Happy New Year's

[RedStarWarrior]

So, no one posted a thread? I expected one of the Aussies to post one from the future...

Anyway, happy new year! Anyone do anything fun? Set any resolutions? I spent my first New Year's celebration with my wife. Normally, we would have spoken by phone with her having been up with her family.

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

Hyvää Uutta Vuotta!!
Happy New Year!!

I went to visit some friends who live in Nivala, a town neighboring Ylivieska and Haapavesi.

We played Tekken Tag Tournament 2, which I finished in an awesome fashion by beating the best player by using my favourite character LILI. The relatively new French diva. After shooting some rockets, we went back inside and played Chocobo Tales Pop-Up card game and Triple Triad. One of the guys flattered me because I had made the cards and Crystal Points and CP Gauges all by myself. We had fun!

I have a resolution that I shall be less on Facebook in favor of all my other hobbies. I'll tell you more in a thread I'm going to make before February begins; that month shall be a test month. That's when I'll see how my plan works in practice.

[Lady Vulpix]

I suppose everyone was busy celebrating. Or sleeping.

Happy 2013, everyone!

[Magmar]

Happy 2013! I was singing karaoke. XD

[ChobiChibi]

So loads of people were on facebook doing those "This is what I've done this year" statuses. But I want to do it here.

2012:
- Bought my first car. Now know so much more about them (mostly when they break).
- Met up with some absolutely amasing TPMers, got up to a suitable amount of mischief, was very sad when they left. AGAIN AGAIN <3
- Worked at a really shit shop, but made the most out of it.
- Didn't go to Canada. Boooooo.
- Started my MA course. Love it so much, worked so hard.
- Started new job.
- Moved in with le boyfriend. Hate it when he's not year. Hit the magical 6 year mark with him. Crazyshit.
- Conducted choir in front of a full Chichester Cathedral.
- Midnight Mass in Bristol Cathedral for the first time.

BUT. I want to add what I'm looking forward to in 2013. I don't really make resolutions, atleast I don't really call it that...
- See more TPMers (This Saturday in fact )
- Finishing my MA. 5 months to go!
- Seeing the LSO play the music of Final Fantasy.
- Hopefully meeting my fellow RPG mod >w<
- GRAAADUUUAAATIOOON.

Um... Yeah so that's it.

[Telume]

Happy New Year! Rather uneventful for me. >_>

[Jeff]

Celebrated with my family as usual. Of course, not a bad thing at all. We always do a party at our house every year.

So, I'll do what Becki did and post my 2012 in review (even though I was one of those people that did that on Facebook )

-Went to Manassas and met some TPMers in January where I got approached by a girl in a bar. We ended up exchanging phone numbers, but I didn't take it any further, since the distance bothered me back then. Looking back now, I would have definitely handled that differently considering how often I've made that trip since then and I'd have no problem with it now.
-Went to Brian and Becky's wedding in May. Met even more TPMers there and it was my first time driving on a long-distance road trip (11 1/2 hours!). It was also my first time being off the east coast.
-Went to my first baseball game in years in June. It was an Orioles game. They lost. Big time.
-Went to Florida with my family in July. It was my first time down there in 8 years. Had a good time down there, but the trip down and back wasn't quite as enjoyable as the trip to Indianapolis for the wedding. I'd chalk that up to the fact that Brandy is a good person who knows it's rude to lay sideways in your seat and put your feet in the lap of the person next to you. My brother, not so much. Also, there was a significant lack of double rainbow on the way back from Florida.
-Almost as soon as I got home from Florida, I decided on a whim to take Sarah up on her open invitation to have some friends come with her to go to Kings Dominion (an amusement park). Had a great time and overcame my fear of roller coasters. Only went on one though, since the rest of the day got rained out.
-I was in Ben and Brandy's wedding in September.
-Went to the Maryland Renaissance Festival three times this year, after having not gone in several years. The first time was about a week before the wedding, then I went again at the end of the month on a blind date, and again in October with some of the NoVa crew. The last time, we went to Medieval Times afterwards, my first time going. It was pretty much one of the coolest things ever.
-Joined an online dating site in October and I've talked to a few different girls there. Still talking with one currently.
-Also in October, I started management training at work, and just finished it today!
-Had jury duty in November. Served on the jury for a case, which ended up being the only case that month that wasn't cancelled. It was a good experience though, and made for good conversation when I went to my grandparents' for Thanksgiving.

