every wave is tidal
I know it's kind of like I've fallen off the end of the (livejournal) earth. I wrapped up my first semester in New York, and am in Columbus through mid-January when I head back for round two. My Columbus life feels so distant, four months have transformed me in ways both subtle and vast...but there's so much comfort in being in this house, sleeping in my bed, staying up late over peppermint tea with my mother telling my stories of the city. Moving out and far away has brought me closer to many of the things I tried to distance myself from for so long.
1. what did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
Moved out of my parents' house, six hundred miles away to New York City. Graduated from high school. Started school at Columbia. Had a roommate. Signed off on $12,000 worth of education loans. Learned (a decent chunk of) the subway system. Managed my own finances (haha). Wrote for a newspaper. Taught a (small SAT) class.
2. did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
This was one of the first years I didn't make New Years resolutions at all. I guess I just wanted to survive the move/first semester at CU/etc, even though those things did not begin until the last half of the year. For 2007 I want to get better at managing my money, making/following a budget, etc. so I suppose that would be my resolution.
3. did anyone close to you give birth?
My aunt and uncle adopted a beautiful little girl in February...does that count?
4. did anyone close to you die?
My great-grandmother.
5. what countries did you visit?
None. Hell, I only made it to four US states this year...two of which were my places of residence.
6. what would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
A decent kitchen, good suitemates, and an unlimited Metrocard.
7. what date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
August 27th- I moved to New York City. September 4th- I started classes at CU. June 12- I graduated from Graham.
8. what was your biggest achievement of the year?
Moving across the country to the most stressful environment ever (Ivy League kids are fucking out of control) and managing not to lose my mind, at least not entirely. Learning to live independently and manage my own mental and physical health without the presence of my mother to keep me on track. I'm so proud of the way I've dealt with this transition into something close to adulthood. Also, getting really focused and studying hard and getting the grades I knew I could during my first semester at CU.
9. what was your biggest failure?
I haven't made as many new friends at CU as I wanted to. I have a couple really fabulous friends in New York I've known for a long time, but I really did want to make more friends around my dorm, at the Spec, etc. Also, I told myself I was going to cut the fucking ridiculous perfectionism and clearly I have not (there is absolutely no reason to be upset over a 3.95, especially at as competitive of a school as I attend, I know this, but goddammit, I'm pissed off at myself if I don't get the 4.0). Catching myself falling back into some old eating disordered behaviors...basically, just letting body image/weight/eating issues take up way too much of my emotional energy and time.
10. did you suffer illness or injury?
I got food poisoning and spent the entire night before my graduation throwing up. Luckily, I was considerably better the next day, because I really thought I was going to have to skip the ceremony. Other than that, I felt like crap my first month in the city because of my body having to adjust to new patterns of sleeping, eating, and walking everywhere.
11. what was the best thing you bought?
I bought a new pair of John Fluevogs at the store in SoHo and I wear them every single day and they have completely cured my sore city feet. Also, this is so geeky but I bought these incredible high thread count sheets for my bed at school and they are so soft and wonderful and make getting in my bed really fun, haha.
12. whose behavior merited celebration?
Mark's, as usual, for being my emotional rock through the whole moving-adjustment period. My mom, for letting me out from under her overprotective wing.
13. whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My suitemates, mostly. Although I don't know how much I can blame them for it.
14. where did most of your money go?
The Barnard College Bursar. heh. Also, the MTA and Whole Foods.
15. what did you get really, really, really excited about?
Columbia, obviously. I had a fucking moving day countdown hanging on my bedroom wall!
16. what song will always remind you of 2006?
Belle and Sebastian's entire The Life Pursuit album. O Valencia by The Decemberists. By The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Bossy by Kelis.
17. compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier, I think. I had a really transformational, important year but it has ended on a positive note.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner, goddamn Adderall.
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer because everything in NYC costs twice what it should.
18. what do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing, taking pictures, making friends at CU.
19. what do you wish you'd done less of?
Being so sad the first few weeks of school. Feeling so down on myself.
20. how will you be spending christmas?
