The End-of-Year meme.
I can't believe I almost forgot to fill that meme out again! (and I can't believe it took me five hours to fill out. *headdesk* Maxthon, I HATE you, stop taking hours to load pages and freezing up every two seconds!!!!!) When for once it's actually useful...
And I'm linking my answers back to the appropriate entries, because I'm thoughtful like that.
1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
I can't think of anything. I did buy a Christmas tree for myself for the first time ever, though.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
How many times will I have to say that I never make any NY resolutions??
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, my darling sister, and, even though she's not exactly what you'd call "close", allisonblair. ♥
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not yet, thank Heavens.
5. What countries did you visit?
None, goshdarnit. I hope I won't be able to say that next year.
6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
A significant other would be nice. And a job that's more than just about paying the bills.
7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I've come to realize I don't really get attached to particular dates. I never think "this is the best day of my life!", for one. But seeing Jamie Cullum in concert was amazing. And the trip to go to and from my cousin's wedding was the most soothing, refreshing thing I'd gotten to do in years.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting jobs and keeping them. Keeping such a good grip on my hypocondria. Finally being sociable again, retying the ties with my cousins and aunts and uncles. Losing some weight. Really finding my fashion style. It was a pretty good year.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Utterly failing at the writing-thing. I didn't even write fanfiction, for Pete's sake!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not...that I remember.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My mp3 player! Months later, it's still as shiny and cool, and it makes taking the subway completely angst-free, even in crowds.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
As always, sophie0's, for being so strong and mature, excelling in her new job and having given herself the means to reach her goals. My parents kicked ass, too, but they always do.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My own. In freaking out so easily upon starting at TDS, in hurting sophie0 so badly and for such stupid reasons.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Books, and DVDs, the golden duet.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Nothing came of it, but the beginnings of my short-lived friendship with Jade had me completely jazzed.
16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
I actually think it's something you discover many years later (just like any Middle of Nowhere song takes me back to 1997, or Drowning to 2002, or Local God to 1996). We'll talk about it again in five years (although it's probably be going to be What If).
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
The same, I think.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Hahahaha!! Thinner, for once!
iii. richer or poorer?
Richer, thank god!
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Walking around Paris. I pretty much stopped once I got hired at TDS, and now it's way too cold to do it, but I miss it. I wish I'd written more, but that's a given.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Fretting. I fretted about work, about Childeric, about Jade, about a million things.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
It's past us, and as always it was with the family, quiet and nice. I'm not one for huge Christmas dinners.
21. How will you be spending New Year's?
Probably alone in my flat, chatting with sophie0 and eating a Pizza Hut pizza if it's opened on Sunday. I might buy myself some Champagne as well.
Of course I might well end up going to a party with the other Sophie.
22. Did you fall in love in 2006?
*grunts* Unfortunately, yes. Thank god I'm out of it now.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
I didn't watch that many TV shows this year. Actually, I can't remember even....oh! Yes, stupid me. ROME, of course!
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I...don't think so. And I already hate a good less many people than I did just a month ago.
26. What was the best book you read?
I mostly re-read The Discworld series, and my love for Terry Pratchett is undying. I also finished re-reading Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell yesterday night, and this is a truly amazing book.
I can also tell you what the worst book I read was...
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I'm afraid this was a pretty dry year, musically speaking. I only stuck on with old passions, like Jamie Cullum or Hanson.
28. What did you want and get?
My mp3 player.
29. What did you want and not get?
That job at the Virgin Megastore. A date with Ch. The perfect coat.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
*flips through old tickets* Oh my god, I only saw kick-ass movies this ye....Oh, Narnia!!! Definitely Narnia.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 25, and I...uh...ohmygod, I'm so stupid, Charlie came!! That was the best birthday present I could ever have hoped for, and we had a blast! ♥♥♥
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I've decided to stop wasting time speculating about how things could have been, thankyouverymuch.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
*beams* Stylish but simple, girly but casual, a little bit hippy, and very much Me.
34. What kept you sane?
My family. I'll never stop being grateful for my amazingly supportive parents, and my Siblings are pretty grand too now that I've finally grown up.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
You're asking that to the two-crushes-a-minute girl? Lemme see... Marion Cottillard is as darling as ever, Charlotte Gainsbourgh is unexpectedly attractive and, no surprise there, I'm still infatuated with both Keira and Nat. On the boys' side, Colin Farrell looked smoking hot in The New World, and of course there's the ROME boys.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
I remain hopelessly a-politic, I'm shamed to say. All the stuff about the USA (well, Bush, let's not put all the Americans to blame when they had nothing to do with it) refusing to take any measure to preserve the planet, never fails to make me yell my heart out, though.
37. Who did you miss?
sophie0, despite my pretending that I didn't. Jade, after we fell out. Nyk, because I miss her every second of every day.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I met quite a few cool people, but nobody I'd be loathe to lose, honestly. I re-met my cousin Sophie, and she's pretty great, most of the time.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006:
Take every day as it comes. There's no need to angst about the future, close or far away.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Hello, goodbye my friend / Feels like the start all over again. (Hanson)
And if I could only find such perfect lyrics every year, those memes could be summed up in that last question!
