Happy (early) New Year!
So, I haven't updated in quite some time... this shall be a long one.
My Christmas season has been fairly good. I started off my break with a few days in Queens with Gary's family, as usual. Good times. Celebrated his big 2-0 (baby, haha), ate a lot of Mexican/Spanish food, played a lot of AtmosFear and a whole lot of Wii. We even went into the city to visit the tree, the shops, and THE SOUP NAZI! Soooooo delicious. Mmmmm, Lobster Bisque.
After that, I drove back home and got to visit with my 2 favorite British babes, Sarah & Val. I missed them! Imagine, going overseas on me... tsk. Also, in true procrastinator style, Noah & I went gift shopping on the day before Christmas Eve... go us. Val joined, but she's too prepared to actually need more gift shopping, haha.
We celebrated Christmas Eve at my house this year... just the parents and myself. A little odd, and a little sad, but still nice. We kept my grandma's tradition of no meat. And midnight mass was beautiful, as always. I love how the choir always does the same arrangements that we used to do with Mr. Coates, haha. This way, I can sing along in harmony.
I got mostly clothes and books for Christmas, which is pretty much everything I wanted, so I'm a happy camper. Already finished the new Billy Joel bio and started in on Bob Spitz's ultimate Beatles bible... amazing.
Since then I've been iconing (*gasp*), reinstating my obsession with Billy, watching a lot of Food Network as always, reading non-stop, and occasionally going out for lunch.
I also wasted my time thoroughly by changing the layout here & at uptown_girl_gfx as well as finally updated my age-old user profile. BILLY JOEL OVERLOAD. I also made Billy icons... aaaaaand the obsession continues...
Noah and I watched all of the first season of Weeds in one sitting. What a superbly written show! I'm extremely disappointed I do not have Showtime.
In other news,
We are standing on the edge of 2006, overlooking yet another calendar year.
I fill out this survey every year, so why stop now? (last year's entry)
1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
Drank legally, haha. Had my own apartment. Paid my own rent. Earned my own keep. Worked 7 days a week. Worked at a job full time. Interned. Worked 3 jobs at once. Had a real PUBLISHED STORY (That is, first story NOT affiliated with a school or university but in an independent news publication). Lived alone for 4 months, REALLY alone… no roommate or anything. Took the subway EVERY DAY for several months straight. Had my own double bed, not in a hotel. Had a walk in closet. Bought a real VINTAGE 1950s article of clothing. Passed the year and a half relationship marker. Went water skiing (and actually got up... for like a split second!) Drove to Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and back to PA all in one day. Went grocery shopping at midnight. Got free drinks after work. Had a manager who snorted coke in his office. Called off work just to have fun. Swam @ Temple Towers. Worked at a "five star" restaurant. Was written about in a column. ("The Trouble With Spikol" at the Weekly). Had lunch with an editor-in-chief of a newspaper. Made a 4.0 in college. Won an award for the Templar. Ate soup from the Soup Nazi. Saw Billy Joel as a solo act in concert. Drove through Staten Island. Bonged a beer. Bonged a glass of wine. Got drunk in my house. Got a dog (okay, she's not MY dog... but...) Lived in 2 amazing apartments, only to move into a SHITTY one. Sang at a Philly hockey game. Yes, this was a big year of "firsts."
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I made a new year's resolution for the first time this year, just a minor one... and of course I broke it, haha. I don't really have a resolution for this year, I just want to lose some weight before my cousin's wedding so I can fit in my bridesmaids dress!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes, my grandma Bolesta. Rest in peace, we love you. "Ave, Maria."
5. What countries did you visit?
None, there's always next year.
6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
Direct quote from last year: "My answer to this question is always the same, and probably will be until the day I die - confidence." And the ability to worry less, and focus more.
7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
March 6 - Billy Joel
March 8 - The day my grandma passed away.
May 10 - First day of my first internship.
September 30 - Bringing everyone to the Bloomsburg Fair!
November 30 - I turn 21!
December 1 - My party.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Having an internship. Paying all of my bills. Living on my own. Getting published. 4.0!
9. What was your biggest failure?
This is what I put every year, and it still applies (always will, I fear) - "Letting my procrastination grow to massive proportions... haha." Although, this semester, for some reason, it seemed to suit me well. Not writing another story for the Weekly. Being too sensitive & worrying too much.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Aside from a really awful sunburn and aches and pains from water skiing - no.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
New MP3 player. Does the rent for my sublet this summer count? B/C that was an AWESOME room.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Gary - for being himself and for making me laugh when I'm crying, making me smile when I'm frowning, and making me breathe when I'm hyperventilating, haha. Maryann, Matt, Sean, Alison & Mike for being cool people to live with. Hooray for the first time I don't have a bad roommate relationship! Too bad our apartment sucks, haha.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Uh... no one? Good year.
14. Where did most of your money go?
My 2 favorite things - food & clothes. Mostly food this year, though.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Billy Joel concert! My internship. Going back to school. My birthday.
