End of the year questions!

Here are my answers, what are yours?????

1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
Lived in Nevada *and Kansas

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't think I made one

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not that I'm aware of

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes Willis Johnson, a wonderful man who attempted to teach me French, and Eli, who I'm not really sure I should count in this, as I hadn't seen him since he was mo's old.

5. What countries did you visit?
Went up to BC a few times while I was still in WA.

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
umm... how about a bit of peace?

7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory?
11/23

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I don't think I've achieved much this year.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Life?

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I sprained my wrist and my ankle within a month of each other. Meh!

11. What was the best thing you bought?
a plane ticket.. a few of them.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Christ.. the fhdc community on a whole, I've never felt so much support from so many different people.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Chrys.. Rob... grr...

14. Where did most of your money go?
moving

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
moving

16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
When you dream - Barenaked ladies (song I always sang to Morgan when she woke up in the night)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
happier

ii. thinner or fatter?
thinner

iii. richer or poorer?
poorer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
nothing.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
stressing

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
In bed watching movies.

22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
every single day

23. How many one night stands?
umm.. one..

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
I don't watch tv.. but if I did it would be News Radio.. is that still on?

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.

26. What was the best book you read?
The Zinn Reader

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Eddie from Ohio

28. What did you want and get?
away

29. What did you want and not get?
money

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Of this year, none.

31. What did you do on your birthday?
My friend Chris took me out for drinks and pool

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I can't say for sure.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
Well... seeing as I have "horribly bad taste in clothing" I choose not to answer this.

34. What kept you sane?
Writing.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Tom Hanks, as always

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The War.. for a while.

37. Who did you miss?
My family

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Other than some fhdcers, my other nevada roommate Gary.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003.
Don't move to quickly

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I'll get back to you on that one..

1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
Been asked to move out of my home/apartment.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I probably made one to lose weight. Didn�t happen. It�ll probably be this year�s too.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, closest was sympathy pains for my friend katie�s dog Sophie.

5. What countries did you visit?
None. Didn�t go many places during the year. Went to San Francisco, which *might* qualify as a different country. :)

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
Stability, order.

7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory?
Don�t know if there is one.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Moving to a job where I�m happier and more successful.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Failing to succeed in moving to California. (Failing to succeed. Heh. )

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Just the normal ol� ear infections.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Didn�t �buy�, but shelled out a ton of money to have all my babies legally living in my apartment.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Friends who were very much there for me, like Melinda, Michael, Sara and Sheryl. �

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Not worth getting into.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Down the toilet.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Falconridge, Sara�s wedding, switching jobs.

16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
No clue

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
A little of both.

ii. thinner or fatter?
fatter

iii. richer or poorer?
poorer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
cleaning, socializing

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
crying

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With my boy and three kitty babies, our presents, our tree, and our roast.

22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
Not a new love...

23. How many one night stands?
None this year, none ever.

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Joan of Arcadia

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate�s too strong a word.

26. What was the best book you read?
Didn�t read much so I guess it comes down to Harry Potter.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Who knows

28. What did you want and get?
Change

29. What did you want and not get?
Peace

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Piiiiirates. Was that this year?

31. What did you do on your birthday?
Stayed at home, got presents, whee.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
To have my father alive again.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
Random.

34. What kept you sane?
Paxil and hugs.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Johnny Depp, probably!

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Patriot Act, gay marriage.

37. Who did you miss?
Friends far and near.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
ChrisChin, my new coworker Donna

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003.
You�re never through with worrying.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
�She must have missed the road sign that said �from now on, nothing will be clear��

1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
Learned to dance (ballroom, latin, country)

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make New Year's Resolutions.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, I think I would have know if someone popped out a kid next to where I was standing...oh, wait...um, yes someone I know did give birth.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Do pets count?

5. What countries did you visit?
None this year.

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
More free time?

7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory?
None really.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Buying my first house.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Getting bumped from promotion list (although not really my fault).

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Wedding rings.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Eh? Noone really.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
George W. Bush.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Buying my house.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting all the details for my wedding arranged.

16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
I don't think there really is one.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
Happier.

ii. thinner or fatter?
About the same.

iii. richer or poorer?
Richer.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Not much.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Sitting next to a fire with my fiance.

22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
More and more every day with my wonderful soul mate.

23. How many one night stands?
Absolutely none.

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Have a bunch, but probably CSI and Stargate SG-1

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.

26. What was the best book you read?
"Global Warming: A Scientist's Perspective"

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Toby Keith.

28. What did you want and get?
A house

29. What did you want and not get?
Someone to pay me for doing nothing. :)

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

31. What did you do on your birthday?
Celebrated with family.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Oh, lots of things, too many to go into.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
This is silly.

34. What kept you sane?
My fiance.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I dunno, don't really fancy any of them.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Oh, all of them.

37. Who did you miss?
My best friend, stationed in Iraq.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Libertarian couple at our church.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003.
Um, none.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
don't have any.

1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
Participated in a wedding party (by extension, also first time being a best man in a wedding)
Attended an NHL game (just tonight! GO SABRES!)
Went to Hooters. (*wink*)
Got a speeding ticket.
Bought DVD's for myself (first year owning a DVD player)
Built a computer completely from components by myself.
umm.... I think that's all I can remember...

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I'm not usually very vocal about making resolutions. The one I usually mutter to myself is "get a girlfriend" (someone to kiss next New Year :))

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope. Check in next year, as there are at least two of my friends who are pregnant now (that I'm aware of).

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.