So yeah, things got hectic towards the end of the year, but I've slowly started to reclaim my life. Perhaps the best thing is that as of today my management training is over and I'm now a shift manager, and more importantly, my boss put me in charge of writing the schedule every week. So now, I'm in control of when I work.

So, plans for 2013:
-Start hanging out in NoVa again. Haven't done that in what seems like ages. And actually, Brandy and I have briefly talked about doing another TPM meetup...
-Get back into online dating. I sort of slacked off towards the end of the year. Really, I should try to keep at everything I do and not give up on things so easily. Hmm, sounds like a good resolution.

[Blademaster]

Nobody made a thread because New Year's is the most asinine and inconsistent holiday in the history of the Gregorian calendar and I'm including both Easter and Flag Day in that approximation.

[Perfect Chaos]

2012's done and 2013 started.

Whoop-dee-fucking-doo

[Lady Vulpix]

Nobody made a thread because New Year's is the most asinine and inconsistent holiday in the history of the Gregorian calendar and I'm including both Easter and Flag Day in that approximation.

What do you mean? It marks the beginning of the year, according to the calendar we're all using.

[Knight of Time]

Well, last year had its ups and downs, among them:

-one of my grandfathers died (from complications after he fell out of his bed at the seniors home he was at)
-I eventually stopped going to the place I had been going to on most Mondays and Wednesdays (I simply couldn't take it anymore there, so I stopped going as a regular last fall)
-at one point, the D key on my computer began to run into problems, and figuring it wouldn't be able to stay in place on the keyboard anymore, I had to take the key part off, as re-attaching it has proven to be too difficult without it becoming loose again (meaning someday I may consider buying a new computer)
-just after Christmas, I added DarkPrincess as a Facebook friend...as a TPMer I haven't heard from in years, she and I have talked a bit on there since I added her, though I have a funny feeling for the time being I might only be able to talk to her on weekends since I presume she must be really busy on weekdays or something. Nonetheless, it was great to finally find her again after 8+ years of wondering what became of her.

So anyway, it's still pretty early 2013 here, but I'm hoping this year brings many events to remember.

[mvtm]

2012:

-I got a banking internship in Barbados and did really well.
-Went to my first business trip ever as part of a team sent to Antigua for AML (Anti Money Laundering) practices. Conference.
-A famous (he has his own wiki lol) canadian journalist asked me out for a date. The conference's moderator.
- Had a Nephew!!! (boy)
- Made a new best friend!!
- Travel: Miami,Orlando,Honolulu,Maui,New York,Barbados,Antigua,Turks & Caicos,Lima,Santiago.
- Sex: First try, not necessarily first time.

2013:

-Graduate
-Chavez is going to die. Venezuela hopes to see a light at the end of the tunnel
-Sex: I hope to have my first time with my lifetime crush (difficult, because it is my ex-bf)

[Perfect Chaos]

If you're coming to Miami, we definitely need to party together!

[Blademaster]

What do you mean? It marks the beginning of the year, according to the calendar we're all using.

Exactly. Why does this mundane chronological event deserve to be a holiday again?

Is the first day of the new week a holiday? No, it isn't.

Is the first day of the new fortnight one? Nope.

Maybe the first day of a new month? That's not a holiday either.

How about the first day of a new lustrum? You don't even know what a lustrum is.


Even by holiday standards, it's idiotic and serves no practical purpose.

[Oslo]

-at one point, the D key on my computer began to run into problems, and figuring it wouldn't be able to stay in place on the keyboard anymore, I had to take the key part off, as re-attaching it has proven to be too difficult without it becoming loose again (meaning someday I may consider buying a new computer)

It's not often that a faulty D key winds up on an end of the year retrospective.

[Lady Vulpix]

The first day of a new lustrum is a holiday because 1 lustrum = 5 years, so it is also the first day of the year. And most of our lives is organized in yearly cycles, so I think it makes sense to mark the beginning of a new one with a holiday (even more so where I live, since our school year matches the actual year and most people take a summer vacation in January or February). It's also a good chance to make plans for the year that's just begun.

