How long has it been since I’ve posted about Lending Club? A long time. Actually, like a year and a half ago.
Despite dropping off from that earlier 11.7% return, my returns are going pretty well. It had dropped to ~6.5% after those defaults, but after discovering the site Nickel Steamroller and their gargantuan data dump of Lending Club lending history, I was able to fine-tune my filter for who I was going to lend money to. Basically, I’ve learned to never loan money to anyone for a wedding or a car or other big purchases, in addition to small business and green energy loans I was already excluding. That pretty much leaves debt and credit card consolidation loans. These are the people most likely to pay back their loans, which makes sense, since consolidating credit cards at a lower rate is smart.
Another interesting finding was that in terms of paying back loans, after narrowing it down to debt consolidation, a person’s credit score doesn’t matter. Neither does the loan amount or the percent of credit being used. What does matter is a person’s employment length, length of credit history, and delinquencies, so I’ve factored those in. Basically what I have now is a filter that, according to the Lending Club history, has returnedlike 15%. After the inevitable charge offs (there’s always a few!) I hope to make between 10-14%.
I’ve also taken to affectionately referring to my lendees as my “debt slaves.” Work hard, little debt slaves! Ryan needs his money! I’m looking at you, hospital employee from Michigan! You need to make enough money to pay me that 20%! Hey, better me than having that money go to Wall Street, right?
Also, Lending Club sent me a nice glass water bottle recently. I'm not sure why. Maybe for linking to them on Facebook. So in the interest of full disclosure, I guess I'm Lending Club's bitch now.
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I received another email that was intended for Richard. This one actually asked for my “signature” on documents related to a vacation property rental in Palm Springs. This dude is paying roughly $3,000 for three nights. Although the house looks really cool and mod from the outside (I StreetViewed it) I can’t get behind paying that much money. But I guess I’ll sign them anyway, ha ha. I’m probably doing Richard a solid since he didn’t get the email and won’t be able to sign for it, right? They've already sent me a second "reminder" email. Maybe I’ll just show up for the vacation, too. Palm Springs in February sounds nice.
Did I also mention I’ve been copied on an email list for a group of ladies looking to rent a cabin in New Hampshire this summer? I’ve been copied on New Hampshire related email lists before, so this must be the same person. A few of the ladies decided on a cabin, and were trying to get the others to agree. Maybe I’ll show up for this vacation rental, too.
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Frankly I was getting a little sick of listening to this amazing mixtape by Cape Town band John Wizards, attempting to find more information on him/them online, and coming up empty-handed. There is, like, zero information, and barely even any blog buzz about them. There's a couple comments on their Soundcloud page, a few tweets, a photo or two on their Facebook page, one sub-par concert review, and that's it. So I'll add my little blog to the mix for what it's worth. I hope this band breaks through one day, because I want to hear more.
0:00 Lusaka by night
2:57 Jacobs Ladder/Freakness
6:30 Muizenberg
9:17 MV Liemba
12:40 Jabu Ley/Jamie
14:50 I'm still a serious guy
17:24 Clear proof that I'm still a serious guy
18:13 Tet lek Schrempf
19:57 Mzungu
22:44 LEUK
EDIT: This entry is the 6th Google result for “john wizards cape town” and the first result under the blog search function.
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What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
Euthanized a pet. There's a fun one!
I went farther south than I ever have before. That is not a euphemism. I went to Aruba.
Bought plane tickets using only frequent flyer miles.
Went a cheese tour of dairy farms.
Went to a location just to see a series of filmstrips. (Brian Dewan's)
Grew a beard.
Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Last year I made a quantifiable resolution instead of an aimless one, and it worked well! I said "I will exercise for one hour on 200 days next year." After keeping track on my iPod, I exercised on 128 days this year, far more than if my resolution had just been "Exercise more." My resolution is the same for next year. I will hit that 200.
Last year I also had a resolution to read 12 books in 2012. I exceeded that. I have the same goal again this year.
Also, I want to read fewer articles about politics because all they do is make me angry. Seeing as how this is not an election year, this should be easier.
