i may be a bird in a cage but at least it's your cage

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
Saw the motherfucking Avett Brothers in a tiny club. Shot at Koka Booth on a photo pass. Watched TJ Yates win a bowl game, what is this madness. I went to an NHL game for the first time in ten years, I mean, not ever, but that's a long time!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Sure? I resolved to be happy, and mostly I was.

This year I'm resolving to be kind, and be awesome.


3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Several coworkers, several cousins, and a cousin's wife!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No one I knew personally, but there were a string of deaths of famous people in the spring that messed me up but good: Alex Chilton, Jim Marshall, Mark Cuellar.

5. What countries did you visit?
Alamance County.


........ oh, wait, countries. No. Unless Alamance County still counts. :D?

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Sex.

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Oh, easy: December 29. Avett Brothers surprise show at the Cat's Cradle. Unbelievable, best show of the year.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I did a lot of things that were really hard for me: pitch emails to publicists, talking to bands, voicing opinions when I had them. I stood up for myself some this year, which I am not good at.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Had a ton of panic attacks and did not find a therapist until late December.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I was crazy like a fox for most of 2010.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A ticket to Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, because the parental units bought my new 50mm lens.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The creepers. BJ's, surprisingly, most of the time. t.'s.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Mostly mine. The people who yell at me on the phone at work aren't on the good list, either.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Same as last year: booze, bills, camera gear, concert tickets, baseball tickets.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
About fourteen thousand things, every ten minutes, but for catechism, Mike Ness with a baby, and for rossetti, Frank Turner.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Frank Turner's "Photosynthesis" and "I Still Believe".

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
(a) happier or sadder? Happier happier happier.
(b) thinner or fatter? LET'S DISCUSS THE TEN POUNDS OF BEER WEIGHT, OKAY?
(c) richer or poorer? Richer, barely.

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

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Having panic attacks everywhere. Worrying.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With my folks and shep. Christmas eve, at home with shep. drinking Christmas Day.

21. Did you fall in love in 2010?
Once again: nope.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
The Best Thing I Ever Ate.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
ALL MANNER OF PEOPLE.

24. What was the best book you read?
Tana French's Faithful Place.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Frank Turner. It was a really Frank-ful year.

26. What did you want and get?
A million and four list spots and press passes.

27. What did you want and not get?
Laid.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
How To Train Your Draaaaaaaagon.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 30. The night before my 30th birthday, Alex Chilton died. I spent my birthday home from work drinking beer and watching college basketball (holla NCAA tournament first round) and reading people posting on the internet about Alex, and the night of I went to the Nightlight by myself and saw an awesome solo banjo death metal project.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Less emotional upheaval.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Jeans and tank tops and flip flops, accessorized with a camera.

32. What kept you sane?
Taking photos.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Frank Turner.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
ALL OF THEM. But, agggh, mostly the wealth of misinformation and purposefully misguided information about Social Security and Medicare, because everyone is wrong and stupid and wrong about everything involving them. TRUST ME, THEY PAY ME TO KNOW YOU'RE WRONG AND STUPID.

35. Who did you miss?
Holy Ghost Tent Revival and American Aquarium.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
I really got to know rossetti this year and that was amazing.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
I am really quite a fantastic human being.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
i want to be in love like an old soul song/i want to feel like the second verse of let's get it on


HAPPY NEW YEAR, YOU JERKS. ♥