avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters December 5, 2013 - 9:04am

Last December I did a whole retrospective thing with pictures.  I was not so organized this year.  I have a cold.  Forgive me!!!

So this is my monthly get to know youthread where we all show up and tell the world about ourselves and let the people who care about you know that you are alive, even though you sometimes forget to check in on the internet.

So...

  1. Are you alive?
  2. What do you want for Christmas? 
  3. Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month?
  4. What are you looking forward to in the new year?
  5. What's the best book you read in 2013?
  6. What's the best movie you watched in 2013?
  7. Tell me a happy memory from 2013!  (seeing a theme?)
  8. What's your favorite holiday tradition?
  9. Do you color your hair?
  10. How often do you shave?
  11. How did you sleep last night?

Adam Jenkins's picture
Adam Jenkins from Bracknell, England is reading RCX Magazine (Issue 1 coming soon) December 5, 2013 - 9:43am

1. Are you alive?
All present and correct
2. What do you want for Christmas? 
Erm… I don’t really know. Nothing stands out, though there are a few books, films, albums that would be nice to have.
3. Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month?
My brother-in-law is 40, plus I have a handful of friends selfishly having birthdays this month, thus adding to the December spending.
4. What are you looking forward to in the new year?
Nothing. There is something that will happen at some point in the initial months that I am dreading though.
5. What's the best book you read in 2013?
Ocean At The End Of The Lane – I was looking forward to reading it so much I thought it couldn’t help but be a disappointment. I shouldn’t have worried, I was enthralled from start to finish.
6. What's the best movie you watched in 2013?
Ooh tricky one. I’ve seen so few films this year as I so rarely get to the cinema. The only one I can recall seeing at the cinema is Monsters University with the kids. It’d probably be Silver Lining Playbook which lovefilm tells me I watched in May (though Avengers and Life of Pi would be up there too).
7. Tell me a happy memory from 2013!  (seeing a theme?)
It’s been a pretty crappy year, though there were some highlights. I’ll say Teleport Us which I really enjoyed.
8. What's your favorite holiday tradition?
It’s all about the food. I love cooking Christmas dinner, and juggling all the dishes so they are ready at the same time.
9. Do you color your hair?
No.
10. How often do you shave?
If I don’t have any meetings, once a week.
11. How did you sleep last night?
I’m not going through any insomnia for once, so not too bad. My youngest woke us up about 3am, but she wasn’t too bad to settle.

Gordon Highland's picture
Gordon Highland from Kansas City is reading Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore December 5, 2013 - 11:12am

Are you alive?  Mos def
What do you want for Christmas?  An Airplay wi-fi speaker so I can beam jams from the cloud through my phone and into my bedroom or wherever.
Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month?  Going to a friend's surprise 40th party on Saturday. I bought him an Onion daily calendar and Yngwie Fucking Malmsteen's autobio.
What are you looking forward to in the new year?  Y'all buying my book, dammit! Also, going to AWP in Seattle at the end of February. Also also, putting a dent 30 or so deep into my stack of 110 unread books.
What's the best book you read in 2013?  The Cost of Living by Rob Roberge
What's the best movie you watched in 2013?  Mud. Honorable mention to Holy Motors.
Tell me a happy memory from 2013!  Coining the phrase "stubbled muffin" into our collective lexicon.
What's your favorite holiday tradition?  Barbecue dinner for Christmas.
Do you color your hair?  What hair?
How often do you shave?  Daily, minus some weekends and vacations.
How did you sleep last night?  Terribly. Finally went down at 3:30, and up at 7: for work.

Sound's picture
Sound from Azusa, CA is reading Greener Pastures by Michael Wehunt December 5, 2013 - 11:17am

Are you alive?

YES!

What do you want for Christmas? 

There isn't anything that I'm dying to get, but I always welcome presents. Usually the best presents for me have to do with cooking or books.

Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month?

Just my sister, who was unlucky enough to have a bday close to Christmas. She gets one present.

What are you looking forward to in the new year?

There's a few book releases that I'm looking forward to. As well as a few anthology projects I'm working on that are looking promising. Hope there are some story acceptances around the corner too. Those are always good.

What's the best book you read in 2013?

I really loved Wonderbook by Jeff Vandermeer. This Is How You Lose Her was great, too, but I think that might have been 2012...

What's the best movie you watched in 2013?

I LOVED The Conjuring. Hunger Games Catching Fire was good, too. Ender's Game was a letdown, though.

Tell me a happy memory from 2013!  (seeing a theme?)

I was pretty happy about finding out my wife and I were expecting. That'll be another thing I'm looking forward to early next year (March!).

What's your favorite holiday tradition?

Hearing my uncle bitch at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve that we should open all the presents cuz he has to leave to his in-laws, too. That's awesome (I'm not joking, I really enjoy that part).

Do you color your hair?

Nope!

How often do you shave?

Not often enough. Usually once a week.

How did you sleep last night?

Good.

Wendy Hammer's picture
Wendy Hammer from Indiana is reading One Night in Sixes December 5, 2013 - 11:57am

 

Are you alive?-- It's the end of the semester so yes, barely. 
What do you want for Christmas? To stay at home, cook dinner for two, drink wine and watch Doctor Who with my husband. That isn't going to happen so I'll hope for a Folio Society edition of The Dark is Rising and clear driving weather. 
Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month? Nope.
What are you looking forward to in the new year? We're going on an Alaskan cruise. I've never been on a cruise before. I like cooler weather and water. I'm cautiously optimistic about it.  
What's the best book you read in 2013? I finally read Stephenson's Diamond Age. Book published in 2013? The first one I thought of was NOS4A2.
What's the best movie you watched in 2013? New release? Gravity, I guess (but I haven't seen The World's End yet). 
Tell me a happy memory from 2013!   First publication! 
What's your favorite holiday tradition? We always watch movies on New Year's Day and try to make a themed meal to accompany. 
Do you color your hair? Yes. It's pretty conservative these days. Dark with reddish highlights. 
How often do you shave? Whenever I remember to, I guess. It's routine. 
How did you sleep last night? Quite well, thanks. 

SConley's picture
SConley from Texas is reading Coin Locker Babies December 5, 2013 - 12:10pm

Are you alive?
**Burrrp**
    What do you want for Christmas?
Money
    Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month?
Nonesuch
    What are you looking forward to in the new year?
Money
    What's the best book you read in 2013?
Libra by Don Delillo but that came out a long time ago. Going Clear was really good, that came out this year.
    What's the best movie you watched in 2013?
Gone Baby Gone but that also came out a while ago. Did Beasts of the Southern Wild come out in 2013? That one was good. Otherwise i don't know. Nothing too remarkable this year.
    Tell me a happy memory from 2013!  (seeing a theme?)
My daughter when she has a laughing fit.
    What's your favorite holiday tradition?

    Do you color your hair?
No. I have some greys but it looked really obvious when i colored my hair.
    How often do you shave?
Not enough.
    How did you sleep last night?
Very good actually. It was the first night in a while i can say that.

Fritz's picture
Fritz December 5, 2013 - 2:38pm

Are you alive:  Still

What do you want for Christmas: Time

Are there any birthdays/ anniversaries this month: I'm celebrating the birth of Christ.

What are you looking forward to in the new year: Taxes going up  My healthcare premiums going through the roof  $7 gallon of milk  A freaking change in washington DC (that may be more of a wish list item) - so - watching my children grow and learn.

What's the best book you read in 2013:  Read more short stories than anything else - Liked the James White alien sci-fi stuff.

Best Movie?  toughy - I'm so hard to please on movies: - I'd say, any old western beats the pants off most of the reconstituted crap hollywood puts out today.

Happy Memory:  So many?  I'm more into the small realizational moments that happen every day - like ... watching people sleep and smiling at their vulnerability.

holiday tradition? basic christmas stuff.

color your hair? - Not gray enough yet.

Shave every 3rd day

I sleep well.

voodoo_em's picture
voodoo_em from England is reading All the books by Ira Levin December 5, 2013 - 2:47pm

Are you alive? YES :)

What do you want for Christmas? Clothes & Books & Movies... Oh and I'd really like the soft toy of Gunther the evil penguin from adventure time, but I'm not sure if anyone has got it me.

Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month? My son will be 10 on boxing day :)

What are you looking forward to in the new year? Hopefully finishing my novella, hopefully getting some stories published, and a ton of other family stuff.

What's the best book you read in 2013? Most definitely the Phineus Poe trilogy, although I have read a lot of cool books this year.

What's the best movie you watched in 2013? Not going to saya movie here (although I've seen a lot of good ones) instead: Breaking Bad!!! Oh. My. God. Sooo good.

Tell me a happy memory from 2013! (Seeing a theme?) Too many.

What's your favourite holiday tradition? All the stuff we do every Xmas day (all going down together to see if Santa's been, wearing silly hats to eat Xmas dinner, eatting too much and crashing out on the sofa, trying to guess the punchline to bad cracker jokes,  not​ watching the queens speech...)

Do you color your hair? I used to do it reds or pinks or purples when I was younger, then just mahogany and red browns. I haven't for a few years now tho, I will when I start to get grey hairs.

How often do you shave? everytime I have a shower.

How did you sleep last night? Terrible!!! I am also ill with a horrible cold :( 

 

big_old_dave's picture
big_old_dave from Watford, about 20 miles outside London, Uk December 5, 2013 - 3:21pm

Are you alive?

Yep

What do you want for Christmas?

Lots of vinyl, nick cave, screaming trees, that kind of stuff really  

Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month?

Yep, I share my Birthday with the big man on the 25th would you believe. Another month of Jesus jokes. Again.

What are you looking forward to in the new year?

As last year I've said to my self I'd get somthing published and completely failed next year I'm just going to try and just try to get better.

What's the best book you read in 2013?

Not really read any new books this year, lots of Richard Thomas, Clevinger, claire vaye watkins

What's the best movie you watched in 2013?

Gravity, A place beyond the pines, trance, blackfish, django, the worlds end,

Tell me a happy memory from 2013!  (seeing a theme?)

Errr....emmm.... dunno

What's your favorite holiday tradition?

Getting shit faced.

 Do you color your hair?

Nope
 

How often do you shave?

When I have to

How did you sleep last night?

Went to the footall, so had about five pints. Yep slept like a log.

Covewriter's picture
Covewriter from Nashville, Tennessee is reading & Sons December 5, 2013 - 10:42pm

 

Are you alive?  :)


What do you want for Christmas? I have more books than I can possibly read, but I've asked for more. Also, I asked my nieces to give me something they created. The 8-year-old said,  "Like a story?" And I said "Yes!" I was so happy. I figured she would make a pot holder.

Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month? Christmas, silly!

What are you looking forward to in the new year? I'm going to slow down. In writing, tennis, work and every day encounter, the same theme is there. Slow down and take your time. No need to get over excited and rush things. Better to be precise and take more in. S L O W  D O W N. 


What's the best book you read in 2013? Just discovered Ron Rash and read Nothing Gold Can Stay, short stories.


What's the best movie you watched in 2013? Les Miserables. Like the play better, but I'm a sucker for all things LM. 


Tell me a happy memory from 2013!  (seeing a theme?) Hum. There are lots. Completing a half- marathon; vacation with my husband at Rosemary Beach, specifically sitting and reading, swimming, and walking all day, and watching the sun set and eating sea food. 


What's your favorite holiday tradition? My family plays games -- trivia, rook, whatever, on Christmas night.  We all act like we hate it but we love it. I also enjoy the morning with just my husband and son, and lately his girlfriend, drinking coffee and opening presents. 


Do you color your hair? My motto: blonder with age.


How often do you shave? A lot. Does that cause cancer? 


How did you sleep last night? Good! The cat didn't sleep with me, which helps. 

Mess_Jess's picture
Mess_Jess from Sydney, Australia, living in Toronto, Canada is reading Perfect by Rachael Joyce December 5, 2013 - 11:35pm

Are you alive?

YES! Not a quiet month to be had in 2013. I hope 2014 is far less eventful. 

What do you want for Christmas?

If someone could pay my bills and for two operations, that would be pretty awesome.

Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month?

Fyhl's birthday today, I believe!

What are you looking forward to in the new year?

A calmer year than 2013. No death or cancer for my friends or family in 2014, please. 

What's the best book you read in 2013?

Margaret Atwood's MaddAddam novel, completing her trilogy. I waited a lonnnnnng time for her final installment and it didn't disappoint me.

What's the best movie you watched in 2013?

I've had really bad insomnia thanks to a torn knee ligament, so I've been staying up watching obscure horror movies every night. Santa Sangre was bizarre and messed up, and I really enjoyed it... but it's from the late 80s, does that still count?

Tell me a happy memory from 2013!  (seeing a theme?)

My wedding and honeymoon. Wooo!

What's your favorite holiday tradition? 

It used to be swimming at the beach then going and seeing my family in the mountains for Christmas, and having a trashy pre or post Christmas party with my uni friends. I'm yet to replace these with a Canadian holiday tradition. Maybe this will be the year.

Do you color your hair?

If I didn't, everyone would know I'm a soulless carrot top. I did my roots last weekend -- back to black again.

How often do you shave?

Not applicable. Ha.

How did you sleep last night?

Very well, thanks! I watched a mediocre sci-fi horror movie, then listened to some lucid dreaming binaural beats and slept soundly for 9 hours.