5. What countries did you visit?
None. First year out of the last few that I didn't even leave the state.

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
A pleasant, well paying job that I don't loathe with a passion.
To see friends at FruCon and *crosses fingers* maybe an FRFF?
SEE ALSO: Question 2

7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory?
Nothing seems to stand out and immediately yell "ME! ME! REMEMBER ME!" ... though July 12 was pretty cool (afore mentioned wedding)

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting my budget into the black again.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not getting out of my dead-end, sh**-for-pay job and into something nice.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
missed some time off work around Thanksgiving. That's about it.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My new (at the time) computer :)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Matt's and Missy's, for getting married this summer :) Congradgamalations (though neither of you see these forums :-P)

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
No one in particular... save myself for not getting a better job by now.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent and bills.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Matt's and Missy's wedding, and visits from friends I miss (one visit actually happened, the other fell apart).

16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
No sole winner in this group, either.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
happier or sadder?
At this time last year, (I thought) my computer was hosed. Today it's fine, and I have two to boot (no pun intended), so I'm happy :)

ii. thinner or fatter?
No idea, but if my diet is any indication, I can't be much thinner. :-P

iii. richer or poorer?
I gotta echo some else -- Richer, though it doesn't always feel like it.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Active job-hunting.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Same-old same-old -- procrastinating.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With Mom, Dad, Matt and Megan (siblings) at least -- I believe my great aunt and uncle, and two of my quasi-distant cousins will also be in attendance.

22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
No. At least, nothing that I've come to realize yet. If that means anything. It probably doesn't, and I just wanted to say something besides a dismal "no." :-P

23. How many one night stands?
Online or offline? ;) (just kidding -- *BZZZZT* Zero...)

24. What was your favourite TV program?
"The West Wing" is rapidly becoming my favorite. Close followers include "24," "JAG," "Joan of Arcadia," "The O. C.," "Everwood," "Navy NCIS," and "Las Vegas."

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nope.

26. What was the best book you read?
Well, I finally finished Rainbow Six... I'm currently working on The Sum Of All Fears (prior to watching the movie -- still haven't seen it). I finally got ahold of a copy of The Ultimate Hitchhikers Guide -- all 5 of the novels in Douglas Adams' series, "Plus Bonus Story -- 'Young Zaphod Plays It Safe.'" At this rate, I'll have enough reading material to last until I'm thirty. :-P

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Carbon Leaf

28. What did you want and get?
Eching others again -- digital camera :-D

29. What did you want and not get?
See, again, question 2 :-/

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Ooooooh. So many...

31. What did you do on your birthday?
I don't remember, so it couldn't have been to interesting.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
32 GOTO 2 [/basic programing] <-- yeah, I'm a geek.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
I have no fashion. I am comfortable with this. For now.

34. What kept you sane?
Laughter. That and the love of my friends, even if it is only through IM's.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I'm not sure I have a favorite...

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Operation Iraqi Freedom, I s'pose, like most others I've read.

37. Who did you miss?
Everyone. 'specially all those I didn't see at FruCon this year, and all the close personal friends outside of Fruvous that I haven't seen recently.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Once again, no one person jumps out in my mind as the single best.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003.
I'm still learning this one -- Don't let yourself get stuck in a rut of "good enough" (or "not quite good enough") if you know you can do better.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Nothing was particularly bad this year, but... o/` between you and me, I could honestly say, that things can only get better... o/` -- Pauley

I wanna find you a girlfriend to kiss!
....but, uhhh...I live in California and you live in NY.
So I'm afraid I can't be much help. But I wish you luck. You deserve it.
:)

*grin* why, thank you. :)

-- Pauley

on LJ.. I'm not gonna bore people again here.. heheh

:)

Well how about for those of us who don't use lj?

here ya go!

Again, no help, because the REASON I don't do lj is that it's blocked here and I get violation screens. Sigh. :)

Ohhhhhh
Heh.

See, you have to explain these things... I thought you were just being difficult.
:D

Here:

1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
Went to spain! :)
Got laid off.
Collected unemployment in MA.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Actually, yes... I did keep most of them. And yes, I probably will make more.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Ummm... not this year, I don't think.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope.

5. What countries did you visit?
This year was just Spain.. but... that was an awesome (if too short) visit.

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
A good job.

7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Particular date? Ummm... 7/8/03. Because that's the day I found out about the layoff.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Managing to scrape together enough cash to make it to Spain. :)

9. What was your biggest failure?
I dunno.... I guess maybe the fact that my cucumber plants died?

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing major. *shrugs*

11. What was the best thing you bought?
This 21" monitor. Mmmmm.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Ummm... no idea... but it sure wasn't gwbush. ;)

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
See above.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Over the year as a whole? Rent and Debts. How depressing.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
SPAIN!
:D

16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
"Mighty Little Man" by Steve Burns

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
- i. happier or sadder?
Happier about life in general... sadder about my employment and money situation.

- ii. thinner or fatter?
fatter.

- iii. richer or poorer?
shbeh!! Poorer, of course. Well, unless you count my overall net worth including debts... I guess I'm less in the hole than I was.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Hiking... and skiing.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Sitting around on my ass..... and being miserable at RCN.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With the fam.. at my parents' house. :)

22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
Nope... I've BEEN very much in love for a couple years now. :)

23. How many one-night stands?
Not a one.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Hrm... probably either While You Were Out or That 70's Show

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Actually, no. Not at all.

26. What was the best book you read?
Wow... that's tough... probably The Davinci Code

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Hrm.... I think probably either Steve Burns or Propellerheads.
My biggest musical REdiscovery was definitely Jim's Big Ego.

28. What did you want and get?
A digital camera... and oh how I love it.

29. What did you want and not get?
A good job.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
That came out this year? or that I saw this year?
I guess "film of this year" would imply coming out in 2003.
Ummm.... no idea... Pirates? I'm sure there was something better....

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 26... and.. I got to leave a nice warm bed and snuggly girlfriend to go and sit at work.
Happy birthday to me! ;)

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Better job.... that's pretty much it.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
HAHAHHAAH
Me? Fashion??
I wear khakis and t-shirts... pretty much exclusively. :)

34. What kept you sane?
Becca.... and my other wonderful friends. And LJ. Heh.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I dunno... Johnny Depp? :D

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Iraq... and gay marriage.

