2011 Year in Review

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Lows
  • Lost my job due to the economy.
  • The MINI died due to a overly costly transmission failure.
  • Several health issues requiring a substantial amount of medication.
  • Lost two long time friends due to irreconcilable differences.
  • A few unwise investments.
  • Several failed job leads.
  • Cancelled a trip I was really looking forward too.
Mehs
  • Bought a new car to replace my dead MINI.
  • Was hired into a new job, albeit contingent.

Highs
  • Met Jim Leyland.
  • Attended one of the best Tiger's game, where the blew out the White Soxs.
  • Bought a project car. Why? Because racecar.
  • Decided to go back and get my masters degree.
  • Skyrim was released.
 
High points for me? ... ... ... I finally got a 1/18 scale Viper GTS-R Team Oreca after wanting on for over 7 years!! I love it thanks to GT3! :p Though I got it in a different livery. It was a massive high point for me. ;)

Low point... My treasured dog, Hazel dying. :( Still going to miss having summer at the lake where she'd be swimming in there trying to dig out the water. :lol:

High Point. January 5 2011. I signed up to the coolest site on the net. :gtplanet:

Low Point... Loved Alpacas, Silly, and Peggy died. :(

High Point. Just the other day when I almost hit James LaBrie's F sharp. I felt so accomplished. Now I need to perfect it. I can hold it for the length, but I need to reach just a little more.

Just to get more high points. Getting paid money unsuspectingly for doing so much more help than my older brother and sister. Got $100. Then I worked for my dad one day and earned another $80. Add that to my $120 I had from the previous year. I have earned $300 this year! :eek: And I still refuse to pay money for things I want. :lol:

Last high point: My dad bought us tickets to G3 next year, can't wait to see Steve Vai and Joe Satriani live in March next year!! We got seats in the second row too, I think.
 
High points
  • Seeing Top Gear Live in Brisbane - It's hard to believe, but they (Clarkson and May, Hammond didn't come Down Under - too busy on daytime TV I presume) are even funnier live than on TV.
  • WRC Rally Australia in Coffs Harbour - only 80km from where I live. Words cannot describe how awesome it is to watch world-class rallying as a stage-side spectator.
  • Becoming more experienced with a wheel on racing sims, and finishing well in the top division of a GT5 league I run in.
  • Improving my real-life photography skills after being somewhat inspired by Photomode in GT5

    Low points
  • The deaths of Marco Simoncelli and Dan Wheldon within one week of each other.
 
Highs

- Sharing the 24 of 'Ring experience with chaps on this site.
- Turning 1/4 century.
- Turning my girlfriend into my wife.
- Making some jolly good internet friends on this site.
- My name being the first word for my baby sister to speak.



Lows

- A friend dying tragically and at such a young age.
- Having two dark periods.
- Several violent incidents.
- Realising I have a drink problem.


I'm sure there is plenty more so I will edit and update as they come to me.
 
Good points:
[*] Done with learning chinese, for good (despite 10+ years of learnin im prolly the worst chinese speaker ever)
[*] Senior year of high school (so chill this year, get to class at 8, leave at 12)
[*] Volunteering at a summer school, them kids are cool
[*] Trackmania 2
[*] Got my car (now i need a license)
[*] Found a song that ive been looking for for ages
[*] New router, no more internet crashes :D
[*] Gt5 online, see above
[*] Gt5 spec 2
[*] Figured myself out

Lows
[*] Lost contact with one of my friends
[*] Having to work with a complete ass D:
[*] Volunteering at a summer school, those kids are seriously rabid
[*] One of my relatives is growing up to be a selfish jerk D:
[*] Failing Pre cal
[*] Unable to apply to UCs because of low GPA D:
[*] Dan Wheldon
[*] Japan earthquake and nuclear disaster and the fact that one of my friends wont stop making stupid jokes about it
[*] Developed severe eczema and accidentally got it way infected D:
[*] Had my fear of hieghts worsened

very uneventful year now that i think about it, definitely one of the less important ones to me :S
 