 

ReneeAPickup's picture
Class Facilitator
ReneeAPickup from Southern California is reading Wanderers by Chuck Wendig December 6, 2013 - 1:02am

Are you alive? At this very moment, yes.


What do you want for Christmas? I'm the jerk that says "I dunno..." I guess I want the Descendent's new special coffee. TONS AND TONS OF IT.


Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month? My neice and nephew.


What are you looking forward to in the new year? lots and lots! My kid's birthday should be fun. She's getting old enough to have an opinion on what she wants to do.


What's the best book you read in 2013? Junkie Love by Joe Clifford


What's the best movie you watched in 2013? That's a rough one so I will go with the best movie experience I had in 2013 which was the Iron Man Marathon at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood. It was totally like being a kid again, we even got an ice cream break!


Tell me a happy memory from 2013!  (seeing a theme?) Taking the kid to Disneyland for the first time!


What's your favorite holiday tradition? Decorating the tree! Or watching Its A Wonderful Life.


Do you color your hair? No, this is my natural color.


How often do you shave? This feels like a really personal question... every couple of days, I guess? I'm concerned about why you want to know this of all of us.


How did you sleep last night? Not that great, actually.

SConley's picture
SConley from Texas is reading Coin Locker Babies December 6, 2013 - 6:40am

Place Beyond the Pines, i forgot about that one. That's my favorite movie this year.

Flaminia Ferina's picture
Flaminia Ferina from Umbria is reading stuff December 6, 2013 - 8:42am

Lol Avery totally forgot about this 5 days. And Renee's natural hair is rainbow.
 

Are you alive?
Very much.

What do you want for Christmas?
Cake for my demons.

Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month?
My grandparents 65 years of love.

What are you looking forward to in the new year?
I'll be writing a lot, at least before the summer. That.

What's the best book you read in 2013?
The Room - Hubert Selby Jr.

What's the best movie you watched in 2013? 
It's Bellas Mariposas (Pretty Butterflies) by Salvatore Mereu, set in Sardinia.

Tell me a happy memory from 2013!  (seeing a theme?)
Hugging my best friend when he returned briefly from far far away.

What's your favorite holiday tradition?
Breakfast with Latte and Panettone.

Do you color your hair?
I did, last year's holiday season. Just a couple of random locks at the sides, cyclamen that soon became pinkish. I still wear the blond remnants of it.

How often do you shave?
I don't shave in the winter. Hair keeps me warm.

How did you sleep last night?
Long!

Thuggish's picture
Thuggish from Vegas is reading Day of the Jackal December 6, 2013 - 8:57am

 

Are you alive?

Yep

What do you want for Christmas?

Ammo


Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month?

Jesus' was in the summer, so no.


What are you looking forward to in the new year?

It's a calendar, so whatever


What's the best book you read in 2013?

I enjoyed Inside the Jihad
 

What's the best movie you watched in 2013?

Catching Fire


Tell me a happy memory from 2013!  (seeing a theme?)

Achieving a long standing goal


What's your favorite holiday tradition?

Not Applicable


Do you color your hair?

What kind of boy do you think I am?


How often do you shave?

Maybe once a week


How did you sleep last night?

Hard and a lot, but not enough.

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like December 6, 2013 - 11:26am

1. Are you alive?  Mmm-hmm
2. What do you want for Christmas?  Something other than books
3. Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month?  Yep
4. What are you looking forward to in the new year?  Possible vacation
5. What's the best book you read in 2013?  Most interesting work of fiction: Cyclonopedia by Reza Negarestani. I also really liked The Village on Horseback by Jesse Ball and Notes From a Bottle Found on the Beach at Carmel by Evan S. Connell.
6. What's the best movie you watched in 2013?  Forgot most of them
7. Tell me a happy memory from 2013!  (seeing a theme?)  The theme is 666
8. What's your favorite holiday tradition?  Bipolar weather
9. Do you color your hair?  No
10. How often do you shave?  Two or three times a week
11. How did you sleep last night?  I sleep fine 29-out-of-30 nights

Dino Parenti's picture
Dino Parenti from Los Angeles is reading Everything He Gets His Hands On December 6, 2013 - 1:10pm

Are you alive?  Nothing like a chilly LA morning in the 30s to remind you that you are (mild apologies to the rest of you who have, you know, an actual winter).

What do you want for Christmas? A new congress and/or the death rattle of the Tea Party. Realistically though, nothing you can put under a tree. Piece of mind? That would be nice, Oh, and a Macbook Pro would not go amiss. Nor would a Nikon D800.

Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month? My Parents' anniversary (I believe their 43rd???)

