How Was 2010 For You?

[Martin]

Another year has nearly gone so I thought now would be an appropriate time to post this.

So yeah, like last year vote on the poll above and answer the questions below!

2008 thread is here: How Was 2008 For You?
2009 thread is here: How Was 2009 For You?

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1. The biggest change in your life this year?

2. What did you do over the summer?

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2010?

5. Favourite song from the year?

6. Favourite artist this year?

7. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?

8. What are you most proud of personally this year (i.e.- something you have done)?

9. Who are you most proud of (can be a famous or non- famous person)?

10. Did you have to learn any hard life lessons in the past 12 months?

11. Have you had any life-changing experiences in 2010?

12. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?

13. Did you gain any new qualifications?

14. What is your happiest memory from the year?

15. What was your most stupid incident (drunk stories would be good!)?

16. What things do you appreciate most in your life at the moment?

17. What are/were your plans for xmas/ new year?

18. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2011? What do you hope will be different?

19. How do you rate 2010 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?

20. Will you still be on EC this time next year?

[Z3ni]

When I read the title I thought.. "Woaaa" coz I can not beleive its almost over!!

It feels like july.. not december lol.. Omg I wasted this year!! I didn't even do anything!! wow.. I fail, I seriously can't remember what I did from August to now lol...

Are you making any new years resolutions for 2011?

I hope to go Global Volunteering

How do you rate 2010 on a scale of 1 to 10 ?

Is gonna have to be a "?"

Will you still be on EC this time next year?

I'll always be on here :P

[Dare2bProud]

1. The biggest change in your life this year?
Landed my dream job with a touring children's theatre which took me outside of Indiana.

2. What did you do over the summer?
Toured three months with PINOCCHIO

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?
None.

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2010?
Republicans taking back the senate

5. Favourite song from the year?
Firework by Katy Perry

6. Favourite artist this year?
Katy Perry

7. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?
Not really. I wanted focus on my new job

8. What are you most proud of personally this year (i.e.- something you have done)?
Taking my dream job

9. Who are you most proud of (can be a famous or non- famous person)?
My sister getting married

10. Did you have to learn any hard life lessons in the past 12 months?
Not to always trust someone's word and to always check with their sources

11. Have you had any life-changing experiences in 2010?
My dream job, touring around another state and being in a different city each week

12. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?
I never thought I would leave Indiana

13. Did you gain any new qualifications?
Professional Actor/Director

14. What is your happiest memory from the year?
The day my first tour partner left his contract and someone who treated me with respect came on board for two weeks

15. What was your most stupid incident (drunk stories would be good!)?
Telling kids who were 13 and younger to tell them my age and as a joke I added "not the one on your ID" cricket cricket

16. What things do you appreciate most in your life at the moment?
My family, friends and my job

17. What are your plans for xmas/ new year?
Staying up until midnight just in time to watch the ball drop, then going to bed so I can be up early to fly back to Minnesota

18. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2011? What do you hope will be different?
My resolution is to Rewind, Rekindle, Reconnect and Rejuvenate. Also I would like to keep up with yoga/meditation practices and eat healthier. I hope people will treat me kinder, more respect and for myself to stay grounded.

19. How do you rate 2010 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)? 8

20. Will you still be on EC this time next year?
More than likely

[straal1972]

I put it as the worst year ever just based on the last 2 months and the preceeding 5 months

Originally Posted by Martin

1. The biggest change in your life this year?

I found out I was gay.

Originally Posted by Martin

2. What did you do over the summer?

worked my but off, to no avail.

Originally Posted by Martin

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?

strained relationship with my wife, until my breakdown in Nov, then worse, better, worse and now a bit better.

Originally Posted by Martin

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2010?

the amount of snow fall in parts of ontario

Originally Posted by Martin

5. Favourite song from the year?

Firework, or Raise your Glass

Originally Posted by Martin

6. Favourite artist this year?

Katy Perry

Originally Posted by Martin

7. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?

I didn't make any last year.

Originally Posted by Martin

8. What are you most proud of personally this year (i.e.- something you have done)?

That after I realized I was gay, that I was able to say it out loud to my sis & bro.

Originally Posted by Martin

9. Who are you most proud of (can be a famous or non- famous person)?

not sure

Originally Posted by Martin

10. Did you have to learn any hard life lessons in the past 12 months?

yeah, that even if you've been married for 17yrs, you can still find out you're gay.

Originally Posted by Martin

11. Have you had any life-changing experiences in 2010?

see #10,#8 & #1

Originally Posted by Martin

12. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?

yes come out of the closet.

Originally Posted by Martin

13. Did you gain any new qualifications?

none

Originally Posted by Martin

14. What is your happiest memory from the year?

laughing and having a good time with my friends.

Originally Posted by Martin

15. What was your most stupid incident (drunk stories would be good!)?

not realizing that I had made a too sharp left turn and had ridden up on the streetcar tracks. Then not realizing that the whole track system was elevated from the main round about 6-8" dooh!

Originally Posted by Martin

16. What things do you appreciate most in your life at the moment?

that even tho' i'm troubled at the moment, all of my family was 'normal' for christmas, me included.

Originally Posted by Martin

17. What are your plans for xmas/ new year?

I want to come out to my wife after new years.