VANDENAL
Going to continue and re-do my high and low points like everyone elses. January: +Continued to visit my oldest brother a lot -Second oldest brother got divorced (he was really sad. -Teased a bit at school, started losing friends. February: +Started talking to Mr. CoolFiat and Ryou and Skython 11. -Girl I liked a lot led me on and used me to do her homework. March: +Got Tokyo Xtreme Racer 3 and Smackdown vs. Raw 2007 from a friend for free. -Math mark slipped to 55% -Stopped caring about school. April: +Stopped believing in God -Failed 3 science tests May: +Got 99% on a math test -Friends stopped talking to me, I was a loner. June: +Passed math with 70% +Passed English with 84% -Social life eroded. July: +Started bike riding 3 km a day. -Was still a loner August: -Same as July. September: +Started Grade 11 +New Friends +Great B-Day Madden NFL 12 +2000 posts October: -Uncle died +99% in Accounting tests. November: +/- nothing December so far: +gifted premium +3000 posts. Started good, went awful, ending great.
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Why thank you... :cheers: :p

Also, I remember hearing about some of this. It's good that you finished up on a good note. Hope it continues. Things with your social life are similar to mine. Where it sort of evaporated for 70% of the year, sort of had one today. :p I remember hearing about your uncle too. :(

I have another plus to add that you reminded me about. :cheers:

Met some absolutely awesome people through GTP. Which I can't thank Jordan enough for creating. I have had a good year as far as music and computer enjoyment goes (that could have come out wrong). Another chance for me to say something positive. Thank you GTP for giving me a little more knowledge throughout a glorious year on the site. :cheers: :gtplanet:

PeterJB
- Acheiving Grade 4 Piano and Grade 8 Cello.
- Confirming I had perfect pitch.
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I'm jealous. Can you tell me the note my kettle is playing? :p How do you find out if you have perfect pitch? I wish I had perfect pitch, it would help my music writing a lot. And my singing. :p
 
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Skython11
Why thank you... :cheers: :p

Also, I remember hearing about some of this. It's good that you finished up on a good note. Hope it continues. Things with your social life are similar to mine. Where it sort of evaporated for 70% of the year, sort of had one today. :p I remember hearing about your uncle too. :(

I have another plus to add that you reminded me about. :cheers:

Met some absolutely awesome people through GTP. Which I can't thank Jordan enough for creating. I have had a good year as far as music and computer enjoyment goes (that could have come out wrong). Another chance for me to say something positive. Thank you GTP for giving me a little more knowledge throughout a glorious year on the site. :cheers: :gtplanet:



I'm jealous. Can you tell me the note my kettle is playing? :p How do you find out if you have perfect pitch? I wish I had perfect pitch, it would help my music writing a lot. And my singing. :p
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It probably could if I heard it :D. Anything that vibrates creates a note, most are just too low to be anything more than a thud. People started to get confused when I could say a note name immediately after hearing it, or recognise the key of a piece just by listening to it, plus, reciting notes I was told to sing. People would test me by playing notes on a piano and I would say the note name almost instantly. It baffles me how people can learn pieces of music from ear without even knowing what the notes are, or to do any kind of melody dictation.

Perfect pitch is something that develops during early childhood, due to various factors, probably hearings lots of music is one of them. Unfortunately it isn't something that can be learned.
 

January: Drove to San Diego, met several SC2 buddies.

February: Hospitalized, recovery

March: More recovering

April: Start planning to move, start focusing on photography more

May: M3 repaired, brother's graduation from university, move one, a girl.

June: MR-S destroyed, finish move one, decide on school, more photography

July: Acquire 5D Mark II, 35mm F/2, 70-200mm F/4L, MLG Anaheim

August: Week in the Bay Area, start legal from Anaheim, Hempfest, PAX and Rover's, a girl.

