2007 in review...
A New Year's Eve meme stolen from Diana out of desperate want of more reflection.
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Maintained an intense yoga practice for a couple of months; read some of my poetry at North Star; submitted my poems to be published in a magazine; visited Scarborough for the first time; went on a "booze cruise" around Casco Bay; had an intense summer of love; visit the South Portland lighthouse for the first time; began serious brunching; tried Bloody Marys; sampled 40s; play Guitar Hero and Wii. Darts at Ruski's. Crown Royale, chocolate chip cookies and college basketball.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
2007's resolutions: Finding job stability. I'd say that I'm still searching for that job stability, and it will come hopefully in time for 2008.
-Carving 5 hours a week to dedicate to writing This is something I need to work on. Looking back at this past year, in comparison to last year, I've written less and produced substantially less quality material than I have in the past. So much for being out of school and losing my brain!
-go back to the Bay Area; visit southern california and border towns Did visit the Bay in August; visited Southern California and LA in January. Still haven't visited border towns, but once I discover a job with more money, I'd like to be able to take trips.
-getting up earlier in the day I only managed to get up early when I was working on the fall campaigns. Other than that, there was no need.
-going to bed earlier in the night With so many friends to see, so many bars to frequent, who has time to sleep early?
For 2008, I'd to make more resolutions to continue yoga practice or go to the gym. Knit, read, write, cook, and play music more frequently. Maybe take an art class. Take more photographs.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My friend's wife just delivered her third baby in November when I visited in Boston!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My great-aunt Lourdes. I lived with her for ten years. I didn't get to see her before she died.
5. What countries did you visit?
I haven't been abroad since Fall 2003. I did travel to Key West for the first time in two years.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
A driver's license and possibly a car, stable income, more quality time with my girlfriends and best friends. Time spent with friends that is less bar-hopping and more movie-watching or craft nights.
7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory?
A few: Election night 2007. The Breakfast at Tiffany's birthday bash. Fourth of July. Tasha's Birthday Party. Christmas Eve and Day. December 16th Brunch (the 14 hour brunch fest!).
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
A few that have important achievements and big in its own scale: publishing a couple of my poems, helping The League win the 07 slate, being more honest to myself (and others) than I have ever been in my past, finding new ways to fabulously style my hair.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I'm still job hunting. I'm not sure what I want or what will make me happy except continual presence with those around me.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Luckily I didn't sprain my ankle this year! Last year I sprained my ankle several times. A couple of bouts of flu in October and November, but otherwise fine.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Hot pink John Deere gloves that I eventually lost at the Downtown Lounge the night the Red Sox won the World Series. Fuck the Red Sox by the way. My Virgin Mary shopping bag from LA.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Many of my friends who have been self aware, critical, and honest with themselves and their relationship with me.
13. Whose behavior made you feel disappointed?
Those who acted out instead of talked it out.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Boozing, brunching, and replacing my computer after the robbery.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about in 2007?
Falling in love. New starts in a new town. The Broken Social Scene playing "It's All Gonna Break" in Boston. Freewheelin' after election day. Living most days like the world is my oyster.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Gillian Welch's "Revelator", Feist's "I Feel It All", Justice's D.A.N.C.E., Neko Case's "Hold On, Hold On", Beirut's "Scenic World", Wu Tang Clan's "C.R.E.A.M.", The National's "Mistaken for Strangers".
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Much Much much much much much happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Pretty much the same.
iii. richer or poorer? Pretty much the same. Maybe a little poorer. But that's because I haven't been working. And I didn't pay my taxes yet.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing, saving money, hanging out with alec, travel, and concerts.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Boozing, less travel to Cali, unnecessary clothes shopping.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
No family for the second year in a row. Spent most of Christmas eve drunk and warm. Spent the day hungover and with my favorite p-town gals: brunching with the amazing Mash-a-Tasha. And then beer brewing at Brian's with Diana and Melanie.
22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
I did. A lot of the non-committal but let's still fuck types. Not really regrettable; they're all wonderful amazing people who added to the amazing story of my first year in Portland--but I'm glad I know better this time. Then a few friends who continue to amaze me and help me grow. An amazing relationship that wasn't unable to keep up with the amount of change I wanted and needed in my life.
23. How many one-night stands?
good grief...
