2004-2010 were on LiveJournal, may it rest in peace.
1. What did you do in 2017 that you’d never done before? Went to the dentist as an adult. Got into a bunch of schools at once and had to make a choice between them (I only ended up applying to 1 college and 1 grad school the first time around). Moved to a new state with a significant other.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
According to the 2016 version of this story, my resolutions were, “I guess I resolve to focus on self-care and to figure out what that means for 2017-me.” I think I actually did well at that? I definitely ate better and spent more time outside this year than last. For 2018, I think what I need to focus on more is being involved and connected at school/RIDOH, both with professors and peers.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No! Get it together, married friends. [This is the same thing I wrote last year!! MORE BABIES.]
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
Guatemala in April. States: MA, PA, OH, NY, RI, ME, NH, KS, DC, VA. This is definitely a smaller list than the past few years.
6. What would you like to have in 2018 that you lacked in 2017?
A reasonably competent government? Lolololol.
7. What dates from 2018 will be forever etched in your memory?
I’m bad at dates, but I will remember the Women’s March vividly.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting into all the grad schools! Also moving and doing really well my first semester.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Saving money/getting a job.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Getting my wisdom teeth out was utter bullshit.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Tuition? Also, and I am only writing this because there is no way she will read it, I bought an engagement ring and have plans to do the thing in early January. SHHHH. Third runner up is my Rebel Alliance/Resistance/Carrie Fisher tattoo.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
R, always. Melanie, for keeping her shit together AND keeping R’s shit together. Jo because SHE’S A GAY.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Every Republican elected to federal office? Also Roy Moore? And Harvey Weinstein/Al Franken/every other lecherous old fuck? Unrelatedly, my mother and Clair. I am going to continue the minimal effort I put in to a relationship with my mother, but 2018 is a Clair Free Year.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Tuition & rent.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting into grad school and then starting it.
16. What song will always remind you of 2017?
“Despacito,” but not because I want it to. Also the new Sam Smith songs.
17. Compared to this time last year are you:
1. happier or sadder? Sooo much happier.
2. thinner or fatter? Thinner! Been working on it.
3. richer or poorer? I can’t stress enough how stupid the financial choices I made this year were.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Saving money. Art. Traveling.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
I don’t really know? Being a bad long-distance friend?
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Christmas Date was spent here in Providence. For actual Christmas, we were in Kansas at R’s parents’. Then we spent a couple days at my mom’s in Buffalo and a couple at my dad’s near Columbus.
21. Did you fall in love in 2017?
I’ve been in a relationship with the same person for over 5 (!!!) years now? But I do feel more ~in love~ than last year.
22. How many one-night stands?
None.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
I watch a lot more TV now. Favorites: Great British Bake Off, RPDR, Parts Unknown, Atypical
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nope… because I spend way more time alone now.
25. What was the best book you read?
I’m… honestly not sure I finished a book that wasn’t required reading this year. If I did, it either wasn’t the first time I read it or it didn’t leave a strong impression.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I finally caved and got Spotify, so now I listen to endless weird instrumental stuff while I work. Also a lot of Sam Smith.
27. What did you want and get?
I got into a lot of grad schools, and I love the program I chose. I also really wanted a bigger apartment, and I definitely have that now!
28. What did you want and not get?
A paying internship/RA position.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
I think The Last Jedi might have been the only movie I saw that actually came out in 2017? I have decided that it was entertaining and I like it, but that it didn’t have great integrity.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 27, and it wasn’t depressing! Went to an oyster festival with some friends, and R made me dinner. I think the key is pretending it is not my birthday.
31. What one thing would have made your year more satisfying?
It was really pretty satisfying, but it would have been nice to land a paying part time job.
32. How would you describe your fashion concept in 2017?
Idk, I haven’t really bought clothes in a while. It’s been weird to re-adjust to casual wear, though. I wear jeans and T-shirts and sneakers to school. More flannel and sweatshirts, fewer button downs and sweaters. Hats all the time.
33. What kept you sane?
Moving out of that tiny apartment! Spending time with the dog. Podcasts. Music. Lots more alone time.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
John Boyega is insanely attractive.