And I think it's also the only holiday that applies to everyone on TPM.

[midnightangel]

What can I say about 2012? Glad it's OVER.

Work sucked beyond measure, BUT this year I'm going to finish my education--despite the idiots I work with--so I can go for my Masters in Health Care Informatics. I've been looking at the colleges in Florida, and the University of Central Florida has the program.

One highlight of 2012: Went to New Jersey for a convention. Met some great people and I didn't want to come home.

Oh and this year I'm going to another convention in LAS VEGAS BABY!!! Cannot wait for that, and the trip to Key West in September.

Hello 2013!

[Perfect Chaos]

What the deuce? WHY THE HELL ARE THERE SO MANY PEOPLE IN FLORIDA AND WE NEVER EVER MET UP WITH EACH OTHER?!

I DEMAND WE HAVE A TPMSoFL MEETING AT SOME POINT!

GOOD DAY!

[Blademaster]

And I think it's also the only holiday that applies to everyone on TPM.

What about Zak? Isn't the Jewish 'New Year' like a month or two before ours?

And isn't China's a month later? I dunno if we have any Chinese TPMer's, though...

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

Chinese new year varies, it's sometimes in February. If I remember correctly, it's based on the moon.

Wikipedia article on Chinese Calendar

[Lady Vulpix]

What about Zak? Isn't the Jewish 'New Year' like a month or two before ours?

And isn't China's a month later? I dunno if we have any Chinese TPMer's, though...

I think I should be offended that after so many years of knowing me you still don't know/remember that I'm Jewish too. But it's you, and your posts have lost their offensive power over the years (please don't try to regain it, though).

We do celebrate the Jewish New Year, but we still set our schedules to the Western calendar, so we celebrate the Gregorian New Year too. Even in Israel and China they celebrate it. In Israel they call it Silvester, and in China they call it 元旦 (yuandan, which translates roughly to "start of a cycle").

[ChobiChibi]

Why must Americans insist on calling everything a holiday, that's what I want to know. Holiday= vacation. New Year= celebration.

Gabi pretty much said what I would have about who celebrates New Year, except I didn't know about the Jewish new year. I feel better educated

[Lady Vulpix]

Thanks.

I call it a holiday because most people don't on that day, so it's a 1-day vacation.

[shazza]

There is little consensus between the dichotomy of holiday and vacation. In Australia we use the term 'holiday' to denote a public holiday as well as an extended holiday for travel. I was under the impression American's subscribed to vacation - e.g. "summer vacation".

I propose the following: a day that everybody gets off such as Christmas or New Years Day is a celebration or a holiday: we are celebrating the specific event, and it is also a holy day. A vacation, however, is when you take days off and decide to travel - you vacate.

Thanks!

[Blademaster]

I think I should be offended that after so many years of knowing me you still don't know/remember that I'm Jewish too.

I remember very well that you are Jewish and celebrate Hannukah. But I never knew if you celebrated Rash Hashanah or not as well.

However, I'm a white middle-class American male. Automatically assuming things of other cultures, even things that seem obvious, often gets us bitched at in a very self-superior "Just because I'm x DOESN'T mean that I do y you filthy chauvinistic racist buffoon!"

Ergo, when I'm discussing a 'serious topic, I prefer assuming as little as possible due to the wonderful social conditioning that has been being beaten into the skulls of my kind for the past five or so decades. The fact that THAT is also apparently able to be seen as offensive should tell you how well that the practice has been going.

[/firstworldproblems]

[Lady Vulpix]

You assumed that Zak did not celebrate New Year because he was Jewish. And you said that to me, apparently knowing that I'm Jewish too. That's what didn't make sense. You were not assuming as little as possible (if you had, you'd have asked whether the Jewish celebrate it too, rather than saying "Zak doesn't celebrate it because he's Jewish").

As for Rosh Hashana, it's a far more important holiday than Hannukah. The only reason why Hannukah is known outside the Jewish community is because it's in December, but all we do is light candles. We don't even have a family dinner for that (at least not in my family, Zak's family may have one). My family only gathers for Iom Kipur, Rosh Hashana, Passover, New Year's day and birthdays.

