2006: The Year in Survey
1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
I'm sure there are many things, but the first one that pops into mind is that I worked in a summer school.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My New Year's resolutions were documented here, and I'm pretty sure I was successful at both, although I'll leave it to Beulah to be the judge.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
There were some periphery births... Damon & Kate had a baby... but nobody got knocked up in my family or anything.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope. Banner year for that. 2005 was a mite worse in that department.
5. What countries did you visit?
Zero. Sometimes I think of Manhattan as another country though.
6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
Less credit card debt.
7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
September 9th, 2006... not only was it the date of General Montgomery Day, but it's also the day that Ellen and I first got serious, although we DID kiss the night before, so September 8th's pretty important too.
8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?
There are a couple of things I could say and I DO think surviving my first year of teaching in New York City was a big accomplishment, but when I sit and think about it, I'm far prouder of the work I've done this year with my kids. Honestly, it seems to be the consensus at Sat West that my homeroom is the best behaved, nicest, and smartest bunch out of the whole sixth grade and while I can't take credit for all of that, I truly feel that I played at least an instrumental part in making sure it stayed that way.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I write off my first year of teaching as one gigantic failure.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
The oral surgery I had done is the only serious illness that I can attest to. I had a cold a couple of times this year, but other than that... nope.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I didn't really do a lot of conspicuous consumption this year... mostly I tried to keep pace with bills and stuff. I bought Chewie for $50 bucks, that was a wise investment.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Chewie has been a pretty good cat...
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
...except when he started peeing on the bed a few months ago.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, food, and bills.
15. What did you get really, really excited about?
Being in love with Ellen.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2006?
"Chicago" by Sufjan Stevens... or "Sexyback" by J.T. I mean, come on. It's EVERYWHERE.
17. Compared to this time last year,
i. are you happier or sadder?
Happier times a million.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Believe it or not, a bit thinner. I wouldn't have ever guessed that myself, but a few days ago I was cleaning out my drawers and I came across the sweater the David Cross threw at us during that show last winter. It definitely didn't fit me then... but now it does.
iii. richer or poorer?
So much fucking poorer.
iv older or wiser?
Wiser. And technically older, I guess.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I wish I had enjoyed the summer more. I sort of kept my head down and worked through it.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Dating awful people.
20. How will you be spending New Years Eve?
If it still stands, Ellen wants to have some people over, cook hors d'ouevers and drink wine. Sounds fine by me.
21. Did you fall in love in 2006?
To my everlasting surprise and happiness, I did.
22. How many one-night stands?
Two-ish. Maybe three.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Battlestar Galactia. I cannot get enough of the goddamn show. January 21st can't come soon enough. Adama TOTALLY didn't nuke that planet, y'all.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I've become disillusioned with some people over the course of the year. I don't hate them though. I just feel bad for me.
25. What was the best book you read?
So many books are popping into my head right now, but the undisputed best book however would have to be The Elementary Particles by Michel Houellebecq.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I really enjoy Jonathan Coulton's music.
27. What did you want and get?
I guess I wanted love. Is that cheesy? I wanted a cat too and I got it.
28. What did you want and not get?
Some extra money.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Departed.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
It was nice- I went to Aunt Suzie's with all my friends and afterward we went back to Melissa's and drank. Fun times.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
The ability to put myself above the fray and not worry about what people's personal opinions of me are.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Shabby.
33. What kept you sane?
Drawing.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
As much as I hate the show with the passion of a thousand suns, I have to admit that Grey's Anatomy co-star Sara Ramirez is fucking hot.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Speaking in generalities, what really angers me a lot about the political world these days is the seeming disconnect between what WAS said in the past... and what IS said now by politicians. Like when someone in office said something in 2004, and then when it gets brought up again, they will deny that they ever said it in the first place. I don't agree with the administration in power right now but I'm also not one of those people who sees admitting you made a mistake the end of the world.
36. Who did you miss?
...
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Ellen!
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.
Things have to happen at just the right time.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
There are others out there for whom life is more rough
So, if this is my lot... well then this is enough.
