Amy Nieto Photography + Design

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before? I moved AND visited Portland, OR. In that order.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Um... I don't even remember if I made any resolutions. I guess that answers your question. :P I did gain weight, though.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Hmmm not quite, actually. Clients did, though.

4. Did anyone close to you die? noooooo

5. What countries did you visit? CANADA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? An apartment of my own! (and again, yes, a boyfriend, but that never happens, so I won't include it)

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Tuesday, August 5th!!!!!!!!! yay PDX!! NYC with Agmar early May!! Laura's wedding June 7th!! EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? For the first time in my life, moved to a city where no safety nets existed. I was COMPLETELY on my own. And it is AWESOME.

9. What was your biggest failure? Hmm... I didn't finish Laura's wedding album on time lol Still working on it!!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? SURPRISINGLY enough I didn't get the stomach flu!!

11. What was the best thing you bought? MY SUPER FANTABULOUS VINTAGE COAT OF ... AWESOMENESS AND FANTABULOUSITY!! That and my 50mm f/1.8 lens.

{photo by e.soule}

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My friends who have traveled far and worked hard for their dreams.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Stupid little loud teenagers on the bus. UGH. And a certain ex of a family member...

14. Where did most of your money go? Half-cross country move. Vintage little things.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? FRIGGIN PORTLAND! 50mm lens! My goodbye party night of debauchery and drunkenness in Vegas! CANADA!!! THE SOVEREIGNS!

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Listening to Arcade Fire's Neon Bible now brings me back to Vegas, driving West on Blue Diamond, just before heading north on Rainbow, on my way to work. Odd little flashbacks.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer? Ridiculously happier. Like. For reals. I am fatter, yay!!!! A bit richer. Still not enough, though lol.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? I wish I had explored a bit more of Portland while the weather was favorable, but there were important matters I needed to take care of.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Worry about my talent.

20. How did you spend Christmas? Worked in the morning, then I RESTED AND READ AND SLEPT all day long with the company of Moose and Chuck from the Moose and Chuck Variety Hour. It was a great Xmas, despite my confinement.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008? With my new life! With John Cusack circa 1988.

{Interesting article on why John Cusack is still hot. Not that we need to reason his hotness...}

22. What was your favorite TV program? Still, Lost. I believe I got into Heroes this year, but some of the characters have begun to annoy me (I'm looking at you Claire Bennet. DEATHLY looking at you).

mmmm yes, please.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Dude, hating is HARD.

24. What was the best book you read? Read a lot of nerdy Star Wars novels. Inferno was the best of them.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT. Hands down. Also, She & Him. Zooey Deschanel is just SO DARLING! This was the year that I truly fell in love with 80's alterna-pop bands, such as Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears, New Order, despite having known of their existence since I was a wee girl. Enjoy the Silence is a masterpiece. Ahhhh.

26. What did you want and get? I got Portland. I got my awesome coat. I got clients!!!!!! Awesome clients!!

27. What did you want and not get? Well, I couldn't get my mommy to visit me, but there's always next Summer (yay berry picking!)

28. What was your favorite film of this year? Once. The curious power of music.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Oh my goodness. lol That was quite the adventure. I thank you David for taking us to such, ah, well, classic establishment. I turned 26.

That guy on the left, I miss him a LOT.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Honestly, I can't think of anything more satisfying than finally living my dream life (well.. my dream life includes a certain city called Paris...). So, I cannot complain and I know form now on, my path is laid and everything will happen in its own time.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007? FANTABULOUS! lol Seriously, I upped the ante this year. But 2009 will be the Year of CRAZY PANTS!!!!

32. What kept you sane? Who says I kept sane? :P

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Still my Justin. Honey, please get rid of that restraining order. I miss you.

34. What political issue stirred you the most? Well, I was all about my homeboy Ron Paul back during the primaries in Vegas. Then I moved to Portland and rooting for anything other than Obama seemed a little suicidal (no offense).

35. Who did you miss? I miss Agmar. I miss my brother. I miss the huge TV in his living room. I miss ALLL my Siena peeps. I miss Janicia. I miss my mom. I miss Sawyer. And jack. And Kate. And-- OH MY GOD, WILL YOU MAKE LOST HURRY UP!??!?! THIS IS WITHDRAWAL, MAN!!

36. Who was the best new person you met? Oh my goodness. I think this was the year I met some of the most amazing people in the world. Though I met them later in '07, it wasn't until '08 that I befriended my Siena peeps. Their friendship made Vegas a tolerable place. During those last months I met my dear Hilary Helton, whose friendship and guidance I value dearly and am looking forward to our future photo ventures :). Here in Portland I have met my sweet sweet Alyson (and her man DLB), Kjell and Kim, Linnea, Lesley, my roommates, The Ladies of Fernhill, the Wests. A great number of photo clients who welcomed me into their homes, their lives. MIss Josefina from PR, now resident of Washington, USA! Also, this year marked the EARTH SHATTERING ENCOUNTER OF EARTH SHATTERING PROPORTIONS: The meeting of siblings Brad and Sarah Sovereign in BC. That night was MONUMENTAL. And we are pretty darn sure you all felt the rocking of our awesomeness.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. For reals, why the heck did you doubt your talent for so many years? Ridiculous.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. Feist's Mushaboom:
Helping the kids out of their coats
But wait the babies haven't been born oh
Unpacking the bags and setting up
And planting lilacs and buttercups oh