It's over, and hello, Hanukkah! I hung out with my family and Mark and ate great food and got a gorgeous ring.
22. did you fall in love in 2006?
This is so cheesy but I fall more in love with Mark with every passing year.
23. how many one-night stands?
Obviously none.
24. what was your favorite tv program?
Arrested Development along with the usual Daily Show/Colbert Report.
25. do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
26. what was the best book you read?
I read a lot of great books this year. I particularly loved "Random Family" by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc, "Illness as Metaphor and AIDS as Its Metaphors" by Susan Sontag, and "In Labor: Women and Power in the Birthplace" by Barbara Katz Rothman.
27. what was your greatest musical discovery?
I was kind of down on Belle and Sebastian's newer stuff but then I started listening to The Life Pursuit and couldn't stop.
28. what did you want and get?
I wanted desperately to start at CU and move to NYC and I did. Good grades. A high school diploma (fucking finally).
29. what did you want & not get?
I wanted to make a lot of friends and be really socially comfortable at CU and I'm still not, so, whatever.
30. what was your favorite film of this year?
I didn't see too many movies this year and those that I did were pretty lackluster. I really liked Little Miss Sunshine though.
31. what did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned nineteen and got taken out to great restaurants for a solid three days. I had a statistics exam, heh.
32. what one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not having to worry about money so much.
33. how would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Pretty much the same as last year-- delicate girly tops or cardigan sweaters, dangly earrings, nice jeans and eye makeup. I've also developed quite a liking for silk scarves and belts.
34. what kept you sane?
Mark, lots of phone calls home, my weekly appointment with the Columbia counseling center.
35. which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Um, does Sherrod Brown count? (I AM A NERD, RIDICULE ME BECAUSE I DESERVE IT)
36. what political issue stirred you the most?
Everything as usual, when am I not worked up about politics? The midterm elections were pretty exciting.
37. who did you miss?
My mom.
38. who was the best new person you met?
I've met a lot of great people at CU, basically the entire Spec staff and Chisato.
39. tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006:
I've learned so much this year. That's really trite, but true for me. I don't know how to best state it...that I can make it on my own? That I can depend on myself and am way more resourceful than I thought?
40. quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"how does it feel
to be on your own
with no direction home
like a complete unknown..." - Bob Dylan, "Like a Rolling Stone"
1. what did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
Moved out of my parents' house, six hundred miles away to New York City. Graduated from high school. Started school at Columbia. Had a roommate. Signed off on $12,000 worth of education loans. Learned (a decent chunk of) the subway system. Managed my own finances (haha). Wrote for a newspaper. Taught a (small SAT) class.
2. did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
This was one of the first years I didn't make New Years resolutions at all. I guess I just wanted to survive the move/first semester at CU/etc, even though those things did not begin until the last half of the year. For 2007 I want to get better at managing my money, making/following a budget, etc. so I suppose that would be my resolution.
3. did anyone close to you give birth?
My aunt and uncle adopted a beautiful little girl in February...does that count?
4. did anyone close to you die?
My great-grandmother.
5. what countries did you visit?
None. Hell, I only made it to four US states this year...two of which were my places of residence.
6. what would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
A decent kitchen, good suitemates, and an unlimited Metrocard.
7. what date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
August 27th- I moved to New York City. September 4th- I started classes at CU. June 12- I graduated from Graham.
8. what was your biggest achievement of the year?
Moving across the country to the most stressful environment ever (Ivy League kids are fucking out of control) and managing not to lose my mind, at least not entirely. Learning to live independently and manage my own mental and physical health without the presence of my mother to keep me on track. I'm so proud of the way I've dealt with this transition into something close to adulthood. Also, getting really focused and studying hard and getting the grades I knew I could during my first semester at CU.
9. what was your biggest failure?
I haven't made as many new friends at CU as I wanted to. I have a couple really fabulous friends in New York I've known for a long time, but I really did want to make more friends around my dorm, at the Spec, etc. Also, I told myself I was going to cut the fucking ridiculous perfectionism and clearly I have not (there is absolutely no reason to be upset over a 3.95, especially at as competitive of a school as I attend, I know this, but goddammit, I'm pissed off at myself if I don't get the 4.0). Catching myself falling back into some old eating disordered behaviors...basically, just letting body image/weight/eating issues take up way too much of my emotional energy and time.
