1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?
Lived in Queens, was a social-fucking-butterfly (seriously!), got into grad school, dated much older men, moved to Chicago…a lot of things
2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t think I made any New Year’s resolutions. This year my New Year’s resolution is to be more spontaneous
3. What countries did you visit?
None
4. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
It’s hard to think of anything I lacked in 2006 besides getting what I thought I wanted for grad school. I guess I’d like my love life to suck less? Although I’m supposed to be off men till 2008, so nevermind that. I would like to stop beating myself up for things that I shouldn’t beat myself up for. And I would like to be less hard on myself, because when people who have known you for all of two weeks talk about you as being too hard on yourself, its probably time to be less self-critical.
5. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory?
Not so much dates, but days; there’s about a hundred of them. I think I wrote about most of them here.
6. What was your biggest achievement of the year??
Learning to let go, forgiving, being a social butterfly, becoming more comfortable around people, getting into University-of-Chicago, becoming zen-like, inner peace, etc
7. What was your biggest failure??
Drinking too much and doing stupid/destructive things while drunk
8. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Lots of black and blues and hangovers.
9. What was the best thing you bought?
My plane ticket to Chicago for Campus Days. Well they reimbursed me for that, but you know what I mean. I was ready to turn down the offer and stay in New York, but I went out there and got excited about the program, and it felt right. And much as I miss New York, it was the right decision.
10. Whose behavior merited celebration?
So many people.
Jill-IAN: for not letting me sit around and mope over boys and dragging me out to Brooklyn and making me laugh all the time and a million other things
CK: For reminding me what is and what is not worth it, for being the best drinking buddy I know, for Jersey-ness, for making me smile at the craziest times and for never letting me forget that no matter what was going on, I was headed somewhere good
Brent: Duh. No words necessary.
The Astorians: For the amazing sense of community and neighborhood-ness, and for making me feel so welcome at a time where I really needed to feel at home.
My Chicago Study Group: For being encouraging and supportive and awesome and brilliant. I am so proud of us.
Basically I have amazing people in my life. I am very lucky.
11. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
In the early part of the year, or the times when I drink too much and do moronic things? My own.
Other people’s appalling behavior? They know, or at least they should.
12. What did you get really, really, really excited about??
My last day at work.
13. What song will always remind you of 2006??
Lots. Heart of the Matter (Don Henley) because this spring/summer, I learned more about forgiveness than I ever imagined, Square One, Tom Petty, Carrie Underwood’s entire album, Leaving New York (REM). Your Ex-Lover is Dead (Stars) and Wasted Time (Eagles) given the bizarre friendship and then heartbreak that came with The-Ex.
14. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
Much happier, much more at peace, much more confident. Etc.
15. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Study. I should have worked harder on my final papers.
16. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Drink
17. How will you be spending Christmas?
Jewishly
18. Did you fall in love in 2006?
With New York, with Astoria, with my friends, with life, yes. In the traditional sense, no.
19. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No. I don’t hate anyone, really, in the absolute sense.
20. What was the best book you read?
“Long Way Down” Nick Hornby.
21. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Carrie Underwood and Lucy Kaplansky
22. What did you want and get?
I got into grad school, even though it wasn’t the way I thought I would. I wanted to learn to be more social/relaxed and I did.
23. What did you want and not get?
Admission to Utexas at Austin.
24. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
My birthday was pretty awesome. I turned 23 and had a small gathering at the Beer Garden and then CK and I stayed out late and had one of our bonding conversations.
25. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Hm. If one of my dates had turned out worthwhile? I mean, kissing Hot!Libertarian!Boy was satisfying in and of itself, but it would have been…interesting…if something had come of that. But that was probably my karma for ditching Nice-Libertarian-Boy.
26. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
I was all fashion conscious and such while living in New York. Now that I’m a grad student with no money for clothes and little time for laundry I have regressed into jeans and sweaters.
27. What kept you sane?
Jill-IAN, CK’s rants, emailing non-stop with Kevin, knowing that I was leaving my job
28. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most??
Christopher Meloni – my Law and Order SVU addiction knows no bounds.
29. Who was the best new person you met?
Jill-IAN, as if that’s even a contest. Also, Drucifer, the Astorians, and new grad school friends can all be on the list.
30. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006?
So many; this has been an extremely educational year.
Move forward, not backward:
