okay, fine.
i kind of can't not do this, now, since it's sort of become the only way for me to recall a given year... ah, aging. what a gas. here you are!
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
been accepted into graduate school! taught a class. pierced a body part below the neck.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
nope, and probably not. i think they're overrated, and shouldn't be exclusive to the beginning of the year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
again, no, though sister gini has a girl due in april. huzzah!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
again, thankfully, no.
5. What countries did you visit?
grrr. i haven't been out of the country in far too long. spring break might change this, though.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
stronger willpower and the ability to run more than 5 miles without wanting to die.
7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
there are several, but if i had to pick one from the pack i'd say december 17. let's say it was a... good night.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
getting into graduate school, and then surviving my first semester. really, i was worried at the end of august that i wasn't going to make it.
9. What was your biggest failure?
...that being back in school meant that i totally tossed running out the window. grrr.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
not really, though i've got a nasty sinus/cold something percolating as we speak. and, okay, there was that little trip to the ER last month, but it wasn't anything i haven't had before (nor something to panic about).
11. What was the best thing you bought?
my macbook pro. i didn't know it was possible to love a piece of machinery this much, but i now *totally* understand folks with apple obsessions.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
again, most everyone; a couple of close friends got me through things for which i will be forever grateful. the usual suspects, you know.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
oh, you know: the usual government hacks, and the usual one person who won't be named that caused me more heartache than i should have allowed. [sheesh, things don't change much, do they? at least it's not the same person it was last year, but still.]
14. Where did most of your money go?
loan repayments, rent, credit card bills, um, the thing i bought in #11. [it was SO worth it, though.]
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
the end of school this semester. :) skiing again, starting a new chapter in my life, new friendships...
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
oh hmmm. i'd have to pick something from halloween, alaska here. or maybe the fratellis.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier. i think i've got my head screwed on a bit more straightly this year. [cue laughter here]
ii. thinner or fatter? i might actually be a little thinner. as much as i've gorged myself on holiday food, my body still remembers that i did at one point walk to school (2 miles each way) three days a week.
iii. richer or poorer? richer! but not by much! being in grad school instead of working full-time doesn't actually pay more, but i see more of my paycheck since they don't take out as much in taxes and they take out nothing for health insurance or a 401K or any of that stuff. yeah, that was a nice surprise.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
sleeping, letting things go
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
smoking, worrying, putting myself in bad situations - wow, again: the more things change, the more they stay the same...
20. How did you spend Christmas?
see my last entry. long story short, i was in maryland with the familials.
21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
i'm reasonably certain that i've spent more time on the phone with heather in the past four months than anyone in the year combined, except maybe the usual suspects. :)
22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
yes, but not in the conventional sense.
23. How many one-night stands?
i think i escaped with only two this year, though i insist to my grave that the first one didn't count.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
24 was rivaled only by top chef!
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
again, yes.
26. What was the best book you read?
the curious incident of the dog in the night-time vs. HP7 vs. russian motion verbs for intermediate students = i can't pick just one.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
the only good thing i got out of my last relationship was a healthy exposure to lots of electronic music, producers of which are far too numerous to list here. let's just say that the past four months have been very, very good to my itunes collection.
28. What did you want and get?
admission into graduate school, pretty reliable sex, students who didn't suck (i actually really love my kids), lots of good music, excellent colleagues who have turned into good friends
29. What did you want and not get?
a death wish. not for me, mind you.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
oh christ: this was such a good year for film! recent favorites: juno, superbad, the simpsons movie, sweeney todd... i'm bad at recalling what came out earlier. but please, go see juno.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
i turned 27! i went to class, took an exam, rode around yelling at people with emory in her mini convertible, and had dinner and drinks at my usual place. it was pretty low-key, which was nice.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
that death wish coming true. i know, it's immature, but i'd really be happier if certain people would just cease to exist.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
teaching has taught me (ha!) to look more professional, but i'm not going to lie: some days you can't escape wearing jeans.
34. What kept you sane?
to paraphrase rufus wainwright, cigarettes and black coffee, though i've quit the first.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
helloooo johnny depp! um, also, my love for aleksandr pushkin, even though he's long been dead, has nicely resurfaced.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
i'm really digging the russian elections at the moment, though ours should be exciting as well. the increasing focus on alternative energy is a good thing, too,
37. Who did you miss?
sister gini and the family, marylandfolk.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
gracious, there are several again, from live arts and grad school and work. i refuse to pick just one.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
you really can't rely on anyone other than yourself. also, self-control is sometimes vastly overrated.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
i can't think of one, so i'm going to quote antoine de saint-exupery instead: "ma vie est monotone. je chasse les poulets, les hommes me chassent." it's funny, if you know why. :)
right then! i'm off for the evening's stupidities. happy 2008, everyone.