I'm sure there are many things, but the first one that pops into mind is that I worked in a summer school.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My New Year's resolutions were documented here, and I'm pretty sure I was successful at both, although I'll leave it to Beulah to be the judge.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
There were some periphery births... Damon & Kate had a baby... but nobody got knocked up in my family or anything.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope. Banner year for that. 2005 was a mite worse in that department.
5. What countries did you visit?
Zero. Sometimes I think of Manhattan as another country though.
6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
Less credit card debt.
7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
September 9th, 2006... not only was it the date of General Montgomery Day, but it's also the day that Ellen and I first got serious, although we DID kiss the night before, so September 8th's pretty important too.
8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?
There are a couple of things I could say and I DO think surviving my first year of teaching in New York City was a big accomplishment, but when I sit and think about it, I'm far prouder of the work I've done this year with my kids. Honestly, it seems to be the consensus at Sat West that my homeroom is the best behaved, nicest, and smartest bunch out of the whole sixth grade and while I can't take credit for all of that, I truly feel that I played at least an instrumental part in making sure it stayed that way.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I write off my first year of teaching as one gigantic failure.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
The oral surgery I had done is the only serious illness that I can attest to. I had a cold a couple of times this year, but other than that... nope.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I didn't really do a lot of conspicuous consumption this year... mostly I tried to keep pace with bills and stuff. I bought Chewie for $50 bucks, that was a wise investment.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Chewie has been a pretty good cat...
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
...except when he started peeing on the bed a few months ago.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, food, and bills.
15. What did you get really, really excited about?
Being in love with Ellen.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2006?
"Chicago" by Sufjan Stevens... or "Sexyback" by J.T. I mean, come on. It's EVERYWHERE.
17. Compared to this time last year,
i. are you happier or sadder?
Happier times a million.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Believe it or not, a bit thinner. I wouldn't have ever guessed that myself, but a few days ago I was cleaning out my drawers and I came across the sweater the David Cross threw at us during that show last winter. It definitely didn't fit me then... but now it does.
iii. richer or poorer?
So much fucking poorer.
iv older or wiser?
Wiser. And technically older, I guess.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I wish I had enjoyed the summer more. I sort of kept my head down and worked through it.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Dating awful people.
20. How will you be spending New Years Eve?
If it still stands, Ellen wants to have some people over, cook hors d'ouevers and drink wine. Sounds fine by me.
21. Did you fall in love in 2006?
To my everlasting surprise and happiness, I did.
22. How many one-night stands?
Two-ish. Maybe three.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Battlestar Galactia. I cannot get enough of the goddamn show. January 21st can't come soon enough. Adama TOTALLY didn't nuke that planet, y'all.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I've become disillusioned with some people over the course of the year. I don't hate them though. I just feel bad for me.
25. What was the best book you read?
So many books are popping into my head right now, but the undisputed best book however would have to be The Elementary Particles by Michel Houellebecq.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I really enjoy Jonathan Coulton's music.
27. What did you want and get?
I guess I wanted love. Is that cheesy? I wanted a cat too and I got it.
28. What did you want and not get?
Some extra money.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Departed.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
It was nice- I went to Aunt Suzie's with all my friends and afterward we went back to Melissa's and drank. Fun times.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
The ability to put myself above the fray and not worry about what people's personal opinions of me are.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Shabby.
33. What kept you sane?
Drawing.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
As much as I hate the show with the passion of a thousand suns, I have to admit that Grey's Anatomy co-star Sara Ramirez is fucking hot.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Speaking in generalities, what really angers me a lot about the political world these days is the seeming disconnect between what WAS said in the past... and what IS said now by politicians. Like when someone in office said something in 2004, and then when it gets brought up again, they will deny that they ever said it in the first place. I don't agree with the administration in power right now but I'm also not one of those people who sees admitting you made a mistake the end of the world.
36. Who did you miss?
...
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Ellen!
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.
Things have to happen at just the right time.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
There are others out there for whom life is more rough
So, if this is my lot... well then this is enough.