September: Acquire 17-40mm F/4L, Back in the Bay Area for a week, move number two, start classes, a girl.

October: Acquire 50mm F/1.4, School, a girl

November: School, Snow tires and first snow, thanksgiving.

December(so far): School term ends, a girl?, build webpage for photography, get Masters in SC2.

Summer was certainly the high light of it all, that is for sure. Was super busy for most of that, and a lot of driving.
 
PeterJB
It probably could if I heard it :D. Anything that vibrates creates a note, most are just too low to be anything more than a thud. People started to get confused when I could say a note name immediately after hearing it, or recognise the key of a piece just by listening to it, plus, reciting notes I was told to sing. People would test me by playing notes on a piano and I would say the note name almost instantly. It baffles me how people can learn pieces of music from ear without even knowing what the notes are, or to do any kind of melody dictation.

Perfect pitch is something that develops during early childhood, due to various factors, probably hearings lots of music is one of them. Unfortunately it isn't something that can be learned.
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I know that last bit. That's why I'm so jealous!! I've been writing music for two years, and learning about music. And have been unknowingly passionate for music (sounds odd) since I was in Primary. It took me about 5 years to realize my instrument of passion is vocals. I've always liked to sing, like many. But it helped me realize the passion. Now you come along and make me oh so jealous. :p Bill Bailey has perfect pitch.
 
High points:
Hitting the magical 1,000 post mark on GTPlanet
Getting a PS3
Entering the GT4 Photomode competitions
Meeting SVX, Skython, Xenn, Vandenal and other good friends on GTP
Meeting some good mates of mine while they were on an exchange from Japan
Man U being relegated to the Europa League
Forming the GTPGCA​

Lows:
Having to see aforementioned Japanese friends off at the airport
Exams
Joining the MLPRG
My Laptop and Desktop dying​

Nothing else to add at the moment, but I'll probably have more to add.
 
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PeterJB
It probably could if I heard it :D. Anything that vibrates creates a note, most are just too low to be anything more than a thud. People started to get confused when I could say a note name immediately after hearing it, or recognise the key of a piece just by listening to it, plus, reciting notes I was told to sing. People would test me by playing notes on a piano and I would say the note name almost instantly. It baffles me how people can learn pieces of music from ear without even knowing what the notes are, or to do any kind of melody dictation.

Perfect pitch is something that develops during early childhood, due to various factors, probably hearings lots of music is one of them. Unfortunately it isn't something that can be learned.
Click to expand...

I have perfect pitch as well. 👍
 
PeterJB
It baffles me how people can learn pieces of music from ear without even knowing what the notes are, or to do any kind of melody dictation.
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It's quite simple actually. It's how I play guitar.

I hear the song, and find chords that sound similar to sounds I hear. Works for me.
 
Lows:

Rust on the Grand Prix is spreading to quickly and it will need to be replaced next year.
PS2 finally kicked the bucket. (I think) I'll be looking to upgrade next year.

Highs:

Went to the Daytona 500 and got to see the Wood Brothers back in Victory lane.
Despite a lousy economy, landed a well paying full-time job.
Finally moved out and bought a house, at the perfect time when housing prices and mortgage rates were at an all time low.
Was able to fulfill my 2011 New Year's resolution to lose money and gain weight, so I can end 2011 with a sense of accomplishment.
 
The good
Wife passed her college and will be starting her clinicals soon

both kids have made it through the year so far without anything to bad happening to them

Had my first good family vacation (The first one was at disney world and it was a total nightmare, never take a small child to disney world for a week, it's a horrible experience for everyone. Horrible food, long lines, and nothing for small kids to do)
Wife got her VW thing restored, and I got her a newer VW beetle to add to her collection(Whenever the wife is happy I am happy)

The bad
Lost both of my grandmothers, and my father

Learned that grown men watch my little pony cartoons. I have even tried watching one to see if it's not that weird, and sure enough it is. This just baffles me. I know alot of strange things that people do, and I can see why they do it, but this one I just can't figure out. I usually say to each their own, but I just can't get past this. It makes me feel that the idea of being a man is being lost even more then I thought it was. I know this seems weird to post here under a low point of the year, but it really bothers me more so then alot of the horrible things I see online.