37. Who did you miss?
Vermont peeps... I got to see brad and jeremy a couple times... but... haven't seen Mike, Nancy or Silas in years now.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
ummm... huh... alright, I give up... who?

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003:
Money is important... but I can get by with a lot less than I thought I could. heh.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I hate summing things up with song lyrics.... so I'm skipping this one. :)

Like *I* would just try to be difficult! :) Thanks, dude.

1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before? Go on a cruise

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
It's the same every year: floss. I made it through mid February this year. Once I got to May!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Katie, in January. She's pregnant again.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Uncle Isaac

5. What countries did you visit?
Canada, Bahamas

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
new furniture - dresser and kitchen pantry

7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory?
About a 3rd of the way into March

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
discovered way to turn lead into gold

9. What was your biggest failure?
lost the notes

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I dislocated and fractured the elbow-end head of my radius bone.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
new boots - they're awesome boots

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
my dad's

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Dan's

14. Where did most of your money go?
living expenses - I live in Manhattan. I've got a good rent for Manhattan, but an astromomical one for anywhere else but maybe San Francisco, London, or Tokyo.
recreational funds -->concert tickets, plane tickets, cruise tickets

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
a romance

16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
Hey Rose

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
happier
ii. thinner or fatter? thinner
iii. richer or poorer? richer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
sang (formally, in performance)

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
slept

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Chinese food and a movie, baby!

22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
yes

23. How many one night stands?
none

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Daily Show with Jon Stewart

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
no

26. What was the best book you read?
I just finished The Da Vinci Code, so I'll go with that

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Girlyman

28. What did you want and get?
new furniture - wardrobe and desk

29. What did you want and not get?
another cat

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
[edit] Chicago

31. What did you do on your birthday?
DVN show and dessert at Caf� Mozart with wonderful friends

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Living closer to my niece

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
the tailored bohemian look

34. What kept you sane?
safe spaces where I was allowed to not be sane. The therapy and meds helped too.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Jon Stewart

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Democratic Primary Race

37. Who did you miss?
Dan

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Elizabeth - an old camp friend that I met anew
[edit] what was I thinking? All the folks I met at Frucon!

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003.
[Edit] Even if come in three's, I can handle 'em.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"Who could it be? Believe it or not, it's just me."

1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
New Orleans

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I broke it so long ago, I don't remember what it was.� And yes.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My 'sister', Alecia, gave birth to Isaiah.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Teri's father, but I wouldn't really call him close.

5. What countries did you visit?
One, the US.� 29 states this year, 49 total.

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
I'm materialistic... the new Audi would be nice. :-)

7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory?
So many good dates... July 23 was a good one.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I managed to lose my job, but technically that happens January 3, 2004.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Nothing really comes to mind.� See above, I suppose.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing memorable.

11. What was the best thing you bought?�
Toss up:�FRFF tickets and Byron, the new laptop.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Zilpha.�

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Laura.� More depressed than appalled, but I do have a very strong urge to wash my hands after each of our interactions.

14. Where did most of your money go?
If we're being literal, rent.� Otherwise, either the PC or the CD library.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Setting the move date for Chicago.

16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
2003 - Nina Gordon.� It's all in the title.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
A bit of both.

ii. thinner or fatter?
Heavier, but not really bigger.

iii. richer or poorer?
Probably richer, but it's hard to tell

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Resume building.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying in silence.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
At home, keeping the cats from eating the ribbon.� Listening to the new CD's (*wish*) and packing.

22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
In a sense.

23. How many one night stands?
Zero.

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
I don't watch TV enough to have a favorite.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I wouldn't call it hate... more of an intense aversion.

26. What was the best book you read?
I don't know about best, but Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was the most memorable.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Richard Thompson

28. What did you want and get?
Many, many things.� I'm materialistic.

29. What did you want and not get?
Many, many things.� I'm cursed with a retail paycheck.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
X2, but if I'd seen more movies, the answer might change

31. What did you do on your birthday?
Saw Robbie Fulks live.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Winning the lottery would have been nice.� Of course, I hear your chances improve if you buy a ticket.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
The overworked and underpaid look, marked by a red shirt over khaki pants.� I'm trying to improve my off-work attire.

34. What kept you sane?
Am I sane?� I'm sure that anyone who takes time to read through this contributed to that achievement.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
The Julia Stiles obsession is still going strong, with Keira Knightley making a strong showing late in the year.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?�
I try to avoid being stirred.� I usually succeed.

37. Who did you miss?
Zilpha, Alecia, JenJen, Grandpa... in a distant way.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Sarah, one of the only other people in the state who's heard of Sarah Harmer.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003.
Have your car's air conditioner serviced regularly.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
If you're not pissed off at the world, then you're just not paying attention.

You did New Orleans?? Is your alias "Debbie"?? :)

*dies laughing*

Well, he DID have an offer for some beads if you know what I mean.� ;)

*grin* Subject to interpretation.� Yes, I did the city, but not in the pornographic sense.

*wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge*

*cough*

On my livejournal (bailamorena) woohooo

Apparently we non-lj-ers are chopped liver! *smirkygrin*

Heh.
Well, considering you're the only one who can't access LJ.......

;)

Well I doubt that. And I'm sure some folks choose not to, as well. :)

well, that's just patently ridiculous. LJ is the best thing to happen to online since... umm... well.. since this place, I suppose.

Heh.

I will step forward as one of those people. Then I will step back behind this beautiful full-size replica of the Trevi Fountain to avoid the barage of shocked queries about to be sent my way.

1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
Purchased a suit for interviews; drank so much tequila I blacked out, for all intents and purposes; took a stand in the office that could have cost me my job.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I did not - and I'm sure I will try again.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
From a biological standpoint, I did.� My father died.� I�found this out from an aunt I never knew about.� I wasn't close to my father at all.� I didn't even know which town he lived in for the past several years.