Where did you go on vacation?
Went to Cape Cod over Memorial Day weekend with Spaniel & David.
Cape Cod again over a weekend in July.
A week at Kring Point in the middle of August with Faye & Melissa & Jake.
Went to Spaniel and David's wedding in Philadelphia in September.
Visited Boston in October.
Aruba the week after Thanksgiving with Spaniel & David.
Did you do your patriotic duty on the second Tuesday in November?
Yes.
Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
Did anyone close to you die?
No.
What countries did you visit?
Aruba. I visited Canada for a few minutes on an aborted trip to go bicycling on Wolfe Island. We took the ferry over, a horrible rainstorm started, and we promptly took the ferry back.
What sporting events did you go to?
A roller derby bout.
What concerts did you go to?
Zammuto at Mass MoCA in February.
Max Raabe and The Palast Orchester in NYC in March.
The Magnetic Fields at Helsinki Hudson in March.
Brian Dewan at the Restoration Festival in September.
Ben Folds Five at the Boston House of Blues in October.
What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
Last year, I wanted a layoff-proof job. Well, no, I have the same job.
Next year, I hope to finally be rid of a certain co-worker. We've trying for so long, yet he keeps coming back and so remains. That's the state for you. Also, I hope to have more frequent flyer miles. I've been playing that game so well, I hope to have a million miles by the summer. So by the end of the year, I hope to be closing in on 1.5 million.
What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why:
November 26 - The day of our flight to Aruba.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Taking over a program at work. That was more someone else's failing rather than my achievement, to be honest.
What was your biggest failure?
Working too hard.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had a cold for a few days in November.
What was the best thing you bought?
Plane tickets to Aruba, obviously. Then snowshoes? I guess I haven't bought much this year.
Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Members of the Grand Old Party, emphasis on the old.
Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage Payments - Hard to know exactly how much since we re-financed again this year, but around $8,000. Here are my top ten expenses:
Mortgage Payments - $8,000
Groceries - $6,882 (almost exactly the same as last year, $6,869)
College Tuition - $2,590
Student Loans - $2,511
Pet Food, Boarding, Medical - $2,478 (again, almost exactly the same as last year, $2,467)
Gas (for cars) - $2,379 (down from $2,740)
Auto Service/Repair - $2,232
Clothing - $2,094
Gas & Electric - $2,030
Travel - $2,000
Dining - $1,946 (up slightly from $1,710)
Insurance - $1,758
Entertainment (Movies, books, music, concerts) - $1,604
Also, our telephone and cell phone bills total were $289 for the year. Just bragging.
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The trip to Aruba, and camping with friends at Kring Point.
What song will always remind you of 2012?
S*A*M's "Strawberry Loverr." I went to camp at Kring Point a few days earlier than everyone else, so I spent those days by myself. I would drive around listening to a mix CD from Spencer, and when that song came on, it was something special.
Or maybe the whole album Leaving Atlanta, which I cleverly cued up as my plane left Atlanta airport.
What was your favorite TV program?
Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Community, Peep Show, Walking Dead.
What was the best book you read?
Moneyball.
Also: A Confederacy of Dunces, Super Sad True Love Story, The American Way of Eating, and Murder of the Century.
What was your greatest musical discovery?
Either Gentleman Jesse or my re-discovery of Brian Dewan.
What was your favorite cultural moment of 2012?
There was a moment when Rick Santorum was the front-runner in the Republican presidential nominee race, which was amazing. Specifically, there was a moment when Santorum was giving a speech to a bunch of college kids., and something he did not intend on becoming an applause line becomes an applause line, around 6:50, and he looks stunned.
Contrast that with Joe Biden letting the door wide open for gay marriage by stumbling ass-backward through it. Joe Biden opens his mouth, which leads to the president having to admit that he endorses gay marriage, which leads to a couple states legalizing gay marriage by referendum for the first time ever.
Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? This is such a dumb question. Year to year, I always answer Happier, but am I really so much happier than the first year I did this survey?
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner. I weighed 169 at this time last year. Right now, I'm 166.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercise.
What do you wish you'd done less of?
Reading articles about politics. It was hard to avoid, it being an election year, but I found that after the election was over, and I ignored all news for a week while in Aruba, I felt much better. Do I need to know about Todd Akin? What's the use in me being outraged about Richard Murdock? It's not worth the mental energy to ponder over and have an opinion on a lot of this stuff, so I'm going to try to avoid most political news this year. Even those John Dickerson and David Weigl articles on Slate.
How will you be spending Christmas?
In Fredonia with the in-laws.
Did you fall in love in 2012?
Come on, now.
Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
What did you want and get?
Snowshoes.
What was your favorite film of this year?
Tough one. Either Lincoln, Bernie or Moonrise Kingdom. If we're including Netflix movies though, Resurrect Dead: The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles might have been my favorite.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I took the day off from work. I remember that. Also in the week leading up to my birthday I saw Max Raabe in concert in NYC and The Magnetic Fields in Hudson.
What kept you sane?
iPod earbuds.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Carrie Brownstein, Portlandia version.
What political issue stirred you the most?
Blah.
Who was the best new person you met?
Your mom.
Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Keep your juices in the chops, keep your juices in the brats
Serve 'em on paper plates, 'tato salad and grape pop"
Best line from a Scharpling & Wurster bit:
"I'm sorry if I don't want to take a job in one of the Great Ayatollah B. Hussein Obama's death squads."
Meal/restaurant of the year?
My favorite new recipe this year was the reuben fish taco from Food & Wine. This is fried fish with a mock Russian dressing and sauerkraft in a soft tortilla. Like Aesop Rock says, "Om nom nom."
My favorite new restaurant is The Flying Chicken in Troy. I would say fried chicken is poised to be the next food trend, but fried chicken is probably too classic and delicious to fit into that category.
Most memorable meal? A Greek restaurant called Kefi on the upper west side of Manhattan, before the Max Raabe show around my birthday. The food was amazing, but what made the place so memorable was how incredibly packed it was, despite the size of the place. Tables had to be moved like puzzle pieces just to let a person sit down. I think we can partially, if not wholly, blame Yelp for this. The reviews on that site were outstanding. I've always believed that more information is better in places like restaurants and hotels, but with so many more people now heading to the top-rated places, maybe I was wrong.
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| » For most of my life, I've had a song I've never heard stuck in my head. |
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Have I told you that, occasionally, for the past 20 years, I’ve gotten a song I’d never heard stuck in my head?
In sixth grade, my friend Joe, a class clown-type, would come into school singing the oddest songs. He listened to a lot of classic rock radio. “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer” was a perennial favorite of his. But one day he started impulsively singing “Gargoyles… dah-dat-dah dat-dat-dat-dat-dat-dah…” Just one word, followed by a simple tune, accompanied by a strange little dance. He obviously had it stuck in his head for a while, because he kept doing that for a week or two. I distinctly remember him telling me that it came from the Addams Family cartoon, and not a cartoon called Gargoyles, which was also airing back in those days.
Well, that song stuck with me, for whatever reason. And not the song, mind you, but Joe’s singing of it. I never heard the real song or saw the cartoon. But from that day in sixth grade, that tune got stuck in my head. And for the past 20 years, it would pop up randomly and fill the blank space in my head. “Gaaar-goyyyles… dah-dat-dah dat-dat-dat-dat-dat-dah… Gaaar-goyyyles… dah-dat-dah dat-dat-dat-dat-dat-dah…”
Strange how that can happen. After we entered the Age of YouTube, I held out on looking up this song, thinking it might ruin or somehow sully this rather pointless memory. Well, eventually I just gave in. After 20 years, here’s the origin:
No embedding allowed!
Nov. 10th, 2012 @ 12:33 am
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| » Pope not home |
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Only two and a half months since my last post! I'm a regularl Governor Blog-goyovich!
I got an email today sent to the wrong address, which as you know, happens often. I thought this one was clever enough to post. It came with a photo of St. Peters Basilica attached.
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Pope not home.
