2008 Survey and New Years'
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Get dumped, Sing a duet with my boyfriend, Be OK with being myself in a relationship, drove to Boston.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Not really a resolution person.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My former coworker and a girl I went to high school with.
4. Did anyone close to you die? My great-uncle in April, and my grandmother this past week.
5. What countries did you visit? Just the United States - I don’t have money to even go to Canada.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? A little more funding, a lot more time.
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? April 30th, May 15th. The day James dumped me, the day Steve and I started up. Definitely December 29th, my sister and I were at Nationals and we learned our grandmother had passed away.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Finishing my first year of teaching.
9. What was your biggest failure? I had to go back on anxiety meds. Ugh.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I’m always getting injured, but not really getting sick.
11. What was the best thing you bought? New glasses I can see out of.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Surprisingly, the answer’s Matt. He’s grown up. How weird is that? Also the brothers of Region I for taking care of my sister and me this past week.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? James, for most of the year. Though…things have started to change for the better. He redeemed a lot of it the other night. (Odd thing, these two answers are completely switched since I last did this thing in 2006.)
14. Where did most of your money go? It’s rent money.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Teaching my kids. Starting the science club. Falling in love with Steve.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Alicia Keys, “No One” - it reminds me of school.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you... i. happier or sadder? Happier overall (Steve) and sadder for others. ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner, which is a HUGE surprise. iii. richer or poorer? Richer in so many ways, just not necessarily monetarily.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Slept and spent time with my friends.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Procrastination. Always.
20. How will you be spending/did you spend Christmas? Christmas Eve was at church with Steve (two services in one night!), Christmas Day was at home with my family and later Jason, then Nicole and I left for Nationals.
22. Did you fall in love in 2008? I had to fall out first, and when I did, I realized what I had was a poor excuse. Then I fell hard, had to take a few steps back and let it develop. It’s great. He’s great.
24. What was your favorite TV program? I love House. I’m becoming an addict.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? A couple days ago the answer to this was different. Now, not even a mild dislike.
26. What was the best book you read? I always read. Like crazy. There were a heck of a lot of good ones, and I can't really say any of them were the best. I enjoyed Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox, but I'm only putting that one because, hello - it's Artemis Fowl.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Sonata Arctica anything - thanks, Tom!
28. What did you want and get? A little more freedom.
29. What did you want and not get? Less drama at school.
30. What was your favorite film of this year? WALL-E! (I saw a LOT of movies this year.)
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 23 on July 3rd. I went to lunch with Steve, visited with Palmer, Wargo brought me a birthday cake, and I went home and hung out with Jason til 4 AM. Those are the parts I care to remember.
32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Less drama.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Business casual. Anything I can teach in and still be comfortable.
34. What kept you sane? Not what. More who - primarily Jason, Tom, and Linds.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I can't say I really fancy any of them...
36. What political issue stirred you the most? Hello, it was an election year.
37. Who did you miss? Jason’s a constant. From April on, add Gray to that list. Big time. Now? My grandmother.
38. Who was the best new person you met? Oof, this one’s tough. The recent months are the ones I remember best. I have a couple memorable new colleagues, but I met a lot of great brothers this past week at convention.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008: Things don’t always work out the way you planned, but they usually happen for a reason. I know I knew this, but it was emphasized.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: “You don’t have to get a haircut/ you don’t have to change your shoes/ you don’t have to like Duran Duran/just love me…/I want you, and you, and nothing but you/ miles and piles of you/ finally I’ll have something worthwhile/ to think of each morning./You, and you, and nothing but you/ no substitution will do/ nothing but fresh, undiluted, and pure, top of the line/ and totally mine.”
--“I Can Do Better Than That”, The Last Five Years , Jason Robert Brown
That's my year. A lot of ups and downs, I truly hope this year turns out better. Nationals was pretty fun, I got to see a lot of old friends and just people I haven't seen in ages. It reminded me why I have cared about APO for so long.
Bit of sad news, Nicole and I lost our grandmother Plasket earlier this week. She was in the nursing home with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, and she went in her sleep. We just didn't expect it so soon. At least now she's no longer suffering. We found out a couple hours after it happened while we were at Convention, but all of the Section 99 and Region I brothers banded together to take care of us, which meant more to me than they would ever know. Anthony and James really kept me going that night. I don't think there was a better place to be than with most of our closest friends nearby in one hotel. We're very lucky.
I came home on the 30th and Steve's been holding me together since. We had a really great romantic and quiet New Years' Eve, which was just what both of us needed. Back to school on Monday.
