Wait, Matt still has a LiveJournal??? WTF?!?!?!?!
Yeah, I'm surprised that LJ didn't bump my account into Archives. Anywho, Sarah Chase (that goddess) posted hers and inspired me to follow suit. So here you go, people:
End Of 2007 Survey
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
I got engaged, does that count?
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't really make formal resolutions ever
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Angie had a boy (CJ, my new godson/step-nephew)
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My Great-Aunt Netty
5. What countries did you visit?
The Bahamas
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
A bigger savings account
7. What date(s) from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
June 3rd - see answer #1
September 24th - started new job
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting a new job within one week of leaving my previous one - I was pretty much hired on the spot, not bad for my first job interview in over 6 years
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not being a very good salesman at my last job, but dry sales isn't exactly my cup of tea anyway
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing more than minor laryngitis after concerts & URI basketball games :)
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Well, Laura's engagement ring was probably the most significant thing I purchased, but if you mean like something that I actually got to use/enjoy myself, that would probably be either courtside seats to URI-PC or skiing lessons.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Wow, too many to pick just one... Henry & Susan for getting married, Angie for having her baby, Laura for getting a new job, Kevin for kicking ass at Crane, Brian for getting a student-teaching gig at Three Village, and myself for surviving three consecutive weekends of snowboarding, skiing, and ice skating without suffering any significant injury to myself or maiming any innocent bystanders.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Paul (former boss)
14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage payments, car payments (almost done!), and the wedding fund
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to Chicago with Laura, Joe, & the Pellegrinis, URI bitch-smacking PC and watching it courtside with Brian, and oh yeah, getting engaged...
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
"Rock Star" by Nickelback
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
happier or sadder? happier each year
thinner or fatter? heavier (and happy about that)
richer or poorer? about the same, but changing insurance & retirement stuff from NY to RI has saved me a lot of money
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Stayed in touch with people
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Well, I kinda wish I had left iTL sooner than I did... but it all worked out in the end
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Spent the weekend before in NY and then I hosted the family up here in RI on Christmas Day
21. How many one-night stands?
None for me
22. What was your favorite TV program?
"24" didn't disappoint as usual, plus Laura got me into "Scrubs" and we enjoyed "Top Chef" together, too
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nah
24. What was the best book you read?
I'm committing myself to reading more often, and purchased a hard-cover copy of "The Count of Monte Cristo" for like 8 bucks at Barnes & Noble
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I really enjoyed Dierks Bentley's "Long Trip Alone" album - before that, he was just OK in my book (he put on one hell of a live show too!)
26. What did you want and get?
Engaged and a new job - not too shabby a year, eh?
27. What was your favorite film of this year?
Wow, I loved "1408", "Saw IV", and "National Treasure 2" in theaters, plus I was impressed with "The Prestige" and "Accepted" on TV
28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 27 back in February, and spent it in NY. Laura's dad and stepmom came down to visit LI for the first time. Later that night, I went out with the guys (plus Laura, Ann, & Megan) and everyone bought me a drank.
29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Getting a letter from the IRS saying that they made a mistake on my taxes and enclosed a refund check in the amount of $25,000 for being such a good sport.
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Haha, well from January through August, I mostly wore whatever was comfortable, as I was still working from home (save for a few business trips). Now, I get to dress up every day for work, which I enjoy. For those of you unaware, I look damn good in a dress shirt and suit pants.
31. What kept you sane?
My brothers, my friends, Laura, spending time on the balcony in the summertime, URI games in the fall/winter, and a freezer always stocked with ice cream.
32. What political issue stirred you the most?
The fact that, even though they say that the war is "winding down", we keep sending more and more troops overseas - which will most likely cause one seat at our wedding to be unfilled while she's serving over there
33. Who did you miss?
Friends back in NY, baseball in the summer after work
34. Who was the best new person you met?
It's funny, 2007 was a year more for re-connecting with old friends (my upcoming HS reunion definitely contributed to that). But, as far as new people go, I'd probably have to say Ashley, my co-worker at SeraCare. We started on the same day, and went through all of our orientation together. It's nice to have someone your age at work, and we have lunch together everyday. She's pretty cool. I also got to re-connect with old friends like April Kretz (girl who lived across the street from me in elementary school and just had a baby) and Lisa Iadevaia (lab partner at URI who lives in Chicago now).
35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
Taking on a challenge and venturing into the unknown is always better than sticking with the status quo and sacrificing some degree of your own happiness. You're only cheating yourself by not giving new experiences their fair chance. Just go out there, project an aura of confidence (even if you're not 100% sure of yourself), and enjoy the ride while it lasts. Sure, you may fall off the chairlift, causing the whole mountain to have to briefly shut down, and then knock over an entire section of snow fence on your way back down the slope. But it's a lot more fun than staying home.