And I'm linking my answers back to the appropriate entries, because I'm thoughtful like that.
1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
I can't think of anything. I did buy a Christmas tree for myself for the first time ever, though.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
How many times will I have to say that I never make any NY resolutions??
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, my darling sister, and, even though she's not exactly what you'd call "close", allisonblair. ♥
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not yet, thank Heavens.
5. What countries did you visit?
None, goshdarnit. I hope I won't be able to say that next year.
6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
A significant other would be nice. And a job that's more than just about paying the bills.
7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I've come to realize I don't really get attached to particular dates. I never think "this is the best day of my life!", for one. But seeing Jamie Cullum in concert was amazing. And the trip to go to and from my cousin's wedding was the most soothing, refreshing thing I'd gotten to do in years.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting jobs and keeping them. Keeping such a good grip on my hypocondria. Finally being sociable again, retying the ties with my cousins and aunts and uncles. Losing some weight. Really finding my fashion style. It was a pretty good year.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Utterly failing at the writing-thing. I didn't even write fanfiction, for Pete's sake!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not...that I remember.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My mp3 player! Months later, it's still as shiny and cool, and it makes taking the subway completely angst-free, even in crowds.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
As always, sophie0's, for being so strong and mature, excelling in her new job and having given herself the means to reach her goals. My parents kicked ass, too, but they always do.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My own. In freaking out so easily upon starting at TDS, in hurting sophie0 so badly and for such stupid reasons.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Books, and DVDs, the golden duet.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Nothing came of it, but the beginnings of my short-lived friendship with Jade had me completely jazzed.
16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
I actually think it's something you discover many years later (just like any Middle of Nowhere song takes me back to 1997, or Drowning to 2002, or Local God to 1996). We'll talk about it again in five years (although it's probably be going to be What If).
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
The same, I think.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Hahahaha!! Thinner, for once!
iii. richer or poorer?
Richer, thank god!
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Walking around Paris. I pretty much stopped once I got hired at TDS, and now it's way too cold to do it, but I miss it. I wish I'd written more, but that's a given.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Fretting. I fretted about work, about Childeric, about Jade, about a million things.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
It's past us, and as always it was with the family, quiet and nice. I'm not one for huge Christmas dinners.
21. How will you be spending New Year's?
Probably alone in my flat, chatting with sophie0 and eating a Pizza Hut pizza if it's opened on Sunday. I might buy myself some Champagne as well.
Of course I might well end up going to a party with the other Sophie.
22. Did you fall in love in 2006?
*grunts* Unfortunately, yes. Thank god I'm out of it now.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
I didn't watch that many TV shows this year. Actually, I can't remember even....oh! Yes, stupid me. ROME, of course!
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I...don't think so. And I already hate a good less many people than I did just a month ago.
26. What was the best book you read?
I mostly re-read The Discworld series, and my love for Terry Pratchett is undying. I also finished re-reading Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell yesterday night, and this is a truly amazing book.
I can also tell you what the worst book I read was...
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I'm afraid this was a pretty dry year, musically speaking. I only stuck on with old passions, like Jamie Cullum or Hanson.
28. What did you want and get?
My mp3 player.
29. What did you want and not get?
That job at the Virgin Megastore. A date with Ch. The perfect coat.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
*flips through old tickets* Oh my god, I only saw kick-ass movies this ye....Oh, Narnia!!! Definitely Narnia.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 25, and I...uh...ohmygod, I'm so stupid, Charlie came!! That was the best birthday present I could ever have hoped for, and we had a blast! ♥♥♥
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I've decided to stop wasting time speculating about how things could have been, thankyouverymuch.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
*beams* Stylish but simple, girly but casual, a little bit hippy, and very much Me.
34. What kept you sane?
My family. I'll never stop being grateful for my amazingly supportive parents, and my Siblings are pretty grand too now that I've finally grown up.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
You're asking that to the two-crushes-a-minute girl? Lemme see... Marion Cottillard is as darling as ever, Charlotte Gainsbourgh is unexpectedly attractive and, no surprise there, I'm still infatuated with both Keira and Nat. On the boys' side, Colin Farrell looked smoking hot in The New World, and of course there's the ROME boys.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
I remain hopelessly a-politic, I'm shamed to say. All the stuff about the USA (well, Bush, let's not put all the Americans to blame when they had nothing to do with it) refusing to take any measure to preserve the planet, never fails to make me yell my heart out, though.
37. Who did you miss?
sophie0, despite my pretending that I didn't. Jade, after we fell out. Nyk, because I miss her every second of every day.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I met quite a few cool people, but nobody I'd be loathe to lose, honestly. I re-met my cousin Sophie, and she's pretty great, most of the time.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006:
Take every day as it comes. There's no need to angst about the future, close or far away.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Hello, goodbye my friend / Feels like the start all over again. (Hanson)
And if I could only find such perfect lyrics every year, those memes could be summed up in that last question!