What are you looking forward to in the new year? Starting/finishing my first novel.

What's the best book you read in 2013? Loved Gillian Flynn's Sharp Objects. Also really dug Ben Winters's The Last Policeman series.

What's the best movie you watched in 2013? A Place Beyond the Pines. Little else has stuck.

Tell me a happy memory from 2013!  (seeing a theme?) When my good friend's 2 1/2 year old boy and informal godson whispered into my ear last week if I wanted to be his best friend. That, and getting some stories published.

What's your favorite holiday tradition? Watching A Christmas Story and The Twilight Zone marathon.

Do you color your hair? My bare scalp would not approve.

How often do you shave? Couple of times a week more-or-less.

How did you sleep last night? Like the dead.

Jack Campbell Jr.'s picture
Jack Campbell Jr. from Lawrence, KS is reading American Rust by Phillipp Meyer December 6, 2013 - 1:17pm

Are you alive? Supposedly

What do you want for Christmas? Most Christmas's, I get Barnes and Noble leatherbound classics. This year, I am hoping for Dracula http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/barnes-noble-leatherbound-classics-dracula-bram-stoker/1106658799?ean=9781435129733 or Frankenstein http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/frankenstein-mary-shelley/1116608310?ean=9781435136168

Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month? My girlfriend's birthday and our anniversary is at the end of this month.

What are you looking forward to in the new year? The last semester of grad school.

What's the best book you read in 2013? Either Geed Love or House of Leaves

What's the best movie you watched in 2013? I really liked Catching Fire, but I didn't see many movies this year, in general.

Tell me a happy memory from 2013!  (seeing a theme?) Nothing specific, but it was an okay year.

What's your favorite holiday tradition? I don't really have any anymore. Living a ways away from family and only having my son ever other year has killed most traditions.

Do you color your hair? I can't have "unconventional" hair colors at work, I would never dye it to hide the gray, so no.

How often do you shave? About every other work day. I rarely shave when I'm not working.

How did you sleep last night? The girlfriend has a cough, so it was only so-so.

ReneeAPickup's picture
Class Facilitator
ReneeAPickup from Southern California is reading Wanderers by Chuck Wendig December 6, 2013 - 1:19pm

I'd love a nice camera, too, Dino. But I keep talking myself out of spending the money, and in turn, talkign the Bang out of buying me one.

I'm really going to have to check out A Place Beyond The Pines.

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like December 6, 2013 - 10:07pm

A Place Beyond... is certainly worth a view.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated December 7, 2013 - 9:27am

Are you alive?

Yes.

What do you want for Christmas?

Kindle Fire.

Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month?

No.

What are you looking forward to in the new year? 

Sorta.

What's the best book you read in 2013?

Ex Communication

What's the best movie you watched in 2013?

Not sure.

Tell me a happy memory from 2013!  (seeing a theme?)

No comment.

What's your favorite holiday tradition?

Having a real tree.

Do you color your hair?

No, I feel I earned the gray.

How often do you shave?

Trim my beard a few times a week.

How did you sleep last night?

Middling.

Chacron's picture
Chacron from England, South Coast is reading Fool's Assassin by Robin Hobb December 7, 2013 - 10:32am

Are you alive?

Yes and still thankful for it.

What do you want for Christmas?

New printer would be nice.

Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month?

No.

What are you looking forward to in the new year?

Finishing my third novel draft; going on an advanced chainsaw licence course in January; maybe we'll have snow in my part of the world if we're lucky like last year 

What's the best book you read in 2013?

Great North Road by Peter F Hamilton. 

What's the best movie you watched in 2013?

Stoker.

Tell me a happy memory from 2013!  (seeing a theme?)

I got a new job and finally moved out of my parents' house.

What's your favorite holiday tradition?

Drinking whisky at breakfast time on Christmas day.

Do you color your hair?

No although I used to put blonde highlights in it, and one time when I was 18 I dyed the whole lot white-blonde.

How often do you shave?

Every morning. Beards just don't look good on me.

How did you sleep last night?

Like a rock.

XyZy's picture
XyZy from New York City is reading Seveneves and Animal Money December 7, 2013 - 11:47am

Are you alive? I've had my coffee, so yes.

What do you want for Christmas? I want a Tom Baker scarf, and I already got it :)

Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month? My brother's birthday was last week.

What are you looking forward to in the new year? I haven't planned that far ahead. I don't even know what I'm looking forward to later today.

What's the best book you read in 2013? The Irresponsible Self: On Laughter and the Novel by James Wood was quite good. So was Bakhtin's Problems of Dostoevsky's Poetics.