At his summer home for vacation.
***** Family pissed.
Thinking of converting to Scientology.
Drinking heavily to dull the pain.
Tom
Thomas J. *****
***** Associates, Inc.
Sent from my iPhone
Aug. 3rd, 2012 @ 12:22 pm
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| » May 5th, a great weekend! |
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Remember those days when I used to write about things I was doing? This is going to be like one of those entries, like the olden days!
Last Friday I went to see Brian Dewan presenting filmstrips in a classroom. I know him from him as a bit player in the history of They Might Be Giants, with those Hello CDs, his electric zither, and “shrines” that he built. He always seemed like an interesting guy. Lately it seems like what he’s mostly been doing is creating these filmstrips. Filmstrips in the old *boop* change the slide sense. Each slide is a handpainted picture, and the strips cover topics from the ostensibly educational (“Civic Pride,” “Innovation”) to folk stories ("The Death of the Little Hen") to weirdly poetic fiction masquerading as fact (“When The White Man Came” and one about the sea). Those last two might have been my favorites. As Brian flips through the slides, a soundtrack with narration plays. If you’re familiar with the Dewanatrons, you’ll know how the soundtrack sounded mechanic and funny, like Raymond Scott.
And how about those slides? They were pretty amazing on their own. I wouldn’t be ashamed to hang any of them in my house. They seemed like they were done mostly in watercolors or markers, and there had to be at least a hundred per filmstrip, so I can only imagine the work that went into it. At first it seemed like the dozen or so attendees didn’t know the proper way to react to the filmstrips. Applause? When was the last time anyone ever watched an honest-to-god filmstrip? But after the first one, it seemed like everyone really got into it, sticking around for the whole show, and laughing at the funny bits. To give you an idea of the type of humor throughout, the biggest laugh probably came at the end of the The Death of the Little Hen with the line, “So then they were all dead.”
Brian Dewan Filmstrips – A+ WOULD ENJOY AGAIN
Saturday we went to Woodford State Park near Bennington. Since it’s still early in the season and the gates were closed, Caitlin, myself and Maeby pretty much had the place to ourselves. It was very peaceful. In fact it was so quiet that we let Maeby go off-leash, and she promptly ran up the hill and disappeared into the woods. She does this every time, but it never fails to be scary. She will always turn around, come back and look at you like she’s wondering why you can’t run 40 miles per hour. We leashed her and walked the 2 mile trail around the reservoir. I was surprised at how quiet it was, being so close to Bennington and being such an obvious pick for a sunny Saturday hike.
Woodford State Park – A+ WOULD ENJOY AGAIN
Inspired by an old entry on All Over Albany, I wanted to visit an old cemetery in Bennington. It’s by the classic white church as you drive into town. Robert Frost is buried there, and aside from him, there were some of the oldest, most well-preserved gravestones I’ve seen. Many from the 1700’s, with those bug-eyed winged skulls on them. Also, they had a guy who died on the Titanic, whose grave had new flowers around it because of the anniversary. And there was the odd stone that described how the guy died (by being dragged into a thresher by the foot).
Bennington Cemetery – A+ WOULD ENJOY AGAIN
May. 11th, 2012 @ 09:33 am
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| » (No Subject) |
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They might as well change LiveJournal’s motto to “I promise to write more often.”
So, how about those death panels?
Apr. 10th, 2012 @ 05:37 pm
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| » ABCs of Travel |
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I’ve been reading a lot of frequent flyer blogs recently, and this game came up on New Girl In The Air. Even though this is not a travel blog, it seemed fun enough.
Age you went on your first international trip
I went on a cruise at age 9 with a few ports of call in the Caribbean, so Nassau, Bahamas might have been my first, but I would count my trip to Italy at age 18. Surprisingly, despite Connecticut’s vicinity to Canada, I did not step foot in that country until after college.
Best (foreign) beer you’ve had and where
Okay, I’ve only recently started to appreciate beer, so I could probably count the ones I’ve had in another country on one hand, and I can’t remember what they were anyway. My favorite beer (not foreign!) was an Oyster Stout from Harpoon Island Creek.
