 Our Real Journey |
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1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
I went to Maryland, Vegas, and Costa Rica (twice). I took a night class as a nonmatriculating grad student. I saw rainforests and a cloudforest and a volcano. 2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My only new year's resolution was to let myself be happy. I think I've mostly kept it even though life doesn't always make that easy. I haven't really thought about 2006 resolutions yet. 3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Hmmm. My friend Eva had her second child, and my old friend from summer camp had her first. 4. Did anyone close to you die?
No. 5. What countries did you visit?
Costa Rica. Have you been there? Really, you should consider it right now. 6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
A regular series of full nights of sleep. (Same as last year.) 7. What dates from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
August 29. Same reason it will remain etched upon lots of people's memories. Because it sucked like few days have ever sucked before. 8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I will never forget my day spent working with Habitat for Humanity, and I hope to do it again. It was a small achievement, but it felt big. If you've ever done it, you probably know what I mean. I worked hard in my class, earned praise from my professor, and got a big fat A. I also headed up the holiday project for the needy at work, which was bigger than ever, and it was pulled off without a hitch. I feel good about all of these things. 9. What was your biggest failure?
Yet again failing to maintain a regular exercise routine. (Same as last year.) (Clearly I never learn.) 10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had a mysterious gall bladder-attack-like situation happening, and it was pretty heinous. Luckily it never happened again. 11. What was the best thing you bought?
I like my new digital camera infinitely more than my last one even though it's nothing too fancy. I also am very glad to finally have new eyeglasses. And there are no words to express how wonderful it has been to pay someone to mow my front yard. 12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Everyone who tried to help anyone in the aftermath of the hurricanes even in the smallest way. And, for the most part, Bright Abbott. 13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, George W. Bush. 14. Where did most of your money go?
I'd have to say Costa Rica. And it was worth every last penny! 15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Though I initially tried to fight it, there's no denying that the answer to this question would have to be the Rent movie. 16. What song will always remind you of 2005?
Probably Shelter and Reflecting Light. (Click on links to hear them. They are pretty.) I was exposed to tons of new music this year and heard lots of cool stuff, but these two songs are definitely among my favorites. 17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? I'm both happier and sadder. Life is complicated, come on. 18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercising. Helping hurricane victims. Ignoring ridiculous fights started by ridiculous people. 19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Being awake in the middle of the night. 20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I'll be with my family. I'm sure there will be face-stuffing and singing and stupid photos and mortification, as usual. 21. Did you fall in love in 2005?
I fell more in love with every passing day in 2005, basically. 22. How many one-night stands?
None. 23. What was your favorite TV program?
Everwood is my number one show these days. Veronica Mars is getting better as the season goes, thank God. I loved Joan of Arcadia until it ended in May. I was astounded and amazed by Deadwood. And it took me long enough, but I've finally fallen victim to the wiles of Grey's Anatomy. 24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I can't think of anyone. I pretty much reserve all of my hatred for the president. 25. What was the best book you read?
I loved Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and also really, really liked The Goose Girl (and its sequel, Enna Burning), The Highest Tide, River Teeth, A Trip to the Stars, Operating Instructions, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith, and I Wish Someone Were Waiting for Me Somewhere. I'm still thinking about PopCo and am very glad I read it, but it gave me more a headache than a warm and fuzzy feeling. Thanks to some wonderful fellow reader friends who generously sent me a buttload of books this year, I still have a big old stack of unread books in my bedroom, and that makes me very happy. Right now I'm reading The Happiest Corpse I've Ever Seen from one such friend, and it's great. 26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I'd have to go with Ray LaMontagne, thanks to Corina. And Sam Phillips. She is divine. And, of course, the Damn Millionaires. 27. What did you want and get?
I got a new digital camera. I got a Dyson, and I still love it very, very much. 28. What did you want and not get?
A laptop. All of my horrid, wretched, hazard-to-mankind backyard trees cut down. Peace on earth. 29. What was your favorite film of this year?
I feel like I saw oodles of movies this year, but there was none in the theater that really made me just fall over and die with love as some movies have in recent years. I still think about Wings of Desire and want to watch it again, and of all the movies I rented, I really have to say that Les Choristes was my favorite. It was a beautiful little movie. 30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Let's see. I turned 30. That weekend, I was cooked for and showered with perfect gifts by a hottie. On the actual night of my birthday, I had Lebanese food with my family. 31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If more than a thousand people in my state hadn't died because of a hurricane and if so much of the state had not been wrecked beyond all imagination by said hurricane. 32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
Um. Jeans? T-shirts? The usual. 33. What kept you sane?
My fiery boyfriend. 34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Hm. Probably Dr. McDreamy, who will always be Ronald Miller and Aaron Brooks to me. 35. What political issue stirred you the most?
The shameful, unforgivable ineptitude of the federal government in the aftermath of Katrina. 36. Whom did you miss?
Joan Girardi. 37. Who was the best new person you met?
Dr. McDreamy. 38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005.
I will always love the little poem that Grace posted in October in her Ephemera section. I sure have discovered some mighty fine poems thanks to Grace. It goes like this:
It may be that when we no longer know what to do Wendell Berry I also loved what Johnny Broadway/Godway said at the end of one of my favorite episodes of Joan of Arcadia this year:
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Not some sentimental prison I need god Not the political church I need fire To melt the frozen sea inside me I need love Or ...
Listen when
About this time in ...
© Copyright 2005 elb |
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