[DarkestLight]

2012:
Broke up out of 7 yr relationship.
Performed in 26 comedy shows-including 2 on New Years Eve to ring in the year.
Opened for Chris Kattan, Richard Villa and Andre Roxx of the Wu-Tang-Clan, among others.

2013:
Stop living outta my damn car :/ I'm sick of rent, but I'm also sick of being cold as hell.
Compete in the MT Comedy Competition. Don't care about winning. I just want this chance.
Try to open for Bill Cosby, Tracy Morgan and one more music artist.
Get BACK to NY for a week and see people and make connections.
GET-THE-HELL-OUT-OF-MY-SHIT-JOB. :/
Finish paying this loan. Preferably before I lose my job. Double preferably when I get paid for shows. Triple preferably SOON!

[Oslo]

Oslo thinks DL should put his comedy on Youtube and then post that Youtube video here.

Little nodding smiley agrees.

[Blademaster]

You assumed that Zak did not celebrate New Year because he was Jewish. And you said that to me, apparently knowing that I'm Jewish too. That's what didn't make sense. You were not assuming as little as possible (if you had, you'd have asked whether the Jewish celebrate it too, rather than saying "Zak doesn't celebrate it because he's Jewish").

I think we're using different meanings for the word "Jewish." You're using it religiously. I'm using it nationally.

I wasn't aware that the Jewish New Year was a religious day seeing as how New Year's Eve isn't one.

[Lady Vulpix]

Jewish is not a nationality.

I agree with Oslo, I'd love to see DL's performing skills.

[Blademaster]

It's not a race either. I dunno what the right word is. Ethnicity?

I love how much of this thread isn't even about New Year's.

[DarkestLight]

Soon. Once I get a video of me that's not spliced, or at an open mic (Where I'm supposed to sound crappy...)

[Lady Vulpix]

Hey, don't make yourself sound crappy on purpose!

And Blade... I suppose ethnicity could work, but we all have the same celebrations... plus the national holidays of whatever country we live in. The really religious have a lot more, but I'm pretty sure all Jewish people celebrate those 3 (Rosh Hashana/Jewish New Year, Iom Kipur/Forgiveness Day and Pesach/Passover). In Argentina we're even legally allowed to skip work for those 3 holidays. Hanukkah is among the optional ones, and we're supposed to work anyway.

[RedStarWarrior]

It can be considered an ethnicity, though I don't like that it is used as such.

[Magmar]

There is little consensus between the dichotomy of holiday and vacation. In Australia we use the term 'holiday' to denote a public holiday as well as an extended holiday for travel. I was under the impression American's subscribed to vacation - e.g. "summer vacation".

I propose the following: a day that everybody gets off such as Christmas or New Years Day is a celebration or a holiday: we are celebrating the specific event, and it is also a holy day. A vacation, however, is when you take days off and decide to travel - you vacate.

Thanks!

I always thought the difference was you celebrate "a holiday" but when you go away, you're "on holiday". *Shrug* I'm not from the land of perfect English! (At least where I am, we maim and mutilate the English language on a daily basis...)

Oh and @Blade:
The "I'm white and ignorant" excuse doesn't fly and it bothers me because I'm also white (but very much lower class LOL)... Cultural agility is the 21st century paradigm and it benefits everyone to learn to not draw assumptions of others based upon your perception of their identity. Nobody's offended if you ask questions!

[Blademaster]

Nobody's offended if you ask questions!

Well there's no shortage of nobodies on Youtube...

[Lady Vulpix]

I suppose it depends on what you ask. If you ask "are you stupid?" people are likely to be offended. But if you ask "do you celebrate X?" no sane person should take offense.

[Telume]

What the deuce? WHY THE HELL ARE THERE SO MANY PEOPLE IN FLORIDA AND WE NEVER EVER MET UP WITH EACH OTHER?!

I DEMAND WE HAVE A TPMSoFL MEETING AT SOME POINT!

GOOD DAY!

This.

Dolphin Mall please.

I don't care if it's watching a really bad movie, but it has to happen.

[DarkestLight]

This.

CITYWALK please.

I don't care if it's watching a really bad movie, but it has to happen.

>.> Fixed for absolute ridiculousness :/

[RedStarWarrior]

Holy hell, you guys don't stay on topic.