The One I Was Yesterday

Ok, this is probably the longest post in the history of this blog, feel free to read the parts you want to read.. or read it in sections or something (I made like lines and stuff that separates the different parts).. just bear in mind that I don't post all that often so I felt I had to make up for it a bit... AND it's a new year so I need to go through some things! I'm sorry if there are any misspell anything I don't have time or strenght to go through it.

Ok first of all; I was at Kenny's place during new year's and up until yesterday, it was great fun, we were 5 people. We came up with an idea; to have a tournament. We ended up playing 8 different games in the "grand" tournament XD (9 different opportunities to get points though, we played both team and single matches in Brawl). The games were: Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Ragdoll Masters, Counter Strike 1.6, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Geiteiku Ninja Taisen 4, Naruto Ultimate Ninja: Storm, BlazBlue and Day of Reckoning 2. I won in only one game; Naruto Ultimate Ninja: Storm. I got last place in 4 games; Team Brawl, Counter Strike 1.6, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Geiteiku Ninja Taisen 4. Even so; I ended up in 4th place in the whole tournament! (We called the tournament "The Honor of the Nerds", HN for short.. we plan on doing it again next year). Oh and Kenny won, SJ got in second place, Alex 3rd and Krom/Jocke got in last place (only a few points seperated him and me).

Tomorrow is Star Wars marathon -time with some friends from school, it'll be fun : )!

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This is 40 questions from the past year I found here: http://www.crucialminutiae.com/40-questions-about-your-year I just googled something for something like it and found it! I liked the questions so I'm using it. I wanted to sum up my year in a good way, feel free to read and not read the parts you really care about, I know it's kind of long.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?

I went to concerts with some bands I had never seen before like U2, Stephen Lynch and Coldplay

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I don't make New Year's resolutions so no?

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes, if family counts as close so yeah :P

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Yes

5. What countries did you visit?

Sweden! XD Maybe UppCon counts, although that's a whole other world.. but then again; if you think like that; the concerts would count too.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

Free time.. I won't say "and something I won't talk about" in these answers because that makes people interested and when they are interested and don't get any answers they get all pissy XD.

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

I don't think there is any important date that will be stuck in my mind like that.. maybe UppCon (16-18 january) because I remember the dates of the previous events still.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Being there almost every day for about a month for a friend who really needed it in the begining of the autumn term

9. What was your biggest failure?

I always fail at everything but life's made for failures! Mostly I fail at being someone who pushes things forward so they become reality, I'm depending on other people to make me do anything. I just sit around waiting for the world to activate me.. that's really sad though because the world mostly don't want nothing to do with me XD.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Uhm.. I just think I was sick more than usual.. nothing dangerous at all but still.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

The christmas present(s) for my mom I think.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Kenny and Simon, they are the greatest of friends.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

My ex, another girl. And apart from those main ones; most people will inevitably, whether they mean to do so or not fail you from time to time and that is also a big source for sudden depression.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Concerts I think.. Even though I didn't even pay for some of them (Coldplay was a christmaspresent and so on).. I still bought t-shirts while at the concerts too so yeah. OH! NO! I just remembered I spent ALOT of money during only 1 week, mostly on my trip to Rome I'll be making this spring but also on my ticket to UppCon and a hat for my graduation.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Uhm.. let's see.. movies are all just bad and bland these days.. Manga and Anime is like.. ok.. The only games that were good that came out this year was surprises so I couldn't get excited.. Nothing in my personal life was that spectacular I think.. so yeah, some cds (like the ones on my list from some months ago) and concerts. Oh and UppCon.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?

Let's see.. *opens up Spotify* Hey princess by Popsicle mostly because I found out about it just this year and I've been listening to it sooooo much and I can't get enough of it either.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

I. happier or sadder?

I always think it was better before and wish that I could be little again I think.. but even knowing that I think this year was a little sadder.

II. thinner or fatter?

Fatter.. and now I'm on medicine that says "don't push yourself too hard while on these pills" great huh -_-`?

III. richer or poorer?

I'm richer in every way I think.. I'm more experiences richer, I've got more money I think..

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

All sorts of friendly activities.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Hesitating (but that won't change anytime soon)

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

Is this supposed to be for 2009 or 2010?.. Oh well.. since I have no clue what this year will bring I will say I spent it with my family this year and intend to do so next year too.

21. How will you be spending New Year’s Eve?

I spent it at Kenny's place for a LAN and intend to do so next year too.

22. Did you fall in love in 2009?

I don't really know, maybe? Does it matter all love has given me is unhappy, unrequited love and the ability to dream. Well I've seen what love shouldn't be too (my ex).

