2006-01-01

looking back on 2005

I'm stealing a survey from corin82, who stole it from argolam, because I can't think of much to say this New Years. And I have a chocolate torte in the oven.


1. What did you do in 2005 that you've never done before?
I moved back to my mom's house and was actually kind of relieved not to be where I was before.

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for this year?
I don't usually make resolutions, because I'm already fine and dandy the way I am. Although maybe I could be be more friendly.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, my younger brother's girlfriend had a few weeks ago. So now I'm an aunt. My cousin is pregnant too, so I'm beginning to feel left out, even though I don't really want one myself.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes, my maternal grandfather died last spring. His funeral was in Albuquerque, so I couldn't go because I was in Canada. For various reasons, including proximity, my family isn't particularly close to our other relatives. My main memories of him are from when I was really young and he would let me eat jelly beans for breakfast when I stayed over.

5. What countries did you visit?
I moved back to California from Canada, but I guess I wasn't exactly a visitor.

6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
A job. A boyfriend. An apartment. A car. You know.

7. What dates from 2005 will remain etched in your memory, and why?
August 31, because it was my thesis deadline and I missed it. Those few extra days it took me to get my thesis submitted cost me over a thousand dollars.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I did finish the thesis, albeit a few days late. And my MA degree.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Since finishing grad school, I haven't been able to find a job.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I was miserably sick all last winter, but I wasn't hospitalized or anything, so it couldn't have been that bad.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My plane ticket back to California, without question.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I guess my mom, because she's still letting me stay here and paying for all my living expenses.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My own, at times.

14. Where did most of your money go?
School.

15. What did you get really, really excited about?
I don't really know, which I guess is kinda bad.

16. What song will always remind you of 2005?
That Bright Eyes Winter song ("I fell for the promise, of a life with a purpose, but I know that's impossible now..."). Although it is more of a general, reminds me of Canadian grad school song than a specific 2005 song.

17. Compared to last year, are you happier or sadder?
Both, in different ways. Last year, I was very unhappy to be in Canada and all that goes with it. I'm much happoier being back in California, although I don't have a job. Then, I felt like I was working towards a real goal, being in school and all. But now, I realize that goal was shit to begin with, so that's not so nice either.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I wish I'd gone out more.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Study and agonize over school.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With family.

21. Did you fall in love in 2005?
No, I think I only went on one date the entire year. I suspect it may be because I still think about my ex. I dunno, it seems like it may be related.

22. How many one-night stands?
None. Not even close.

23. What was your favorite TV Program?
Desperate Housewives.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No, not that I can think of off-hand. Not that there are things that I hate, but I think the list was already established this time last year.

25. What was the best book you read?
I just read Stendhal's The Red and The Black, which was pretty good. My pick for most over-rated novel of all time is Swann's Way by Proust.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Ummm...I don't tend to discover much

27. What did you want and get?
I wanted to finish my thesis painlessly and get a job. I got agony and unemployment.

28. What was your favorite film this year?
Ummm...I'm not so on top of the new movie thing either.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I had a fantastic party and I also went out for a nice grown-up dinner. I was 24.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
See number 6.

31. What political issue stirred you the most?
It was a really bad year for politics, but I think the thing that bothered me the most is the drammatic change in the way that Americans are perceived abroad. And that the shift seems justified in some ways. Torture is a biggie for me too.

32. Who did you miss?
I miss hanging out with Di all of the time. But we shoot the shit on the phone all of the time and email while she's at work, so it's not exactly like we never hear from each other.

33. Who was the best new person you met?
I don't know. I don't remember meeting anyone in particular.

34. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005:
I guess I learned that there isn't really anything wrong with walking away when something makes you unhappy. And that academia sucks more than most people realize.

35. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I automatically thought of the words "Life is shit" from the song of the same name on that mixed cd di made me. Although that seems a bit overly dramatic. But I can't think of anything else.


2005 was just a glitch in my plans. I expect that 2006 will be much better. I think it is really going to kick ass once stuff begins to come together, so I'm not worried.

xanthium at 12:02 p.m.

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