35. What is one thing you would go back and re-do if you could?
I don’t really feel like I messed anything up super bad. I guess I’d start the packing/moving process sooner, so the end wasn’t so stressful?
36. Who was the best new person you met?
My favorite people at school are Rachel and Josie. I’m also really glad I met CB and DO, who are professors/mentors.
37. Who do you miss the most?
Being back in school has made me miss some college friends I don’t talk to anymore… but not enough to reach out. I also miss Danielle a lot.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2017.
Resistance isn’t futile. Academia is not any more scary or difficult to navigate than other fields. If I want to, I can do very well in school.
Okay so I am still working out my thoughts on The Last Jedi but here are some initial ramblings that contain MANY SPOILERS
(I) Luke was DEFINITELY my favorite because he epitomized Needless Stylistic Drama and (a) I am okay with his death and (2) I am also okay with his unfulfilled urge to kill younger Kylo and don’t think it’s really that out of character unlike apparently the rest of Tumblr does
(II) Contrary to my predictions, I did not tear up every time Carrie Fisher was on screen, but I did cry when R2 played the old recording and when astral projection Luke gave her Han’s gold space dice
(III) I like Rose but 1000% do not want a Rey/Finn/Rose love triangle because that is needless boring heterosexual drama
(IV) A plea for Episode IX: No redemption arc for Kyle. NO REDEMPTION ARC FOR KYLE. Just let that fucker die.
(V) Bad WTF moments: Leia flies through space??? Luke milks an aquatic alien???
(VI) Good WTF moments: Holdo using the cruiser as a torpedo against a destroyer, Leia shooting Poe, the choreography in the Kyle/Rey/henchmen fight, Luke just straight up fucking with Rey until he realized how powerful she is and then his whole time as an astral projection, Force Ghost Yoda using lightning to destroy the Jedi tree temple thing
(VII) Things I am unsure about: Force Skype, the whole scene with Rey in “the Darkness” on the island, all the times Rey and Kyle were TOO CLOSE, the whole code breaker character [it cpuld’ve been Lando and it wasn’t]
(VIII) I guess we will get Leia’s death in IX? Not sure how that’s going to happen appropriately
Okay final conclusions are that 1) I gotta rewatch before forming a full opinion and 2) I definitely don’t like it as much as The Force Awakens or Rogue 1.
everyone knows that kids w divorced parents can have a rlly tough childhood but honestly let’s take a moment and consider the kids who’s parents never got divorced yet kept fighting and arguing every day… sometimes divorce is for the best option, both for partners and especially their kids
My mom says we can never understand what it’s like to grow up with one parent but we have always told her conversely she doesn’t know what it’s like to grow up with two parents who are physically and emotionally abusive towards each other
I’m sure I’ve reblogged this before, but every holiday season reminds me how totally set I am on #teamdivorce. It’s a great thing, and I wish my parents had done it waaaay sooner.
My latest piece: Our Blessed Rebel Queen, Carrie Fisher
done in watercolour and ink.
Carrie Fisher has always been a great inspiration to me. As someone who suffers from depression and anxiety, I wanted to create a piece to bring me and comfort and strength. To look upon Space Mom and say “yes, I can face today.”
prints available: https://society6.com/product/our-blessed-rebel-queen-carrie-fisher_print
I may have just signed myself up for execution by registering for a SAS class next semester when I will also be completing the second semester of the STATA class.
But I *will* learn all the programming possible because like hell am I not getting a good job/into a PhD program after this. Next year: R.
I am substantially decreasing my Tumblr use for mental health reasons and haven’t really read/looked at anything on here in the past week. I will still sporadically update, probably with just pure complaining about grad school (which I actually love) and life ridiculousness.
You have a thing at 2:00 PM so you set a reminder for 1:00 PM because you don’t want to be late, but you should eat by 12:00 PM. That means you should start preparing food by 11:30 AM, but you want to double check or confirm the appointment before 11:00 AM before everyone goes to lunch. So if you want to finish your other tasks by 10:00 AM, you ought to start at 8:00 AM, which means you’ve got to wake up at 7:30 AM and you may as well get ready to go out then ahead of time, and that’s how something that starts at 2:00 PM effectively starts at 7:30 AM and lasts the entire day.