10. did you suffer illness or injury?
I got food poisoning and spent the entire night before my graduation throwing up. Luckily, I was considerably better the next day, because I really thought I was going to have to skip the ceremony. Other than that, I felt like crap my first month in the city because of my body having to adjust to new patterns of sleeping, eating, and walking everywhere.
11. what was the best thing you bought?
I bought a new pair of John Fluevogs at the store in SoHo and I wear them every single day and they have completely cured my sore city feet. Also, this is so geeky but I bought these incredible high thread count sheets for my bed at school and they are so soft and wonderful and make getting in my bed really fun, haha.
12. whose behavior merited celebration?
Mark's, as usual, for being my emotional rock through the whole moving-adjustment period. My mom, for letting me out from under her overprotective wing.
13. whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My suitemates, mostly. Although I don't know how much I can blame them for it.
14. where did most of your money go?
The Barnard College Bursar. heh. Also, the MTA and Whole Foods.
15. what did you get really, really, really excited about?
Columbia, obviously. I had a fucking moving day countdown hanging on my bedroom wall!
16. what song will always remind you of 2006?
Belle and Sebastian's entire The Life Pursuit album. O Valencia by The Decemberists. By The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Bossy by Kelis.
17. compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier, I think. I had a really transformational, important year but it has ended on a positive note.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner, goddamn Adderall.
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer because everything in NYC costs twice what it should.
18. what do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing, taking pictures, making friends at CU.
19. what do you wish you'd done less of?
Being so sad the first few weeks of school. Feeling so down on myself.
20. how will you be spending christmas?
It's over, and hello, Hanukkah! I hung out with my family and Mark and ate great food and got a gorgeous ring.
22. did you fall in love in 2006?
This is so cheesy but I fall more in love with Mark with every passing year.
23. how many one-night stands?
Obviously none.
24. what was your favorite tv program?
Arrested Development along with the usual Daily Show/Colbert Report.
25. do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
26. what was the best book you read?
I read a lot of great books this year. I particularly loved "Random Family" by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc, "Illness as Metaphor and AIDS as Its Metaphors" by Susan Sontag, and "In Labor: Women and Power in the Birthplace" by Barbara Katz Rothman.
27. what was your greatest musical discovery?
I was kind of down on Belle and Sebastian's newer stuff but then I started listening to The Life Pursuit and couldn't stop.
28. what did you want and get?
I wanted desperately to start at CU and move to NYC and I did. Good grades. A high school diploma (fucking finally).
29. what did you want & not get?
I wanted to make a lot of friends and be really socially comfortable at CU and I'm still not, so, whatever.
30. what was your favorite film of this year?
I didn't see too many movies this year and those that I did were pretty lackluster. I really liked Little Miss Sunshine though.
31. what did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned nineteen and got taken out to great restaurants for a solid three days. I had a statistics exam, heh.
32. what one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not having to worry about money so much.
33. how would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Pretty much the same as last year-- delicate girly tops or cardigan sweaters, dangly earrings, nice jeans and eye makeup. I've also developed quite a liking for silk scarves and belts.
34. what kept you sane?
Mark, lots of phone calls home, my weekly appointment with the Columbia counseling center.
35. which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Um, does Sherrod Brown count? (I AM A NERD, RIDICULE ME BECAUSE I DESERVE IT)
36. what political issue stirred you the most?
Everything as usual, when am I not worked up about politics? The midterm elections were pretty exciting.
37. who did you miss?
My mom.
38. who was the best new person you met?
I've met a lot of great people at CU, basically the entire Spec staff and Chisato.
39. tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006:
I've learned so much this year. That's really trite, but true for me. I don't know how to best state it...that I can make it on my own? That I can depend on myself and am way more resourceful than I thought?
40. quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"how does it feel
to be on your own
with no direction home
like a complete unknown..." - Bob Dylan, "Like a Rolling Stone"