Now that it’s over and I can’t jinx it…
1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?
Met Bilby. Visited Queensland. Played cricket with Puggle. Sat in ED contemplating learning how to bottle feed at 2am in the morning.
2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Can’t remember what they were and probably.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Many people. Some closer than others 
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes.
5. What countries did you visit?
Does Queensland count? Also California (it may as well be a country).
6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
My brain. More spare time and creative impulse. Less annoyance. More traction.
7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Bilby’s birthday. Lunch with just me, Cory Doctorow and Bruce Sterling. Hearing Sir Arthur C. Clarke interviewed live via satellite. Visiting Berkeley. Any dates mentioned in my blog or captured in photos, as that’s probably how I’ll remember the date
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Bilby. Surviving 2006. Starting tithing to some charities.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not Getting Things Done (TM). Not enough art, not enough writing. Too much TV. Disorganised office. Disorganised data. Slack-assed backup schedule. Not spending enough time with Bilby and Puggle.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Coffee (also the worst thing I bought), information, beer, and tickets to the Josh Pyke concert.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My family. Anyone doing humanitarian or volunteer work.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Our mighty leaders. The Water Corporation.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Somewhere between electronic gadgets, food, shares and the mortgage.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Lunch with Cory and Bruce. Tickets to WWDC. WordCamp.
16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
Josh Pyke - Middle of The Hill
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
Another years worth of happy memories, so I’d have to say happier.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Have not stepped on the scales yet since Christmas, but I suspect fatter.
iii. richer or poorer?
Richer. I think (despite missing the Lotto jackpot again
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Art, writing, spending time with Puggle and Bilby. Hedonism. Travel.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Administrivia. Organising the study. Watching crap TV.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent both first and second Christmas eating excessively and watching how happy Puggle was, and how much Bilby was ogled.
21. What LJ users did you meet for the first time?
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willowgypsy last night/morning. There may have been others during the year.
22. Did you fall in love in 2006?
I fall more in love with my growing family every day. See also #35
23. How many one-night stands?
Less than 10.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Iron Chef America, Four Corners, Torchwood, NCIS, House, Doctor Who, Battlestar Galactica, CNNN, The West Wing, Alton Brown’s Good Eats.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Pretty much just hate the same people more (see ‘politicians’), although I fear my tolerance level is decreasing across the board.
26. What was the best book you read?
Dan Simmons’ “Olympos”. “Geodesica Descent”. Also liking “The Devil Wears Prada” so far. “Richard Scarry’s Great Big Story book”,’The Grinch”,”The Baby Sister” are also in the ‘most read’ list
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Josh Pyke, live.
More random hip-hop. Some random band who were downstairs in the basement of a little bar in Berzerkely.
28. What did you want and get?
My family. C’est suffie.
29. What did you want and not get?
World peace. Everyone to be happy. A faster computer (or a faster Mac OS X)
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Probably “Thank You for Smoking” and “The Inside Man” thanks to some excellent movie selection by Qantas. I think I saw Jarhead, V for Vendetta (I preferred the graphic novel), and Superman (interesting only for Supe getting beaten up by Lex’s thugs, and Lex showing me the sort of boat based library to which to aspire
Sadly did not get to see The Prestige or Children of Men. Yet. Or anything outdoors, or at Luna.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Dinner with my family and folks. Older.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More hedonism, less agro. Sane government of Australia, the US and the rest of the world.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
I upgraded my boots and wore my first pair of sandals in probably 25 years.
34. What kept you sane?
Sanity is overrated. Postsecret. My family helped me get through the day though.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds). Natasha. Alyson Hannigan (Willow, Buffy). Pauley Perrette (Abby, NCIS). Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck, Battlestar Galactica).
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
In addition to last year’s usual political issues, Israel’s wall, attacks on (and from) Lebanon, Saddam’s execution.
Standing at Berkeley where the US government subdued student protestors (as seen in “Berkeley in the 60’s”)
Nice to see an increase in the amount of environmental awareness, now all that remains is to see how much of it is lip service, and how much of it is too late.
37. Who did you miss?
Aunty Betty. James Brown. Friends I didn’t socialise with as much as I’d like to due to other life commitments or geographical difficulties.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Bilby. Pat (via work).
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned
Sleep deprivation can become a way of life. Don’t necessarily trust your GP(s), or pass out alone.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
“I don’t pay enough attention to the good things when I got them…” - Josh Pyke - Middle of The Hill