23. How many one-night stands?

0

24. What was your favorite TV program?

Popcirkus.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

No, I don't really hate people.. I did that some years ago.. but nobody is an ass enough these days..

26. What was the best book you read?

Hmm.. I didn't read much.. but I guess I started to read Leven Thumps and the Whispered Secret before New Year's so I guess that counts!

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Spotify! (Last January or something, I've been using it almost everyday since then and I've learned about more bands than Youtube ever thought me about since then.

28. What did you want and got?

I wanted some presents and I got them, I wanted to do stuff with friends and I got that from Kenny at least.

29. What did you want and not get?

Hmm.. Everything could be better! So I guess I wanted everything and got close to nothing compared to what your fantasy can give you a vision of.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?

At first I thought "Bah no great movies came out, The Wrestler, Sommaren med Göran, Harry Potter 6 and Kenny Starfighter were good but not great. But then I remembered that one of my favorite movies of all times was released this year: WATCHMEN

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I'm 18 years old and I didn't do much on my birthday, some friends of the family visited and it was nice.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Pah! What a hard question.. Less tragedies, more activities?

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?

"I don't give a crap what you think, I like this shirt and feel good wearing it"

34. What kept you sane?

Funny, I kind of wonder that too! But I guess Simon.. cause I often text him when I'm feeling a bit on the verge to insanity.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I don't really know.. Celebrities seem as downright awful as the rest of us.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

Absolutely the debate about internet-piracy.. Obama has been interesting to follow this far too.. even though he is so dissapointing in so many was so far.

37. Who did you miss?

Oh.. O_o.. I don't know!

38. Who was the best new person you met?

I didn't meet all that many new persons I think.. Oh! My new relatives maybe! A cousin on my fathers side had a baby and a cousin on my mothers side also had a baby.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:

I don't look down on my past self, I know about as much now as I knew last year.. in fact I think I'm only growing stupider for each year.
Still.. one of the greatest lessons is still like "Don't expect much from life, that way life can be much more than you expected.. and expect the unexpected, good or bad.)

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

I seriously can't sum up a year with one song.. even though most of these songs say kind of the same thing I still felt like none of them described it better than the other.

"Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile"
Smile by Nat King Cole

"There's a house across the river, but alas. I cannot swim
And a garden of such beauty that the flowers seem to grin
There's a house across the river, but alas, I cannot swim
I'll live my life regretting that I never jumped in

There's a boy across the river with short black curly hair
He wants to be my lover and I want to be his peer
There's a boy across the river but alas, I cannot swim
And I never will get to put my arms around him

There's a life across the river that was meant for me
Instead I live my life in constant misery
There's a life across the river but I do not see
Why I should please those that will never be pleased

There is gold across the river but I don't want none

Gold is fleeting, gold is fickle, gold is fun

There is gold across the river but I don't want none
I would rather be dry than held up by a golden gun

Saying work more, earn more, live more
Have more fun"
Alas I Cannot Swim by Laura Mauling

"Ever since i was eight or nine.
i've been standing on the shoreline
all my life i've been waiting for something lasting

oh this town kills you when you are young
oh this town it kills you when you are young.

i'm not the boy that i used to be
this town has got the youth of me
all the eyes turn hollow
from the work of sorrow

you die young
you die when you're young
you die when you're young

we are shadows
oh, we're shadows
just shadows in the alley

standing on the paving
by the office building
there's so much to do
never time for you

you die young
you die when you're young
you die when you're young

we are shadows
oh, we're shadows
just shadows in the alley

i've got nothing
nothing to wait for
nothing to wait for

ooh

where is life in this town?
where is life in this town?"
Shoreline by Broder Daniel (also exists in a great version by Anna Ternheim)

"Remember how you used to say
You couldn't wait till tomorrow for a brand new day
no fuss when ya had to ride the bus
You just add a little blush
To paralyze your school crush

Now you're older and the weight is on your shoulder
Make the world a little colder
No more hidin in the old day
Be strong
Don't you give up hope
It will get hard
Life's like a jump rope

Up down
Up down
Up down
Up down yeah
Cause it will get hard
Remember life's like a jump rope

Up down
Up down
Up down
Up down yeah
It will get hard
Cause it will get hard

There'll be a bump and there will be a bruise
There'll be alarms and there will be a snooze
There'll be a path that you will have to choose
There'll be a win and there will be a lose and

You gotta hold your head up high and
Watch all the negative go by
Don't ever be ashamed to cry
You go ahead
Cause life's like a jump rope

Up down
Up down
Up down
Up down yeah
It will get hard
Remember life's like a jump rope

