreciate Wicked more.31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 46. I had to work on the day, but I got a nice long phone call from my sister, and later my dad showed up to take me and Jeaux out to dinner at Vallarta's. Later that week my birthday buddy Meghan came into town to celebrate our birthdays.
