(no subject)
the year in review: 2005 (in the form of a profile thingy, like last years)
1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
gone abroad (without family nonetheless!), REALLY fell in love, live with jo on the same property for a period of time longer than two weeks, be the president of something. yeah, there were a lot of firsts this year, but hey... it makes things interesting, no?
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
yeah, i did... check the entry from january 3rd. accomplished maybe 4 out of the 7 goals, 5 if you count my basic understanding of tagalog from the filipino channel. probably will make more this year, but i'll keep 'em to three large but manageable goals.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
not that i'm aware of. i'm sure there i still only have seven niece/nephews. LOL!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
grandma biddle back in january and marirose's father-in-law.
5. What countries did you visit?
the people's republic of china for a month and japan for a day and a half (i spent time at the narita radisson. i definitely believe that counts!)
6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
a six-pack. hehe. it surely can be done, but i have to be a little more regimented (i.e., keep on working out even after the semester half-way mark.)
7. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
september 24, 2005. not only did UMich lose for the first time at the big house in like two-three years, a drunken red-head just happened to stumble into my life. ;-)
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
being elected FASA president, getting through my first semester as an MPAA (and subsequently being promoted to MPA at couzens next year), helping put on an amazing genAPA 10th anniversary show, having my best semester to date (fall 2005).
9. What was your biggest failure?
nothing, really. this has been quite a great year actually.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
a little bout with traveler's diahrrea, but nothing major. a few coughs here and there.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
all of the pirated DVD's i bought in china, including seasons 1-5 of queer as folk... all for less than US$50! :-D i think i more than doubled my DVD collection because of this.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
heh... i hope this doesn't turn into a gush-fest, but defintely jeffy. even though we've only really known each other this latter half of the year, i've found someone that i feel that constantly challenges me to be smarter, stronger, and just plain better. never did i think i'd find someone who could be that "challenge" in someone taht the same time i called "boyfriend." such a wonderful thing, really.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled?
not a single person. it's been a wonderful year, actually, and i've enjoyed working or interacting with everyone that i've been with. there's been some frustrating moments, but no one that has been that consistently negative or annoying that they've appalled me. again, such a wonderful feeling.
14. Where did most of your money go?
buying stuff for my family in china. :-D and food.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
heh... a lot of things, really. china, the school year (FASA and MPAA'ing especially), hanging out with family whenever i had the chance to... my relationship with jeffy is also something that continunally is a source of excitement.
16. What song will always remind you of 2005?
hmm... here's a(n obviously unfinished) playlist:
- "speed of sound" by coldplay
- "precious" by depeche mode
- "we'll be burnin'" by sean paul
- "dont cha" by the pussycat dolls (the version without busta rhymes, please!)
- "total eclipse of the heart" by bonnie tyler (well, it'll more remind me of either family or my lovely EQ resstaff)
- pretty much any cheezy 80's love song that is on our magic mike.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? MUCH much happier... and considering that i had the same response last year, this must've been the best year yet! here's hoping 2006 will rock out even more.
ii. thinner or fatter? i wouldn't say thinner because i'm about the same size. but not like "fatter" because i definitely gained muscleage in places that i didn't have in 2004. i'm pretty satisfied with my appearance, sans the belly fat.
iii. richer or poorer? heh, much poorer. but this is also because i had cashflow last year. that's ok though... i'll have a stipend come fall semester. :-D
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
hmm... i should've done more to ensure safe passage into med school the first time around. eh well. i'm not ready to go just yet. hehe. americorps is calling my name anyway.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
sitting around during down times. i mean, it's definitely a good thing to rest, but also i needed to get on the ball on things early on instead of rushing things and only doing a half-ass job on projects. that's something i really am looking to work on for next year.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
just with the fam (minus jo and family), the loos, and marietta. pretty low-key. ended up at the brentwood post-GFFF, and drunkenly bowled a bunch of games with jim, lorna, and will.
apparently there is no 21
22. Did you fall in love in 2005?
oh yes. definitely yes, so in love. it's absolutely wonderful. :-)
23. How many one-night stands?
eh, one or two in TC, but that's about it. nothing really too scandalous.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
grey's anatomy! gotta love doctor mcdreamy! :-D
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
nope, not at all!