24. What was your favorite TV program to watch in 2007?
A Shot At Love with Tila Tequila... but only with Tasha. Got back into Buffy and Twin Peaks, even though they're not 2007.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
The best advice I got from Mom was that life is too short to keep hate in your heart. Who knows what you'll be feeling tomorrow. The best advice I've ever gotten from Alec is that the best revenge is to live life and live well.
26. What was the best book you read?
I haven't read much this past year, much less finish the books I started.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Gillian Welch's "Time (The Revelator)" even though I loved her back in 2003. Feist. The National. Handsome Boy Modeling School. !!!. Justice.
28. What did you want and get?
Maturity, humor, a sense of fulfillment and purpose. Happiness and the ability to take life a little less seriously. Finding love in unexpected forms during unexpected times. Being more intentional with my relationships with women, more defined in my relationships with men. Rediscovering old friends and loving them as much as I love those who are most immediately around me. My parents' happiness.
29. What did you want and not get?
Control over my life, but came to the realization that we don't have as much control as we'd like.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Clueless, duh! Gotta relive the 90's in all it's craze.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
My boyfriend at the time took me out to Caiola's after work. Then met up with friends and coworkers at Brian Boru's. I turned 23. Later that month we held the Breakfast at Tiffany's party at our new apartment. About 100 people showed up over the course of the night with formal wear. Champagne fountains, bright lights, and good vibes of our lovely guests.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A less complicated break-up.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
A bit less quixotic than in year's past.
34. What kept you sane?
The thought that everything was going to be okay. And my friends.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I went through a Justin Timberlake phase in LA.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
City politics as usual.
37. Who did you miss?
Miguel in LA, my mom, my sister, my dad (surprisingly), Ben and Daphne in Lewiston, Sarah in Portland, Philana in China, my Boston friends who I don't see nearly enough of.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
In terms of newest just-met-you-and-I-barely-even-saw-you-around-town-before-hanging-out, it's Brian. In terms of newest since fall, it's Melanie and Katie D. Newest since summer, it's Tasha. Best new person who I don't see frequently, Dmitri.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
Importance of humor and self-deprecation in order to take life a little less seriously.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
the lights go on
the lights go off
when things don't feel right
i lie down like a tired dog
licking his wounds in the shade
when i feel alive
i try to immagine a careless life
a scenic world where the sunsets are all
breathtaking
(Scenic World, Beirut)
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Maintained an intense yoga practice for a couple of months; read some of my poetry at North Star; submitted my poems to be published in a magazine; visited Scarborough for the first time; went on a "booze cruise" around Casco Bay; had an intense summer of love; visit the South Portland lighthouse for the first time; began serious brunching; tried Bloody Marys; sampled 40s; play Guitar Hero and Wii. Darts at Ruski's. Crown Royale, chocolate chip cookies and college basketball.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
2007's resolutions: Finding job stability. I'd say that I'm still searching for that job stability, and it will come hopefully in time for 2008.
-Carving 5 hours a week to dedicate to writing This is something I need to work on. Looking back at this past year, in comparison to last year, I've written less and produced substantially less quality material than I have in the past. So much for being out of school and losing my brain!
-go back to the Bay Area; visit southern california and border towns Did visit the Bay in August; visited Southern California and LA in January. Still haven't visited border towns, but once I discover a job with more money, I'd like to be able to take trips.
-getting up earlier in the day I only managed to get up early when I was working on the fall campaigns. Other than that, there was no need.
-going to bed earlier in the night With so many friends to see, so many bars to frequent, who has time to sleep early?
For 2008, I'd to make more resolutions to continue yoga practice or go to the gym. Knit, read, write, cook, and play music more frequently. Maybe take an art class. Take more photographs.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My friend's wife just delivered her third baby in November when I visited in Boston!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My great-aunt Lourdes. I lived with her for ten years. I didn't get to see her before she died.
5. What countries did you visit?
I haven't been abroad since Fall 2003. I did travel to Key West for the first time in two years.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
A driver's license and possibly a car, stable income, more quality time with my girlfriends and best friends. Time spent with friends that is less bar-hopping and more movie-watching or craft nights.
7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory?
A few: Election night 2007. The Breakfast at Tiffany's birthday bash. Fourth of July. Tasha's Birthday Party. Christmas Eve and Day. December 16th Brunch (the 14 hour brunch fest!).
