Year in Review.
The Year In Review Meme.
[1] What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
I wrote a publishable thesis, graduated college, and moved out. Well, I've moved out before, but this is my first time moving out in a non-college kind of way. And I started becoming financially independent.
[2] Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I never make resolutions. I wouldn't remember them.
[3] Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes. I have a new cousin, Gracie.
[4] Did anyone close to you die?
No. Thank god.
[5] What countries did you visit?
None. Hopefully next year will be better.
[6] What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
Stability. My life did two 180s this year, and that doesn't add up to a full circle the way you'd think. I'd like the world to stop rocking under my feet and regain some balance.
[7] What date(s) from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I can never remember things by date, only by event.
[8] What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I graduated from college Magna Cum Laude.
[9] What were your biggest failure?
I wanted Summa Cum Laude. And I was less than .03 off.
[10] Did you suffer any illness or injury?
I was sick a lot this year-- myriad colds, labyrinthitis, two kidney infections. I was sick and down like I've never been down before.
[11] What was the best thing you bought?
The best is probably a nice wardrobe of work clothes. The most fun is the beginnings of a high-quality makeup collection.
[12] Whose behavior merited celebration?
Skyler has put up with me way more than he should have. Also, my friends have yanked me back from the cliff's edge several times.
[13] Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Hi, American public. Thanks for voting in Bush again. Also, my family, for obvious reasons.
14] Where did most of your money go?
Building a work wardrobe, moving out, retail therapy.
[15] What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Serenity. Jesus Christ, Serenity.
[16] What song will always remind you of 2005?
All of David Gray's Life in Slow Motion CD.
[17] Compared to this time last year, are you...
i. Happier or sadder? Sadder, but working on it.
ii. Thinner or fatter? Thinner.
iii. Richer or poorer? Richer, but with more bills and financial responsibilities.
[18] What do you wish you'd done more of?
Traveling. Eating good food.
[19] What do you wish you'd done less of?
Crying and pitying myself.
[20] How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it first in PA with my dad's family, then at Skyler's house, then at my parents' house, then with Sky's family.
[22] Did you fall in love in 2005?
I eased into it, yes.
[23] How many one-night stands?
None. Okay, there was the one, but Angelina practically begged.
[24] What was your favorite TV program?
I watched practically no TV this year. I watched Veronica Mars when it was on, but I haven't followed a show that wasn't out on DVD for months and months.
[25] Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Not particularly.
[26] What was the best book you read?
nonfiction: Progressive Witchcraft by Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone
fiction: Brokeback Mountain by E. Annie Proulx
[27] What was your greatest musical discovery?
Johnny Cash. Well, he was a discovery for me.
[28] What did you want and get?
A new place, suff to set up my new place, a new job.
[29] What did you want and not get?
A car. But it will come.
[30] What was your favorite film of this year?
Serenity was wonderful, and I loved Walk the Line, as well.
[31] What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I went to the Renaissance Festival with Skyler on my birthday. I was 22.
[32] What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not feeling so down on myself for things that were not my fault.
[33] how would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
Lots of red and black. I bought some nice A-line skirts and a few girlie pieces, which is completely unlike me. But mostly sleek pants and nice shirts in solid colors.
[34] What kept you sane?
Skyler, my friends, staying busy.
[35] Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I now have a major crush on Jake Gyllenhaal.
[36] What political issue stirred you the most?
After the election, I took a temporary hiatus from caring.
[37] Who did you miss?
Mike. A lot. I just miss hanging out. But it's hard, I get it.
Noble, I miss you, too.
[38] Who was the best new person you met?
Well, I got a shiny new boyfriend, so I guess that's good, and his family ain't too shabby, either.
[39] Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005:
Cut it off when it's time. Lingering is good for no one.
[40] Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
While I was watching, you did a slow dissolve
Life in slow motion, somehow it don’t feel real
Snowflakes are falling-- I'll catch them in my hands
Snowflakes are falling-- I'll catch them in my hands
Snowflakes are falling-- now you’re my long lost friend
-- David Gray, 'Life in Slow Motion'
The Year in Review by Month.
January:: I start the year in college, surrounded by friends I loved. I am happy, social, constanly surrounded. I have a boyfriend that I love, and though we are having a rough patch, I am determined to fix it. We're making plans to live together.