Cuisine (favorite)
This is tough, but right now I’m all about Norwegian/Swedish food. I really like how fish-centric it is. Lebanese, Greek, Polish, and Russian are all up there, too.
Destinations, favorite, least favorite, and why
Favorite
Venice, Italy. That place is touristy for a good reason. They dump all of the tourists in San Marco Square to run amok, but once you go off on your own and explore the thousands of canals, side streets and alleys, there is not an inch of that city that is not eye-catching.
Least favorite
I flew to Peoria, Illinois once to visit my wife’s sister. Since Peoria is basically the Albany, New York of the Midwest, this has to be my least favorite. Not to say I didn’t have fun there, but the enjoyment was not really related to being in Peoria.
Event you experienced while traveling that made you say “wow”
Coming off a cruise boat in Jamaica, my dad and I went on an “excursion” up into the rainforest to visit a banana plantation and to the top of some mountain/hill for the view. The “wow” was not a good “wow.” I did feel like I was seeing a genuine part of Jamaica, which was interesting in one way, but that also includes abject poverty. Seeing homes built out of road signs and scrap metal was an eye-opening “wow” moment.
Favorite mode of transportation
Bicycle. Airplanes have the stalest, grossest air. I don’t mind buses. Ferries are actually great, if only they were a viable mode of transportation. But riding a bicycle around with good music on the headphones makes for a memorable experience sometimes. I have no memories of my daily commute in a car. Bicycling more is what made me really not enjoy driving each day.
Greatest feeling while traveling
A feeling of accomplishment in a beautiful environment. Like getting to the top of Mt. Marcy in the Adirondacks or Ha-Ling Peak in Canmore. Or going for a run on a bike path in Groton, Vermont in October with the leaves changing and listening to my autumn playlist. Or riding a bicycle from our campsite to the foggy and violent Marconi Beach at the Cape Cod National Seashore.
Hottest place you’ve traveled to
I’m not big on hot places normally. I stopped in Cozumel, Mexizo on a cruise to tour Mayan ruins and it was absolutely scorching. No shade, no water. That sucked.
Incredible service you’ve experienced and where
Going back to that cruise again, there is a lot of good customer service on cruise ships, but the best was when the captain stopped the ship from leaving port because my dad and I, and another father and son, hadn’t gotten back yet. Basically, we were at a resort, napping by poolside, and I was the only one to realize the time difference and that everyone from our bus group was gone. We hired a taxi back to town, where there were cops on the streets with uzis, then hired a plane to get back to the port. It was an embarrassing adventure. The other father and son arrived probably 30 minutes after us. Looking back, seeing as how our taxi driver knew exactly where to bring us, this probably isn’t totally uncommon, but still… I thought we were going to be stuck in Mexico.
Journey that took the longest
Strangely, probably a bus trip to Toronto. We drove 2 ½ hours to Syracuse, then got on a bus to Toronto, which took 8 hours. The flight to Italy years ago was probably longer, but at least that was overnight and I could (try) to sleep.
Keepsake from your travels
Photos.
Let-down sight, why and where
The First Nations Museum in Banff was a complete letdown. For basically the same price, you can go to the Glenbow Museum in Calgary, which has a superior First Nations exhibit, along with floors full of Albertan history.
Moment where you fell in love with travel
Driving west out of Rocky Mountain National Park and south to Colorado Springs. I remember looking at a map and plotting out our drive and thinking, “Wow, we’re out west, totally free, and can basically drive this rented Chrysler Sebring wherever we want, as long as we end up at the hotel for the night.” Suddenly, the reality of being able to explore anywhere hit me. We ended up driving through the small town of Granby, which looked strangely ripped up, with half the buildings falling down. We found out that one day earlier, Marvin Heemeyer had driven through town in his infamous homemade “Killdozer,” destroying public buildings. Despite being a huge crime scene, traffic was moving through the center of town like normal. You never know what you’ll find when you go off the beaten track.