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
been accepted into graduate school! taught a class. pierced a body part below the neck.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
nope, and probably not. i think they're overrated, and shouldn't be exclusive to the beginning of the year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
again, no, though sister gini has a girl due in april. huzzah!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
again, thankfully, no.
5. What countries did you visit?
grrr. i haven't been out of the country in far too long. spring break might change this, though.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
stronger willpower and the ability to run more than 5 miles without wanting to die.
7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
there are several, but if i had to pick one from the pack i'd say december 17. let's say it was a... good night.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
getting into graduate school, and then surviving my first semester. really, i was worried at the end of august that i wasn't going to make it.
9. What was your biggest failure?
...that being back in school meant that i totally tossed running out the window. grrr.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
not really, though i've got a nasty sinus/cold something percolating as we speak. and, okay, there was that little trip to the ER last month, but it wasn't anything i haven't had before (nor something to panic about).
11. What was the best thing you bought?
my macbook pro. i didn't know it was possible to love a piece of machinery this much, but i now *totally* understand folks with apple obsessions.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
again, most everyone; a couple of close friends got me through things for which i will be forever grateful. the usual suspects, you know.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
oh, you know: the usual government hacks, and the usual one person who won't be named that caused me more heartache than i should have allowed. [sheesh, things don't change much, do they? at least it's not the same person it was last year, but still.]
14. Where did most of your money go?
loan repayments, rent, credit card bills, um, the thing i bought in #11. [it was SO worth it, though.]
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
the end of school this semester. :) skiing again, starting a new chapter in my life, new friendships...
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
oh hmmm. i'd have to pick something from halloween, alaska here. or maybe the fratellis.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier. i think i've got my head screwed on a bit more straightly this year. [cue laughter here]
ii. thinner or fatter? i might actually be a little thinner. as much as i've gorged myself on holiday food, my body still remembers that i did at one point walk to school (2 miles each way) three days a week.
iii. richer or poorer? richer! but not by much! being in grad school instead of working full-time doesn't actually pay more, but i see more of my paycheck since they don't take out as much in taxes and they take out nothing for health insurance or a 401K or any of that stuff. yeah, that was a nice surprise.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
sleeping, letting things go
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
smoking, worrying, putting myself in bad situations - wow, again: the more things change, the more they stay the same...
20. How did you spend Christmas?
see my last entry. long story short, i was in maryland with the familials.
21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
i'm reasonably certain that i've spent more time on the phone with heather in the past four months than anyone in the year combined, except maybe the usual suspects. :)
22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
yes, but not in the conventional sense.
23. How many one-night stands?
i think i escaped with only two this year, though i insist to my grave that the first one didn't count.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
24 was rivaled only by top chef!
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
again, yes.
26. What was the best book you read?
the curious incident of the dog in the night-time vs. HP7 vs. russian motion verbs for intermediate students = i can't pick just one.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
the only good thing i got out of my last relationship was a healthy exposure to lots of electronic music, producers of which are far too numerous to list here. let's just say that the past four months have been very, very good to my itunes collection.
28. What did you want and get?
admission into graduate school, pretty reliable sex, students who didn't suck (i actually really love my kids), lots of good music, excellent colleagues who have turned into good friends
29. What did you want and not get?
a death wish. not for me, mind you.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
oh christ: this was such a good year for film! recent favorites: juno, superbad, the simpsons movie, sweeney todd... i'm bad at recalling what came out earlier. but please, go see juno.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
i turned 27! i went to class, took an exam, rode around yelling at people with emory in her mini convertible, and had dinner and drinks at my usual place. it was pretty low-key, which was nice.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
that death wish coming true. i know, it's immature, but i'd really be happier if certain people would just cease to exist.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
teaching has taught me (ha!) to look more professional, but i'm not going to lie: some days you can't escape wearing jeans.
34. What kept you sane?
to paraphrase rufus wainwright, cigarettes and black coffee, though i've quit the first.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
helloooo johnny depp! um, also, my love for aleksandr pushkin, even though he's long been dead, has nicely resurfaced.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
i'm really digging the russian elections at the moment, though ours should be exciting as well. the increasing focus on alternative energy is a good thing, too,
37. Who did you miss?
sister gini and the family, marylandfolk.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
gracious, there are several again, from live arts and grad school and work. i refuse to pick just one.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
you really can't rely on anyone other than yourself. also, self-control is sometimes vastly overrated.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
i can't think of one, so i'm going to quote antoine de saint-exupery instead: "ma vie est monotone. je chasse les poulets, les hommes me chassent." it's funny, if you know why. :)
right then! i'm off for the evening's stupidities. happy 2008, everyone.