What's the best movie you watched in 2013? Umm... I just re-watched In Bruges, does that count?

Tell me a happy memory from 2013!  (seeing a theme?) Yeah, pretty much all of them.

What's your favorite holiday tradition? My favorite holiday tradition is going to Festival International de Louisiane every April... but "christmas-holiday" tradition favorite would be me and my sister drinking too much mulled wine and watching Poltergeist on christmas morning.

Do you color your hair? On occaision. Usually bright red or blue.

How often do you shave? I usually shave once a year at the beginning of summer.

How did you sleep last night? Like a barracuda.

Chacron's picture
Chacron from England, South Coast is reading Fool's Assassin by Robin Hobb December 7, 2013 - 1:48pm

What's the best movie you watched in 2013? Umm... I just re-watched In Bruges, does that count?

Hell yes, I love that film!

voodoo_em's picture
voodoo_em from England is reading All the books by Ira Levin December 7, 2013 - 2:24pm

Ah I love In Bruges too :)

& Stoker was visually beautiful & creepily mesmerising.

Raelyn's picture
Raelyn from California is reading The Liars' Club December 8, 2013 - 8:11pm

Are you alive?
At the time of my typing this: yes. But I don't want to jinx anything.

What do you want for Christmas? 
I always want books, and no one ever gets them for me. Although my family does a wonderful job of getting me things that I actually need, but don't buy because I spend all my money on books.

Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month?
Not in my family.

What are you looking forward to in the new year?
A friend of mine who owns a local toy store (Dragatomi) just asked me if I'd like to work at her booth for ComiCon this year. Of course!

What's the best book you read in 2013?
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman, and Peter & Max by Bill Willingham

What's the best movie you watched in 2013?
Funny, I work in a movie theater, but I don't watch too many movies. The Conjuring was pretty cool. Even though video games are, of course, not movies: Bioshock Infinite was absolutely amazing. If you're not a gamer just play on the easy mode so you can experience the story. You will not regret it.

Tell me a happy memory from 2013!  (seeing a theme?)
I got to meet Neil Gaiman back in July. He drew a picture of a rat in my copy of Coraline and gave me a hug which made me cry.

What's your favorite holiday tradition?
Cioppino and dark chocolate peppermint cheesecake on Christmas Eve 

Do you color your hair?
I've put red henna in it a few times, but never permanent dye.

How often do you shave?
On days that I don't have to wake up at 6:00am to go to work. (I also am a manager at a Massage Envy with early hours)

How did you sleep last night?
I had a headache, and I woke up in the middle of the night with my neck pressed against the wall… so not too well.

TheScrivener's picture
TheScrivener from Seattle is reading short stories December 9, 2013 - 2:16am

Are you alive? Yes, but.

What do you want for Christmas? stainless steel Moka pot.

Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month? My mom's.

What are you looking forward to in the new year? Getting well. Running the NYC marathon. SIFF. Spring and Autumn in New York. Summer in Seattle. Wine and coffee--the constants. 

What's the best book you read in 2013? The Closing of the Western Mind

What's the best movie you watched in 2013? Mesrine: Killer Instinct 

Tell me a happy memory from 2013!  (seeing a theme?) Biking around Montreal right as a thunder storm was about the hit.  The sky was green.

What's your favorite holiday tradition? My family is way too divorced to have any traditions other than seven layer dip. And my cousins and I have been making fun of my Aunt and Uncle for a really long time.  Especially the soups...watery watery soups.

Do you color your hair? no

How often do you shave? rarely.  wax.

How did you sleep last night?  meh.

 

Jeff's picture
Jeff from Florida is reading Another Side of Bob Dylan by Victor Maymudes December 10, 2013 - 5:25pm

1. are you alive

In a word -- yea. 

2. What do I want for Christmas?

A time machine so I can relive the freakish fact that the first night of Chanukah and Thanksgiving fell on the same day. 

 

 

Jeff's picture
Jeff from Florida is reading Another Side of Bob Dylan by Victor Maymudes December 10, 2013 - 5:25pm

1. are you alive

In a word -- yea. 

2. What do I want for Christmas?

A time machine so I can relive the freakish fact that the first night of Chanukah and Thanksgiving fell on the same day. 

 

 

Jeff's picture
Jeff from Florida is reading Another Side of Bob Dylan by Victor Maymudes December 10, 2013 - 5:28pm

3. Birthdays, anniversaries? 

Yeah, anniversary in the sense that this is that time of the year. 