5. What countries did you visit?
Hurrah for the US!!� THIRTY STATES!� Up to 47 total now.

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
The means to contribute to a Roth or regular IRA.

7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory?
Mother's Day: I spent it with my brother's wife's mother.� :)

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Obtaining my securities and life licenses.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not insisting on a promotion and raise as promised by the boss.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not much, other than too much job stress.� Missed several days of work because of it.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Byron, my new Dell laptop.� :)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Bruce: for putting up with my incredibly bad job stress all year long.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My boss, for not following through with the pay raise, promotion or pay schedule on commissions for securities sold.� Oh, and for not giving a pay raise to whomever steps into my shoes.� Repeat after me: a bonus is NOT salary.

14. Where did most of your money go?
To my landlord, Ford Credit and travel.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
LEAVING my job and this damned town!!

16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
"A man of constant sorrow," since it is on that darned disc several times over and I play it nonstop as background music in the office.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
Much happier.

ii. thinner or fatter?
Heavier, according to the scale.��

iii. richer or poorer?
Richer, but feel poorer, thanks to Uncle Sam and retirement.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercise.� Maybe I'd have learned by now to LIKE it.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Binge drinking.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
After opening�stockings in bed, a short nap and then opening the delightfully wrapped goodies beneath the tree, we'll have a nice big breakfast with all the trimmings.� We'll lounge about reading, watching movies and/or listening to music, Santa willing.� Dinner will be simple (Mmmm�- sweet potatoes, smoked turkey sausage, pineapple and brown sugar) and then lighting the candles.� :)

22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
Yes - all over again.

23. How many one night stands?
Heh.� You want me to risk jeopardizing my marriage and sanity with a one night stand?!� I think not.� Yet.� ;)

24. What was your favourite TV program?
I don't watch tv.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.

26. What was the best book you read?
Several from Baldacci.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Kasey Chambers.

28. What did you want and get?
An apartment in Chicagoland, although we haven't technically signed the lease yet.

29. What did you want and not get?
The raise and promotion promised to me.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Chicago!!� :) :)

31. What did you do on your birthday?
We went to the Cincinatti museum of natural history and then lost some money on the boats.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?�
The satisfaction of my accomplishments recognized with a PROMOTION.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
"Whatever fits and matches."� As casual as possible in the office.� Blue jeans and a gray sweatshirt with comfy kicks.

34. What kept you sane?
Drinking.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Richard Gere.� I never noticed how HOT that man is before this year!

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The stock market slump slowly improving.

37. Who did you miss?
My brother in Alaska, since he's the only one I haven't seen this year.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
James, my friend Shan's husband.� :)� Too cool.� He's a keeper.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003.
Stick to your guns when you�are in the right.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"She works hard for the money...and you'd better treat her right!!"

1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
Graduated from college, worked a full-time job (if temping counts)

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Never really made one.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope.

5. What countries did you visit?
Canada

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
School, friends who live near me, a city I still enjoy.

7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory?
I can think of events, but there isn't s specific date that I can think of. How about "Mayish" can I count that? I suppose Nov. 20 would count though :-)

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
The stock answer would be graduating, but I don't feel like I achieved it. The time just came.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Why did I move back to Columbus?

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Um, my foot hurt pretty bad for a week or so this summer.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Half of a plane ticket.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
*tries to pull his mind out of the gutter*

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
There are people, but they're not directly in my life, so I'm reluctant to name them.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Zilpha :-)

16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
"Leaving Here" - Josh Woodward

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
Happier in the over-all, but I liked where I was living, and working, and school, and things like that more last year. If we can take parts of the first and second half and mush them together, than it'd be much happier.

ii. thinner or fatter?
slightly more to the heavy side since being non-veggie, but not much change.

iii. richer or poorer?
I have more money, but have to pay more bills.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
*cough* ;-)

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
a few of the temp jobs I've been on

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With my family at my parent's house.

22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
Yes :-D

23. How many one night stands?
None. Just like every year

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Buffy, Simpsons

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Not anyone who I knew last year.

26. What was the best book you read?
The Stand

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Josh, Phish, and/or Nickel Creek

28. What did you want and get?
Zilpha :-)

29. What did you want and not get?
More of the last answer ;-)

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
A Mighty Wind

31. What did you do on your birthday?
Worked

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not moving to Columbus. Having teleportation powers.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
Disheveled Chic

34. What kept you sane?
People

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I don't get that many famous crushes. I guess I'll go with my standby of Amber Benson *shrug*

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Suprisingly, not the war. I think I felt the most desire the throw things at the tv/radio durring gay marriage-related reports. I just don't understand DOMAs. (but that's for another topic).

37. Who did you miss?
Zilpha. All my other friends too.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
See, I think this is a trick question, since we technically had talked around here a little bit for years ;-)

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003.
I...
like...
*still can't believe this*
...small towns.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"Time might pass, and change the way I feel about this small Ohio town"
"I want to waste my time with you"

This is also on my LiveJournal..but for those who choose not to or cannot access LJ here are mine...

1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
Drove on an overnight road-trip for the primary reason to go to a concert (FRFF does not count, as I was not driving)

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Well, I did say that I would floss more, and I'm doing it about every 2-3 days...the other ones that I made, pretty much didn't pan out...I probably will make a few more that will not be kept.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes. My sister gave birth to Kenneth, her second child on Nov. 6, 2003, weighing in at 6lbs 10oz.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Fortunately not, though my grandmother had a stroke in late October and currently is in a coma...so I'm not sure how long she has. :(

5. What countries did you visit?
Just the US and a very limited part. Furthest I traveled this year was Richmond, VA.

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
Hrmm....my own apartment away from my parents.

