Persistent Teacup

In the spirit of ending 2006, I stole this survey/questionnaire thing from Melissa who stole it from All & Sundry who stole it from someone else, and on it goes. I have a lot on my mind regarding the ending of 2006, but a lot of it is heavier, so I’ll start it off with something light like this.

1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?
Moved out into my own apartment. This has been on my list of things to do since 2004, and I finally did it. So far it’s working out well. I hope it continues that way because my dad has converted my bedroom into his office now, so it wouldn’t be easy going back.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I kept one of my new year’s resolutions (I only made 5) and that was to start exercising regularly. So, yea for me! I probably will make more for next year, though I don’t know why. I keep them all in this file that I never look at, so it’s kind of silly to make these resolutions and then not look at them regularly.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Most notably, Jessica died on January 1 (I can’t believe it’s almost been a year). Two of my friends lost their fathers this year; one in March, and the other just two weeks ago.

5. What countries did you visit?
I went on a mission trip to Romania in July. That was a total blast, plus it was completely funded by my supporters, so that was even better.

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
Direction. As I’m coming up on 2 years at the Restaurant (and I swore I’d only work there one year at the most), I’d like to try and move on to something else. I actually sent out my resume to a couple places this year, but nothing panned out. I just don’t have very many ideas of areas/jobs I’d like to work in.

7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
January 1 when Jessica died. For obvious reasons.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I guess I’d say my biggest achievement was moving out. It’s something I batted around for so long and finally decided to take the risk. I’m glad I did.

9. What was your biggest failure?
My biggest failure was not getting help for myself earlier. It took me 6 months to finally start getting some counseling, and nine months to start anti-depressants. I think I could’ve spared myself a lot of sorrow if I had gotten help sooner.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Um, only if you count mental illness. : )

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My Select Comfort bed. When I moved out, I gave up the waterbed I’d had for 12 years. I had no idea what I like in a mattress (firm or soft). I’d heard of the Select Comfort beds several times and decided to spring for one. I love it. My sleep number is 30.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Umm…

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
In general, people who are in the public spotlight and do not live up to or act according to the faith they profess.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Probably either travel (our most recent trip to the east coast) or living on my own.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I got really excited about traveling, both Romania and the east coast. When I was younger, I didn’t really enjoy traveling that much, but recently I’ve really started getting into it. I don’t mind living out of a suitcase, and I’ve been able to see a lot of really cool stuff and enjoy time with people I love.

16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
Homesick by MercyMe.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Technically, sadder. But I am happier now than I have been for most of this year.
b) thinner or fatter? Neither, unfortunately. Despite my regular exercise, I haven’t been able to lose the weight I gained while I was depressed doing Children’s Ministry.
c) richer or poorer? Poorer, but for good reason. I am now living on my own and paying for a ton more stuff.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Updating my website. I think I wish that every year. Hopefully in 2007 I will be better.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Being miserable and depressed. See #9.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I’ll go over to my parents’ house on Christmas Eve after the midnight service at church (technically I guess that makes it Christmas Day). We’ll open presents and stay up till 2 in the morning. Later we’ll have a nice dinner, and I’ll probably go over to Noah’s house that evening and play games with his family.

21. Did you fall in love in 2006?
Yes, but he doesn’t know it yet.

22. How many one-night stands?
Uh, zero.

23. What was your favorite TV program?
I really got hooked on CSI (Las Vegas). I rented all the past seasons from Blockbuster and Netflix.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No, in fact there are a few people who I have better relationships with now than I did at this time last year. And that is one of the biggest things I’m thankful for — people who forgive.

25. What was the best book you read?
Actually, it’s a book I’m currently reading: Love & Respect by Emerson Eggerichs. It took me a year to get my request for it fulfilled at the public library, but I’m glad I waited. It’s written specifically for married couples, but I think it can benefit anyone who interacts with the opposite sex (and who doesn’t). It’s just so amazing how different men and women think, and how if you can start to see some of those differences how much influence they can have in your interactions.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I had to go and look through my iTunes for this one. I think that would be Kate Havnevik. I started hearing her songs on different TV shows and looked her up in iTunes. I love her music. Second choice, KT Tunstall. Third choice, Michelle Featherstone. Fourth choice, Regina Spektor. Okay, I’m done.

27. What did you want and get?
Though I was conflicted about it, I did want to move out and get my own place. And I got it, finally.

28. What did you want and not get?
On a sadder note, I know there were a million times when I wished that Jessica hadn’t died.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Well, technically this shouldn’t count, but since this is my website, I’m going to bend the rules. My favorite film this year was First Wives Club. I saw it for the first time this year upon Noah’s recommendation, and I just thought it was quite funny. So funny, in fact, that I bought it. (Buying a movie is unheard of for me. I own a total of 5 movies.) Noah and I have watched it several times this year. I think it became a comfort thing for us. There were so many days, especially early in the year, when the grief and sorrow over Jessica was just so heavy. We would watch First Wives Club and say the lines along with the actresses and laugh, and it felt so good.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I went out to dinner with my family and Noah, just like I’ve done for many years now. I turned 24.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Perhaps finding some direction in life. But, then again, maybe it was good that this year I didn’t have to focus on finding or starting a new job.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Jeans and a t-shirt. Comfortable.

33. What kept you sane?
Ha ha, Noah and my anti-depressants.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Stephen Colbert. Ha ha ha ha. I love his show.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Gay marriage

36. Who did you miss?
I missed Jessica. As I grew closer to Noah, I learned more and more about Jessica, and I’m sad that I didn’t know her better. I knew her mostly as a teenager when Noah and I first became friends 5 years ago, but I didn’t really know her that well as a young adult.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
In a way, I re-met Noah. He and I had grown apart since I returned home from college, and we hadn’t really talked much. When our mutual friend Lindsay called me the night that Jessica died, I wanted to be a good friend and be there for him so I started hanging around a lot more. In the year and a half that we weren’t in touch, Noah really changed a lot. It has been very enjoyable to get to know him again and see the changes in him. Our friendship is completely different than it was before, and I’ve developed a whole new appreciation and respect for him.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.
I learned to trust God a little bit more. And I learned that everybody dies, and it has given me a new appreciation of my relationships with people. I am much more conscious of the fact that every day that passes is one that we will not get back, and the fact that there are people who use part of their one and only lifetime to be with me really touches me and changes how I view them.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Nothing comes easily
Fill this empty space
Nothing is like it seems
Turn my grief to grace
–Grace by Kate Havnevik