Jeff's picture
Jeff from Florida is reading Another Side of Bob Dylan by Victor Maymudes December 10, 2013 - 5:28pm

3. Birthdays, anniversaries? 

Yeah, anniversary in the sense that this is that time of the year. 

Jeff's picture
Jeff from Florida is reading Another Side of Bob Dylan by Victor Maymudes December 10, 2013 - 5:31pm

4. Lookin' forward too anything in '14. 

Yeah, maybe I'll get this virus straightened out that makes my cursor go beserk, like a "crazy ant" and prevents me from answering all these questions in a single window like a normal litreactor. 

Jeff's picture
Jeff from Florida is reading Another Side of Bob Dylan by Victor Maymudes December 10, 2013 - 5:36pm

5. Best book? 

I'm always the most in love with the one I'm currently reading which is "Jung on Active Imagination". Ck. out the chapter entitled "3 Letters to Mr. O." 

Jeff's picture
Jeff from Florida is reading Another Side of Bob Dylan by Victor Maymudes December 10, 2013 - 5:51pm

6. Best Movie of"13?

"Seven Sociopaths!" The title alone elevates it.  

7. Tradition?  

whispering into the ear of the person next to me, so they can whisper into the person next to them, so they can whisper into the person next to them...  And then at the end you find out how close the last one was to the original whisper.

9. Color my hair?  No but to be honest sometimes I hate my hair, but I blame that on the particular mirror I'm using at the time. 

Happy holiday memory? 

Blacking out at the "Black Cat" dance one special New Years Night from JD and all the bliss which that implies when you awake the next morning not remembering what you did. 

10. Shave how often?

Just for work, otherwise fug it. 

11. Sleep last  night?

Last night I took the daring leap from 83 degrees down to 82 and it worked. I slept much better than the night before. 

Jeff's picture
Jeff from Florida is reading Another Side of Bob Dylan by Victor Maymudes December 11, 2013 - 7:15am

Happy memory in '13?

Yea.

Jose F. Diaz's picture
Jose F. Diaz from Boston is reading Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel December 10, 2013 - 11:57pm


    Are you alive? Sure
    What do you want for Christmas? Nothing
    Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month? No
    What are you looking forward to in the new year? It being over
    What's the best book you read in 2013? The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
    What's the best movie you watched in 2013? I really don't remember any that were amazing this year.
    Tell me a happy memory from 2013!  (seeing a theme?) My Nietzsche class and Human Knower class were amazing. AMAZING!
    What's your favorite holiday tradition? Not participating
    Do you color your hair? No.
    How often do you shave? Once or twice a week.
    How did you sleep last night? I have no clue what sleep is at this point. I'm in the middle of Finals.

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters December 11, 2013 - 10:46am

1. Are you alive?  YES!
2. What do you want for Christmas?  All I want for Christmas is you?  
3. Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month?  YES!  The anniversary of my glorious birth was on the 7th.  Sean's birthday is the 15th.  Also some friends, but you don't know them, they go to another school.
4. What are you looking forward to in the new year?  Everything!  I liek to start the year optimistic and let reality slowly drain it away from me so that I'm miserable by December.  But really, I'm getting married next year.  So, that.
5. What's the best book you read in 2013?  Hill William - Scott McClanahan
6. What's the best movie you watched in 2013?  This is hard because I was lucky enough to enjoy a lot of good movies this year.  The first to pop to mind is The Conjuring, in part because I thought it was awesome and in part because I had a good time watching it.
7. Tell me a happy memory from 2013!  (seeing a theme?)  So many!  This was a great year.  I'm goignt o go with Books and Booze Live in St Louis.  I had so much fun that weekend.  Meeting internet friends is awesome.  I highly recommend it.
8. What's your favorite holiday tradition?  New Christmas pajamas, watching my favorite Christmas movies, cookies.
9. Do you color your hair?  Yeah, but nothing too exciting.  I just get the gray out.  #TeamBrunette
10. How often do you shave?  pretty often.  
11. How did you sleep last night?  Good.  I was warm and cozy, but it wasn't long enough.  

voodoo_em's picture
voodoo_em from England is reading All the books by Ira Levin December 11, 2013 - 2:10pm

"But really, I'm getting married next year"

^ Congratulations!!!!!!! :)

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts December 11, 2013 - 2:15pm

Are you alive?

Regretfully.
    What do you want for Christmas?

I always feel too guilty to ask for anything but I love presents so I have to get them all myself. I might get the new Novation Launchkey or something similar/more reliable that will still be an upgrade for my humble coat closet studio. Books in my Amazon wishlist include ones by John Horner Jacobs, Scott McClanahan, all the Broken River releases so far, and those cool looking special ed. TMNT volumes.
    Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month?