Originally Posted by Martin

18. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2011? What do you hope will be different?

see #17

Originally Posted by Martin

19. How do you rate 2010 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?

1 just from the life altering things going on in me.

Originally Posted by Martin

20. Will you still be on EC this time next year?

YES.

[Harve]

1. The biggest change in your life this year? Probably a move to different school - a new friendship group (and a very much differently acting to my other/s)

2. What did you do over the summer? Consuming a tad too much alcohol, festivals. Good times.

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends? Only started this october, it's certainly dysfunction, wavering and occasionally drifting into platony. I've almost sorted myself out; if i tell myself "i AM good enough for him" enough i might actually kid myself into believing it, then maybe it could actually work one day? If not, my state of mind is screwed as i will be seeing him for many hours every day for the next 18 months either way, i'd struggle to forget~

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2010? The Haiti earthquake, surely.

5. Favourite song from the year?

+ YouTube Video

This song comes close to making me horny. It's so hot.
6. Favourite artist this year?
Los Campesinos! <3 I can't believe they bettered 2008.

7. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them? Nope, next year i will though ^^

8. What are you most proud of personally this year (i.e.- something you have done)? Oof, i'm now more confident, louder and i've just generally grown up~

9. Who are you most proud of (can be a famous or non- famous person)? The guy i'm dating is an actual inspiration, so humane.

10. Did you have to learn any hard life lessons in the past 12 months? Probably, i'd just need them mentioned to me before i realise what i've learnt. And that makes no sense whatsoever.

11. Have you had any life-changing experiences in 2010? I'm always changing. I change when i'm contemplating things at 2am in the morning as much as a i change during doing things for the first time.

12. Did you do anything you never thought you would do? See 15.

13. Did you gain any new qualifications? I did, my GCSEs were decent ^_^

14. What is your happiest memory from the year? A certain local festival during July into August this year. No necessarily life-altering events happened then, but i was just at the epitome of happiness <3. I cling to those memories dearly.

15. What was your most stupid incident (drunk stories would be good!)? Getting with my pregnant, 22 year old neighbour on her own engagement party. That wasn't clever. Oh and getting with her 27 y/o, 'straight', engaged friend on the same night. That REALLY wasn't clever.

16. What things do you appreciate most in your life at the moment?
People. I know that's a vague answer, but they're remarkable creatures.

17. What are your plans for xmas/ new year? URGH
This week i worked Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Xmas day, Boxing day. I'm working New Years Day too, so i'll try not to get completely hammered on New Year's Eve. Oh and my own mum's holding a party, actual lmfaos.

18. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2011? What do you hope will be different? No procrastination. ever. That includes answering questionnaires that no-one will read at 3 in the morning.

19. How do you rate 2010 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)? 9

20. Will you still be on EC this time next year? Unless i shake off my internet addiction, then most certainly.

1. The biggest change in your life this year?

Going to University in England this October.

2. What did you do over the summer?

I worked literally all day everyday in a bookshop. With a one week break in the Lake District in England.

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?

Not interested in girls, and as I'm not out, no boys either :'(

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2010?

The Expenses Scandal in Westminster

5. Favourite song from the year?

It isn't one from this year, but a favourite few I discovered - Into the West by Annie Lennox, Mad World by Gary Jules and some Biffy Clyro

6. Favourite artist this year?

Lady Gaga

7. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?

I'm not big into New Year's Resolutions.

8. What are you most proud of personally this year (i.e.- something you have done)?

I got into Oxford University and came first in the country in one of my A-levels

9. Who are you most proud of (can be a famous or non- famous person)?

My Mum - she has crippling arthritis but is just inspirational.

10. Did you have to learn any hard life lessons in the past 12 months?

Not sure - it's more like a gradual accumulation and building up of experiences, of growing up as opposed to one defining incident or experience.

11. Have you had any life-changing experiences in 2010?

See #8

12. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?

I went parachuting

13. Did you gain any new qualifications?

My A-levels

14. What is your happiest memory from the year?

Spending the last day at school together with my friends

15. What was your most stupid incident (drunk stories would be good!)?

I was drinking whiskey and coke (I'm a whiskey person) and decided that whiskey, vodka and a lot of amaretto would be a good idea. As in a glassful of that straight. Needless to say I was far too drunk. Fell off the kerb going to a kebab van, nearly everyone down with me, leapt up like nothing happened and jogged to the kebab van, where I brokered a deal with the owner which said that if I flew back to his on Christmas Day, he'd give me a free kebab. Just general drunkeness.

16. What things do you appreciate most in your life at the moment?

My family, my health and my mind.

17. What are your plans for xmas/ new year?

I spent Christmas and Boxing Day with family and various extended family members. Spending New Year's Eve with friends.

18. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2011? What do you hope will be different?

I think I'm going to try and lose some weight, and come out to some close friends.

19. How do you rate 2010 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?

10

20. Will you still be on EC this time next year?

I'm new, but I hope so.

[Totoro]

1. The biggest change in your life this year?
Came out to some friends, moved out of home.

2. What did you do over the summer?
Met someone amazing

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?
Amazing

5. Favourite song from the year?
Hard one... hmm probably Gapra Whitewood (final fantasy 13)

8. What are you most proud of personally this year (i.e.- something you have done)?
Being incredibly open to the person I'm with :3 (seriously...)

