What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before? -- Lose hundreds of dollars in one night, visit Rhode Island, see a true "festival" (3 day long terrastock!), be a manager of anything, work as a waiter, lose a bag through an airline service...
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? -- I think my resolution this year was "party harder next new years!" I don't know where I'll end up new years, so it may not happen. could be with my parents. could be a spontaneous trip to Philly to see my sister. who knows.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? -- I think another cousin of mine had a kid. They just keep coming.
4. Did anyone close to you die? -- Thankfully, no. Let's hope 2007 is the same way.
5. What countries did you visit? -- Canada --- like always.
6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006? -- Well, the 2005 wish didn't happen, so I won't make that same mistake again. I guess what I'd like to have next year that I didn't have this one is -- happiness.
7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? -- December 4th, when my house of twelve years was sold.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? -- Succeeding at being a waiter. Doing an effective job (I think) of being in charge of WBNY. Handling 18 credits of classes.
9. What was your biggest failure? -- I don't think I've honestly answered this question in three years. And I don't plan to start now, because it would expose a side of me I just don't think people need to know about.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? -- God, as compared to 2005, this year was fantastic. Only several head colds and a bad case of laryngitis. The occasional neck/back spasm.
11. What was the best thing you bought? -- A ticket for Terrastock 6 -- which got reimbursed by WBNY! Haw.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration? -- A few people. My parents, for the incredible stress they've had with moving this year. My flatmate's, Dave. He's one of the most genuine people I've ever met. I wish he wasn't moving back to the Bronx in two weeks.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed? -- A few of my friends, who I don't feel as close to anymore. But these things happen.
14. Where did most of your money go? -- Food, poker, gas, school...Same as 2005.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? -- Hiking in Virginia, getting my own apartment room in Morcom Complex, hanging out with certain people.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2006? -- The Mountain Goats: In The Hidden Places / Pure Prairie League - Kansas City Southern
17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder? -- Too simple of a
question. But somehow, I managed to sink further.
ii. thinner or fatter? -- fatter. I gained like 15 pounds this year. gotta exercise more!
iii. richer or poorer? -- POOR. To the point of being destitute.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? -- Explore the world!
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? -- Drink.
20. How will you be spending Christmas? -- In Rhode Island, in a house full of boxes and blind cats.
21. Best musical release of 2005? Mountain Goats "Get Lonely." Without question.
22. Did you fall in love in 2005? -- I fell in love with a lot of things.
23. How many one night stands? -- I hope the answer is 0.
24. What were your favourite TV programs? -- Venture Brothers and Metalocalypse. "You'd rather cut off your own ding-dong then drink? Wow-ee!"
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? -- Hate?! Nope.
26. What was the best book you read? -- Camus' "The Stranger." Wharton's "Ethan Frome."
27. What was your greatest musical discovery? -- Probably Jack Rose or Windy and Carl. So many amazing bands from Terrastock.
28. What did you want and get? -- The position of General Manager @ WBNY -- a part-time job over the summer in Maryland.
29. What did you want and not get? -- More activities to curb my gambling/drinking. Oh well.
30. What was your favourite film of this year? -- I dunno. The last one I really enjoyed was "Stranger Than Fiction."
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? -- I had a small party. Met some cool people, had a few drinks. It was nice.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? -- Being able to get out of Maryland more often. Not having to rely on getting staked to play poker.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006? -- a black famous dave's shirt that says "go ahead get sauced" on the back, and khakis. on off days, I kept it pretty low-key, as always. white or black plain t-shirts. jeans. new balance shoes and timberland boots.
34. What kept you sane? -- Absolutely nothing. I'm pretty sure I went insane this year.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? -- Senator George Allen. "Macaca."
36. What political issue stirred you the most? -- The sheer amount of corruption in
Congress. I knew it was bad, but, holy shit.
37. Who did you miss? -- If I made a sincere effort to contact you or speak to you when you contacted me when you wern't around me for anything other than business-related matters, then ------ at some point, I missed you. I don't lie about that stuff.
38. Who was the best new person you met? -- I met him in 2005 technically, but Anthony was probably the best person who I actually became friends with. One of the few people anymore that I feel like I can trust with things that actually matter.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006. -- Life is absurd. Happiness is absurd. And sometimes you just can't take things too seriously.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. --
and when I got home, I thought about you.
like a desperate policeman, searching for clues
and I almost passed out, just then
and I shut my eyes again
headed for the dark hillsides
in the hidden places.
- The Mountain Goats "In The Hidden Places"
___________
Dear Elle,
you should stop by Rhode Island sometime. we'd have a nice time. plenty of ponds. small town pharmacies.
fireplaces.
yr hmbl & obt svt,
kev
current book: several