(no subject)
Merry Christmas and happy holidays!!
I hope you all had a wonderful past couple of days, filled with great times and blessings. :)
My past few days have been okay -- nothing too spectacular. I had my usual family get-together of 100+ people (my dad's 12 siblings + their spouses and kids + their kids' kids), and walked away with just 3 presents, one of which is a sweater (too big by 2 sizes) and another is a bottle of lotion (my Christmas wouldn't be complete without this token present).
My immediate family is holding off on opening presents from one another until we're all together and available this Saturday, which is great for me since I didn't actually finish buying everyone presents (shhhh!). So ... there will still more goodies to come!
The holiday season hasn't been exactly a priority for me this year anyway. I'm way too preoccupied with preparing for my trip to India, and I'm actually in denial that I'm already leaving next week. I have a hard enough time being away from my boyfriend for 2 days and have no idea how I'm going to survive 3 months. I'll just have to learn how to deal. Everyone keeps telling me that cliche, "distance makes the heart grow fonder", but I'd sure prefer to grow fonder without the distance. Sigh.
Miscellaneous:
I hope you all had a wonderful past couple of days, filled with great times and blessings. :)
My past few days have been okay -- nothing too spectacular. I had my usual family get-together of 100+ people (my dad's 12 siblings + their spouses and kids + their kids' kids), and walked away with just 3 presents, one of which is a sweater (too big by 2 sizes) and another is a bottle of lotion (my Christmas wouldn't be complete without this token present).
My immediate family is holding off on opening presents from one another until we're all together and available this Saturday, which is great for me since I didn't actually finish buying everyone presents (shhhh!). So ... there will still more goodies to come!
The holiday season hasn't been exactly a priority for me this year anyway. I'm way too preoccupied with preparing for my trip to India, and I'm actually in denial that I'm already leaving next week. I have a hard enough time being away from my boyfriend for 2 days and have no idea how I'm going to survive 3 months. I'll just have to learn how to deal. Everyone keeps telling me that cliche, "distance makes the heart grow fonder", but I'd sure prefer to grow fonder without the distance. Sigh.
Miscellaneous:
- I watched "Home for Christmas" on TV, just so I could hear NSYNC's "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" during the credits. How lame is that?
- I love love love Enchanted. I love all the Disney references and tributes, and I love any musical score my Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. And I love the entire cast, and I squealed when I saw Idina Menzel in the movie. (I'd completely forgotten that she was part the cast.) I love Disney princess movies. I really do.
- New Year's meme, taken from livehead16 (and I'm pretty sure I did this one last year too.
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
I went snowboarding, not just once, but FOUR times! (And boy was I sore each time.)
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No, I didn't. I said I'd stretch more and floss more regularly, but that went bye-bye after about a month. I'll still try to make resolutions anyway. :)
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! Both of my older sisters had beautiful baby girls.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
None.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Like livehead16 said, definitely free time.
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July 21st - my friend's wedding, and I was super sick with a stomach flu, yet I still attended. lol. That was a little miserable, but it was a wonderful wedding and my friend was a beautiful bride. Also, July 6-8, when I went to Santa Cruz with a bunch of friends for my birthday.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Perhaps finally donating blood for the first time.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not being able to help my boyfriend find a job that makes him happy. (I know it's not up to me to find it, but you know ... his happiness is my happiness so ...)
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I bought a new desktop with tons of fun features and capabilities. I can watch TV from my bed and record stuff, even though its a computer!
12. Where did most of your money go?
Lots of concerts, basketball games, musicals, and food (restaurants).
13. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to LA with my boyfriend and watching Wicked in the center 2nd row.
14. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder - slightly sadder
b) thinner or fatter - about the same (but slightly bigger)
c) richer or poorer -richer
15. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercise. (And I bet I'll be saying that for the rest of my life.)
16. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastination.
17. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it at home with my family. I did a ton of baking too. (~30 dozen cookies!)
18. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Is it possible to fall in love again with the same person? :)
19. How many one-night stands?
None.
20. What was your favorite TV program?
I've been slacking on TV as of late, but I really enjoyed Heroes, and I watched all of The Office this summer.
21. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Not really.
22. What was the best book you read?
Considering that the only book I read this year was Harry Potter, I'll have to say ... Harry Potter. lol.
23. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I'm so sad that nothing immediately popped into my head! I know that there are artists on my iPod, but nothing's ringing a bell at this exact moment. I may just have to say ... Charice Pempengco, this Filipino girl that performs a lot on TFC (the Filipino Channel) and has recently had her share of YouTube rounds.
24. What did you want and get?
I wanted to watch Wicked again, and I did!
25. What did you want and not get?
I wanted to go to NYC, but I couldn't fit in the trip this year.
26. What was your favorite film of this year?
Enchanted! (I haven't see too many movies this year.)
27. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
To celebrate, my friends and I went to Santa Cruz for a weekend, where we went to the beach, ate good food, and watched movies. Then I had lunch with my family (Japanese buffet) the following weekend. I'm now 23.
28. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
My boyfriend finding a job that makes him happy. His stress really took a toll on me this year.
29. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Simple. I've always been a jeans + tank top + sneakers / flip-flops kind of girl, but I did make a slight attempt to be more fashionable and get some nice clubby tops.
30. What kept you sane?
My boyfriend, my sisters, and my friends. I have a great support system.
31. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Still Mr. JT. ;)
32. What political issue stirred you the most?
Nothing. Sadly, I've been apathetic and have no idea what's going on out there.
33. Who did you miss?
My nephew (even though I saw him twice a month).
34. Who was the best new person you met?
My friend's new roommate is quite the comical character and brings a great element to our gatherings.
35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
Love takes work and patience, but in the end, it's always well worth it.
36. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"I am blessed, from when I rise up in the morning, til I lay my head to rest."
- Rachael Lampa, Blessed