10. Did you have to learn any hard life lessons in the past 12 months?
School taught me to be incredibly pessimistic :\

11. Have you had any life-changing experiences in 2010?
Probably mentioned them in last questions, but I am genuinely happy... that's something.

12. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?
Tell my best friends I am gay.

14. What is your happiest memory from the year?
Probably August or September... Amazing months :] Living on my own, and other stuff.

16. What things do you appreciate most in your life at the moment?
My memories ._. The things i remember... I appreciate my friends a whole lot more too.

17. What are your plans for xmas/ new year?
I'd really like to spend it with someone special....

18. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2011? What do you hope will be different?
I think I actually may have a few this time around (unlike last year). First I want to make sure I work real hard in university... find out what I want to do with my life. Second I want to make my relationship last... and be sure to be there for them, whenever they need it.

20. Will you still be on EC this time next year?
Same as usual: lurking, and chat room, rare posts, here and there

[Maddy]

1. The biggest change in your life this year?
I became much more social.

2. What did you do over the summer?
2009/2010 summer, not much. 2010/2011 summer has so far been spent with my sister after her surgery, and with friends.

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?
Up until recently, my usual epic fail, but now there is potential.

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2010?
Australian federal election.

5. Favourite song from the year?
Can't think of one I wasn't meh about.

6. Favourite artist this year?
Nobody new.

7. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?
No.

8. What are you most proud of personally this year (i.e.- something you have done)?
Uni results. I did better than I ever imagined I could. Also, helping with the running of Victoria's first queer formal.

9. Who are you most proud of (can be a famous or non- famous person)?
My family. We got through a very tough time with my sister's illness.

10. Did you have to learn any hard life lessons in the past 12 months?
Yeah. Dealing with the death of a pet and the potential of my sister not making it through her surgery.

11. Have you had any life-changing experiences in 2010?
Many. I never felt like a teenager when I was one, now I feel like I'm finally living and having fun.

12. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?
Made out with a girl? xD

13. Did you gain any new qualifications?
No.

14. What is your happiest memory from the year?
The formal I mentioned earlier, or times with my friends.

15. What was your most stupid incident (drunk stories would be good!)?
I'm not even going to go there xD

16. What things do you appreciate most in your life at the moment?
As always, my family and my friends.

17. What are your plans for xmas/ new year?
No idea what New Year plans are yet.

18. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2011? What do you hope will be different?
No resolutions.

19. How do you rate 2010 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?
9. Two very hard times, at the start and at the end, but in general it's been great.

20. Will you still be on EC this time next year?
I think so.

[Owen]

1. The biggest change in your life this year?
I actually have a few to choose from this time, but I'm going to go with coming out of my depression, without a doubt.

2. What did you do over the summer?
I got my driver's license, because I had to get it eventually.

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?
I'm not sure if you could call what I have now a relationship, but I love it.

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2010?
None, actually. I really didn't follow the news.

5. Favourite song from the year?
The only songs in my music collection from 2010 are "Telephone" and "Alejandro" by Lady Gaga. I do enjoy Telephone quite a bit, so I'll go with that one.

6. Favourite artist this year?
I really don't follow current music, so I have no answer.

7. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?
After a quick check back to the last thread, no, I didn't make any.

8. What are you most proud of personally this year (i.e.- something you have done)?
Maintaining a 4.0 in college is something I'm pretty proud of.

9. Who are you most proud of (can be a famous or non- famous person)?
My roommate, for having the guts and being man enough to apologize.

10. Did you have to learn any hard life lessons in the past 12 months?
Life isn't easy, but it's worth it.

11. Have you had any life-changing experiences in 2010?
Therapy for my depression that was actually successful; I'd call that life-changing. I also had my first intimate experience with another guy, and it changed my life in more ways than I expected it to.

12. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?
Stayed up into the wee hours of the morning. I went from rarely staying up until 11:00 to regularly staying up that late, occasionally staying up to one, and I stayed up until 4:30 and 5:20 on two separate nights.

13. Did you gain any new qualifications?
A 4.0. I hear that can actually get you pretty far, even before you get out of college.

14. What is your happiest memory from the year?
My first intimate experience with the guy I'm seeing. The time when I realized I really was over my depression is a pretty close second.

15. What was your most stupid incident (drunk stories would be good!)?
I can't think of any big mistakes I made this year, at least non which had consequences that would make them memorable.

16. What things do you appreciate most in your life at the moment?
My happiness.

17. What are your plans for xmas/ new year?
I'll be catching up with a close friend New Years Eve and swimming on New Years Day.

18. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2011? What do you hope will be different?
I wrote about it in the resolutions thread.

19. How do you rate 2010 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?
10

20. Will you still be on EC this time next year?
I don't see why not.

[Eric]

1. The biggest change in your life this year?
I moved the furniture in my room around a little.

2. What did you do over the summer?
Visited my sister in Kingston, went to Rimouski for a week.

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?
Nonexistent.

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2010?
US midterm elections.

5. Favourite song from the year?
Does "Pants on the ground" count?

6. Favourite artist this year?
Good question.

7. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?
Last year, I made the resolution to become a more confident and assertive person. I did and I am.