26. What was the best book you read?
"america is in the heart" by carlos bulosan! check it out... just goes to show (again) that settling in america isn't all an easy road for everyone.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
i listened to a lot of the same things... i guess if anything, john adams and steve reich. again, blame the redhead for that. hehe.
28. What did you want and get?
a boyfriend. :-D and my trip to asia. i really didn't want much, materialwise at least.
29. What did you want and not get?
i pretty much got what i wanted or at least needed, in all aspects. i'm quite contented.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
brokeback mountain. go see it if you haven't. then tell me that my relationship is wrong (or any same-sex relationship for that matter) if you dare.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
i spent my 20th in beijing. for lunch, the nurses at PKU bought me this absolutely beautiful chinese-style cake and i was served a yummy soup with long noodles (represents long life). for dinner, we at at a restaurant that had the coolest facade in the world (it was all floral and decorative). one of the best birthdays ever!
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
if my parents would've allowed me to go visit relatives in the philippines before going to china. that would've been absolutely wonderful.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
spring/summer = t-shirts, cargo shorts or capri pants, and flip-flops or my birks.
fall/winter = sweaters or hoodies, jeans, and my loafers or sambas. all clothes from either the gap or the express.
34. What kept you sane?
hanging out with jeffy or my friends. a call from mom or dad or any of my siblings if i was in ann arbor. basically anyone who was in my support system. i'm thankful for ya'll! :-D
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
hmm... a three-way toss-up between patrick dempsey, heath ledger, and jake gyllenhaal. mmm... threesome. LOL!
36. What political issue stirred you?
APIA-discrimination and LGBT-rights
37. Who did you miss?
like last year, my family. i guess that's what happens when you're at school. but i got to spend a lot of good time with my sibs this year, so i'm really happy about that.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
jeffy. :-D need i say more? although, non-significant-other-wise, most likely my EQ resstaff or my GIEU kids. they're all quite wonderful.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005:
falling in love doesn't necessarily equate to being dependent on someone. learn to embrace letting go and to allow yourself to open up to someone.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
let go, let go, jump in, well what you waiting for? it's alright, 'cuz there's beauty in the breakdown.
1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
gone abroad (without family nonetheless!), REALLY fell in love, live with jo on the same property for a period of time longer than two weeks, be the president of something. yeah, there were a lot of firsts this year, but hey... it makes things interesting, no?
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
yeah, i did... check the entry from january 3rd. accomplished maybe 4 out of the 7 goals, 5 if you count my basic understanding of tagalog from the filipino channel. probably will make more this year, but i'll keep 'em to three large but manageable goals.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
not that i'm aware of. i'm sure there i still only have seven niece/nephews. LOL!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
grandma biddle back in january and marirose's father-in-law.
5. What countries did you visit?
the people's republic of china for a month and japan for a day and a half (i spent time at the narita radisson. i definitely believe that counts!)
6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
a six-pack. hehe. it surely can be done, but i have to be a little more regimented (i.e., keep on working out even after the semester half-way mark.)
7. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
september 24, 2005. not only did UMich lose for the first time at the big house in like two-three years, a drunken red-head just happened to stumble into my life. ;-)
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
being elected FASA president, getting through my first semester as an MPAA (and subsequently being promoted to MPA at couzens next year), helping put on an amazing genAPA 10th anniversary show, having my best semester to date (fall 2005).
9. What was your biggest failure?
nothing, really. this has been quite a great year actually.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
a little bout with traveler's diahrrea, but nothing major. a few coughs here and there.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
all of the pirated DVD's i bought in china, including seasons 1-5 of queer as folk... all for less than US$50! :-D i think i more than doubled my DVD collection because of this.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
heh... i hope this doesn't turn into a gush-fest, but defintely jeffy. even though we've only really known each other this latter half of the year, i've found someone that i feel that constantly challenges me to be smarter, stronger, and just plain better. never did i think i'd find someone who could be that "challenge" in someone taht the same time i called "boyfriend." such a wonderful thing, really.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled?
not a single person. it's been a wonderful year, actually, and i've enjoyed working or interacting with everyone that i've been with. there's been some frustrating moments, but no one that has been that consistently negative or annoying that they've appalled me. again, such a wonderful feeling.
