Yearly Survey
1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
Waaaaay too much. I learned to play guitar, I started college, I dove down to 140ft below sea level, I drank until I puked and I made a relationship fall apart.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My New Year's resolution was not to make a New Year's resolution. Doh!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes. Having over 40 cousins usually means somebody is cranking out a kid. :P
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, luckily. It was close, though.
5. What countries did you visit?
Mexico
6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
More money, more free time. It's not looking like either will happen, though!
7. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
There's a couple...
First and foremost, the absolutly overwhelming feeling of starting life in a large university where nobody knew me, and accompaning realization that it really was my new home about two weeks later.
The first time I plugged my guitar into an amp. It felt like it came to life.
When I found out my Aunt was going to die from cancer, and when I much later learned she was beating it.
Scuba diving in Cozumel. There's so many memories... floating next to a giant Eagle ray, going down 140ft, weightlessly swimming through an underwater cave... It's all memorable!
Graduation, even though that feels like years ago.
When I was initiated into my fraternity.
Otakon was pretty memorable, too. :P
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I'd say growing up. Or, at least starting to.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Lying to myself, whether I knew it or not.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I have Anemia, and they still aren't sure what caused it. In late August, it was really bad. They thought I might of had Luekemia. I'm better now that I'm taking Iron pills, but they still don't know what caused it.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My guitar and my laptop. Oh yeah, and a college education. :P
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
not entirely sure what this question means. I'd say my aunt, I suppose.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
many people. Most recently Erika and her friends. Also my dad and politicians in general.
14. Where did most of your money go?
I wasted a bunch of it on dvds I don't watch... other than that my guitar, amp, ect and laptop.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Graduation, College, the break from college, the future.
16. What song will always remind you of 2005?
Coheed and Cambria - A Favor House Atlantic
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier. Much, much happier
ii. thinner or fatter? Anemia made me skinny, but I also lost most of my muscle mass.
iii. richer or poorer? I'm a poor college student! But I learned more than my money's worth.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
being honest with myself, more studying, enjoying the little things.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying, watching anime/TV, wasting the day away online.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Home with the family.
21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Probably my mom. She worries a lot now that her firstborn has left the nest. XD
22. Did you fall in love in 2005?
Hell no. I did learn what love actually is, and just how far away I was from it. People say they're in romantic love far too easily and way too often. If you mean friendship love, then that's happened many times.
23. How many one-night stands?
Just one.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Scrubs, and, if it still counts, the X-files
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate's a strong word, but there's a few people I very much dislike.
26. What was the best book you read?
Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Coheed and Cambria, the Shins, and Oasis
28. What did you want and get?
A sense of belonging.
29. What did you want and not get?
A decent relationship would've been nice, but, looking back, wasn't necessary.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Sin City, Stay, Batman Begins, Serenity
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 18 and it was pretty boring. I went to class, went out to eat, and went to bed!
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Coming to realizations sooner.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
A mix of very formal (with ties) and very comfortable (long sleeve tshirts). I stopped caring about brand name, though. That was a good thing.
34. What kept you sane?
My new friends, MUSIC, family
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Sarah Chalke. <3
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The fallout of Hurricane Katrina. It was just terrible.
37. Who did you miss?
My family. Much more than I thought I would.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Soooooooo many... Thaddeus, Cody, Peter, Ben, Rachel, Elora, Mandy, Loni, Emily, Chris, Rob, Adam, Tim, Zach, Sma, Sami, Kellie.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005:
Be yourself. It's corny, and it's cliched, but it's true. I was miserable for most of this year, but I didn't want to tell anyone, or change. Then, I got to college. I don't know if it was myself who actually changed, or the stress that made me change, but I had to open up. I had to look at myself, and evalute what I saw. And what I saw wasn't good. I didn't like who I was, or what I was becoming. And even then I didn't have the ability to change myself. It was those around me who got my act in gear. So, I guess that's a lesson, too...
Be who you are, and make sure you are who you want to be. But you can't get there on your own.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Here come a couple:
"I can't do this all on my own... I'm no Superman" Superman - Lazlo Bane
"One day i'll be wondering how
I got so old just wondering how" Caring in Creepy - The Shins
"The words you scribbled on the walls
With the loss of friends you didn't have
I'll call you when the time is right
Are you in or are you out?
For them all to know the end of us all " A Favor House Atlantic - Coheed and Cambria
"It's getting better, man!" It's Getting Better (Man)! - Oasis
"And so many nights I just dream of the ocean.
God, I wish I was sailin' again.
Oh, yesterdays are over my shoulder,
So I can't look back for too long.
There's just too much to see waiting in front of me,
and I know that I just can't go wrong" Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Atitudes - Jimmy Buffet
"I worry over situations
I know I'll be alright
It's just overkill" Overkill - Colin Hay
"Nothing matters, Mary, when you're free" The Fields of Athenry - Dropkick Murphys
"I left all my friends at the morning bus stop shaking their heads.
"what kind of life you dream of? you're allergic to love."
Yes i know but i must say in my own defense
It's been undeniably dear to me, i don't know why
When every other part of life seemed locked behind shutters
I knew the worthless dregs we are,
The selfless, loving saints we are,
The melting, sliding dice we've always been." Know Your Onion! - The Shins
41. Anything else you'd like to add?
Guys, over the holidays, just take some time to take a good look at yourself. Sometimes that hurts. But I feel it was one of the most important things I'd ever done. Live life. Go out and do the things you've always wanted to do and the things you dreamed of doing. Have dreams. Challenge yourself everyday. Never lose your passion for the things that really matter. Grow everyday for the rest of your life. Talk to new people until they're no longer strangers. Be involved. Don't be satisfied just sitting back and having others do things for you. Lead, either by example or by advising. Learn from the past, but live for the future, even if that's hard today.