Up down
Up down
Up down
Up down yeah
It will get hard
Come on

I want to tell you that everything will be okay
That everything will eventually turn itself to gold
So keep pushing through it all
Don't follow, lead the way
Don't lose yourself or your hope
Cause life's like a jump rope

Up down
Up down
Up down
Up down yeah

You stomp your feet so hard you make it pound
Raise the bottom to the top
And now we're never coming down

Up down stomp your feet spin around
Clap hands to the rhythm
Then you slip down

You stomp your feet so hard you make it pound
Raise the bottom to the top
And now we're never coming down

Up down
Up down
Up down
Up down yeah
It will get hard
Remember life's like a jump rope

Up down
Up down
Up down
Up down yeah
It will get hard
Cause it will get hard

Up down
Up down
Up down
Up down yeah
Life's like a jump rope

Up down
Up down
Up down
Up down yeah

Whoa oh
Cause life's like a jump rope"
Jump Rope by Blue October

"Min syster är sjuk jag fick reda på det nyss
Och nu sitter jag i soffan helt tyst
Min syrra, mitt allt är påväg bort
Hon ringde häromdan' och jag förstod att det var nått
Med en darrig ton sa hennes röst, Ken de hittade en knöl i mitt bröst
Jag tappa telefonen och satte mig på marken
Jag svär, det här kan fan inte va' sant
men
mitt i all stress vill min storasyster skydda mig
hon säger Ken det är ingen fara snälla lugna dig
Hur ska jag kunna glömma bort den där stunden
när jag satt bredvid mamma och torka blod ifrån munnen?
Och nu är cancern tillbaks' i min syrra
Jag svär jag fattar inte vart hon finner styrka
Jag är så svag jag är så rädd i mitt lilla hörn.

Jag ber en bön för jag vill inte att du ska dö

June, det här är låten från din lillebror
finns bara tårar, det är lättare att skriva ord
Det är så tungt nu för Conny och barnen
Det blir en kamp att bara klara vardagen
Du är på cellgifter, det gör så ont att höra dig prata om nästa operation
De säger att de hittade en till i andra bröstet
Vad fan hände med första doktorns löfte?
Under täcket så fäller jag tårar
känns som jag är den enda som inte kan sova
Det är inte rättvist att du är den som drabbas
Jag svär det borde vart jag, har svårt att andas
Jag och Diana var ju alltid så vilda
medans du blev en riktigt bra kvinna
Jag bara grinar ifrån mitt lilla hörn.

June, jag gråter som för typ 16 år sen'
för alla bråken är väl mamma nu förlåten
Torka tåren för du blev så mycket bättre
Antar att allt du såg gjorde att det räckte
Jag var så liten då, jag minns inte så mycket
Bara små svaga bilder att hon dricker
Det skulle vart vi fyra föralltid
Kom ihåg vad vi sa om vår framtid
Och du är den som alltid hållt' ihop familjen
Det är väl så att du är den som är Ringen
Och alla minnen gör väl livet lite simplare
För nu på kinden är det tårar som rinner ner
Det här är mitt brev ta med det till mamma
Hälsa henne att jag var tvungen att stanna
Du vet jag ska hålla hoppet vid liv
De säger ju att cancern inte längre finns innuti
För andra gången så tappar jag kontroll
Förlorar allt jag har och bara börjar om på noll
Jag älskar dig June, är vad jag viskar från mitt hörn.

Jag ber en bön för jag vill inte att du ska dö"
Ber En Bön by Ken Ring

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Now I'll finally do something I said I'd do for once! It's the End-O9 The Ones Last Year Awards!
In short, I'll be telling you my favorite in several different categories and a runner up.. in other words 2 titles/people/whatever wins in each category!

BEST LIVE PERFORMANCE 2009

Coldplay at "Stadion" this summer for a fantastical and amasing experience, both visually and in every other way, it felt like they really did their all.

Also: U2 at "Ullevi" this summer, mostly because it was spectacular and because the other shows were great but.. well not as satisfactory. I don't remember the dates but I'm sure it could be looked up in this blog somewhere.

BEST ALBUM 2009

I'll have to say "Söder om Kärleken" by Sofia Karlsson (I had almost forgot this got out this year) I love both the lyrics and the rest of the music, I actually bought this before the "Ipred" law was a real law in Sweden.

Also: "Säg Ingenting Till Mig" by Melissa Horn, I love her voice and the lyrics, combined it pushed out Ken Ring's great album "Hip Hop" from winning.