8. What are you most proud of personally this year (i.e.- something you have done)?
I told off my english teacher three times now. xD

9. Who are you most proud of (can be a famous or non- famous person)?
My friend for not giving up in spite of all the shit he's gone through.

10. Did you have to learn any hard life lessons in the past 12 months?
Yeh, not to write essays the night before they're due anymore. Fuck. <_<

11. Have you had any life-changing experiences in 2010?
Life changing? No, but I've had a small number of important events that may contribute to some greater change.

12. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?
I never thought I would spend over 300$ in a year on video games, but somehow it happened.

13. Did you gain any new qualifications?
How to win any argument without really trying.

14. What is your happiest memory from the year?
Coming out for the first time was by far my fondest memory. It left me with such a good feeling.

15. What was your most stupid incident (drunk stories would be good!)?
Buying Mass Effect in french. For some reason, the game couldn't be switched to English. C'est comme ça, la vie!
16. What things do you appreciate most in your life at the moment?
My mom and my laptop.

17. What are your plans for xmas/ new year?
Aunt and cousins visited yesterday and today, sister's coming for new years. We shall have chinese food.

18. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2011? What do you hope will be different?
Yeh, I want to be out at school before the end of the school year, that's about it. But if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen.

19. How do you rate 2010 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?
Respectable 7.

20. Will you still be on EC this time next year?
Probably.

[Lexington]

1. The biggest change in your life this year?
I'll go with "I got under 200 lbs", but that isn't that much of a change, and I've since climbed back over it. It was a fun "holding steady" year.

2. What did you do over the summer?
I traveled to a foreign country for the first time. (Maybe that was my big change?) I've never been to another country other than a couple quick port stops on a Caribbean cruise. This summer, I cruised through the Baltic, and visited Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Russia, and Estonia before spending five days in London.

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?
Hit a slight bump this year - he had some issues he was working through - but things seem to be back on an even keel.

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2010?
DADT repeal, but that might just be because it's current.

5. Favourite song from the year?
"Tell 'Em" by Sleigh Bells.

6. Favourite artist this year?
Sleigh Bells, but Fang Island isn't far behind.

7. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?
Not really. I wanted to lose more weight, and I did, but that wasn't really a "resolution". I wouldn't hate myself if I hadn't lost the weight.

8. What are you most proud of personally this year (i.e.- something you have done)?
I got some independent confirmation that people think I kick ass at both my jobs. That's always nice.

9. Who are you most proud of (can be a famous or non- famous person)?
Everybody who made "It Gets Better" videos, and everybody who started or continued coming out.

10. Did you have to learn any hard life lessons in the past 12 months?
Nothing really new. I was reminded that you have to let people solve their own problems in their own way.

11. Have you had any life-changing experiences in 2010?
I don't think so. I'm still who I was at the beginning of the year.

12. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?
Other than leave the country, no.

13. Did you gain any new qualifications?
Nope.

14. What is your happiest memory from the year?
A bunch of them, but one of them is having two guys cry (happily) at something I helped do for them. One hugged me and said, "I love you guys so much." Something I really wouldn't have ever thought they'd do.

15. What was your most stupid incident (drunk stories would be good!)?
This one is current, so it sticks out. I did my first graphic design job, and since I've never used graphic design computer programs before, it took me hours. I finally was positive I did everything great, and submitted it. It wasn't until five days later that somebody pointed out I got somebody's name completely wrong.

16. What things do you appreciate most in your life at the moment?
All of it. My partner, my home, my jobs, my friends, my family.

17. What are your plans for xmas/ new year?
Very little. Family for Christmas, and we MIGHT go see a concert on NYE. Otherwise, we'll just go out for a very nice dinner like we do every year.

18. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2011? What do you hope will be different?
Nope. Things are going very well, so I'd like that to continue. I'm going back on the diet now (not waiting for 2011), so hopefully I'll lose the weight again. And I'd like to get our home office redecorated. But those are vague plans rather than resolutions.

19. How do you rate 2010 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?
A high 8. Only the lack of a really amazing "event" or thing kept it from being higher. It was just a very pleasant ride all year.

20. Will you still be on EC this time next year?
If you'll have me.

Lex

[biisme]

1. The biggest change in your life this year?
Starting college! The new friends in my life too.

2. What did you do over the summer?
Well, I didn't really have a summer because my school only has a three week break in July, and that's it. However, during those weeks, I went to Florida and visited Disneyworld.

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?
Well, I had one kinda-relationship. It just ended because of our geographical locations, and the fact that I'll probably never see her again. But, I don't regret it even though I'll miss her.

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2010?
A trainer killed at SeaWorld by a whale.

5. Favourite song from the year?
Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri

6. Favourite artist this year?
I like everyone.

7. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?
I always make resolutions, and since I don't remember them, I guess I didn't stick to them.

8. What are you most proud of personally this year (i.e.- something you have done)?
I'm proud of becoming a more open-person

9. Who are you most proud of (can be a famous or non- famous person)?
I'm proud of all my friends and myself for completing our first year of college!

10. Did you have to learn any hard life lessons in the past 12 months?
Sometimes you have to swallow your pride. Even if you're right. To get something you want, or to mend a relationship.

11. Have you had any life-changing experiences in 2010?
Made some great friends.

12. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?
Tried shrimp!

