What have I been doing with my life?
2004: A year in review… (Shamelessy ripped from MessyLeprosy’s Journal)
1. What did you do in 2004 that you’d never done before?
I left North America for the first time.
I drove every mile of I40 from Wilmington to Barstow California.
I drove nearly every mile of I95 from Florida to Massachusetts.
I learned how to Scuba Dive.
I learned how to Snow Ski. (though horribly)
I hiked in the Grand Canyon.
I had my first near death experience.
2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t think I made any explicit New Years’ resolutions. So if I did, more likely than not, I didn’t keep them. I probably won’t make any this year either, for the same reason.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousin Billy’s wife. and my ollld friend John’s wife.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, 2003 was a horrible enough year for that.
5. What countries did you visit?
France, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Italy, Austria and Germany.
6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
A companion.
7. What date from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July 30th, 2004. The day I almost died in the Grand Canyon. I spent the better part of that evening seriously thinking about all of the people I would leave behind not being able to say goodbye to and of all the people who would never even know I was dead. It was and still is probably the biggest life changing event of my life so far.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Having the fortitude to make it out of #7 alive and on my own. I never knew I had that much strength in me.
9. What was your biggest failure?
My relationship with Laura.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Severe dehydration, heat exhaustion in the GC. Separated my right shoulder just recently.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Boxer briefs. I don’t know how I ever lived without them.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My friend Adam for graduating from NC A&T, John’s brother Josh for his strength in going to Iraq, Jared Nadel for getting his dream job, My uncle Bill for being the top dog tracker team in the world, uncle Bob for finally quitting smoking. Boy thats a LOT
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Early on this year, Tyrone for bouncing rent and forcing me to step in. Laura for various things. In general I have been appalled by so much going on in this world, it’s too numerous to mention specifically. Depressed by being without a good buddy and by being shot down bigtime several times this year in different areas.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Paying the rent my roomates are too irresponsible to cover.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Driving across the country to live in California this summer.
16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
I don’t think I know a song that would remind me of this year’s events.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Much happier. Found my life’s calling.
ii. thinner or fatter? 10 pounds heavier. Mostly due to injury and illness.
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer, new house, deadbeat roomates.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Being with old friends and working on my car.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Putzing around on the internet.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Mississippi to visit family, Texas for new years and Florida right after.
22. Did you fall in love in 2004?
No, but I realized I was still in love.
23. How many one-night stands?
None, I plan to keep it that way 
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Tie between Lost and The Wire.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don’t hate anyone. I would like to think I never will.
26. What was the best book you read?
The book of reconciliation.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Badly Drawn Boy
28. What did you want and get?
Into grad school.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
So far, Closer. Probably because it’s the last one I saw and it has Natalie Portman in it. And she was a stripper. Okay and because it hit close to home.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I rode my bike to the beach, sat in the sun all day, treated myself to a chicken sandwich, read a book and went to sleep early. I turned 23.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A good friend to share it with.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
Horribly amiss.
34. What kept you sane?
Since when have I been sane? Drugs and delusions kept me kickin though.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Pat Tillman, I hope I can be 1/10th the man he was.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Iraq, because everyone still misses the point. They are going to kill each other anyway.
37. Who did you miss?
Adam, Shannon, Jared, Josh, John, Dave, Lucy, Sonia, Shanna, Cass, and Laura.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Kelly Myers. What a cool chick.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004:
The people in your life are all that really matter. Make sure you surround yourself with the best you can.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I can’t remember anything relevent at the moment.
December 28th, 2004 at 3:49 pm
You stole some of my answers too.
The older I get the more I realize that I miss close friends. The worst thing about getting older is that people grow apart or move away. I, for one, spent so much time worrying about what other people thought of me that I got stressed out and avoided them. Now that I’m older and more laid back, I realize that I had been shooting myself in the foot. Growing up can feel very lonely sometimes, but maybe it’s this independence that shapes us into such strong people. Nevertheless, it’s nice to have some sort of companion to share things with. You drove cross-country by yourself, didn’t you? MAD PROPS. Mad props. Anyway, this time of year can be depressing and motivating. I feel so bipolar during the holidays.
December 28th, 2004 at 5:20 pm
I tried to at least rephrase them :*
I can’t agree more about friends. I have always been one to only have a very few trusted close friends. They are all gone now. While I haven’t ever really cared what people thought of me, I certainly haven’t been as sociable or pro-active as I should be to the people who are so nice to me.
I have decided that independence is a farce anyway. Everyone is dependent on someone or something.
Yea I drove cross country myself. I also drove the east coast myself. I also went to live in the Caribbean myself. I am quite tired of being alone in my travels, adventures and experiences.
But amazingly, I am probably the happiest of anytime in my life at Christmas this year. I don’t have anything to really complain about or regret. So HURRAH and Happy New Years!
December 28th, 2004 at 11:58 pm
So true about independence. I don’t know what I’d do without little Asian kids in sweatshops toiling away to make cheap clothing for me.
Wow, that was terrible.
Anyway, have a Happy New Years.