2015 End of Year...
1. What did you do in 2015 that you'd never done before? I spent New Year's at my friend Olga Ardulov's apartment in Belmont. In Janaury I went to court in Alhambra for the first time and was able to negotiate with my ex-roommate to drop the case against me. I am glad I held my ground. I don't know what happened, but it's over and I didn't have to pay any money. This year at work I launched a campaign with Google Adwords and Houzz ads with mixed results for my company. As far as travel, I went to San Luis Obispo with friends and Mammoth Lakes. I also roadtriped around Texas with my mom and her cousin. I moved into a house with two nerds like me in North Hollywood and for the most part things are going good. They love animals and TV and I think I'll stay as long as I'm at my job is the same. Went through a lot of relationship firsts with Mario - 6 month anniversary, Valentine's Day, etc. Also experienced my fair share of relationship disappointments. Had my first official break-up in August when I decided I'd had enough.For the first time as well, though, we are still friends 4/5 months after the break-up. Also went through serious problems with my car so am learning how to navigate the DMV and government to get money.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Weight department I am in the same boat but next year I want to take my diet seriously and continue with gym Groupons. This year I want to get serious about my career and get a raise or a new job. I definitely want to travel more and go on roadtrips and try new things. Also I want to make more of an effort to meet new people.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? A friend of a friend and an ex-roommate Crystal gave birth to Curtis.
4. Did anyone close to you die? No one that I know of.
5. What countries did you visit? I didn't leave the U.S. this year but hopefully next year I will when I get my passport!
6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015? Always more confidence. I would like the confidence to take risks at work and learn my job. I would also like to write more and learn more. This year I also have relationship experience which gives me perspective on dating. I want to have the confidence to talk to guys.
7. What date from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Valentine's Day hike with Mario, our 6 month anniversary in April, my birthday, my San Luis Obispo trip in July, Mario's birthday in July, me breaking up with Mario in August, my trip to Mammoth Lakes in August, having an eye ulcer in October and my trip to Texas in November.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Recognizing that I was not happy in my relationship and deciding to leave it behind even though it was so hard. Not going back to him although I am tempted every day when I get sad or lonely.
9. What was your biggest failure? Not being super proactive at work. Not breaking up with Mario sooner I guess or not trying to fix our problems earlier.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I was sick a lot less this year but I have been having problems with my contacts lately. The nosespray I got earlier this year is helping.
11. What was the best thing you bought? I bought a new box spring this year that I like. But the trips are probably the best.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My great friends: Julie, Allie, Rachel, Neha, Olga A, Olga L., Inna, Rhiannon, and Nat. Steven, Holly, Louisa, Hilary, April, Miriam, Chris and all my other good LA friends. My co-workers DJ, Alfredo, Lisa and my boss for teaching me. My new roommates Danielle and Tillie for putting up with me. There were many good things about my relationship with Mario so it does deserve some celebration.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? My boss has been kind of absent. My dad has degenerated into an angry child. Allie has been her usual selfish and non-communicative self sometimes but I have learned to deal with it better. Mario made me somewhat depressed by not being very available during our relationship - I had to beg him for time together and fun outings. Near the end I also had to beg for sex. When I brought up my issues he had no response as to how things were going to get better so I got out.
14. Where did most of your money go? RENT and travel amd food.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Being with someone who understood and liked me as I was but also pushed me to be better. Being able to spend time with him. Showing him my interests such as Firefly and other shows. Moving in with pets that I can play with but don't have to take care of. Sex. Travel. New, nice workplace. Learning how to trust my feelings and get out of a bad situation even though I was comfortable.
16. What song will always remind you of 2015? Shut Up and Dance by Walk the Moon,
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: i. happier or sadder? Sadder. I miss feeling optimistic about dating but I am happy to be relaxing and on vacation. I also feel semi-anxious about work this year. ii. thinner or fatter? Probably about the same or slightly thinner due to more time at the gym. iii. richer or poorer? Probably richer since I have low rent but not much more.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Writing, making movies and making new friends. Working out, having new experiences. Going to more meetups and trying new things. Talking to more guys. Building my confidence. I wish I had spent less time wondering if I should break-up with Mario and feeling sad when he disappointed me.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Spending money. Feeling sorry for myself or lonely. Worrying about boys or other things I don't have control over. Trying to control other people or being mad when they don't care about me. Making silly mistakes at work because I was impatient or unskilled or unfocused. I also wish I had stopped trying to change Mario - talk about something I can't control.
20. How will you be spending Christmas? Already spent Christmas at home with the family. My mom is recovering from hip surgery so I am at home this week helping her out.
21. How will you be spending New Year's? At Erin's beach house eating sushi with two couples...that part I am -_- about but well at least they are friends.
22. Did you fall in love in 2015? I did but I think it was more I fell in love with the idea of having someone. Mario has a outside persona that I fell in love with but that person is not who he is and is not real. I am slowly falling out of love with LA and more in love with traveling.
23. How many one-night stands? 0 for 2015. These days I am super picky about who I date. It has also been like 5 months since I've had sex which I am not happy about but that's single life.
24. What was your favorite TV program? I've been rewatching a lot of my favorites this year. I binge watched Jessica Jones and Gilmore Girls and Friends. I also watch Sailormoon Crystal and Modern Family. This year I am super into podcasts.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? No one that I didn't hate before.
26. What was the best book you read? The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It started out slow but was really good in the end.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Walk the Moon.
28. What did you want and get? All the heartache and happiness of a real relationship. Good roommates and a relatively peaceful living situation.
29. What did you want and not get? I have not gotten a cat. My finances are better but still need to pay off my debt. Unfortunately I did not having a lasting relationship and I was not able to move in with a partner.
30. What was your favorite film of this year? The Room.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I was 28. I went to Tokyo Delve's with my friends and Mario. We had sushi and I danced and made a fool of myself. It was very fun. The next day Mario and I went to a park. This was actually I think the start of my unhappiness with Mario...he had an Easter brunch with family on my birthday and such did not plan anything for me. He is new to relationships so I suppose this is not surprising but it was disappointing to me. He was tired and left early. I was kind of sad. The next he left me a Skype mesage saying he loved me which helped ease some of my doubts.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? A job that held my interest and in entertainment or another field that I am passionate about. A mature boyfriend that I can go on adventures with and can satisfy me emotionally.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014? At work I have been trying to wear my heels more. Also I wear more business pants and dresses.
34. What kept you sane? My friends, pets, the hope that there is something better out there. Podcasts and TV. My family. It's odd, but yes, Mario has, too.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Ewan McGregor
36. What political issue stirred you the most? Syrian immigration, all the shootings with ISIS and the upcoming presidential election.
37. Who did you miss? I miss having a cat. I miss my parents. I miss my Bay Area friends all the time. Now I miss my L.A. friends and the city. I miss Mario even though I know he is not who I want or need.
38. Who was the best new person you met? Crystal, for helping me learn to love to work out.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015. Trust your feelings. Even though something is good and comfortable it doesn't mean its right. Always have high expctations. Double check everything and don't be too lazy to think of new solutions. Don't give up easily. Be more proactive and make my needs known. Keep going even though things seem rough. Don't settle.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: Just shut up and dance. :)