13. Did you gain any new qualifications?
I can make some more pastries...

14. What is your happiest memory from the year?
Holding hands with someone.

15. What was your most stupid incident (drunk stories would be good!)?
Falling backwards, in a chair, off a platform in the middle of the dining hall. And rolling down the aisle.

16. What things do you appreciate most in your life at the moment?
My friends.

17. What are your plans for xmas/ new year?
Figure out my extership for school.

18. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2011? What do you hope will be
different?
Try to lose weight. I hope I have more fortitude and motivation.

19. How do you rate 2010 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?
8-9. It was a pretty good year.

20. Will you still be on EC this time next year?
Hell yes.

[Victor]

It's interesting to do this while comparing to my answers from last year.

1. The biggest change in your life this year?
Coming out and all that jazz.

2. What did you do over the summer?
I went to SF Pride with friends. Fun times~

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?
Didn't have any.

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2010?
DADT repeal I guess, since that was recent.

5. Favourite song from the year?
Can't Wait 'Til Christmas - Utada Hikaru

6. Favourite artist this year?
Utada Hikaru <3

7. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?
Like I said last year, I don't do new years resolutions.

8. What are you most proud of personally this year (i.e.- something you have done)?
Coming out to pretty much everyone~

9. Who are you most proud of (can be a famous or non- famous person)?
My friends who graduated early!

10. Did you have to learn any hard life lessons in the past 12 months?
Oh yeah, doing what I want to do is just rough. Money is probably not going to come in and all that, but I won't give up.

11. Have you had any life-changing experiences in 2010?
Coming out was life changing. Deciding not to go to medical school anymore was rather life changing.

12. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?
Drink. I said in last year's thread that I don't drink, but clearly that's changed. xD

13. Did you gain any new qualifications?
Nope.

14. What is your happiest memory from the year?
Hrm. Just being with friends and doing what we do. Having that comfort just makes me happy. ^_^

15. What was your most stupid incident (drunk stories would be good!)?
I wore a schoolgirl outfit for Halloween. It was very cold outside and I was not used to wearing a skirt. Being drunk did help keep me warm though. xD

16. What things do you appreciate most in your life at the moment?
It's the same as last year; family, friends, and music.

17. What are your plans for xmas/ new year?
Absolutely nothing. :/

18. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2011? What do you hope will be different?
No new years resolutions for me. >_>

19. How do you rate 2010 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?
Slight improvement from last year; I give it a 7. Lots of high highs, but many lows. x_x

20. Will you still be on EC this time next year?
Probably.

[Sakura]

1. The biggest change in your life this year?
I started going to Lambda Alliance meetings at my university.

2. What did you do over the summer?
I traveled and took a couple summer classes.

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?
Non-existent. lol

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2010?
There's 3 big stories I remember off the top of my head: BP oil rig explosion, the all the suicides of LGBT people that they talked about on the news, and obviously the repeal of DADT.

5. Favourite song from the year?
Earlier in the year it was probably Poker Face by Lady Gaga but the last couple months it's been Firework by Katy Perry

6. Favourite artist this year?
Tie between Lady Gaga and Katy Perry

7. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?
Nope..didn't make any because I knew I wouldn't keep them past like the 2nd week of the new year. hehe

8. What are you most proud of personally this year (i.e.- something you have done)?
Starting to go to Lambda Alliance meetings/events and doing well with my classes this semester

9. Who are you most proud of (can be a famous or non- famous person)?
I'm gonna have to say my good friend Kyle. He's made so many changes in his life and attitude and seems like he is so much more comfortable/confident in who he is.

10. Did you have to learn any hard life lessons in the past 12 months?
Not really, no. I've been pretty lucky in that aspect.

11. Have you had any life-changing experiences in 2010?
I guess my brother moving back home was pretty life-changing.

12. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?
Nope.

13. Did you gain any new qualifications?
Nah.

14. What is your happiest memory from the year?
Don't have just one. When I joined Lambda Alliance, when my name was called out at the senior night football game, and when I got my senior blanket for marching in the band for 4 seasons are my top 3 for the year.

15. What was your most stupid incident (drunk stories would be good!)?
It was probably when I did the Soulja Boy Crank That dance in my hotel room at the bowl game when I was drunk (I really can't dance). Lol

16. What things do you appreciate most in your life at the moment?
my close friends and family and music

17. What are your plans for xmas/ new year?
Christmas is over but for New Years I'll be with my marching band at our football bowl game trip. Oh now that should be some good times. hehe

18. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2011? What do you hope will be different?
I'm making a resolutin to come out to more of my friends and family (especially my dad) and be more comfortable/confident with myself.

19. How do you rate 2010 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)? I'd say it was an 8.5-9. While I'm still trying to figure a lot of things out, my friends (and some family) have been so supportive and helpful. My grades in school have also been much better this year than they have been in previous years in college (which is a very nice change).

20. Will you still be on EC this time next year?
Oh I'm sure I probably will..more than likely, yes.

[Mirko]

1. The biggest change in your life this year?

Getting a job that I really love and foresee myself as having it as my career.

2. What did you do over the summer?

Met an EC member for the first time, jogged a lot, moved in with a friend, helped to open up a LGBT thrift store, started volunteering for an organization with which I have gotten a job just this past month.