7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory?
Oh there are so many, February 1, 2003; July 23, 2003; November 8, 2003.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Driving back and forth to Richmond, VA; Navigating the Taconic Parkway in the dark and surviving.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Messing up various dates and potential relationships.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Just a few colds here and there.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My MP3 player...I take it everywhere.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Sarah; my supervisee; a few of the people in my group.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
my student; Nicole

14. Where did most of your money go?
Music and Food

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
FRFF and Jenny and Carey's Wedding

16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
Weight of the Ocean
Fly (EFO)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
Slightly sadder
ii. thinner or fatter? a bit heavier...I've been slacking at the gym
iii. richer or poorer? richer...(Quicken says so) even though it doesn't seem that way

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Looking for apartments and Contra Dancing

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Stressing about how lonely I am.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I will be heading down to my sister's in the late afternoon to go After-Christmas shopping the next day and to see my nephews.

22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
Alas...No

23. How many one night stands?
None.

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Alias, Coupling (Brit Version), Scrubs

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.

26. What was the best book you read?
Hrmm...didn't read much..but I probably enjoyed Al Franken's Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balance Look at the Right

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
New discoveries: Peter Mulvey and Patty Larkin
Rediscovery: Suzanne Vega

28. What did you want and get?
My own domain name for my website.

29. What did you want and not get?
A relationship beyond friendship with someone.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Hard choice: Pirates, Lost in Translation, Return of the King.

31. What did you do on your birthday?
On my actual birthday: nothing. Day before, hung out with amazing friends in Central Park and then Tapas for Dinner with other amazing friends.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
See Anwer to #29.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
Various shades of black, blue, green, maroon, and khaki.

34. What kept you sane?
The PowerWall, my supervisor from work, Sarah.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Johnny Depp

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
There were a few, but probably the one that stirred me up the most would have been gay marriage.

37. Who did you miss?
Annie, Debbie, Day.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Oh my, all the lovely people on FHDC (this year I virtually met Anni, Michael, Erica, Leanne, and so many others, and met Andrea, Gella, Carey, Andy, Nate, in person ).

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003.
Not to stress so much about my job and to take time for myself when needed.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"I Still Believe..."
"Always look on the bright side of life..."
"One is the Lonliest Number.."

I'm sorry to hear about your grandma.� *hugs* I hope things turn out well for everyone.

Here are my answers, for anyone who does not have or wish to use LJ and wants to read what I've written:

1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
Start a relationship, interview a celebrity, volunteer at a folk festival, go to school in another state, protest

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I think I've read 25 books, though I don't know if I'm any better of a listener. And yes I'm making more. I still can't do a split. dammit.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Several in 2002, none in '03

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. What countries did you visit?
None.

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
Peace. A better work ethic

7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory?
1/18, 10/17, 10/24, 11/1, 5/12

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Toss up between going to school in Arizona and Galatea's Pants 12

9. What was your biggest failure?
I could be really pessimistic and say Arizona, but only if you look at a certain way, and I don't.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I was sick as a dog in February.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
my FRFF t-shirt (which was my "ticket" to get in as a volunteer) :)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Jesse's, my family and friends

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
George Bush's, assholes on campus

14. Where did most of your money go?
music

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
interviewing Jian, meeting Michael Moore, getting a letter from Barbara Kingsolver, music, FRFF, the road trip with the girls, going to Arizona, Madison visiting

16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
Oh jesus, more like what songs on a double volume CD. "Easy People," "Send me on my way," any Fruvous song, "Play some skynyrd," etc etc.
let's just say "Gulf War Song."

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
sadder, but only in comparison to the ecstatic rambunctious JOY I felt last year

ii. thinner or fatter?
the same

iii. richer or poorer?
poorer. I'm soooo poor!

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
political stuff

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
wasting time on the computer

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
reading by the fire and hanging out with my family and eating.

22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
Yes

23. How many one night stands?
42

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
The West Wing

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.

26. What was the best book you read?
High Tide in Tucson . . . .Boy Meets Girl. ;)

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
::chants:: FRUVOUS! FRU-VOUS! FRU-VOUS!

28. What did you want and get?
a boyfriend

29. What did you want and not get?
all the feedback I wanted, great classes at Arizona

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Bowling For Columbine (I saw it this year)

31. What did you do on your birthday?
drove back to IUP, had an ice cream party in the little kitchen with Ian, Celeste, Miriam, Bernie, Lucas, and others.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
not feeling like I wanted to die when I first went to Arizona

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
Hippie. Sexy. slug.

34. What kept you sane?
Miriam's mom.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
haha, is there even a question? Let's see, it begins with a J, and ends with a Ghomeshi.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The War.

37. Who did you miss?
Celeste, Bernie, Miriam, Ian, my family, Raija, Jesse

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Jesse. The FHDC people at FRFF were awesome too

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003.
Friends are the bomb diggity. War is a fucking disaster and should not be used as a method for solving problems any more.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Playyyyy some Skynyrrrrrrrr-d!

1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
Went to FRFF, saw a hockey game in person.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No. I'm thinking about not making any new ones, since I never seem to keep them.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
I don't think so. My boss's wife got a new puppy, but I don't think that counts...

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Again, I don't think so. My grandfather on my dad's side is still hanging in there, last I heard.

5. What countries did you visit?
Canada.

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
Lots of things. We'll settle on saying "being a foreman at work." It's very possibly going to happen, too.

7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory?
There's a few of them, but I'm too sleepy to go look them up to make sure I get them right, so I won't list them off.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Payed off the loans associated with my year of college.

9. What was your biggest failure?
There were a lot of them. I'm going with: Didn't try to get anything published.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I've got a spectacularly nasty cold right now. Otherwise, nothing of note. I'm not sure the usual headaches count.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Tickets to FRFF; train tickets to and from NY in November.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Well, my "favorite" Aunt got engaged. That the kind of thing you mean?

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I'm continually disapproving of some choices one of my cousins continually makes. But it's not my place to tell her how to live her life.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Stupid Government. As mentioned before, I paid off loans, and charges that went with them. Paid off my credit card once (it needs it again). Got essentially screwed out of several month's worth of unemployment pay because of a former employer, which was compounded by a paperwork screw-up.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
FRFF, my November visit to NY.