Nicest hotel you’ve stayed in
This would be a converted convent in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was named, creatively, El Convento. Just a really nice place with a open central courtyard containing tapas restaurant, and abundant incredible free coffee. This answer might change after our trip to the Marriott Ocean Club in Aruba in December.
Obsession – what are you obsessed with taking pictures of while traveling?
Animals? I don’t know.
Passport stamps – how many and where from
Uh, not many.
Quirkiest attraction you’ve visited
As a person who uses an old Roadside America book as a guide for visiting new cities, I’ve been to a number of odd places: Miramont Castle, the site of the Boston Molasses flood, the Christian Science Museum and Mapparium, the abandoned 1964 World’s Fair site, many Ripleys and Guinness museums... The oddest place has probably been Sponge-o-rama in Tarpon Springs, Florida. I was familiar with the museum from reading my RA book in high school. But when I was on vacation with my family near Tampa, I didn’t realize that during a day trip, we would be walking right by this place. So it took me completely by surprise. It was like seeing a famous person. I know that place! Sponge-o-rama, with its horrifying, grimy dioramas of sponge-diving accidents, delivers just as Roadside America promises.
Recommended sight, event or experience
Driving across the Rocky Mountains.
Splurge; something you have no problem forking over money for while traveling
Food and experiences. Anything that I cannot eat or do elsewhere.
Touristy thing you’ve done
My family used to make a yearly trip to Disney World/Universal Studios Florida when I was a kid because we have relatives down there. Those two cruises definitely count. The worst might be eating at a Planet Hollywood in Florida once.
Unforgettable travel memory
This is definitely tough, but probably the strongest vacation memory I have is from a drive through Rocky Mountain National Park. We had already done a few short hikes and pullovers for photo ops when we were driving basically over the continental divide, the highest point on Trail Ridge Road. We had been listening to Slim Cessna’s Auto Club’s Always Say Please And Thank You, and then soundtrack to Kill Bill, Part 2 when Caitlin wanted to get out and take one more photo. Malcolm McLaren’s “About Her,” a mashup of Bessie Smith and The Zombies was playing, and I took a photo of Caitlin taking a photo just as the chorus rose up in the middle of that song. That combined with the majestic scenery really made an impression. Here is the photo and song.
Visas, how many and from where
Zero.
Wine, best glass while traveling and where?
Like the beer question, I haven’t really drank outside the country. But my local favorite is Dr. Konstantin Frank’s Semi-Dry Riesling.
Xcellent view and from where?
Pick a mountain in Banff National Park and climb it.
Years spent traveling?
On my own? Eight years.
Zealous sports fans and where?
Florence, Italy. There was some soccer tournament going on. Not the World Cup, but since Italy was playing, they delayed the fireworks were going to see over the river until the game ended. Seconds after the game ended, the fireworks started up, and Italian soccer fans started streaming out of the bars, waving flags and cheering. I guess they won.
Feb. 3rd, 2012 @ 02:34 pm
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| » "40" Things about 2011 |
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What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Planned a surprise birthday party.
Got my first credit card ever, just for the frequent flyer mileage.
Ate elk jerky.
Went on a charity dog walk.
Met sled dogs.
Saw a friend perform on-stage with a semi-famous person.
Made loans to people through a peer-to-peer lending service.
Supported a protest movement.
Went inside a deactivated prison.
Celebrated the legalization of gay marriage in New York with two lesbian couples.
Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Last year, I said I wanted to make the exercise room look more like an exercise room, and do something to stop the front porch from collapsing. Neither got done. We didn't do any major improvements to the house this year in anticipating completing them next year to collect the state historic home tax credit.
This year, I want to exercise more. This is not a generic aimless goal where it's impossible to verify if it's done or not. It will be quantifiable. I will exercise for one hour on 200 days next year. Exercise that counts includes going on the treadmill, jogging, bicycling, aerobics, weights, etc. It does not include walking. I will be counting the days with an iPod app.
I'm also making a resolution to read 12 books in 2012. That's one book each month. I will also be tracking this on my iPod also.
Where did you go on vacation?