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?

Maybe I can answer that question next year!

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2010?

US Mid-term elections.

5. Favourite song from the year?

Don't really have one!

6. Favourite artist this year?

Don't really have one either.

7. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?

I didn't as I'm really bad in keeping them anyways.

8. What are you most proud of personally this year (i.e.- something you have done)?

Being able to put a part of my past behind me, and being able to turn the page on it.

9. Who are you most proud of (can be a famous or non- famous person)?

My sister, who is almost done with a certificate for language instruction and will be traveling to Europe to teach. She has been working on it for some time, and she is really close in getting there.

10. Did you have to learn any hard life lessons in the past 12 months?

Yes, I did.

11. Have you had any life-changing experiences in 2010?

Maybe not life changing, rather a continuation of a life changing experience, which reinforced some of the life changes that I have been going through over the last couple of years.

12. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?

A couple of things actually. Participating in an educational video on coming out, and sharing my coming out story. Meeting a member from EC.

13. Did you gain any new qualifications?

If you include on the job training, then yes!

14. What is your happiest memory from the year?

Getting the phone call that I have gotten a job with an organization for which I have volunteered and did some work for since the summer.

15. What was your most stupid incident (drunk stories would be good!)?

I can't remember one.

16. What things do you appreciate most in your life at the moment?

Family, friends and my job.

17. What are your plans for xmas/ new year?


Spending time with friends and my sister. For New Years, maybe having a nice dinner/get together with friends.

18. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2011? What do you hope will be different?

Nope!

19. How do you rate 2010 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?

9

20. Will you still be on EC this time next year?

I think so!

[Zontar]

1. The biggest change in your life this year?
The biggest change in my life was, I think, coming to full terms with my sexuality. I had known for years that I was "bi" but never considered myself in the role of one sexually active with other men. I figured I would just date girls and treat it as a sort of "fetish" I can explore in pornography and private fantasies. When I started to get out, I began to realize that a greater part of me than I initially considered was homosexual, and I had panicked. I reacted with hostility...I worried I would get AIDS...I wondered if I could ever comfortably live as a gay man in a gay relationship. I signed up here to get fellow gays' and lesbians' opinions, and I would have to say that enlisting here in the EC camp has dramatically helped me with not just tolerating myself but fully accepting myself.

2. What did you do over the summer?
Believe it or not, my summer was characterized by sneaking out to local furry gatherings! I made many new friends and much more memories and stories to tell. I never went out like this before...it was quite a quantum leap from my former farouche persona that defined my teenage years.

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?
>implying that there's something I have to offer to someone
>implying I'm attractive enough to get a boyfriend
I'll get back to you on this one after hell freezes over and Osama Bin Laden converts to Juadism.

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2010?
Definitely the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. It's been a while since America had a good old-fashioned natural disaster caused by gross corporate neglect. It was certainly interesting to see every last BP gas station around here convert itself to a Sunoco or Gulf.

5. Favourite song from the year?
Between the Lines by STP!! One of my favorite rock bands I can remember listening to when I was three finally made a comeback, and it was a damn good one! I must've looped this one six or seven times on the way home one day.

6. Favourite artist this year?
Ah, I got a bunch. I'd say whatever they played on rock radio this year. Shinedown, Five Finger Death Punch, the new Alice in Chains...you name a good single, I'd approve of the artist. It was a good year in terms of rock...finally, that rap-metal rubbish has gone to the dogs in favor of a more melodic style reminiscent of the nineties.

7. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?
I had made a salient resolution to either have sex or my first sexual experience. I mean, God damn, I was nineteen and hadn't even French kissed! While I haven't had full-out sex this year, I've had two opportunities that I could have pursued further...if I wanted to build an entirely fake relationship with someone I wouldn't be interested in. Good enough that I got the opportunities, I suppose. I also had my first sexual experience...with three other guys...so that was certainly interesting, lol. Enjoyable, too! No regrets, except maybe for one of my friends having seen the entire thing.

I guess you could still call me a virgin at this point, but at least now it's on solely technical grounds! Trying to define what the "technical grounds" are as you read this? Congratulations, you now have the reason why I don't worry about virginity anymore. I think what happened this summer is more than enough to hold me over until I meet that perfect person who was mentally ill enough to fall for me.

I had also made a resolution to lose weight, and was successful in that respect. I'll get back to this in a minute.

8. What are you most proud of personally this year (i.e.- something you have done)?
Gotta be going out to the furry meets. As I said before, this was a milestone for me, simply because I had overcome so much shyness in one fell swoop and caught up on all the fun I never had in high school.

9. Who are you most proud of (can be a famous or non- famous person)?
I'm proud of Conan O'Brien for getting back on television after getting shafted by NBC. Bravo, Coco!!

