And in conclusion, let me say... [Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005, 3:27 pm]
Call me a party pooper, but I find the celebration of New Year's Eve to be rather overrated. Possibly because it's so close to Christmas. When I was a young kiddo, staying up until midnight was a huge treat, and I would do it excitedly every December 31st. But I stay up late all the time now, so it's not as big a deal. Plus I don't like falling asleep in church, or feeling like I want to. But we still have plenty of food, and we'll probably watch something, so that's good enough for me.
And so, on this last day of 2005, I will fill out one of those annoying survey thingies in an attempt to make it look like I'm reflecting upon all that has transpired within the past year:
5 things that 2005 taught me:
*That there comes a point in time when childhood must be over, but family life doesn't have to end.
*God is faithful in all things, and I need to be more faithful to Him.
*I could accomplish much more than I do.
*It isn't always easy to be "different" and do the right thing when it feels like no one else is.
*I'm never alone.
5 personally significant events of 2005:
*Starting my sophomore year of college.
*Applying to other schools and thinking about how to pay for it.
*Becoming slightly more comfortable as a waitress/kitchen worker, no matter how tiny the diner.
*Surviving 3 oral presentations in front of people.
*Getting DSL at home :-D
5 things I want to do in 2006:
*Leave home and attend a different college.
*Become somewhat more self-sufficient in living on my own.
*Write more in my stories.
*Publish something.
*Become somewhat more comfortable with social interactions.
5 things I don't want to do in 2006:
*Feel all alone.
*Not have a job.
*Get bad grades.
*Fail at something I try to do.
*Turn down too many opportunities to grow.
5 things I love beyond all reason currently:
*God, and the hope I receive from faith.
*My family.
*The internet.
*Dark chocolate.
*Getting good grades.
5 things I don't like with good reason currently:
*Evolution, and the fact that people are being indoctrinated with it.
*Drugs, and people who present deceiving images of their full effects.
*Tom Cruise and "scientology"
*Plasic surgery, and its acceptance in society.
*Celery
5 Movies that Inspired Me:
* Cinderella Man
* K-19: The Widowmaker
* Star Wars III
* The Incredibles
* The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
*Lived alone (at home) for 5 days & nights.
*Spoken in front of a group, for however short a time.
*Bought all my textbooks online, for one semester.
*Made more than $7 an hour (yeah, wow).
*Took a 400-level class.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't remember making any last year, and for this year I simply resolve to grow in ways that are good for me.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No
5. Travel?
Not far
6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
More independence, more confidence.
7. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Well - on May 19th I went to my first midnight showing, of Star Wars III.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Doing well in school, I suppose.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not being concerned enough about my future.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
A few colds, but otherwise I've been healthy.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A bunch of dvd's, and a child sponsorship.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The people who helped the victims of hurricaines and tsunamis.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Terry Schiavo's husband. Also a few people I know, whose names do not need to be mentioned.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Tuition, tuition, and tuition. Also textbooks, photography supplies, dvd's, little things, and Christmas presents.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Star Wars 3, and Narnia.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2005?
"Speed of Sound," "Home," "Holding out for a hero," "Whoopsi-daisy."
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? About the same.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter.
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing, praying, working.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Daydreaming, doing meaningless things.
20. How will you be spending New Years?
At home, eating.
22. Did you fall in love in 2005?
Ha!
26. What was the best book you read?
Jane Eyre (re-read), David Copperfield, The Things they Carried, No compromise
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Coldplay
28. What did you want and get?
New tires, and work done on my car
29. What did you want and not get?
A fixed computer
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Cinderella Man
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 19. I think I just went out for chinese with my grandparents.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I'd finished writing a novel...
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
Whatever works for me.
34. What kept you sane?
Faith in God, family.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Groban
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Abortion, the Schiavo case.
37. Who did you miss?
My friends at other colleges.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I've met a few, and I wouldn't consider any one of them the "best."
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
You're in control, is there anywhere you wanna go?
You're in control, is there anything you wanna know?
The future's for discovering
The space in which we're travelling
From the top of the first page
To the end of the last day
From the start in your own way
You just want somebody listening to what you say
It doesn't matter who you are
It doesn't matter who you are
Under the surface trying to break through
Deciphering the codes in you
I need a compass, draw me a map
I'm on the top, I can't get back
The first line on the first page
To the end of the last page
From the start in your own way
You just want somebody listening to what you say
It doesn't matter who you are
It doesn't matter who you are
Is there anybody out there who
Is lost and hurt and lonely too
Are they bleeding all your colours into one?
And if you come undone
As if you've been run through
Some catapult it fired you
You wonder if your chance will ever come
Or if you're stuck in square one
Thank you, Coldplay.
------------
It's almost time to retire my 2005 Orlando Bloom calendar and mount my 2006 I Love Lucy one. Does that mean I'll appreciate humor more than cute actors this year?
Regardless, I hope everyone has a very happy New Years, and a wonderful 2006!
*Laura*
wander -- travel
Miss anything?
Vitality - Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009
Soulfest 2009 - Sunday, Aug. 02, 2009
Politics and Poverty - Friday, Jul. 24, 2009
Michael Jackson - Monday, Jun. 29, 2009
Elegy for Spotty - Wednesday, Jun. 24, 2009