February:: My life is completely consumed by the play I am in. I dye my hair pink and start learning to swing dance. Things with Mike slide further and further downhill. Aster and I realize that we should have just made Valentine's day dinner for ourselves.
March:: Mike and I break it off a few weeks before our 4-year anniversary. I go to Philadelphia with the girls for a wonderful weekend. I go on my first date with Skyler.
April:: I see Closer, and it completely wrecks me. I have a really tough time with the break-up, and I lock myself in my room while I work on my thesis.
May:: Skyler and I watch shooting stars on the roof. I finish my thesis and graduate from College. I try to pretend that I am not deeply depressed 75% of the time.
June:: I start my new job and move back home. I bump into Mike at a movie theater. I drift on and try to look okay.
July:: Nothing much happens this month. I mostly keep to myself, because the atmosphere at home is so tense and loud. I hate life and wish it were autumn every day.
August:: I get labyrinthitis. I spend an inordinate amount of time in Skyler's basement watching Angel. I substitute retail therapy for actual therapy.
September:: I spend a lot of time at weddings, I turn 22. Everything feels strange. I have a complete and total non-functioning breakdown. Confused and completely freaked out, I break up with Skyler, but have the good sense to pull an "oops, my bad!" complete with flowers and groveling. Hurricane Katrina hits, and I'm glued to the news for several days on end. Things go from bad to worse at home.
October:: I see Serenity and David Gray in concert. My kidneys break. I spend a lot of time sleeping.
November:: I learn the joy of sushi. I get a lapdance from the most delicious exotic dancer that ever was. My sister steals my dildo, and I am evicted from my house. The night of the Ben Folds concert, Mike decides we can't be just friends. It's hard to swallow, but true.
December:: My mother pulls a 'but I was just mad!' I move out anyway, and I get a new place to live. I decide that things have got to change, and that I just have to snap the fuck out of it, or I'm going to die. I get many lovely things for Christmas and pay for everyone else on my aching credit card. Things with Skyler are better than they've ever been.
In short-- goodbye 2005, and good riddance.
[1] What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
I wrote a publishable thesis, graduated college, and moved out. Well, I've moved out before, but this is my first time moving out in a non-college kind of way. And I started becoming financially independent.
[2] Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I never make resolutions. I wouldn't remember them.
[3] Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes. I have a new cousin, Gracie.
[4] Did anyone close to you die?
No. Thank god.
[5] What countries did you visit?
None. Hopefully next year will be better.
[6] What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
Stability. My life did two 180s this year, and that doesn't add up to a full circle the way you'd think. I'd like the world to stop rocking under my feet and regain some balance.
[7] What date(s) from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I can never remember things by date, only by event.
[8] What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I graduated from college Magna Cum Laude.
[9] What were your biggest failure?
I wanted Summa Cum Laude. And I was less than .03 off.
[10] Did you suffer any illness or injury?
I was sick a lot this year-- myriad colds, labyrinthitis, two kidney infections. I was sick and down like I've never been down before.
[11] What was the best thing you bought?
The best is probably a nice wardrobe of work clothes. The most fun is the beginnings of a high-quality makeup collection.
[12] Whose behavior merited celebration?
Skyler has put up with me way more than he should have. Also, my friends have yanked me back from the cliff's edge several times.
[13] Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Hi, American public. Thanks for voting in Bush again. Also, my family, for obvious reasons.
14] Where did most of your money go?
Building a work wardrobe, moving out, retail therapy.
[15] What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Serenity. Jesus Christ, Serenity.
[16] What song will always remind you of 2005?
All of David Gray's Life in Slow Motion CD.
[17] Compared to this time last year, are you...
i. Happier or sadder? Sadder, but working on it.
ii. Thinner or fatter? Thinner.
iii. Richer or poorer? Richer, but with more bills and financial responsibilities.
[18] What do you wish you'd done more of?
Traveling. Eating good food.
[19] What do you wish you'd done less of?
Crying and pitying myself.
[20] How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it first in PA with my dad's family, then at Skyler's house, then at my parents' house, then with Sky's family.
[22] Did you fall in love in 2005?
I eased into it, yes.