Went to Cape Cod over Memorial Day weekend with Spaniel and David.
Then visited Spaniel and David the next weekend in Philadelphia. Went to Eastern State Penitentiary.
Visited Waltham and Boston in June.
Camped at Cranberry Lake for a letterboxing gathering in late June.
A week at Kring Point in the middle of July.
Cape Cod again over Labor Day weekend.
And then Canmore, Banff, and Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada the first week of October.
Did you do your patriotic duty on the second Tuesday in November?
Yes. But out of a dozen races, eleven were unopposed Democrats.
Did anyone close to you give birth?
Cousin Philip and Bridget had Anna.
Did anyone close to you die?
No.
What countries did you visit?
Canada. Again.
What sporting events did you go to?
None.
What concerts did you go to?
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings at The Egg in January.
Max Raabe and The Palast Orchester in Peekskill in April.
They Might Be Giants and Jonathan Colton in Great Barrington in September.
The Music Tapes and Olivia Tremor Control in September in Boston.
Andrew Bird at Troy Savings Music Hall in October.
What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Last year, I wanted a cheaper parking space. Well, I got it. But I also got a different job and was nearly laid off by the governor.
Next year, I want a layoff-proof job. I am not very hopeful that I will have an office in Troy again.
What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why:
September 24 - the day of Caitlin's surprise birthday party. Same day as last year, although it was for a Pavement concert then.
October 1 - The day of our flight to Calgary.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Pulling off a 16-person surprise party? I don't know.
What was your biggest failure?
Working too hard.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
Colds.
What was the best thing you bought?
Plane tickets to Canmore.
Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The UC Davis pepper spray guy.
Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage payments. Also, spent $1,000 more on groceries this year than last. Here are my top ten expenses:
Mortgage Payments - $10,260
Groceries - $6,869.80
Gas & Electric - $3,685.44
Gas - $2,740.24
Education - $2,509.24
Pets - $2,467.04
Insurance - $1,808.33
Dining - $1,710.79
Auto - $1,348.27
Recreation - $1,481.87
Gifts Given - $1,301.24
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The trip to Canmore.
What song will always remind you of 2011?
Ariel Pink's "Witchhunt Suite For WWIII." It got all mixed up with the death of Osama Bin Laden, and also the Occupy movement for me.
What was your favorite TV program?
Breaking Bad, The Amazing Race, and Community which I am just starting to watch.
What was the best book you read?
The Unnamed.
Also: Chronic City and Let's Talk About Love
What was your greatest musical discovery?
Ivan Mladek's Banjo Band.
What was your favorite cultural moment of 2011?
Maybe when He Who Shall Not Be Named gets his from that one kid in Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone Part 7 (Part 2).
Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? I weighed 165 at this time last year. Right now, survey says... 169.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercising.
What do you wish you'd done less of?
Google Reader.
How will you be spending Christmas?
In Fredonia with the in-laws.
Did you fall in love in 2011?
Come on, now.
Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Andrew Cuomo.
What did you want and get?
A Roku.
What was your favorite film of this year?
Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Although if we're talking films from any time period, then The Birds. Animal uprisings, anyone? I fully expect both of these scenarios to play out before the coming global super collapse in December 2012.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
On my birthday proper, I do not remember. I do remember going to a Connecticut Whale game as a surprise from Caitlin and seeing my old friend Jeff there.
What kept you sane?
Caitlin.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Wild Flag Carrie Brownstein, just ahead of Portlandia Carrie Brownstein.
What political issue stirred you the most?
Occupy Wall Street/Albany.
Who was the best new person you met?
Your mom.
Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"I'm known to eat a sandwich" - Das Racist, "All Tan Everything"
Meal/restaurant of the year?
Best meal of the year was a fancy steak dinner in Calgary at an old-world restaurant called Caesar's.
Best podcast
The Pod F. Tompkast
Superego
Mike and Tom Eat Snacks
WTF with Marc Maron
Best radio show/podcast
The Best Show on WFMU
This Is That
Jan. 5th, 2012 @ 06:56 pm
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vinylboy20