14. Where did most of your money go?
buying stuff for my family in china. :-D and food.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
heh... a lot of things, really. china, the school year (FASA and MPAA'ing especially), hanging out with family whenever i had the chance to... my relationship with jeffy is also something that continunally is a source of excitement.
16. What song will always remind you of 2005?
hmm... here's a(n obviously unfinished) playlist:
- "speed of sound" by coldplay
- "precious" by depeche mode
- "we'll be burnin'" by sean paul
- "dont cha" by the pussycat dolls (the version without busta rhymes, please!)
- "total eclipse of the heart" by bonnie tyler (well, it'll more remind me of either family or my lovely EQ resstaff)
- pretty much any cheezy 80's love song that is on our magic mike.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? MUCH much happier... and considering that i had the same response last year, this must've been the best year yet! here's hoping 2006 will rock out even more.
ii. thinner or fatter? i wouldn't say thinner because i'm about the same size. but not like "fatter" because i definitely gained muscleage in places that i didn't have in 2004. i'm pretty satisfied with my appearance, sans the belly fat.
iii. richer or poorer? heh, much poorer. but this is also because i had cashflow last year. that's ok though... i'll have a stipend come fall semester. :-D
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
hmm... i should've done more to ensure safe passage into med school the first time around. eh well. i'm not ready to go just yet. hehe. americorps is calling my name anyway.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
sitting around during down times. i mean, it's definitely a good thing to rest, but also i needed to get on the ball on things early on instead of rushing things and only doing a half-ass job on projects. that's something i really am looking to work on for next year.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
just with the fam (minus jo and family), the loos, and marietta. pretty low-key. ended up at the brentwood post-GFFF, and drunkenly bowled a bunch of games with jim, lorna, and will.
apparently there is no 21
22. Did you fall in love in 2005?
oh yes. definitely yes, so in love. it's absolutely wonderful. :-)
23. How many one-night stands?
eh, one or two in TC, but that's about it. nothing really too scandalous.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
grey's anatomy! gotta love doctor mcdreamy! :-D
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
nope, not at all!
26. What was the best book you read?
"america is in the heart" by carlos bulosan! check it out... just goes to show (again) that settling in america isn't all an easy road for everyone.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
i listened to a lot of the same things... i guess if anything, john adams and steve reich. again, blame the redhead for that. hehe.
28. What did you want and get?
a boyfriend. :-D and my trip to asia. i really didn't want much, materialwise at least.
29. What did you want and not get?
i pretty much got what i wanted or at least needed, in all aspects. i'm quite contented.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
brokeback mountain. go see it if you haven't. then tell me that my relationship is wrong (or any same-sex relationship for that matter) if you dare.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
i spent my 20th in beijing. for lunch, the nurses at PKU bought me this absolutely beautiful chinese-style cake and i was served a yummy soup with long noodles (represents long life). for dinner, we at at a restaurant that had the coolest facade in the world (it was all floral and decorative). one of the best birthdays ever!
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
if my parents would've allowed me to go visit relatives in the philippines before going to china. that would've been absolutely wonderful.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
spring/summer = t-shirts, cargo shorts or capri pants, and flip-flops or my birks.
fall/winter = sweaters or hoodies, jeans, and my loafers or sambas. all clothes from either the gap or the express.
34. What kept you sane?
hanging out with jeffy or my friends. a call from mom or dad or any of my siblings if i was in ann arbor. basically anyone who was in my support system. i'm thankful for ya'll! :-D
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
hmm... a three-way toss-up between patrick dempsey, heath ledger, and jake gyllenhaal. mmm... threesome. LOL!
36. What political issue stirred you?
APIA-discrimination and LGBT-rights
37. Who did you miss?
like last year, my family. i guess that's what happens when you're at school. but i got to spend a lot of good time with my sibs this year, so i'm really happy about that.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
jeffy. :-D need i say more? although, non-significant-other-wise, most likely my EQ resstaff or my GIEU kids. they're all quite wonderful.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005:
falling in love doesn't necessarily equate to being dependent on someone. learn to embrace letting go and to allow yourself to open up to someone.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
let go, let go, jump in, well what you waiting for? it's alright, 'cuz there's beauty in the breakdown.