New Year's Thoughts
Yay! I cought a cold while on vacation!
Anyway, Emerald had this up so I thought I would follow suit.
New Year's Ponderings
1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
Hmmm. I dont really feel like too much. I did go on a diet and start a semi-regular exercise routine. (Which I have done before but its been years.) Maybe what I dd this year was decide and follow through with paying attention to the stuff I dont generally like to pay attention totheme for the year was 2003: The Year I Get My Shit Together.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Same answer-Year I Get My Shit Together. What did I accomplish with this meme in mind?
Health: I started excercising and lost a fair amount of weight on the Atkins Diet; I stopped smoking
Money: Started the book Your Money or Your Life-forcing me to focus on my spending habits and goals; I now understand my debt and the steps I need to take to make it go away; Got a job which enables me to pay my monthly bills
Family: Had more regular contact wih the family members I care about, dealt with my father enough to make me feel like Im not hiding my feelings anymore
Relationship: This was a pretty calm year for Eno and I, though I think thats good. Just living together in our own house for a full year without too much fuss has been great. We always have stuff to work on, but were good. Its nice to just be going along fine.
Personal Growth: I guess this was the least area of movement this year. I got a library card, but that was about it. Oh, through Atkins I was forced to learn to cook.
Work: I quit the job I hated and got a new one. This job doesnt stimulate me 100%, but its a nice place to work and it will enable me to accomplish some of my other goals easily.
Stuff: This has been a focus this year. The need to get rid of the extra stuff in my life and get back to basics. Get my house clean, get rid of random crap. Ive been working on this a lot, and have more work to do I know, but feel good about the steps Ive taken so far.
Next years goals?
Health: Lose the rest of the weight I want to lose and get on a more regular, heavier exercise schedule. I also want to refocus on fire spinning. Face the dentist.
Money: This is the year I will start (again) a savings account. I have to buy a new car. I want to significantly reduce my debt.
Relationship: Have more fun with Eno. This last year was about stabilizing. He finally got a job, I finally have a job I can deal with. Now that were getting the bottom layer of the pyramid handled, I think its important we start to do a few more new things than we did in the last year.
Personal Growth: Im ready to start doing a lot of work here. I want to start writing again regularly. I want to learn to sew. I want to see more art and make more art. I want to watch less TV. I want to work on my personal appearance a bit more: Get more of a routine here as well. Skin care, nail care, perfume, jewlery, all that stuff. I want to look more put together on a regular basis. I am also taking my mother with me to the Burn this year. That will be sure to be a growing experience for both of us. I want to travel somewhere new this year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Hell and Sadman. Elf and Reggie. JoyToy and Obscuro. I am beginning to feel the pangs I admit, but there are more years to go and things to accomplish before then.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My mothers mother died, my Mom-Mom. She was a truly good person, and I get a lot of my sweetness from her. I miss her daily.
5. What countries did you visit?
Just here. This is one of those things. I want to travel so badly, and thats just not possible right now. Its about priorities, and this isnt in it, but its hard.
6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
I dont feel like I lacked that much. There can always be more joy, more stability, more contact. Oh, and more kissing.
6.5. What would you like to have less of in 2004 that you had in 2003?
Blatantly using Ms. Emeralds answer: Debt. Anxiety. Freak-outs.
7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
New Years Day-Arriving at Twigsville to find the building burned down. (Not Our Fault.) The day Brooke was born. The day my grandmother died. The night on the trampoline at Flipside. The Fucko Labs closing party. The night of the Gigsvile Misfit Strippers. Thanksgiving. My brithday weekend.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Paying attention.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I dont really feel like I failed at anything. I havent accomplished everything I wanted to, but I made progress on almost everything I needed to
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Only 1 or 2 colds. No big pain this year.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Ticket to Flipside. Ticket to Burning Man. A new vaccuum cleaner.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Many of the people in my life spent this year trying to be the best person they could be, and I admire that. Eno was the best boyfriend in the whole world. Whoa and Moxy get points for trying to make a difference. Eno quitting drinking is probably the biggest.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Our government, but thats nothing new.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Food. Rent. Basics. Still paying for the basics. Ask me next year and I will have a detailed account.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Not an exciting, exciting year for me. Eno getting a job he wanted. Moving into Newts house.
16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
Hmm, a musically bereft year for me. (music and money go hand in hand sort of I think there are certain KDL hits that will stay with me. Hey Ya by Outkast. That Beyonce song. Are You Going to Be My Girl by Jet.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
Happier. Calmer.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Thinner.
iii. richer or poorer?
Richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Dance. Travel. See theatre. Gone to the movies. More time with far-away friends.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Time wasting. TV watching. Procrastinating.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent it with family outside of Dallas.
21. What happened to question 21?
It called in sick.
22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
Yes.
23. How many one-night stands?
Two night stand? One.
23.5 How many all-night parties?
Too many to count. One of the good things in my life.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Saw the end of Buffy. Now Clean Sweep is my favorite.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. Hate takes too much energy.
26. What was the best book you read?
I read so many. I just finished East of Eden by Steinbeck. I enjoyed the new Tom Robbins book. As I sit here and think about it probably means something that I cant think of the books I read though I probably read around 40-50. Hmm. Must start cataloguing. Read the Corrections.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
None this year sad to say.
28. What did you want and get?
More organization. Love. Laughter.
29. What did you want and not get?
Lottery winnings. A sewing machine.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Lost in Translation. Big Fish.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 30. Aack. Went to see Big Fish with friends and had pie after. I had a three day party a few weeks before.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
This is kind of a crazy question. I got nothing.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
Old. I did buy a few pieces, but mostly I am living off of clothes bought in previous years. I did however thin the herd and got rid of clothes that I even if I can still wear them, I shouldnt. As I am losing weight, I expect next year I will have to do some more purchasing.
34. What kept you sane?
My boyfriend, my friends, my self.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Hmm. Ewan McGregor. Jon Stewart. Eric on Clean Sweep.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
While I care, I try to stay away from it. I just get too frustrated. I was most pleased by the overturning of the sodomy laws.
37. Who did you miss?
My grandmother. Most of my friends in other cities. Sherry when she has to go home.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Hmm. Got to know Yim this year. Ben came into our lives, and thats a good thing. All the babies. Dr. Slaw moving to Los Angeles.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003?
Tonight, on a very special XTs life- just kidding. Hopefully that there is life after 30.
40. Quote a Song Lyric that sums up your year.
Shake it, Shake, Shake it, Shake it.