Happy 2009, everyone. May it be better than 2008.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Not really a resolution person.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My former coworker and a girl I went to high school with.
4. Did anyone close to you die? My great-uncle in April, and my grandmother this past week.
5. What countries did you visit? Just the United States - I don’t have money to even go to Canada.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? A little more funding, a lot more time.
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? April 30th, May 15th. The day James dumped me, the day Steve and I started up. Definitely December 29th, my sister and I were at Nationals and we learned our grandmother had passed away.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Finishing my first year of teaching.
9. What was your biggest failure? I had to go back on anxiety meds. Ugh.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I’m always getting injured, but not really getting sick.
11. What was the best thing you bought? New glasses I can see out of.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Surprisingly, the answer’s Matt. He’s grown up. How weird is that? Also the brothers of Region I for taking care of my sister and me this past week.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? James, for most of the year. Though…things have started to change for the better. He redeemed a lot of it the other night. (Odd thing, these two answers are completely switched since I last did this thing in 2006.)
14. Where did most of your money go? It’s rent money.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Teaching my kids. Starting the science club. Falling in love with Steve.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Alicia Keys, “No One” - it reminds me of school.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you... i. happier or sadder? Happier overall (Steve) and sadder for others. ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner, which is a HUGE surprise. iii. richer or poorer? Richer in so many ways, just not necessarily monetarily.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Slept and spent time with my friends.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Procrastination. Always.
20. How will you be spending/did you spend Christmas? Christmas Eve was at church with Steve (two services in one night!), Christmas Day was at home with my family and later Jason, then Nicole and I left for Nationals.
22. Did you fall in love in 2008? I had to fall out first, and when I did, I realized what I had was a poor excuse. Then I fell hard, had to take a few steps back and let it develop. It’s great. He’s great.
24. What was your favorite TV program? I love House. I’m becoming an addict.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? A couple days ago the answer to this was different. Now, not even a mild dislike.
26. What was the best book you read? I always read. Like crazy. There were a heck of a lot of good ones, and I can't really say any of them were the best. I enjoyed Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox, but I'm only putting that one because, hello - it's Artemis Fowl.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Sonata Arctica anything - thanks, Tom!
28. What did you want and get? A little more freedom.
29. What did you want and not get? Less drama at school.
30. What was your favorite film of this year? WALL-E! (I saw a LOT of movies this year.)
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 23 on July 3rd. I went to lunch with Steve, visited with Palmer, Wargo brought me a birthday cake, and I went home and hung out with Jason til 4 AM. Those are the parts I care to remember.
32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Less drama.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Business casual. Anything I can teach in and still be comfortable.
34. What kept you sane? Not what. More who - primarily Jason, Tom, and Linds.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I can't say I really fancy any of them...
36. What political issue stirred you the most? Hello, it was an election year.
37. Who did you miss? Jason’s a constant. From April on, add Gray to that list. Big time. Now? My grandmother.
38. Who was the best new person you met? Oof, this one’s tough. The recent months are the ones I remember best. I have a couple memorable new colleagues, but I met a lot of great brothers this past week at convention.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008: Things don’t always work out the way you planned, but they usually happen for a reason. I know I knew this, but it was emphasized.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: “You don’t have to get a haircut/ you don’t have to change your shoes/ you don’t have to like Duran Duran/just love me…/I want you, and you, and nothing but you/ miles and piles of you/ finally I’ll have something worthwhile/ to think of each morning./You, and you, and nothing but you/ no substitution will do/ nothing but fresh, undiluted, and pure, top of the line/ and totally mine.”
--“I Can Do Better Than That”, The Last Five Years , Jason Robert Brown
That's my year. A lot of ups and downs, I truly hope this year turns out better. Nationals was pretty fun, I got to see a lot of old friends and just people I haven't seen in ages. It reminded me why I have cared about APO for so long.
Bit of sad news, Nicole and I lost our grandmother Plasket earlier this week. She was in the nursing home with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, and she went in her sleep. We just didn't expect it so soon. At least now she's no longer suffering. We found out a couple hours after it happened while we were at Convention, but all of the Section 99 and Region I brothers banded together to take care of us, which meant more to me than they would ever know. Anthony and James really kept me going that night. I don't think there was a better place to be than with most of our closest friends nearby in one hotel. We're very lucky.
I came home on the 30th and Steve's been holding me together since. We had a really great romantic and quiet New Years' Eve, which was just what both of us needed. Back to school on Monday.
Happy 2009, everyone. May it be better than 2008.