The family business has been forced to close itself twice this year because of the housing market and lack of raw materials. It really sucks that I might have to try and learn something new at the age of 35. I've spent my entire adult life learning the business and now it might be over with.

With the piracy law that was up not to long ago, I learned that people have completely lost the idea of what stealing is, and the desire to work for what you have. If I can't afford it I shouldn't have it, or I should find more work, and save to purchase it.
 
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I like the idea of reviewing my year, but I want to do it a little different than what some have posted

Personal
*Highs*
-Maintaining a "don't worry, be happy" philosophy
-Figuring out I like computer programming, and web development
-Getting a new computer, so I can finally play games released in the last 5 years
-Turning 21
-Finishing my Diploma of Web Development
-Discovering Starcraft 2, the best real-time-strategy game (in my opinion)
-Getting my best ever bowling figures (cricket), 4w for 9r (4-9) from 9 overs, on a ground the size of a football field (very small for cricket)
-Making new friends during mentioned Diploma
-Running a GT4 championship here on GTP
-Playing cricket for a great club (infact, just playing is great)
-Keeping in touch with mates from school. I thought we would drift away, with uni and others moving. It takes a little effort, but is really worth it
-some more things I can't think of now

*Lows*
-Watching my lovely grandparents slowly succumb to old age, getting weaker and weaker
-The stressful 2 weeks at the end of each semester
-Crashing my car, causing more damage than I could afford (Thanks Mum and Dad)
-Feeling a little left out because I choose not to drink alcohol
-A recent realisation that I would really like to experience a stable relationship with a girl
-Running the red tape gauntlet made by Centrelink to obtain student payments for not-so-wealthy people
-that's about it

External factors
*Highs*
-A great F1 season (for racing anyway)
-Fantastic weather
-The theatrical release of "Senna" (and watching it)

*Lows*
-Mass worldwide natural disasters (QLD floods, Japan earthquake, etc)
-Deaths of Dan Wheldon and Marco Simoncelli
-Stupid, senseless riots in the UK
-The work of governments worldwide. in theory, government is good. in practice, not so much...
 
My personal views (not in chronological order!):

High points
- Joined GTP! :gtpflag:
- ...and in the progress, began racing online in GT5 which seems to have no end to it.
- Changed class in high school to a better quality one. The ensuing first half-year has been excellent.
- Acquired a couple of new friends in school.
- Got SR3.
- Had a nice summer holiday.
- Finland won the ice hockey WC.

Low points
- Lack of school results.
- Very unenjoyable F1 / MotoGP season.
- The over-exaggeration of the Royal Wedding.
- Death of my grandpa.
- General lack of things to do on my free time.
 
granturismite
I-Feeling a little left out because I choose not to drink alcohol
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Don't feel left out. I use to drink alot when I was younger and nothing good comes of it. I got in trouble way to many times, and have spent years of my life and lots of money paying for mistakes made while drunk. I haven't had a drink in years, and never have the urge for one. In all honesty it should be illegal. It is by far the worst drug that anyone can do. Nothing else makes you as messed up as it does. Drunk driving should be treated like a crime against humanity and those who get caught should lose their driving privlages for life, and get years in prison. I'll never understand why people don't get in more trouble then they do for DUI. When you drive drunk you are pretty much telling everyone else on the road that you have no interest in if they live or not.

I understand people wanting a drink every now and then, but it is taken to far by to many to keep risking inocent peoples lives. I guess alcohol shouldn't be banned, but DUI should be severly punished, and those who do it, should receive automatic prison time, and fined thousands of dollars.
 