Roland Hendel fought back tears as he described leaving behind his beloved family dog Odin as raging wildfires approached his home.
As the raging California wildfires encroached upon Roland Handel’s home, he had to make a split-second decision — try to force his dog Odin into the car, or leave him behind.
Odin is one of two great Pyrenees who take turns guarding the family’s eight goats from coyotes and mountain lions, and he was on duty the night the fires broke out.
“I had my 14-year-old daughter and we had to get out,” Handel said between sobs.
So he opened the gates so the animals could flee, then drove off with his daughter, their three other dogs and two cats all packed into the family car.
“By the time we were going down the road, you could hear the twisting metal of transmission towers falling and propane tanks exploding,” he said. “I’ll never forget it.”
He returned the next day, circumventing roadblocks to get there.
He discovered that his home and everything else on his property was completely destroyed.
Except for Odin, who was there waiting for him — with all eight goats.
The dogs paw pads were burnt and his bright white fur was singed orange.
“He looked small and he was limping. He was lying down a lot. He was clearly exhausted.”
A group of deer had gathered with Odin and the goats, Handel said, perhaps also taking advantage of the brave pooch’s protection. The deer scattered when Handel approached.
He believes the dog led the other animals to a clearing at the center of a high outcropping of rocks to avoid contact with the flames.
“Its amazing he’s in such good spirits. He doesn’t show signs of being traumatized at all. He’s just really happy,” Handel said.
“He’ll make a full recovery. He’s going to be back with his goats.”
Handel is now raising money on YouCaring to rebuild the animals’ barn and water supply before winter.
Well now I’m crying at my dining room table over a dog and his goats
i understand that white ppl feel anxiety about messing up around poc… you should because that’s what it means to start holding yourself accountable. i’m not saying it should rule your life. if it does, that’s something for you to reflect on and solve, not the poc around you
i don’t think (many) white people will ever understand the anxiety that we feel when we start being a little less stringently polite when talking about racism, when we name actions that maybe white people close to us know they’ve done. we live with this fear inside us that we’re being to aggressive, that if we even name our abuse, we ourselves, are doing something wrong, that the people in our lives will turn on us for demanding respect
this is why woc talking about such sensitive topics are not a teaching moment for white people. it’s something you can’t simply understand with your own bubbling anxiety and desire to be a good person clouding your judgment. it’s not the time or place to teach or talk, when woc reflect on the specific trauma that comes from leftist spaces, from the white women who position themselves as our allies but fail to do the necessary self reflection that allows them to treat us with respect and dignity
if you see a post detailing trauma & abuse from you, not the individual, but the group you are nevertheless a part of (white people, white women), sometimes the only action you can take is nothing visible. your input, your “help,” your “uplifting,” your whatever, is not needed, and only derails the conversation. conversations about healing, catharsis, shared experiences for woc; they’re not supposed to be a warning to white people. they’re for us. we shouldn’t have to be thinking about, catering to, worrying about you in these conversations.
i’m not saying you must avert your eyes and never read these things. only read them. read & reflect & think about how you can become a better person rather than what you can do to make sure you appear a better person. sometimes the only absolution for what you’ve done will come in the will to change yourself
i know that not everyone clicks on the source, and i talk way too much in the tags, but the ww reblogging this really need to consider my tags:
#also this is ok for white ppl to reblog but pls don’t put a fuckening “im white tag” or “we need to stop” or whatever on it
i don’t want to think about the fact that you’ve been doing this before and want to remind yourself how easy it is to treat us badly (wtf). the entire point is you need to do more silent contemplation. it’s distressing for a number of reasons i can’t fully name and shouldn’t have to, but mostly i don’t want to worry whether my posts are enabling you to think you can keep separating yourselves from other white people. don’t treat us as scions of knowledge living on a mountaintop rather than real women who are just tired and want some fucking peace
Still not sure if I’m going to do this. Definitely not applying anywhere that doesn’t guarantee full funding. Definitely not applying anywhere that wouldn’t be at least a lateral move from Brown in the ~~prestige~~ of the public health world. ‘
...Looking at this list and thinking about, like, life-stuff and not just career-stuff, I literally just might apply only to Brown. That’s really stupid because they only accept like 4 people a year. But.
tangentwithtanner
