The Aural Courtesan

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Broke several personal scene cherries. Got to play with two people I really wanted to play with. (On the same day, no less.) Almost got on HBO.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I'm thinner and I still use the BIPAP. Already made the new ones.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes. I'm an uncle again!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes. Three people.

5. What countries did you visit?
None. But went across the US by car for the first time. Is Texas another country if you're from NYC?

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
A full-time job with insurance. A man can dream, can't he.

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory?
The day after I sold the Sparta house when a tree branch punched through the bathroom roof.

8. What were your biggest achievements of the year?
Sold the Sparta house. Sold Mom's apartment. Got the IRS paid off and the penalties commuted. Not a bad year!

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not working hard enough, writing enough or getting paid for it enough.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes. Left knee this time.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Event registrations and of course, Metallica tickets.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Emily.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Mine, sometimes. Next question.

14. Where did most of your money go?
IRS.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Campity camp camp camp. TESFest. Trip across the US.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
"I.R.S." by Guns N' Roses.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
Much fucking happier. Problem?

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Sex and play. Duh.
Writing for pay.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying. Being afraid. Being afraid someone I love was going to die. She didn't. And arguing in the house.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With Em. We were with my bio family on XMas day, with my chosen family on the day after, and with Em on the next day.

22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Already in love.

23. How many one night stands?
None, but some hot scenes!

24. What was your favorite TV program?
The Simpsons.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. I even like myself better.

26. What was the best book you read?
Finished: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.Started (not finished) "The Angel's Game" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
New York Philharmonic's new music director, Alan Gilbert.

28. What did you want and get?
My friend surviving cancer. Twice.

29. What did you want and not get?
A full-time job with health insurance paid for.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Sherlock Holmes and Julie and Julia.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
36. I made us a nice kosher Easter dinner, and celebrated Boston University's 2009 NCAA Frozen Four championship.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More clips published. More travel.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Comfortable yet snarky.

34. What kept you sane?
My friends and my chosen family.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Babo. He does have his own talk show....And Tonya Jone Miller, of course.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Anti-Obama-ism which is really thinly disguised racism IMHO.

37. Who did you miss?
All of you. But I saw some of you!

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Patrick G.

39. Important lesson learned:
Sometimes a year does have a happy ending, sometimes you don't have to give the IRS everything and sometimes your friends survive cancer.

Life is now basically ok. I still need to decide exactly which awesome job to take, and pick out the nice loft to live in for the next few years, but I think I've finally adjusted to this lifestyle and enjoy it.

It's weird just how little has objectively changed in the past few months (mainly just accepting that I'll leave well paid but boring/crushing job, and give up on nomadic lifestyle), and how much happier I am about it. And the weird thing is the thing I was most concerned about (having to actually find income once I leave the well paid boring job) was the least stressful; I'm actually going to make more and have a better job with both more enjoyable work AND much better long-term prospects.

The only thing I am really giving is having a 9mm on my thigh all day, and making up for that by being able to open-carry at home and in the office, a 10min walk between the two, and going to shooting camps every few months to refine tactical skills, is enough.

Woo. 2010 is probably going to be pretty good.

This December felt like a lost month for me and despite anything I might have accomplished, 2009 overall felt like a time of very difficult transition. Despite this, there are a lot of big potentially exciting changes on the horizon relating to my work. I'll have details as soon as things are sorted out. In the meantime, I'd like to thank you all for your support, wish you good luck with all your creative endeavors and a happy new year.







Currently listening to: DADDY G "DJ-Kicks" (!K7)

Currently listening to: ANIMAL COLLECTIVE "Merriweather Post Pavilion" (Domino)

What I am doing right now. Finished making and eating Christmas Eve dinner and finished wrappng presents. Watching "The Nightmare Before Christmas" at the moment and feeling downright festve wthout the sual Xmas Eve blues. For once this year I am a humbug-free NyghtOwl.

Ho ho heaux

P

An INFL Remix by DJ Steve Porter. Hilarious.

Our tree, 2009 Edition. That's Deer Ugly down front.



Tonight, Babo will be visited by Three Ugly Ghosts as well as the ghost of his partner Jeero Marley. Tomorrow morning he will get cookies.

Now to finish wrapping presents and to make a nice Christmas Eve meat loaf....

P