They're all dead.
    What are you looking forward to in the new year?

 Being more serious at money work and writing work. I'm very optimistic, which for me happens once ever 15 years or so.
    What's the best book you read in 2013?

So many good ones I read, not so many that actually came out this year tho. Sam Lipsyte's THE ASK and maybe Samuel Delany's DARK REFLECTIONS might tie for first. Short story collection-wise probably Dan Chaon STAY AWAKE.
    What's the best movie you watched in 2013?

MUD and on dvd BLUE VALENTINE.
    Tell me a happy memory from 2013!  (seeing a theme?)

Saw a few bands I've loved since I was a kid, which was nice, traveled a little, everything else has gone horribly wrong this year.
    What's your favorite holiday tradition?

Everyone I know getting seasonally depressed.
    Do you color your hair?

I'm waiting for my grey hairs to grow into a full on white patch or two, I think it would look cool.
    How often do you shave?

My head every other month, I'm a committed beardo wierdo tho.
    How did you sleep last night?

I don't sleep well.

Profunda Saint-Sylvain's picture
Profunda Saint-... from Calgary, AB is reading Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy Series December 11, 2013 - 4:00pm

Are you alive?
Yessiree.

What do you want for Christmas?
Some eccentric billionaire to pay off all the things I owe to everyone else.

Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month?
Likely.

What are you looking forward to in the new year?
So far I am most looking forward to having a couple weeks off of school before the new year. I'm going in blind.

What's the best book you read in 2013?
Another Roadside Attraction. It's been sitting on my shelf too long, I can't believe it took this long to get back to it.

What's the best movie you watched in 2013?
Probably Seven Psychopaths. It takes Walken to get me out to the theatre these days.

Tell me a happy memory from 2013!  (seeing a theme?)
I'm sure there are some. They're just hiding.

What's your favorite holiday tradition?
A large and lonely pot of Xmas Gumbo. With bourbon.

Do you color your hair?
Occassionally. 

How often do you shave?
Less often than most people, probably, but often enough that I don't think anyone has ever really paid much attention.

How did you sleep last night?
I had a weird dream about a paper bunny and a traumatic ear piercing ordeal. But at least I slept a little.

drea's picture
drea from Rural Alberta, Canada is reading between the lines December 12, 2013 - 10:33am

Are you alive? Yep. 
What do you want for Christmas? Christmas has everything it needs. 
Are there any birthdays/anniversaries this month? Nope. 
What are you looking forward to in the new year? Getting my motorcycle back. 
What's the best book you read in 2013? Counting Coup by Larry Colton. Seriously great non-fiction. 
What's the best movie you watched in 2013? Amelie. It's always the best every year. 
Tell me a happy memory from 2013!  (seeing a theme?) Vacationing in the Kootenay's with my son. Also getting snowed in in New York, LA and readings with my poet friends, and a week in Portland with my fancy writer friends including Otis. 
What's your favorite holiday tradition? Getting crunk with my BFF and making our families Christmas dinner. 
Do you color your hair? Yep. 
How often do you shave? Once a week-ish. 
How did you sleep last night? On my side. 

ReneeAPickup's picture
Class Facilitator
ReneeAPickup from Southern California is reading Wanderers by Chuck Wendig May 29, 2014 - 11:46am

Does anyone else see a photo of a dude and the username "Jeff" where it should clearly... uh... not be?

Utah's picture
Moderator
Utah from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry May 29, 2014 - 12:02pm

I was wondering about that.  But whoever did it changed it back.  Was a bit weird, both to resurrect the thread and to attribute it, and a couple others, to Jeff.

Nathan Scalia's picture
Nathan Scalia from Kansas is reading so many things May 29, 2014 - 12:04pm

This was a little glitch. The user Jeff Beckerman asked us to help him get back into his old account "Jeff", but when we were trying to merge the accounts, some things got messed up a bit. Kirk's on it now.

Utah's picture
Moderator
Utah from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry May 29, 2014 - 12:10pm

It's okay.  I've always thought of Averydoll as "Jeff" anyway.

Nathan Scalia's picture
Nathan Scalia from Kansas is reading so many things May 29, 2014 - 12:18pm

I'm glad someone else said it. I thought I was the only one who called her Jeffica.

Utah's picture
Moderator
Utah from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry May 29, 2014 - 12:22pm

Well...you are.  Straight up "Jeff" for me.  No chaser.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated May 30, 2014 - 5:34am

Well this is the oddest Thredomancy I've ever seen.