BEST SONG 2009

"Ber en bön" by Ken Ring words cannot describe this song.. Oh wait! Words can describe this song! The lyrics is all you need, it is delivered with such feeling too, I really, really like this song and it can almost make me cry, it makes me think about a thing that happened during the year, right about when the song was released along with the album, I listened to it.. and listened to it.. and listened to it...

Also: Astronaut by Salem Al Fakir, good lyrics, a sound that feels "comfortable" in some way and masterfully carried out, the song has so many sides to it, you really can make it what you want it to be when you listen to it.

BEST MUSICIAN 2009

Markus Krunegård and Promoe.

Markus Krunegård still kind of lives on his album "Markusevangeliet" in my eyes but he also did release 2 albums on the same day.. I've realized the songs on that album are great too, especially "Mitt Kvarter", he one of the musicians I've been most interested in and curious about this year, he did a great performance at Popcirkus too.. I would've wanted to see him live.

Promoe also released a great album; "Kråksången" but also "Bondfångeri". He is great too, the album Kråksången is overall great! I've also seen him in some different places on tv and so on, he was great live on Musikhjälpen 2009 on svt2, he seemed to try more with the audience than anyone else if I remember correctly, it's been a great year for Promoe.

BEST GAME 2009

Batman Arkham Asylum, it's just great! That's it.. I think it is the best superhero game of all time.. along with Spiderman 2 and Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2.

Also: Flower, for a really different experience, awakening feelings that few games have so far, I would have wished for it to be longer though. Uncharted 2 and BlazBlue were the greatest games after these two, I have to give them a mention at least because I love those games too (although I don't have them).

BEST VIDEO GAME CONSOLE 2009

Ps3: It's finally getting a greater span of great content again with all of my top contenders for the best game on it and nice features too (online play free of extra charge).

Also; Although Wii was a little disappointing this year I can't say that it isn't still going strong, New Super Mario Brothers Wii being a great title for the system and with their presentation at E3 promising some more.

BEST ANIME 2009

I feel that One Piece still is going really strong, with some events and characters and events just now happening that have kind of been built up to in someways through the whole 400+ episode anime. With loads of new GREAT characters making appearances.

Also: Fairy Tail, a series that just started this year as an anime, it took Valkyria Chronicles place (it ended this year) in my set of 5 anime series I watch. I've read the first manga and I think it seems like most stuff is greatly made in anime-form. It has gotten a great start and I'm going to keep watching it.

Some would argue that Naruto Shippuden had a great year.. I don't really agree, many things are happening now that are supposed to make you more pumped about the series than ever but I don't really feel that way.. it's more "meh it's alright" for me.. I don't really know why.. but I think it's partially because my friends spoil most things for me XD.. And also; many things are kind of obvious.. like overly using a character because it will die pretty soon.

And the filler arc kind of destroyed any chances Bleach had with it's epic fighting in the beginning of the year. I must say that the filler arc is probably the best filler I've seen though.. but it's still filler.

BEST YOUTUBE CHANNEL 2009

BlinkTwice4y because he makes great songs! He almost makes too few videos but it's enough to keep me waiting without becoming frustrated, "Make You Stay (Original)" is GREAT!

Also: CardGamesFTW, I love the abridged scene and Little Kuriboh kind of helped create it. TeamFourStar is also great but Yu-gi-oh the abridged series is still king of the hill, keeping the audience satisfied with great extra content like songs.

BEST WEBSITE 2009

Screwattack.com, with version 4 of the site they've managed to also create a community simmilar to but better than Youtube for gamers (also: no hating on the site yet, which is another reason it is better than youtube, it feels like it's more of a "family", everybody is nice to everybody) besides providing AWESOME content from the ScrewAttack Crew, mostly funny, great content with high entertainment value.. this year they proved that they can do more than that too when they want to with this freaky and well-made clip http://screwattack.com/videos/autoupload_cam2_P406135 it was posted for halloween and reminds me of cloverfield (even though I've only seen trailers for it).

UppCon.se, the site for all your UppCon needs.. but why does it deserve a spot here? It just informs about UppCon, sells tickets and has a forum for people to meet and discuss, right? WRONG! This year they did things different, they had a campaign of sorts, saying "UppCon is kidnapped, help!" and told people to complete different challanges, it was really engaging and you wanted to contribute, it got you pumped for the event way longer before than any time else and really showed the spirit of the visitors of UppCon. The new design is also awesome, thanks for a great site guys.

BEST FICTIONAL CHARACTER 2009

Rorschach, carrying most of the "Watchmen" movie on his shoulders, greatly portrayed has really made an impression on me, he's in my top 5 fictional characters of all time.