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
A few that have important achievements and big in its own scale: publishing a couple of my poems, helping The League win the 07 slate, being more honest to myself (and others) than I have ever been in my past, finding new ways to fabulously style my hair.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I'm still job hunting. I'm not sure what I want or what will make me happy except continual presence with those around me.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Luckily I didn't sprain my ankle this year! Last year I sprained my ankle several times. A couple of bouts of flu in October and November, but otherwise fine.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Hot pink John Deere gloves that I eventually lost at the Downtown Lounge the night the Red Sox won the World Series. Fuck the Red Sox by the way. My Virgin Mary shopping bag from LA.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Many of my friends who have been self aware, critical, and honest with themselves and their relationship with me.
13. Whose behavior made you feel disappointed?
Those who acted out instead of talked it out.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Boozing, brunching, and replacing my computer after the robbery.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about in 2007?
Falling in love. New starts in a new town. The Broken Social Scene playing "It's All Gonna Break" in Boston. Freewheelin' after election day. Living most days like the world is my oyster.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Gillian Welch's "Revelator", Feist's "I Feel It All", Justice's D.A.N.C.E., Neko Case's "Hold On, Hold On", Beirut's "Scenic World", Wu Tang Clan's "C.R.E.A.M.", The National's "Mistaken for Strangers".
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Much Much much much much much happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Pretty much the same.
iii. richer or poorer? Pretty much the same. Maybe a little poorer. But that's because I haven't been working. And I didn't pay my taxes yet.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing, saving money, hanging out with alec, travel, and concerts.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Boozing, less travel to Cali, unnecessary clothes shopping.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
No family for the second year in a row. Spent most of Christmas eve drunk and warm. Spent the day hungover and with my favorite p-town gals: brunching with the amazing Mash-a-Tasha. And then beer brewing at Brian's with Diana and Melanie.
22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
I did. A lot of the non-committal but let's still fuck types. Not really regrettable; they're all wonderful amazing people who added to the amazing story of my first year in Portland--but I'm glad I know better this time. Then a few friends who continue to amaze me and help me grow. An amazing relationship that wasn't unable to keep up with the amount of change I wanted and needed in my life.
23. How many one-night stands?
good grief...
24. What was your favorite TV program to watch in 2007?
A Shot At Love with Tila Tequila... but only with Tasha. Got back into Buffy and Twin Peaks, even though they're not 2007.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
The best advice I got from Mom was that life is too short to keep hate in your heart. Who knows what you'll be feeling tomorrow. The best advice I've ever gotten from Alec is that the best revenge is to live life and live well.
26. What was the best book you read?
I haven't read much this past year, much less finish the books I started.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Gillian Welch's "Time (The Revelator)" even though I loved her back in 2003. Feist. The National. Handsome Boy Modeling School. !!!. Justice.
28. What did you want and get?
Maturity, humor, a sense of fulfillment and purpose. Happiness and the ability to take life a little less seriously. Finding love in unexpected forms during unexpected times. Being more intentional with my relationships with women, more defined in my relationships with men. Rediscovering old friends and loving them as much as I love those who are most immediately around me. My parents' happiness.
29. What did you want and not get?
Control over my life, but came to the realization that we don't have as much control as we'd like.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Clueless, duh! Gotta relive the 90's in all it's craze.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
My boyfriend at the time took me out to Caiola's after work. Then met up with friends and coworkers at Brian Boru's. I turned 23. Later that month we held the Breakfast at Tiffany's party at our new apartment. About 100 people showed up over the course of the night with formal wear. Champagne fountains, bright lights, and good vibes of our lovely guests.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A less complicated break-up.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
A bit less quixotic than in year's past.
34. What kept you sane?
The thought that everything was going to be okay. And my friends.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I went through a Justin Timberlake phase in LA.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
City politics as usual.
37. Who did you miss?
Miguel in LA, my mom, my sister, my dad (surprisingly), Ben and Daphne in Lewiston, Sarah in Portland, Philana in China, my Boston friends who I don't see nearly enough of.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
In terms of newest just-met-you-and-I-barely-even-saw-you-around-town-before-hanging-out, it's Brian. In terms of newest since fall, it's Melanie and Katie D. Newest since summer, it's Tasha. Best new person who I don't see frequently, Dmitri.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
Importance of humor and self-deprecation in order to take life a little less seriously.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
the lights go on
the lights go off
when things don't feel right
i lie down like a tired dog
licking his wounds in the shade
when i feel alive
i try to immagine a careless life
a scenic world where the sunsets are all
breathtaking
(Scenic World, Beirut)