The Year in Review, A Couple of Weeks Late
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Moved to Canada, learned to ski, rode a horse, lived with a boyfriend, went to Africa, learned to really actually cook, took an online class, held monkeys, went on safari, learned to windsurf, snorkeled in the Red Sea.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Probably not, since I don't remember what they were. But I had a crazy, good, adventurous year so I did things the way that I hoped I would. My resolution for next year is to get over fears: fear of failure, fear of hurtling down a mountain on a snowboard, fear of scuba diving...
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thankfully.
5. What countries did you visit?
South Africa, Egypt, Czech Republic, Austria, England, Canada.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
A job. Grad school.
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 15--the day that I got on a plane and left Chicago. September 8--the day that I got on a plane and left for a two month trip to the aforementioned countries. All of the days that I was able to be in Chicago, L.A., New York and Richmond visiting friends and family, which were, thankfully, quite a lot.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Writing a couple of good, polished stories, deciding on a next step career-wise, moving to Canada.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not being able to maintain the same level of closeness in my friendships. Distance is a bitch.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No, not really-just a couple of colds and a nasty coral burn in Egypt.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My fish (Oscar and Saffron). And snow tires.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
All of my friends, for being so supportive of my decisions this year.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Bush. Always Bush.
14. Where did most of your money go?
I have money? Well, "my money" went to plane tickets, lots and lots of plane tickets-- at least 30 of them. I do not win the greenest person of the year award, that's for sure.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to South Africa. Seeing awesome animals in South Africa. Going back to San Francisco for the first time in forever.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
That Umbrella song. And the Juno song, "Anyone Else But You."
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? happier, but in a different way
b) thinner or fatter? fatter!
c) richer or poorer? both, sort of.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing--stories, letters to friends, non-fiction.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Stupid stuff on the internet, and worrying. Worrying is the biggest and most pointless time suck of my life.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
At my mom's in Richmond, and with my best friend from high school, in Fairfax. It was a great Christmas!
21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Yes.
22. How many one-night stands?
0
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Hmm, TV was kind of silly this season, I think. I started watching reruns of "Arrested Development." And I like "Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares." "Desperate Housewives" started getting good again. And we just started watching "Planet Earth" and "The Blue Planet." Amazing.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't hate people. I just get a low-grade aggravation.
25. What was the best book you read?
Hmm, that's a tough one. Because I actually read more books that I THOUGHT would be good but that disappointed me a bit-- "Love in the Time of Cholera" and "The Inheritance of Loss" are two examples. They were good books, but I didn't LOVE them. I thought that they were both over-hyped. "The Year of Magical Thinking" was simple and powerful. "The Wind Up Bird Chronicles" was one that stuck with me afterwards. "Snow" was also very powerful and scary and relevant.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Regina Spektor,Rilo Kiley, new Radiohead, and Mandy Moore's new album was actually pretty good.
27. What did you want and get?
To travel.
28. What did you want and not get?
To live in the U.S.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Another toughie..."Away From Her" and "Juno" were probably my favorites.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 26. I was in Cairo, and that was the day that we went and saw the Pyramids. Then, later that night, we had drinks by the Nile and saw a belly-dancing show and Grant and I were pulled onstage. Watching Grant belly-dance was maybe a better present than seeing the Pyramids. Seriously.
31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
To have a job that I enjoyed.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Lots of sweaters and snow boots. It's cold! But also, a little more grown up and streamlined.
33. What kept you sane?
Decorating, cooking, writing, talking on the phone.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Hillary Clinton.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
For me, God was probably the most political issue this year. I read lots of things dealing with religion: "The God Delusion," "Letters to a Christian Nation," "Snow." I think that God has gotten very political. And it's finally an issue that you're allowed to discuss. Sort of. Kind of. With certain people. But to me, it's THE issue in the world today. It's the determining factor in most of what the governments of the world are doing (or rather the justifying force). And I think it's high time that we stopped using God as an excuse to go to war, to kill, to feel superior, to promote one way of life over another.
36. Who did you miss?
That's a really, really long list. Pretty much everyone.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
I've met lots of cool people here: Angie, Elsje, Jess, Morne. Grant's brother Aubrey was cool. He played me the piano accordian. I'm not sure if anyone can beat that.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
That you make your life into whatever you want it to be. It's not random. It's about choices and action.
39. What are your resolutions for 2008?
I think that that was already asked. No fear. Get a job.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
You can stand under my umbrella.
