stolen from Robin
1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
I broke my previous record for longest time away from home (previous time: 7.5 weeks -- this time: 5.5 months), and funny thing - once I got back to LA, I realized home had mysteriously become Pittsburgh.
I also performed on stage at the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion in LA, which was the first time I ever got paid to sing.
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any New Year's resolutions this year, at least not any that I can remember (so I must not have done a very good job of keeping them ...). I was probably too hung up on college apps (ha!).
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope. I'm dreading it.
5. What places did you visit?
On the first day of 2003, I was in Cambodia, as part of a trip to Thailand to visit my grandparents. (Grandpa just retired, decided to volunteer for Doctors Without Borders, got stationed in Thailand for a year so we had Christmas there. Currently, they are stationed in China after a 9-month break in the states.)
I was supposed to go to Austria over spring break with my school choir, but the trip got cancelled thanks to a man named George W and his propensity for war.
A week after graduation, I spent 9 weeks in Aspen this summer learning how to sing with 20-somethings and wrecking my voice in the damn children's chorus in La Boheme. I got to work with Julius Rudel, and it was all free, so I suppose it was all worth it. It was lonely, and I spent a lot of my time at the Pitkin County Library. Go me.
I came home for 1.5 days, packed and left my life in LA for a life in Pittsburgh. It was rough. I missed my entire summer-after-graduation experience. Oh well.
6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
Ass. Seriously. It's time to get this college experience in gear.
7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 24, 2003. Prom. (Aww, cute little high school senior memory ...)
For all my pre-prom planning, the night went perfectly, and all my friends and I had the most perfect prom of our lives, which is not to say pretty and glamorous and oh-who-are-you-wearing?, but more what we did after prom, with Twister and gift-giving and IHOP the next day. For one night, we were all best friends and would never leave LA and would just be kids forever and ever. Because we all knew where we were going to college, and prom was the only thing that was saving us from thinking of graduation. And graduation was The End.
Anyway. I know we'll all remember it as one of *the* happy memories of high school.
Plus, I had a big crush on my prom date and he felt the same way and it was mushy and warm and comfortable and nice. It never went anywhere after prom because he decided he didn't like me after all. And now he lives on the same floor as me, so yaaay for life.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Graduating. Slipping a gummy worm to the headmaster as he shook my hand and handed me my diploma. (Last year they slipped him condoms, and the year before that, porno playing cards. I think he was relieved at our choice of prank.)
But. Also not chickening out on my Independent Study and actually finishing the concert, and the paper, despite all the shit the committee gave me before, during and after. Ugh.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Letting Justin get to me so fucking much. My life should be about meeeee.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I bruised my knee and got some minor burns when Grandma Betty (my beloved 93 Honda Accord) was totaled in January. My sister broke her right arm, left forefinger and possibly a collarbone. She couldn't write in school for months, and I still feel like a shmuck, even though the police report says the other driver was responsible.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
The gifts I got everyone for prom -- everyone chipped in for them but the cost was heavily subsidised by my Spotlight Award money. Now there's a chunk of change I wouldn't mind having nowadays.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My parents, being able to let go. God knows it was hard for me. The day my mom left in August, we hugged and she said "now go" and I had to force myself not to look back at her and I cried a little (just like I'm doing now, remembering it - no kidding, a tear down each cheek). I am almost sickeningly maudlin.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Whenever I was around him too much, my dad. While I'm living at home, he's too much to handle. In small doses, like when he comes out to visit me in Pittsburgh, he can be alright.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Buying food when I'm already on a mealplan, both in Aspen this summer and in Pittsburgh. But mostly in Aspen.
And, buying "winter" clothes that I really "need" (like running shoes).
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
College. All summer, that's what kept me from going insane. And really, I kind of went insane anyway.
16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
In da Club -- 50 cent (Isn't that sad? They played 50 billion times at grad night.)
17. Compared to this time last year, are you
i. happier or sadder? so much happier -- no apps to think about (well, RA app but that doesn't count)
ii. thinner or fatter? er ... more muscle, so smaller pant size but I weight more. whatever.
iii. richer or poorer? I still don't make enough of my own money to be able to answer that question.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Going out with friends more before going to college. I kind of regret going to Aspen for as long as I did, although it was a great learning experience. Going out with friends now feels different -- I'm different.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Sitting on my ass in front of the computer stuck inside in my teeny room in Aspen on a gorgeous day when I could be outside reading or hiking or doing *anything* else.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
It was boring, honestly. We broke a lot of traditions this year and had a quiet Christmas at home with no cousins and my dad's grandparents.
21. How will you be spending New Year's?
Celebrating my 18th birthday with Amanda and Co.! Woop!
22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
Yes. Well, kind of. It was some sort of love, but even now I can't tell what category/genre/type of love I want or am supposed to feel for this person. "Fall in love" is such a disgustingly simple term.
23. How many one-night stands?
One two-night stand. At least, that's all it's been so far.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Daily Show. My TV-watching hours have plummeted severely.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is just an inability to understand.
26. What was the best book you read?
this summer's installment of Harry Potter. duh.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Michelle Branch, for the lyrics especially
28. What did you want and get?
Independence
29. What did you want and not get?
Let's be superficial: an A in Harmony.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Every movie I saw this year was my favorite. Except for American Wedding. That was not.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Hasn't happened yet, but it's always the best night of the year: 12/31. I'll be 18.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
closure. and more self-confidence at the beginning of the school year.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
Warmth! Also, trying vaguely to feel older.
34. What kept you sane?
iTunes. no joke.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Jimmy Fallon. Mmm, gimme somma that.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
"Operation Freedom"/"War On Terror"/Whatever we were calling it this year.
37. Who did you miss?
Parents, sister, high school friends.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Everyone. A whole new atmosphere, it's awesome.
38.b. Side question...who would you like to get to know better?
Heh. lalala...
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003:
The only person I can reliably depend on is myself.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Goodbye to you/Goodbye to everything that I knew/you were the one I loved/the one thing that I tried to hold on to"