16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
"Everything is Alright" - Motion City Soundtrack : b/c Laura played it about a million times a day & it will forever be the most played song on my iTunes b/c I will never be able to beat it.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or sadder? Happier... I think. Might be the same, but definitely not sadder.
ii. Thinner or fatter? Absolutely fatter.
iii. Richer or poorer? Dirt poor. Which is pathetic b/c I probably made more money than ever this year.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Discussing my problems with people.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying. Stressing.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent Christmas at my house with my parents.
I wonder if somebody deleted 21.
22. Did you fall in love in 2006?
I fell in love in 2005, and I'm still in it.
23. How many one-night stands?
Does Pedro from the Quicki-Mart count? Oh, of course not... never mind.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
I think House wins out this year. Gilmore Girls has unfortunately taken quite the turn for the worst.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I'm not a hater.
26. What was the best book you read?
High Fidelity - Nick Hornby
Killing Yourself to Live - Chuck Klosterman
The Life and Times of An Angry Young Man - Hank Bordowitz
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Ummm... that I can still listen to Weezer? hahaha. Didn't have many this year.
28. What did you want and get?
Love. Good roommates & neighbors. A feeling of self accomplishment and satisfaction. A 4.0.
29. What did you want and not get?
A nice apartment. Less stress.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I think that award actually goes to Rocky Balboa. Color me surprised.
2nd place : Casino Royale
3rd place : Talladega Nights
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
21!!!! I wanted to go bowling, but Lucky Strike sucks ass... so we just ended up going to Olive Garden, haha. Then Maryann and I fell asleep watching The Little Mermaid b/c we're dorks. The next day was way better - 50s PARTY!
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I don't know... I think it was pretty damn good as it was. Seeing more people over the summer would have made that experience much better though.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Same as always, a bit more skirts, a bit more black, and a bit more grown up & sophisticated.
34. What kept you sane?
Friday nights & Saturday mornings at Gary's. The good people at the Weekly.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
My man Milo Ventimiglia.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Democratic takeover!!!!! WOOO!
37. Who did you miss?
This summer I missed EVERYONE! Living alone is NO fun at all. This semester I missed Laura. :o(
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Erica & Emily & Dan at the Weekly. Pretty much anyone at the Weekly. My neighbor Padraic.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006:
Working 7 days a week is hard. Paying bills is hard. But living alone is 10 times harder than both. Doing all 3 is just insane. I would know.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Well I know you got your troubles
But I’ve got problems of my own
It’s all relative you see, what happiness should be
And we got to work it out alone.
I know about your situation
And I know all about your pain
But you know it’s true though it’s no comfort to you
Into each life must fall some rain
We all have our cross to bear.
We all walk in darkness sometimes.
Though I know it don’t seem fair,
We all have our cross to bear.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!
My Christmas season has been fairly good. I started off my break with a few days in Queens with Gary's family, as usual. Good times. Celebrated his big 2-0 (baby, haha), ate a lot of Mexican/Spanish food, played a lot of AtmosFear and a whole lot of Wii. We even went into the city to visit the tree, the shops, and THE SOUP NAZI! Soooooo delicious. Mmmmm, Lobster Bisque.
After that, I drove back home and got to visit with my 2 favorite British babes, Sarah & Val. I missed them! Imagine, going overseas on me... tsk. Also, in true procrastinator style, Noah & I went gift shopping on the day before Christmas Eve... go us. Val joined, but she's too prepared to actually need more gift shopping, haha.
We celebrated Christmas Eve at my house this year... just the parents and myself. A little odd, and a little sad, but still nice. We kept my grandma's tradition of no meat. And midnight mass was beautiful, as always. I love how the choir always does the same arrangements that we used to do with Mr. Coates, haha. This way, I can sing along in harmony.
I got mostly clothes and books for Christmas, which is pretty much everything I wanted, so I'm a happy camper. Already finished the new Billy Joel bio and started in on Bob Spitz's ultimate Beatles bible... amazing.
Since then I've been iconing (*gasp*), reinstating my obsession with Billy, watching a lot of Food Network as always, reading non-stop, and occasionally going out for lunch.
I also wasted my time thoroughly by changing the layout here & at uptown_girl_gfx as well as finally updated my age-old user profile. BILLY JOEL OVERLOAD. I also made Billy icons... aaaaaand the obsession continues...
Noah and I watched all of the first season of Weeds in one sitting. What a superbly written show! I'm extremely disappointed I do not have Showtime.
In other news,
We are standing on the edge of 2006, overlooking yet another calendar year.
I fill out this survey every year, so why stop now? (last year's entry)
1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
Drank legally, haha. Had my own apartment. Paid my own rent. Earned my own keep. Worked 7 days a week. Worked at a job full time. Interned. Worked 3 jobs at once. Had a real PUBLISHED STORY (That is, first story NOT affiliated with a school or university but in an independent news publication). Lived alone for 4 months, REALLY alone… no roommate or anything. Took the subway EVERY DAY for several months straight. Had my own double bed, not in a hotel. Had a walk in closet. Bought a real VINTAGE 1950s article of clothing. Passed the year and a half relationship marker. Went water skiing (and actually got up... for like a split second!) Drove to Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and back to PA all in one day. Went grocery shopping at midnight. Got free drinks after work. Had a manager who snorted coke in his office. Called off work just to have fun. Swam @ Temple Towers. Worked at a "five star" restaurant. Was written about in a column. ("The Trouble With Spikol" at the Weekly). Had lunch with an editor-in-chief of a newspaper. Made a 4.0 in college. Won an award for the Templar. Ate soup from the Soup Nazi. Saw Billy Joel as a solo act in concert. Drove through Staten Island. Bonged a beer. Bonged a glass of wine. Got drunk in my house. Got a dog (okay, she's not MY dog... but...) Lived in 2 amazing apartments, only to move into a SHITTY one. Sang at a Philly hockey game. Yes, this was a big year of "firsts."