10. Did you have to learn any hard life lessons in the past 12 months?
Aw, hell yeah. I realized a lot of comforting things about youth were beginning to sunset on me...financial provisions, loads of free time, unwarranted yet mysteriously believable praise from family members...the biggest slap upside the head was when I had nearly failed Calculus II. I began to realize that the successful don't get to where they are effortlessly off talent. It really does take that sort of dedication and commitment to a good idea. The bad news is, I have to work for these things now...the good news is, it's in anyone's reach and not just the talented! :P

11. Have you had any life-changing experiences in 2010?
See #7.

12. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?
Tons of shit. I've already mentioned it. It's good that I've done it...it all contributed to having one of the better years of my life. One of the absolute biggest though was when I actually lost weight! The wakeup call for having to lose weight (which I had lagged on until about September) was when I developed acanthosis nigricans, a skin condition where you develop dark and rough patches of skin caused by insulin resistance. I enrolled in a school cardio class, did cardio at home, cut out soda and snacks...three months later, I had dropped from 227 to 193 pounds, and my acanthosis had disappeared completely. All that's left to contend with now are the residual stretch marks!

13. Did you gain any new qualifications?
Does realizing I can't control when people laugh at my jokes count?

14. What is your happiest memory from the year?
Chincoteague Island, VA! It was only four days, but I fuckin' love the beach. I hadn't smelled salty air and gotten gritty, sandy feet in almost three years before that.

15. What was your most stupid incident (drunk stories would be good!)?
Being late for work a few days before the big visit from the guy in charge of the whole division. I can assure you that was enough for me never to be late for anything else in my life. How I didn't get fired for that was simply mind-boggling.

16. What things do you appreciate most in your life at the moment?
My family and my friends, new and old. This was the first year I really began to appreciate it all. I guess you can call it maturity, I simply address it as progression.

17. What are your plans for xmas/ new year?
Sit at home, play Half-Life Deathmatch, and listen to Coast to Coast AM's new year's program! I'd love to hang out with the furries...but I still gotta keep that on the down-low.

18. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2011? What do you hope will be different?
Yeah, finish the job I started with sex and relationships! This year was the kickoff, 2011 shall be the touchdown. I'm still confused sexually, so both dudes and chicks are fair game at this point...although a part of me says "Go for the Guys!"

Of course, we can't rush a matter so variable and sensitive as love, but I feel just being out there will help, as well as exercising that comedic muscle I discovered makes me rather palatable in social situations. It's within reach now...it has been for some time already.

I also want to continue the downward trend in respect to my weight. 193 pounds has proven to be a metabolic plateau for me, so some more aggressive measures are in order.

I wanna start my first business for once! Be it success or failure, I feel it is now time to set the stage for where I wish to go in life.

And, of course, there is tackling the bear of coming out. No pun intended. Will I do this? I think it's gonna end up doing it for me. I still don't anticipate a good end with respect to coming out, so perhaps this will have to be relegated to those outside the family.

19. How do you rate 2010 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?
I'm gonna have to level with myself here. 2010 was a very tumultuous year. I struggled deeply and most intensively with things that have been bothering me for almost five years running.

But events occurred, thought patterns changed, and I feel like this year ended many things that have bothered me for so long. In the end, I gotta rate it an eight. The year previous, I recall giving it about a five...so we're on the up here. Had I achieved one ambitious goal of mine, I would have given it a nine...but I do believe I came close enough.

20. Will you still be on EC this time next year?
I hope so. Forums come and go for me, but I got a good feeling about you fellas. You're in my links bar, so I'd count on it.

[Lucky Panda]

1. The biggest change in your life this year?
I got a job... and now have posession of my own bacnk account. I can drive, and I'm growing up. D:
2. What did you do over the summer?
Read. Read. Read. Read. Red. Red. Red.
3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?
D'amazing and D'best!
4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2010?
The Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal.
5. Favourite song from the year?
D'uhh... ><;; Ummm... Something Glee covered, for sure.
6. Favourite artist this year?
The Glee Cast!
7. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?
I made new friends, that's for sure. I told myself to expand my friend-circle.
8. What are you most proud of personally this year (i.e.- something you have done)?
Getting a job! And one-upping my brother in COD.
9. Who are you most proud of (can be a famous or non- famous person)?
:'D Gaga. You go girl! And my little neice! She can say minimal words!
10. Did you have to learn any hard life lessons in the past 12 months?
Yes. Sometimes when someone says "No" and they're not sure, they mostly mean "No" with a cold, firm fist.
11. Have you had any life-changing experiences in 2010?
I've finally become fully aware of what my father exactly is and the reasons behind my mom's decision to leave him.
12. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?
I convinced my theatre director into letting us do an Improv. Night. He never listens to me.
13. Did you gain any new qualifications?
... I'm working on that. Literally. At work.
14. What is your happiest memory from the year?
When I said the "L" word.
15. What was your most stupid incident (drunk stories would be good!)?
@_@ Ugh, I didn't puke at the County Fair (my friends and I get on the rides 'til someone barfs) but I felt miserable at home. I told my mom I thought I was going to die, and she took my literally, and asked if I needed help. She still doesn't believe I was joking.
16. What things do you appreciate most in your life at the moment?
My boyfriend, my money, family, and friends.
17. What are/were your plans for xmas/ new year?
Stay at home, talk to my BF, and enjoy family time.
18. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2011? What do you hope will be different?
Lose weight, but that's a gimme.
19. How do you rate 2010 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?
I voted a 7.
20. Will you still be on EC this time next year?
And for the years to follow.

[Katherine]

1. The biggest change in your life this year?
I fell in love. Then got my heart broken.

2. What did you do over the summer?
Absolutely nothing.

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?
Absolutely incredible. For the first half of the year.