16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
I usually associate songs with events or feelings. I'm not sure I've ever had a specific song remind me of a specific year.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
Happier over-all, I think.

ii. thinner or fatter?
Thinner! (Not that anyone can probably tell, *sigh*)

iii. richer or poorer?
Poorer, I'm afraid. See above grumbling about the government.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Reading. Writing.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying about things I couldn't change, letting resentment and anger get the better of me. Trying to stop myself from feeling things.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Sprawled on the living room floor in my PJ's. And possibly baking more cookies, since I need to do that before I can send out my (very late) holiday packages to people.

22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
*nods* Yeah. Hard.

23. How many one night stands?
None. Bringing my grand total to... None.

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Buffy, CSI, West Wing, sometimes Angel.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't think so.

26. What was the best book you read?
I didn't read enough. But I'll say either Ender's Game or Nine Horses.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Josh!

28. What did you want and get?
To go to FruCon, FRFF, and then make an extra trip to NY after I stopped working.

29. What did you want and not get?
Not going to think about those things. I'm trying to pull out of the mood I've been in a lot lately, thank you.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Pirates. It would probably be RotK, but I still haven't managed to see that.

31. What did you do on your birthday?
Almost nothing. Hung out with one of my young cousins. Avoided disasters, which is always a very good thing on my birthdays.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
*shrugs* A lot of things could have done it, some of them that I probably don't even know about.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
Workweek: T-shirts and jeans. Weekends: T-shirts and chinos.

34. What kept you sane?
My friends. Music. Trying to write.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Y'know what? Not telling. ;-)

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
A lot of 'em.

37. Who did you miss?
The friends I only get to see once or twice a year. And frequently Talcott, because he just had to move farther away than I'm happy driving more then once in a while.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Zilpha. And the crew at Amici.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003.
Just freakin' calm down and let yourself go with things. Stop worrying about what you can't change. Go with the good feelings. (I'm still trying to learn most of these myself, actually.)

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Hmm... how about: o/~let me file it under "I" for Incoherent o/~ (Now watch me somehow have managed to screw the line up.)

1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
went around the world!� and, um, ceased schooling.� since i started at age 5, i've never stopped, so that's kinda new.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
hm.� i have no idea what my resolutions might have been, but i have made new� ones: keep in touch with those far away, and write in my journal regularly.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
no, thank god!� babies make me feel old.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
yes, my grandmother.

5. What countries did you visit?
hm.� belize, japan, south korea (and north korea for, like, a minute), italy, france, england, canada.

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
more of a desire to write creatively.� also, a job?

7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory?
6/21, 5/26, 7/18.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
graduating!� w00t.

9. What was your biggest failure?
uh.� i don't rightly know.� i made life really hard on myself in my final term of college by procrastinating waaaaay too much, so that was disappointing.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
cold-type-viruses in may and october.� oh, and my wisdom teeth were extracted in april (ikk).

11. What was the best thing you bought?
fluevogs?� :D or the new fountains of wayne cd.� yum.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
what a strange question.� my yale friend erica's comes to mind.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
definitely our president's.� and, um, those bullies at the final 2SJ show.

14. Where did most of your money go?
CDs, shoes, and more CDs.� and a beanie baby or two.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
whim Ham Jam, spring break, myrtle beach, whim tour (excited and terrified, there), 2SJ/FRFF, my array of concerts in the fall.

16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
"stacy's mom," "girl with the world in her eyes," "bad day"

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
happier and sadder.� i'm at a crossroads, but i'm less stressed.

ii. thinner or fatter?
thinner, i think.� but my weight tends to fluctuate with little encouragement from me either way.

iii. richer or poorer?
still being supported by my parents!� w00t!

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
daily writing, guitar

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
futzing around on the in-ter-net, procrastinating in general

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
on a plane to vegas!

22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
not with another person, no.� with some new music, yes.

23. How many one night stands?
ha!� one several-night stand.

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
queer eye!� and six feet under.� and joan of arcadia.� and survivor.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
uhh.� don't think so.� could be wrong.

26. What was the best book you read?
hmmm.� the best book i never had time to read would likely be _anna
karenina_.� i liked _world according to garp_, though.� and i listened to _american gods_ on tape.� and i'll throw harry potter V in there, too, just 'cause it was SO anticipated that i had to fork over $25 in south�korea for the pleasure of lugging around a 900-pg hardback novel for 3 weeks.�

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
that i adore 2 skinnee j's more than i ever realized in years past.

28. What did you want and get?
a diploma.

29. What did you want and not get?
a clear sense of what i want to do with my life.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
errrrr...� i'll probably love RotK, but i haven't seen it yet.� pirates of the caribbean?� lost in translation?� either of those.

31. What did you do on your birthday?
saw _love, actually_, had dinner with my 'rents at a thai restaurant, had drinks with my old high school friends.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
been more successful at managing my time re: my senior essay.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
striped sweaters, jeans and interesting t-shirts.

34. What kept you sane?
perspective.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
orlando bloom!� dear god, he needs only to *meet* me to know true love!� :D

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
iraq.

37. Who did you miss?
morse friends.� YGC friends.� whim friends.� fru-friends.� y'all live too far away.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
my cousin jesse's a pretty cool 9-year-old.� also, that neat woman in line behind me at the Travis show.� and Erik Gustafson, my savior for whim tour's london leg.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003.
"procrastination is like masturbation: in the end, you're only screwing yourself."

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"so loosen your hold
though you might be frightened
release or be caught
if this be the right thing
unable by thought
to look what the tide brings in"
--south, "loosen your hold"

The more complete version can be found in my livejournal�but also pasted here�to make  Santa Krause happy).

1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
I attended a house concert (Deirdre Flint) and had breakfast with Susan Werner and Kellie Lin Knott
(Does that count?)