Happy New Year and may 2008 be your best year yet!
~ MJK ~
End Of 2007 Survey
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
I got engaged, does that count?
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't really make formal resolutions ever
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Angie had a boy (CJ, my new godson/step-nephew)
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My Great-Aunt Netty
5. What countries did you visit?
The Bahamas
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
A bigger savings account
7. What date(s) from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
June 3rd - see answer #1
September 24th - started new job
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting a new job within one week of leaving my previous one - I was pretty much hired on the spot, not bad for my first job interview in over 6 years
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not being a very good salesman at my last job, but dry sales isn't exactly my cup of tea anyway
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing more than minor laryngitis after concerts & URI basketball games :)
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Well, Laura's engagement ring was probably the most significant thing I purchased, but if you mean like something that I actually got to use/enjoy myself, that would probably be either courtside seats to URI-PC or skiing lessons.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Wow, too many to pick just one... Henry & Susan for getting married, Angie for having her baby, Laura for getting a new job, Kevin for kicking ass at Crane, Brian for getting a student-teaching gig at Three Village, and myself for surviving three consecutive weekends of snowboarding, skiing, and ice skating without suffering any significant injury to myself or maiming any innocent bystanders.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Paul (former boss)
14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage payments, car payments (almost done!), and the wedding fund
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to Chicago with Laura, Joe, & the Pellegrinis, URI bitch-smacking PC and watching it courtside with Brian, and oh yeah, getting engaged...
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
"Rock Star" by Nickelback
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
happier or sadder? happier each year
thinner or fatter? heavier (and happy about that)
richer or poorer? about the same, but changing insurance & retirement stuff from NY to RI has saved me a lot of money
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Stayed in touch with people
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Well, I kinda wish I had left iTL sooner than I did... but it all worked out in the end
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Spent the weekend before in NY and then I hosted the family up here in RI on Christmas Day
21. How many one-night stands?
None for me
22. What was your favorite TV program?
"24" didn't disappoint as usual, plus Laura got me into "Scrubs" and we enjoyed "Top Chef" together, too
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nah
24. What was the best book you read?
I'm committing myself to reading more often, and purchased a hard-cover copy of "The Count of Monte Cristo" for like 8 bucks at Barnes & Noble
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I really enjoyed Dierks Bentley's "Long Trip Alone" album - before that, he was just OK in my book (he put on one hell of a live show too!)
26. What did you want and get?
Engaged and a new job - not too shabby a year, eh?
27. What was your favorite film of this year?
Wow, I loved "1408", "Saw IV", and "National Treasure 2" in theaters, plus I was impressed with "The Prestige" and "Accepted" on TV
28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 27 back in February, and spent it in NY. Laura's dad and stepmom came down to visit LI for the first time. Later that night, I went out with the guys (plus Laura, Ann, & Megan) and everyone bought me a drank.
29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Getting a letter from the IRS saying that they made a mistake on my taxes and enclosed a refund check in the amount of $25,000 for being such a good sport.
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Haha, well from January through August, I mostly wore whatever was comfortable, as I was still working from home (save for a few business trips). Now, I get to dress up every day for work, which I enjoy. For those of you unaware, I look damn good in a dress shirt and suit pants.
31. What kept you sane?
My brothers, my friends, Laura, spending time on the balcony in the summertime, URI games in the fall/winter, and a freezer always stocked with ice cream.
32. What political issue stirred you the most?
The fact that, even though they say that the war is "winding down", we keep sending more and more troops overseas - which will most likely cause one seat at our wedding to be unfilled while she's serving over there
33. Who did you miss?
Friends back in NY, baseball in the summer after work
34. Who was the best new person you met?
It's funny, 2007 was a year more for re-connecting with old friends (my upcoming HS reunion definitely contributed to that). But, as far as new people go, I'd probably have to say Ashley, my co-worker at SeraCare. We started on the same day, and went through all of our orientation together. It's nice to have someone your age at work, and we have lunch together everyday. She's pretty cool. I also got to re-connect with old friends like April Kretz (girl who lived across the street from me in elementary school and just had a baby) and Lisa Iadevaia (lab partner at URI who lives in Chicago now).
35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
Taking on a challenge and venturing into the unknown is always better than sticking with the status quo and sacrificing some degree of your own happiness. You're only cheating yourself by not giving new experiences their fair chance. Just go out there, project an aura of confidence (even if you're not 100% sure of yourself), and enjoy the ride while it lasts. Sure, you may fall off the chairlift, causing the whole mountain to have to briefly shut down, and then knock over an entire section of snow fence on your way back down the slope. But it's a lot more fun than staying home.
Happy New Year and may 2008 be your best year yet!
~ MJK ~