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I made a new year's resolution for the first time this year, just a minor one... and of course I broke it, haha. I don't really have a resolution for this year, I just want to lose some weight before my cousin's wedding so I can fit in my bridesmaids dress!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes, my grandma Bolesta. Rest in peace, we love you. "Ave, Maria."
5. What countries did you visit?
None, there's always next year.
6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
Direct quote from last year: "My answer to this question is always the same, and probably will be until the day I die - confidence." And the ability to worry less, and focus more.
7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
March 6 - Billy Joel
March 8 - The day my grandma passed away.
May 10 - First day of my first internship.
September 30 - Bringing everyone to the Bloomsburg Fair!
November 30 - I turn 21!
December 1 - My party.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Having an internship. Paying all of my bills. Living on my own. Getting published. 4.0!
9. What was your biggest failure?
This is what I put every year, and it still applies (always will, I fear) - "Letting my procrastination grow to massive proportions... haha." Although, this semester, for some reason, it seemed to suit me well. Not writing another story for the Weekly. Being too sensitive & worrying too much.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Aside from a really awful sunburn and aches and pains from water skiing - no.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
New MP3 player. Does the rent for my sublet this summer count? B/C that was an AWESOME room.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Gary - for being himself and for making me laugh when I'm crying, making me smile when I'm frowning, and making me breathe when I'm hyperventilating, haha. Maryann, Matt, Sean, Alison & Mike for being cool people to live with. Hooray for the first time I don't have a bad roommate relationship! Too bad our apartment sucks, haha.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Uh... no one? Good year.
14. Where did most of your money go?
My 2 favorite things - food & clothes. Mostly food this year, though.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Billy Joel concert! My internship. Going back to school. My birthday.
16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
"Everything is Alright" - Motion City Soundtrack : b/c Laura played it about a million times a day & it will forever be the most played song on my iTunes b/c I will never be able to beat it.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or sadder? Happier... I think. Might be the same, but definitely not sadder.
ii. Thinner or fatter? Absolutely fatter.
iii. Richer or poorer? Dirt poor. Which is pathetic b/c I probably made more money than ever this year.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Discussing my problems with people.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying. Stressing.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent Christmas at my house with my parents.
I wonder if somebody deleted 21.
22. Did you fall in love in 2006?
I fell in love in 2005, and I'm still in it.
23. How many one-night stands?
Does Pedro from the Quicki-Mart count? Oh, of course not... never mind.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
I think House wins out this year. Gilmore Girls has unfortunately taken quite the turn for the worst.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I'm not a hater.
26. What was the best book you read?
High Fidelity - Nick Hornby
Killing Yourself to Live - Chuck Klosterman
The Life and Times of An Angry Young Man - Hank Bordowitz
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Ummm... that I can still listen to Weezer? hahaha. Didn't have many this year.
28. What did you want and get?
Love. Good roommates & neighbors. A feeling of self accomplishment and satisfaction. A 4.0.
29. What did you want and not get?
A nice apartment. Less stress.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I think that award actually goes to Rocky Balboa. Color me surprised.
2nd place : Casino Royale
3rd place : Talladega Nights
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
21!!!! I wanted to go bowling, but Lucky Strike sucks ass... so we just ended up going to Olive Garden, haha. Then Maryann and I fell asleep watching The Little Mermaid b/c we're dorks. The next day was way better - 50s PARTY!
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I don't know... I think it was pretty damn good as it was. Seeing more people over the summer would have made that experience much better though.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Same as always, a bit more skirts, a bit more black, and a bit more grown up & sophisticated.
34. What kept you sane?
Friday nights & Saturday mornings at Gary's. The good people at the Weekly.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
My man Milo Ventimiglia.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Democratic takeover!!!!! WOOO!
37. Who did you miss?
This summer I missed EVERYONE! Living alone is NO fun at all. This semester I missed Laura. :o(
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Erica & Emily & Dan at the Weekly. Pretty much anyone at the Weekly. My neighbor Padraic.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006:
Working 7 days a week is hard. Paying bills is hard. But living alone is 10 times harder than both. Doing all 3 is just insane. I would know.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Well I know you got your troubles
But I’ve got problems of my own
It’s all relative you see, what happiness should be
And we got to work it out alone.
I know about your situation
And I know all about your pain
But you know it’s true though it’s no comfort to you
Into each life must fall some rain
We all have our cross to bear.
We all walk in darkness sometimes.
Though I know it don’t seem fair,
We all have our cross to bear.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!