2009 has been a huge year for me, and the curtain’s set to rise even higher in 2010. Before we hammer the final nails in December’s coffin, a eulogy seemed proper. So I took a few minutes to answer a New Year’s question meme, which has been making the rounds of blogs.

(The photos are from Narzib’s MySpace; RIP to the haunted hentai Tokyo party!)

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? Drank gooey “brains” from the head of a mannequin with Andrew Zimmern. (Photo memories here!)
2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn’t make any last year, so there were none to break.
3. How will you be spending New Year’s Eve? Believe it or not, I’m having a lowkey gathering with old friends. There’s so much decadence ahead in January that I don’t feel I’m missing out. In any case, this year’s best New Years party is DJ Taiki’s Black Veil in Osaka, and Count de Sang will have a report for you!
4. Did anyone close to you die? Ha, everyone around me is undead.
5. What countries did you visit? Japan (Tokyo), USA (NYC, Philly, DC, LA), Canada (Vancouver) — and it was all for work. No rest for the wicked.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? Spend more time on the fashion line. And I will.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Gackt’s July 12 concert at Saitama Arena was unforgettable.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? I’ve had the opportunities to do TV and writing work that I never thought were possible.
9. What was your biggest failure? I wasn’t able to visit friends and family in Hong Kong. No time, no rest…
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Broke a nail? haha.
11. What was the best thing you bought? It only cost a few dollars, but I love my kawaii panda ring from Outlet in Ikebukuro.
12. Where did most of your money go? My Scottish Fold baby, Basil Farrow.
13. What song will always remind you of 2009? I want to @#*# with you! / You want to @#%@ me too! (From our Japanese-glam-horror-camp movie.)
14. What do you wish you’d done more of? Studying Japanese.
15. What do you wish you’d done less of? Nose candy. Kidding, kidding!
16. What was your favourite TV program? Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations FTW.

17. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I don’t hate anyone, but some people have disappointed me.
18. What was the best book you read? Ryu Murakami’s Piercing.
19. What was your greatest musical discovery? Sopor Aeternus and a handful of Visual Kei bands.
20. What was your favorite film of this year? Tale of Two Sisters. Creepy K-horror that still gives me the chills.
21. What did you do on your birthday? I gave away prizes on my blog.
22. What kept you sane? Basil Farrow.
23. Who did you miss? My Tokyo spooks.
24. Who was the best new person you met? I met so many inspiring new friends in 2009.
25. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009: As each year passes, it becomes more tempting to succumb to expectations about how you should live… Don’t. Do what you want to do.

I’m curious to hear about your own reflections — what are your goals and expectations for next year? What are your own responses to the questions above? Comments are always welcome.

New CNNGo article by La Carmina: 6 weird things people do when they travel. Such as wear three facemasks or buy ugly postcards or take pictures of stuffed animals…