Also: (I'm sorry to say but we've got another superhero on this place, what can I say? It's been a great year for superheroes.) Deadpool! This is the year I discovered him and he was in a great game (Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2), making it to being my choice of character over other more famous Marvel personalities.

The problem with games right now that makes this position hard for them to reach is the way they are, they're kind of flat.. often you don't get emotionally engaged all that much (like SquareEnix games can do), they're generally not all that funny or special in a clever way. Video game characters of today are more like a tool, a shell for you to place yourself in, I would imagine developers maybe sometimes choose this so that you can get into it more, the opinion of the character might throw you off. That being said, there are exceptions like the uncharted characters who feel more deep and the batman (although batman isn't a videogame from the start so..) character with tons of unique, fun characters with their flaws and strenghts like everybody else.. but overexagerated. The characters in BlazBlue just shows of how great characters can make a game even greater too. Anime characters didn't win this category either, there's really no really great character that made me super excited this year.

BEST FILM 2009

Watchmen for all that it is, it is almost perfect and I really can explain it all that well.

Also: Sommaren med Göran actually was a great film!

BEST TRAILER 2009

Batman Arkham Asylum "2" (http://www.gametrailers.com/video/spike-vga-batman-arkham/59828), the trailer revealing the game also included a ton of hints at what may be, it is masterfully composed and filled with little, little details that makes up the whole picture, just like the first game.

Also: the Assassin's Creed marketing campaign got me more excited than the game itself.

BEST LYRICS 2009

Kort Biografi Med Litet Testamente by Thåström. Great lyrics, the lyrics are kind of strange but I feel that you really assosiate and fill in the gaps yourself. It is a tale telling much while still keeping much of it a mystery.

Also: Yta by Promoe, a great song about our society today, also a little speech by Magnus Betnér is at the end and further improves the song.

BEST EXPERIENCE 2009

UppCon 09, holding most things I'd like to experience most days rather than just one weekend in one place is the closest to a paradise I've been I think.

The Coldplay concert, again, they really gave it their all.. or so it seemed.

BEST TEACHER 2009

My teacher in Latin B, for being really friendly while at the same time teaching us very much. And she listens to her students, at least just enough so that you can handle the workload. This is the only real subject right now that I'd maybe go to anyway even though I found out I had just gained money that will cover all I'd ever want for my whole life.

Also: My teacher in History B, Swedish B and Litterature science. She keeps the lessons structured and doesn't move ahead too fast, making the subjects easier to handle.

BEST CANDY 2009

Vaniljfudge. You know.. the cubes? Here, number 14; http://www.candyking.com/Candyking/templates/Candyking_ProductList.aspx?id=1536&epslanguage=SV . Ah it is so great, it is hard but it melts so easily in your mouth, it's sweet but not overly so, it's just right!

Also: All kinds of chocolate.. is that good enough?... YES.. yes it is.

BEST FOOD 2009

Hmm.. Pizza! Pizza have really moved up in my list of the greatest food this year, this is the food I can go out and eat with my friends.

Also: Home made hamburgers (well.. most of it is bought in the store and just cooked at home).

BEST KIND OF CHIPS 2009 (Suggested by Sdiary, yes I asked for categories XD.. Her blog can be found here: http://sdiary.blogg.se/)

Sour Cream & Onion, being my favorite since long still is the chips I eat when I can decide.

Also: GrillChips which also is okay, I often eat them when my sister can decide.

BEST BLOG 2009

Nytt år, Nya tag (now known as "Nyare år, Nyare tag"); http://simonmagnusson.blogspot.com/, it earns its place because there are interesting thoughts and subjects troughoutly explored with breathing space between the posts (he doesn't post all that often but just about enough).

Also: Sdiary; http://sdiary.blogg.se/, doing something that I often don't find all that interesting in blogs more interesting by using words the right way and keeping it short, about the right amount of words and about the right amount of pictures with a healty amount of updates.

Now, Sdiary didn't win because she suggested this part of the awards at all. Scarydoll was like Nytt år, Nya tag.. but it didn't contain all that many posts and was inactive and I think it is gone now. Also, the other blogs I follow are either too full of content or lacking content.. You shouldn't put quantity over quality but you shouldn't be quiet for 2 months at a time either. So there you have it, that is why these blogs kept me the most interested this year (I don't read all that many blogs.. it's only two more than the ones listed in my "blogs this person follows" or whatever.

BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT (Suggested by my sister)

The best christmas presents must've been.. the ones I gave (like my present(s) to my mother, also I got to finally give two classmates presents that I got presents from last year, that felt good.)

Also; the ones I got (like Leven Thumps and The Whispered Secret, I've been wanting it for so long)

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Good bye, I hope everyone will have a great year.