Really, you can.
Moved to Canada, learned to ski, rode a horse, lived with a boyfriend, went to Africa, learned to really actually cook, took an online class, held monkeys, went on safari, learned to windsurf, snorkeled in the Red Sea.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Probably not, since I don't remember what they were. But I had a crazy, good, adventurous year so I did things the way that I hoped I would. My resolution for next year is to get over fears: fear of failure, fear of hurtling down a mountain on a snowboard, fear of scuba diving...
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thankfully.
5. What countries did you visit?
South Africa, Egypt, Czech Republic, Austria, England, Canada.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
A job. Grad school.
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 15--the day that I got on a plane and left Chicago. September 8--the day that I got on a plane and left for a two month trip to the aforementioned countries. All of the days that I was able to be in Chicago, L.A., New York and Richmond visiting friends and family, which were, thankfully, quite a lot.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Writing a couple of good, polished stories, deciding on a next step career-wise, moving to Canada.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not being able to maintain the same level of closeness in my friendships. Distance is a bitch.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No, not really-just a couple of colds and a nasty coral burn in Egypt.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My fish (Oscar and Saffron). And snow tires.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
All of my friends, for being so supportive of my decisions this year.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Bush. Always Bush.
14. Where did most of your money go?
I have money? Well, "my money" went to plane tickets, lots and lots of plane tickets-- at least 30 of them. I do not win the greenest person of the year award, that's for sure.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to South Africa. Seeing awesome animals in South Africa. Going back to San Francisco for the first time in forever.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
That Umbrella song. And the Juno song, "Anyone Else But You."
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? happier, but in a different way
b) thinner or fatter? fatter!
c) richer or poorer? both, sort of.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing--stories, letters to friends, non-fiction.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Stupid stuff on the internet, and worrying. Worrying is the biggest and most pointless time suck of my life.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
At my mom's in Richmond, and with my best friend from high school, in Fairfax. It was a great Christmas!
21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Yes.
22. How many one-night stands?
0
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Hmm, TV was kind of silly this season, I think. I started watching reruns of "Arrested Development." And I like "Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares." "Desperate Housewives" started getting good again. And we just started watching "Planet Earth" and "The Blue Planet." Amazing.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't hate people. I just get a low-grade aggravation.
25. What was the best book you read?
Hmm, that's a tough one. Because I actually read more books that I THOUGHT would be good but that disappointed me a bit-- "Love in the Time of Cholera" and "The Inheritance of Loss" are two examples. They were good books, but I didn't LOVE them. I thought that they were both over-hyped. "The Year of Magical Thinking" was simple and powerful. "The Wind Up Bird Chronicles" was one that stuck with me afterwards. "Snow" was also very powerful and scary and relevant.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Regina Spektor,Rilo Kiley, new Radiohead, and Mandy Moore's new album was actually pretty good.
27. What did you want and get?
To travel.
28. What did you want and not get?
To live in the U.S.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Another toughie..."Away From Her" and "Juno" were probably my favorites.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 26. I was in Cairo, and that was the day that we went and saw the Pyramids. Then, later that night, we had drinks by the Nile and saw a belly-dancing show and Grant and I were pulled onstage. Watching Grant belly-dance was maybe a better present than seeing the Pyramids. Seriously.
31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
To have a job that I enjoyed.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Lots of sweaters and snow boots. It's cold! But also, a little more grown up and streamlined.
33. What kept you sane?
Decorating, cooking, writing, talking on the phone.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Hillary Clinton.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
For me, God was probably the most political issue this year. I read lots of things dealing with religion: "The God Delusion," "Letters to a Christian Nation," "Snow." I think that God has gotten very political. And it's finally an issue that you're allowed to discuss. Sort of. Kind of. With certain people. But to me, it's THE issue in the world today. It's the determining factor in most of what the governments of the world are doing (or rather the justifying force). And I think it's high time that we stopped using God as an excuse to go to war, to kill, to feel superior, to promote one way of life over another.
36. Who did you miss?
That's a really, really long list. Pretty much everyone.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
I've met lots of cool people here: Angie, Elsje, Jess, Morne. Grant's brother Aubrey was cool. He played me the piano accordian. I'm not sure if anyone can beat that.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
That you make your life into whatever you want it to be. It's not random. It's about choices and action.
39. What are your resolutions for 2008?
I think that that was already asked. No fear. Get a job.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
You can stand under my umbrella.
Really, you can.