2007

I need to reflect some, and can't organically. So here's the decent set of questions I answered last year, for this year.

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Got into college(s). Received scholarships. Said goodbye to high school. Fought (passively) with a best friend, for months. Felt alone when I had achieved everything I thought would set my life straight. Felt delightfully happy for days and days and days on end. Month(s). Flew to the East Coast with my family. Missed my siblings. Missed my house. Stepped foot on campus. Trekked, ran, drew, mused, comforted, loved, and reveled in the woods. Visited an arboretum without my family--and the teacher I was with told me I pierced and energized him. Fought. Learned (more acutely) why reason is importantly. Learned why fighting is important. Learned, learned, learned--mind sped up to what seemed to be full, satisfying, capacity. Tripped, with and without. Met more new people than I have in a couple years. Lived away from my family, loved it. Went to the MoMa, stayed in a hotel in New York, understood snow. Saw Muse live. Vomited. Loved, loved, loved sans fear.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I think the resolutions I made in 2005 are life resolutions. "Take chances, write, not give up, learn, talk to mother/father [may vary from year to year], keep healthy, stay sane, and ultimately: learn how to avoid cynicism."
I always forget the last few--that's why they are at the end of the list. But next year I will learn to tolerate and negotiate with m/f. And keep the rest.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No.
4. Did anyone close to you die? No, thank goodness.
5. What countries did you visit? The country of free thought and action! (college)
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
The things I listed have mostly been fulfilled: college, time, freedom, honesty, transparency. More strength.
Next year: even greater freedom, financial independence (slowly, think about it), another friend or two, solidness.
7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? 7/18 and 10/16, for truth and beauty.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Getting into, going to, being independent at college. Learning how to fight and play the game.
9. What was your biggest failure? Not loving enough.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? UTI (hospital), migraine.
11. Whose behavior merited celebration? Brandon, Mr. Ramirez. I want to make this list longer, honestly--but I don't know how.
12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? M/F.
13. Where did most of your money go? Tuition. Gifts. Essentials.
14. What did you get really, really, really excited about? See #1 and attempt to parse the excitement.
15. What song will always remind you of 2007? "My Lovely" by Eisley and "Mr. E's Beautiful Blues" by The Eels.

Compared to this time last year, are you:
16. Happier or sadder? More content, just as happy, less sad.
17. Thinner or fatter? The same, or slightly thinner.
18. Richer or poorer? Richer in appreciation, mental capacity
19. What do you wish you'd done more of? Loved. Spoke my mind.
20. What do you wish you'd done less of? Told myself I was disliked.
21. How did you spend Christmas? Read and crocheted at home. Nothing.
22. Did you fall in love in 2007? I fell in love in 2005. But you can say I fell again.
23. How many one-night stands? Guess.
24. What was your favorite TV program? None.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? No.
26. What was the best book you read? Dermaphoria.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery? iTunes and drugs.
28. What did you want and get? College.
29. What did you want and not get? Nothing notable.
30. What was your favorite film of this year? I'll skip this.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I went to a Muse concert; turned 17 the next day. (Hurt a friend.)
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Another friend.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007? I wouldn't.
34. What kept you sane? Swarthmore and its relentless exercise. Brandon.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I didn't.
36. What political issue stirred you the most? Negatively: radical feminism, evangelism.
37. Who did you miss? Brandon. Alice. Mr. Ramirez. Mr. Ontiveros. My siblings.
38. Who was the best new person you met? Maaah!
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007: All truth is beautiful.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Goddamn right it's a beautiful day."