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bevo
Learned that grown men watch my little pony cartoons. I have even tried watching one to see if it's not that weird, and sure enough it is. This just baffles me. I know alot of strange things that people do, and I can see why they do it, but this one I just can't figure out. I usually say to each their own, but I just can't get past this. It makes me feel that the idea of being a man is being lost even more then I thought it was. I know this seems weird to post here under a low point of the year, but it really bothers me more so then alot of the horrible things I see online.
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Finally, someone that agrees with me. I feel a bit sick every time I see one of the "Bronies" post about it.

I guess this brings me to a few more points of the year for me.

Low Points

- Utter disgust at our corrupt government (well that's every year, but especially this one).
- Utter disgust at the rapid decline of nearly everything funny, original, creative, and intelligent on the internet as 4chan and Rage Comics continue to overtake everything else.
- Severe disappointment with GT5 after months of anticipation.
- Experienced raging hormones (quite late, I was 17 until two days ago) that had me longing for a relationship with a girl (just like every other teenage guy on the face of the planet) and not being able to fulfill said desires for ten months out of the year.

High Points

- Acquired a euphonium, bass trombone and mellophonium for very good prices, the first two allowing me to pursue my musical career.
 
bevo
Don't feel left out. I use to drink alot when I was younger and nothing good comes of it. I got in trouble way to many times, and have spent years of my life and lots of many paying for mistakes made while drunk. I haven't had a drink in years, and never have the urge for one. In all honesty it should be illegal. It is by far the worst drug that anyone can do. Nothing else makes you as messed up as it does. Drunk driving should be treated like a crime against humanity and those who get caught should lose their driving privlages for life, and get years in prison. I'll never understand why people don't get in more trouble then they do for DUI. When you drive drunk you are pretty much telling everyone else on the road that you have no interest in if they live or not.

I understand people wanting a drink every now and then, but it is taken to far by to many to keep risking inocent peoples lives. I guess alcohol shouldn't be banned, but DUI should be severly punished, and those who do it, should receive automatic prisen times,a nd fined thousands of dollars.
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+1000000 👍
 
Well.

The Good:
  • All my teachers now love me.
    Now have fairly big group of friends.
    Chatting lots to girl I like.
    New phone.
    Forza 4.
    Rediscovering my love of cars.

The bad:
  • Cousin died at the age of 5. :(
    My Grandmother hasn't recovered very well from her stroke last year.
    My family had a large falling out.
    Had a brief period of loneliness.
 
Good:
-Grades are so far superb 👍
All A's except English, which I have a B on
-Got my license
-4th year with my girlfriend and still strong
-Last year of high school
-Got a wheel for GT5 and Richard Burns Rally
-Gundam Extreme VS is released for consoles :sly:

Bad:
-Grandpa past away :( (RIP Grandpa)
-Broke my arm from stage diving
-one of my best friends departed to another state :grumpy:
-Still working at Carls Jr

@ryanb98
I am very sorry to hear that :'(
 
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PeterJB
Do you do Orchestras or Brass Bands?
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Well here in the States there are only a handful of real British-style brass bands, so I primarily do orchestras, but I also play in concert bands, jazz bands and brass chamber groups. I even play in a Latin jazz ensemble and a ska band.
 
High:
Successful kidney transplant surgery.
2010-11 49ers
21 in 10 days :sly:

Lows:
Mother died of caner

Slow year, can't wait for a new one.
 
terminator363
I must hit 2,000 posts before the end of this year. That would be my high point :lol:
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That's easy for you. You only need 88 posts. That's my target too, and I need ~250. :scared:
 
Good points:

- Got into university.
- Won a PS3.
- Got GT5 and PES 2011.
- Started to watch football.

Bad points:

- University sucks.
- I can't play online with my PS3, nor I can download updates.
- GT5 sucks, as a consequence.
- River Plate was relegated. :( At least Fernando Cavenaghi and Alejandro Domínguez came back to help us in our first season at the second division. :)
 
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