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2010?
The oil spill. :c

5. Favourite song from the year?
While You Were Asleep - Ok Go

6. Favourite artist this year?
Ok Go, probably.

7. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?
My only one was to tell my crush that I liked her. I did.

8. What are you most proud of personally this year (i.e.- something you have done)?
...
Does not dying count?

9. Who are you most proud of (can be a famous or non- famous person)?
My dad.

10. Did you have to learn any hard life lessons in the past 12 months?
Fuck yes. Mostly shitty ones.

11. Have you had any life-changing experiences in 2010?
I hit my highest possible high, then I hit rock bottom just a few months later. So yeah.

12. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?
Definitely.

13. Did you gain any new qualifications?
Not that I know of.

14. What is your happiest memory from the year?
April. Definitely April.

15. What was your most stupid incident (drunk stories would be good!)?
Too many things to list.

16. What things do you appreciate most in your life at the moment?
My absolutely amazing friends. I love them so much more than I could ever say.

17. What are/were your plans for xmas/ new year?
Christmas was boring. New Years...will hopefully be spent with...someone....

18. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2011? What do you hope will be different?
Not being an emotional basketcase is my main goal for the new year.

19. How do you rate 2010 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?
Oh man, how do you rate a year that was your best year AND your worst? I guess I'll go with a 7.

20. Will you still be on EC this time next year?
I plan to be. :3

[malachite]

1. The biggest change in your life this year?
Came out to my family

2. What did you do over the summer?
Work, work, work

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?
No existent the holy trinity: Taken, Straight, or not interested

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2010?
Oil Spill

5. Favourite song from the year?
Hero by Skillet

6. Favourite artist this year?
Skillet

7. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?
I don't make new years resolutions.

8. What are you most proud of personally this year (i.e.- something you have done)?
Coming out to the family and my best friend

9. Who are you most proud of (can be a famous or non- famous person)?
N/A

10. Did you have to learn any hard life lessons in the past 12 months?
Love hurts

11. Have you had any life-changing experiences in 2010?
My sister got addicted to a shit ton of drugs and is fucking up in her rehab.

12. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?
Told my best friend I was gay.

13. Did you gain any new qualifications?
Working new PC programs at work.

14. What is your happiest memory from the year?
Looking in the mirror and seeing a thinner person looking back at me.

15. What was your most stupid incident (drunk stories would be good!)?
I've walked into many an object while looking at cute guys.

16. What things do you appreciate most in your life at the moment?
That my family and friends accept me
That I don't take shit from anyone about being gay

17. What are/were your plans for xmas/ new year?
See the family at xmas, work on new years

18. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2011? What do you hope will be different?
nope

19. How do you rate 2010 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?
4 - though I came out and it was great, a lot of shitty life stuff happened

20. Will you still be on EC this time next year?
yulp, you can't get rid me that easy

[maverick]

1. The biggest change in your life this year?

I came out as transgendered to my best friend, my immediate family (including my brother's girlfriend), and my supervisor at work.

2. What did you do over the summer?

Mostly hung out, played games, smoked, cooked, planted crops, and read good books.

3. How were relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends?

Nonexistent.

4. What news story sticks in your mind the most from 2010?

DADT repeal.

5. Favourite song from the year?

Singin' In The Rain/Umbrella Mash Up - Glee Cast

6. Favourite artist this year?

Gotta go with BarlowGirl on this one.

7. Did you make any new years resolutions and if so, did you stick to them?

Didn't make any last year.

8. What are you most proud of personally this year (i.e.- something you have done)?

Coming out. I also got a private office and the word "indispensible" written on my employee review at work, so that was sweet.

9. Who are you most proud of (can be a famous or non- famous person)?

I'm most proud of my brother for standing by me when I came out and my parents were not accepting.

10. Did you have to learn any hard life lessons in the past 12 months?

You can't turn dreams into reality without a lot of hard work.

11. Have you had any life-changing experiences in 2010?

Coming out.

12. Did you do anything you never thought you would do?

I marched against 10,000 riot police.

13. Did you gain any new qualifications?

Adobe Acrobat and Excel.

14. What is your happiest memory from the year?

Road tripping with my best friend.

15. What was your most stupid incident (drunk stories would be good!)?

This one was actually from yesterday. I packed my computer up to move it to my new home, but shut all three monitor cords in the door of the car. So I dragged all three cords down twenty-five miles of freeway in the blinding snow. No wonder the guy behind me kept flashing his lights!

16. What things do you appreciate most in your life at the moment?

My family and friends. Also my artistic abilities. I always appreciate my talents no matter what year it is, because no one can take them away from me.

17. What are/were your plans for xmas/ new year?

I spent Christmas with family, and I don't really have plans for New Year's, other than getting reading to open a can of whoop-ass on my resolutions.

18. Are you making any new years resolutions for 2011? What do you hope will be different?

I want to get in athletic shape, become a recognized visual artist in my community, finish my first novel, and get back into the dating scene. I hope that I will have a lot more self-confidence and drive this year now that I'm out of the closet.

19. How do you rate 2010 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best)?

2010 was pretty crappy, not gonna lie. I'd give it a 4. But I think 2011 will be better.

20. Will you still be on EC this time next year?

But of course!