[23] How many one-night stands?
None. Okay, there was the one, but Angelina practically begged.
[24] What was your favorite TV program?
I watched practically no TV this year. I watched Veronica Mars when it was on, but I haven't followed a show that wasn't out on DVD for months and months.
[25] Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Not particularly.
[26] What was the best book you read?
nonfiction: Progressive Witchcraft by Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone
fiction: Brokeback Mountain by E. Annie Proulx
[27] What was your greatest musical discovery?
Johnny Cash. Well, he was a discovery for me.
[28] What did you want and get?
A new place, suff to set up my new place, a new job.
[29] What did you want and not get?
A car. But it will come.
[30] What was your favorite film of this year?
Serenity was wonderful, and I loved Walk the Line, as well.
[31] What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I went to the Renaissance Festival with Skyler on my birthday. I was 22.
[32] What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not feeling so down on myself for things that were not my fault.
[33] how would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
Lots of red and black. I bought some nice A-line skirts and a few girlie pieces, which is completely unlike me. But mostly sleek pants and nice shirts in solid colors.
[34] What kept you sane?
Skyler, my friends, staying busy.
[35] Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I now have a major crush on Jake Gyllenhaal.
[36] What political issue stirred you the most?
After the election, I took a temporary hiatus from caring.
[37] Who did you miss?
Mike. A lot. I just miss hanging out. But it's hard, I get it.
Noble, I miss you, too.
[38] Who was the best new person you met?
Well, I got a shiny new boyfriend, so I guess that's good, and his family ain't too shabby, either.
[39] Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005:
Cut it off when it's time. Lingering is good for no one.
[40] Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
While I was watching, you did a slow dissolve
Life in slow motion, somehow it don’t feel real
Snowflakes are falling-- I'll catch them in my hands
Snowflakes are falling-- I'll catch them in my hands
Snowflakes are falling-- now you’re my long lost friend
-- David Gray, 'Life in Slow Motion'
The Year in Review by Month.
January:: I start the year in college, surrounded by friends I loved. I am happy, social, constanly surrounded. I have a boyfriend that I love, and though we are having a rough patch, I am determined to fix it. We're making plans to live together.
February:: My life is completely consumed by the play I am in. I dye my hair pink and start learning to swing dance. Things with Mike slide further and further downhill. Aster and I realize that we should have just made Valentine's day dinner for ourselves.
March:: Mike and I break it off a few weeks before our 4-year anniversary. I go to Philadelphia with the girls for a wonderful weekend. I go on my first date with Skyler.
April:: I see Closer, and it completely wrecks me. I have a really tough time with the break-up, and I lock myself in my room while I work on my thesis.
May:: Skyler and I watch shooting stars on the roof. I finish my thesis and graduate from College. I try to pretend that I am not deeply depressed 75% of the time.
June:: I start my new job and move back home. I bump into Mike at a movie theater. I drift on and try to look okay.
July:: Nothing much happens this month. I mostly keep to myself, because the atmosphere at home is so tense and loud. I hate life and wish it were autumn every day.
August:: I get labyrinthitis. I spend an inordinate amount of time in Skyler's basement watching Angel. I substitute retail therapy for actual therapy.
September:: I spend a lot of time at weddings, I turn 22. Everything feels strange. I have a complete and total non-functioning breakdown. Confused and completely freaked out, I break up with Skyler, but have the good sense to pull an "oops, my bad!" complete with flowers and groveling. Hurricane Katrina hits, and I'm glued to the news for several days on end. Things go from bad to worse at home.
October:: I see Serenity and David Gray in concert. My kidneys break. I spend a lot of time sleeping.
November:: I learn the joy of sushi. I get a lapdance from the most delicious exotic dancer that ever was. My sister steals my dildo, and I am evicted from my house. The night of the Ben Folds concert, Mike decides we can't be just friends. It's hard to swallow, but true.
December:: My mother pulls a 'but I was just mad!' I move out anyway, and I get a new place to live. I decide that things have got to change, and that I just have to snap the fuck out of it, or I'm going to die. I get many lovely things for Christmas and pay for everyone else on my aching credit card. Things with Skyler are better than they've ever been.
In short-- goodbye 2005, and good riddance.