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I only had a very simple one. Go to bed earlier and get more sleep. And I failed miserably.
Hopefully better luck in 2004.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. What countries did you visit?
The U.S. (as usual) and France

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
a case of Ch�teau Cheval Blanc 1990. A Galaxy class starship
What about true love...

7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory?
11/08, 11/09

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Not really an achievement but one of the best things I did in 2003: I created a livejournal.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Too much procastinating. Killed too much time in front of my computer.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No major illness. But the last week wasn't fun.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Apart from concert tickets and CDs my new computer.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Roy, Meth, Kel and Nuray who is the 9-year-old daughter of a cousin of mine and the cutest girl ever.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Look here.

14. Where did most of your money go?
air fare, CDs and the computer mentioned above.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
FRFF (music, socializing and fanboy stuff), my travels and the people I meet that make it so worthwhile.

16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
Anne Lister - Forty Miles

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
about the same.

ii. thinner or fatter?
a bit thinner - my mom now calls me anorexic which is completely beyond the point.

iii. richer or poorer?
Richer. Kudos to John Snow for melting the $ *hides*

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
"un-stuffing". Just checking all the stuff in the cellar - sorting out things I don't need anymore...

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
see 9.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Chrismas with my Mom.

22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
No.

23. How many one night stands?
Ew. Nah. No way. Hey I'm a quirky-alone(TM). Either it really hits me or ...

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
I don't watch TV any more on a regular basis. But Babylon 5 on DVD rocks my socks.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't usually hate people. It's self-destructive.

26. What was the best book you read?
I've got to differentiate.
Barbara Kingsolver - Small Wonder
Scott Alarik - Folk Community (Every folkie should read that)
Alan Dugan - Poems Seven

27. What was your greatestmusical discovery?
Girlyman and Antje Duvekot.

28. What did you want and get?
More music in my life.

29. What did you want and not get?
see 6.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
LotR: The Return of the King. Yo.

31. What did you do on your birthday?
Although I was alone this was one of my coolest birthdays in the last years. I went to the LFNY CD release party in the Cutting Room, NYC. So much fun.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
see 6.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
The only fashion concept I have is that I don't have one:)

34. What kept you sane?
Music. My travels and the people I meet. And lj.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I'm not into celebrities I'm afraid.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?�

-The War in/on Iraq.�
-Not strictly political. The shooting in the NYC city hall in the very instant when I was downtown and witnessed the biggest police operation ever.
- How the German government is messing everything up. Now my favorite acronym has changed from airport security to liberal leadership(:

37. Who did you miss?
A lot of people of my family I didn't see so often cuz we're all so busy...

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Roy, Meth and some darlisters I didn't know in person before.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003.
Go for it.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
If your sister or your brother were stumbling on their last mile, in a self-inflicted exile,
You'd hope they'd meet a humble friend. And I hope someday that the best of Falstaff's planners
Give me seven half-built manors, where half-dreams may dream without end.

Stolen from valjean615, who stole it from natertots, who is related to Moses, and I've got a big long list of names to prove it.


1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
Told someone I love him. And not one of my relatives. :-)

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Nope, and nope. New Year's Resolutions are nothing but disappointment.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, but people close to people close to me died.

5. What countries did you visit?
Didn't leave the country at all.

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
A job and boss I don't loathe. Direction. A love-interest who feels about me like I feel about him.

7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory?
I'm not good with dates... But definitely when I found out about Kip's brother.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Just making it through. This year has been an absolute trial.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Work-stuff, I would imagine... Flaking on my visit to Seattle again. Flaking in general.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I have something of a permanent upper respiratory infection. My ears don't hurt anymore, though. Small victories, I suppose.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My futon. I've needed a new bed for YEARS, and I was finally able to take care of myself to spend some money on one. :-)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My own. My therapist's. Andrea and Karen have both been an incredible support for me during this year.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Kip, my boss, my mother, my little brother.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Food and DVDs. In that order.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
LotR:RotK, heading out to see Karen graduate, Party Monster, Urinetown, The Lion King

16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
Follow Through by Gavin DeGraw
Hey Ya! by Outkast

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter, wanna make something of it?
iii. richer or poorer? richer, although it sure doesn't feel that way.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Spending time visiting friends

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Chasing idiots

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Going to my friend Clara's, and hopefully out to see Big Fish that evening

22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
Nope, but I sure as shit stretched out a fire that started in 2002.

23. How many one night stands?
None.

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Scrubs, Sealab 2021, Mythbusters

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yes. My boss. Kip (although I'm getting better)

26. What was the best book you read?
Basically anything I picked up by Tim Dorsey. Also, Henry's List of Wrongs by John Scott Shepherd.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I wish I knew where to make new music discoveries. God, but I miss Mountain Stage and Minnesota Public Radio in general.

28. What did you want and get?
A new bed. Meds that seem to be working. The courage to see the doctor.

29. What did you want and not get?
Kip.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Oof. Really tough one. Probably Party Monster or RotK, but it my fervent hope that Big Fish will blow it out of the water.

31. What did you do on your birthday?
On the actual day of my birthday, got drunk out on the edge of the lake with Jarred, Yvonne, and Andrew...with Beth on the phone. At my birthday celebration, went to Howl at the Moon and wondered why Kip didn't bother to show.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A boyfriend who loves me the way I do him.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
Frumpy chic. Heh.

34. What kept you sane?
The PowerWall, Andrea, therapy.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Same old same old: Tom Everett Scott, Christian Campbell, Zach Braff.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Gay Marriage.

37. Who did you miss?
Jarred. The Kip I used to know.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
valjean615

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003.
Enhh. Real life lessons are easy to state and hard to learn. "Life is pain." "this too shall pass"

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"Thank God it's over"
"Don't you think I've heard the talk, nobody's gonna tell me who to love"
"I'd like to be under the sea in an octopus' garden in the shade."

