Year in Review: 2006

[rubykatewriting]

sophia_helix highly recommends I do this so I'm doing it.


1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?

Went whale watching when I was in Oregon this summer with my family. I actually saw a whale's tail and it was less than ten feet from me.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I didn't make any this year. I usually do and never keep them. For 2007, my plan is to simply enjoy things as they come and write as much as possible.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes. A couple. My best friend from high school gave birth to her first child, a daughter. Another friend gave birth to her second child, a son.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Yes, my grandfather. He had a health scare back in March, but came through surprisingly quick and well. Unfortunately, he had an aneurysm in his brain that went suddenly in May, just five days before my birthday. To say that it was devastating, perhaps the most devastating loss since my father when I was ten, is an understatement. Poppies had become my surrogate father, and even before that, he had always had a special place in my heart. He was definitely my first love, my first best friend.

5. What countries did you visit?

Sadly, none. I really should do something about that.

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?

A place of my own. Some clarity in my life. A completed novel.

7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

May 8th. It was the day I lost my grandfather.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I saught out therapy for a problem that has plagued me for many, many years, and I'm slowly but surely working it out.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Allowing The Grandmother to get to me and behaving like a complete ass in response.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

A fainting spell that turned out to be nothing, for which I am extremely grateful.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My ticket to Vegas.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Books, movies and music.

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

Writing. I feel like I've finally hit my stride.

16. What song will always remind you of 2006?

Blue by The Thorns. I only discovered it this fall, but as often as I've played it in these last few weeks, it IS 2006 for me.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

Happier or sadder? Happier. So much happier.
Older or wiser? Wiser. I'm learning. I'm definitely learning.
Thinner or fatter? Fatter but I'm getting back to where I was a year ago. Slowly but surely. Slowly but surely.
Richer or poorer? A smidge richer.

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

Writing. Traveling. Going out.

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

Doing nothing.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

Most of Christmas was spent with my mother and the grandmother, but we had a wonderful dinner up on Mom's unit. It went spendidly, and we had the perfect amount of food - enough for everyone and no leftovers.

22. Did you fall in love in 2006?

Nope. Fell in lust a couple times.

23. How many one-night stands?

None.

24. What was your favorite TV program?

Definitely a tie: How I Met Your Mother and The Office. Bones is definitely in there, especially with the general awesomeness of season two thus far, and since its revitalization this season, The O.C. gets honorable mention.

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

For once the answer is no. There are some that greatly annoy me, but mostly this year, I let go of some grudges I've been holding onto for quite a few years.

26. What was the best book you read?

Tie: Cat's Cradle by Vonnegut and Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Nada Surf. Oh my God, I love them.

28. What did you want and get?

A laptop. A clue. A couple of really great friendships.

29. What did you want and not get?

A new job.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?

I don't really have a favorite, although I enjoyed many.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I drove back to Houston from my grandparents' place in Comanche. I turned 27, and Poppies had just passed that Monday. It wasn't the best birthday.

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

Not losing my grandfather so unexpectedly.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?

It's my personal fashion concept going on two years: jeans and a t-shirt. I practically live in them year-round. Occasionally I get downright daring and switch it to denim crops or a casual (but somewhat nicer) button down.

34. What kept you sane?

My friends, both online and offline.

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

John Krasinski. Funny, smart, talented, and he's tall. He is everything that I find irresistable. It was inevitable.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

Abortion rights and female rights. They each took quite a beating this year, both at home and abroad, and I don't think that will ever change.

37. Who did you miss?

Ngoc. With her finishing up school, then starting her first full-time job in years, we have barely seen each other, and our grand plans to meet for dinner at least once a month fell apart rather spectacularly by the second month. But we talked today and she's now on the day shift so hopefully we'll be able to see each other more often.

It's rather ridiculous with us working at the same hospital and living right around the corner from each other. Anyway, fingers are crossed this year will turn out better.

38. Who was the best new person you met?

Del. Although we technically met in 2005, we really didn't get close until this year. She is so much fun and we always have these strange and winding conversations of just about everything.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006:

Communication. I so fail at that sometimes, but I'm getting better.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

Hand over my mouth, I'm earning the right to my silence
In quiet discerning between ego and timing
Good judgment is once again proving to me
That it's still worth it's weight in gold
From now on I'm gonna be so much more weary
When you start to speak and my warm blood starts to boil
Seeing you is like pulling teeth
And hearing your voice is like chewing tin foil

- Blood on the Ground, Incubus