1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
got a blog on my own domain. got a job. took the bus by myself. walked downtown by myself. did a whole lot of other things by myself. it was a big year for personal freedom.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
i don't make them. "new year" means nothing to me except that i need a new calendar. it's not a fresh start... you can't schedule fresh starts.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
er... my uncle's dog had puppies

4. Did anyone close to you die?
a friend of mine in Barrie

5. What countries did you visit?
just the USA... went to New York State for falconridge.

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
more freedom. for me and for people close to me.

7.What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory?
February 15th, July 25th.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
pulling myself out of several very bad situations.

9. What was your biggest failure?
failing to listen, only hearing what i want to.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
er. was diagnosed with anorexia, though i still don't consider that to be completely accurate. broke 2 fingers and a toe, in three different situations. heh.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
a new computer! a new computer! a new computer!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Josh, Jamie, and my blogger friend Michele

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? some members of my family. a good deal of people at my school. um. myself, at times.

14. Where did most of your money go?
the new computer.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?my first job. frucon. falconridge. my new computer.

16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
"Hey Rose" by Girlyman, "Independance, Indiana" and "20 000 hearts" by EFO, "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, "Nuits de Reve" and "Energy" by Fruvous, and for no decipherable reason, "Hava Nagila".

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
heeheehee. well, considering this week last year was possibly one of the most depressing weeks of my life... far, far happier.

ii. thinner or fatter?
thinner

iii. richer or poorer?
richer, but not for long

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
exploring, listening

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
worrying about stupid things, moping, sulking, and wallowing.

How will you be spending Christmas?
i spent it in Toronto, trying to prevent my brain from rupturing and oozing out of my nose.

22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
hard to answer. in a way, i was still in love from the love-falling that i did in 2002.

23. How many one night stands?
depends on how you define "stand".

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
CBC news and the Simpsons, the only TV i watch.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
hate is not the right word. there are people who i have no desire to speak to or see at this point in time.

26. What was the best book you read?
hmmm. either "timequake" or "the five books of miriam"

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Girlyman. Nellie Mckay. Mia doi todd.

28. What did you want and get?
falconridge. frucon. an orange kitty. a job. a computer. a new guitar.

29. What did you want and not get?
as much freedom as i would like

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
wow, hard one. the believer, frida, donnie darko, in the time of the butterflies, maya.

31. What did you do on your birthday?
eat pizza, argue with my grandfather, play with my housemates

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
that's for me to know and you not to find out ;)

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
um. well. i wear pants and a t-shirt, and occasionally hippie clothes in the summer. whatever i find at thrift stores or in the clearance bin at the mall. i rarely buy clothes that cost over 10 dollars.

34. What kept you sane?
blogging. music and my guitar. the PowerWall. having my job to focus on.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
antje duvekot... and more recently, doris from Girlyman. yum.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
let's not go there today.

37. Who did you miss?
i guess this answer was inevitable... that girl. that lives in that big city. in that big country that's not as big as canada, except in population, military strength, cultural influence, trade, national wealth... oh well, we have a lot of land. uninhabited land. what was i talking about?

38. Who was the best new person you met?
um. i dunno. jason. kathleen. beth and jon. sara. lacy. jenn. alex. and... many more.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003.
you cannot wait around and say "in time, things will change" while people are suffering. where there is suffering and injustice, there must be change. *right now*.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"we were closed as the stores on christmas eve... but you felt around in the dark, building rope ladders into my heart, climbing hand over hand to get in, that's the shape you found me in"

"your will grows with every opening, in time you'll see why this is happening"

1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
Not even attempting to operate my truck for the best interests of the prime contractor.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Never make any, but, regardless of date of year, I am resolved to find a better contract.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
my daughter had a son.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
no.

5. What countries did you visit?
None.

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
Peace of mind. More contact with family. A good contract.

7.What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory?
Can't recall the dates, but there were three of them: the night I heard my daughter in labour over the telephone, my father's birthday party and a day recently spent with my eldest sister.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Heh, here I am, still.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Peace of mind is receeding from me.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No. My back stopped me from from working for a week, but that was in 2002.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Yet another DVD player, or yet another computer? No. The best thing cannot be bought. This must be a trick question.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
in their way all members of my family, including my step mother, even though I disagree with some of what they do.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Mine and those of almost all politicians.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Don't know, it just leaves without saying where it is off to.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Every time I fall in lust...

16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
None.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
You should be able to work that one out from what I said previously. Once you do, let me know. I am curious about that myself.

ii. thinner or fatter?
Neither.

iii. richer or poorer?
Dont know. Cash flow is down, assets are up. What exactly is "rich?"

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Talking and reading

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastinating.

20.How will you be spending Christmas?
Christmas? That is a term christians employ, huh? O well, it'll do for family get togethers, and yeah, we did use that excuse to meet up.

21.
I'd like to answer that question, but where is it?


22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
No, but I keep falling in lust.

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
"Media watch" and "CNNNN," the show with the most "Ns."

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. I found some more people to be despicable though.

26. What was the best book you read?
"Russia which way paradise? by Monica Attard

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
J.S.Bach. Wasn't this year though.

28. What did you want and get?
DVD player, new computer.

29. What did you want and not get?
Happiness. *Sigh*

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Yhere wasn't one.

31. What did you do on your birthday?
I got snared by my youngest sister into a celebration. Don't know why.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
The year is basically finished. No point in crying over spilt milk, so to speak.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
I wear whatever feels comfortable. My colour is blue. Anyone who doesn't like my clothing can please themselves by not looking at me.

34. What kept you sane?
Me sane? Since when?

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
This year? None.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Generally, the whole trend towards conservatism.

37. Who did you miss?
Meghan, Sia, Kathleen...

38. Who was the best new person you met?
That yummy woman ... oh, never mind.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003.
I make more mistakes more often than I ever imagined I could.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away..."
Yes, I know, the lyrics are from a distant past.