1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?

I graduated from college; worked retail; got engaged; sang karaoke.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I in fact, did not. I think my resolution of “be a better person” was too vague. I did try to “take more opportunities”, but I didn’t do so hot.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

No, no one I know personally.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, but as long as we are confessing: my father did have prostate cancer, he was diagnosed before I graduated, I didn’t find out until June, underwent chemotherapy and surgery through the summer and in September, and he was considered “cancer-free” in November. So, my family is very lucky.

5. What countries did you visit?

None. I stink.

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?

Less worry, more self-forgiveness, a job that is not retail.

7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

The day I graduated, because I finished; the day I found out my father had cancer (but surprisingly, I never thought that he would die), and December 1, the day my best friend asked me to spend forever with him.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Probably graduating, because not everyone does it. But other than that, getting engaged.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not having applied to graduate school sooner, and then not finding a more career-oriented job.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I either broke my toe, or sprained the shit out of it. To this day, in my dress shoes, I have to pop the air out of it at the end of the day.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

The Boy’s anniversary watch. I’m proud of it.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My father’s, for sticking through his cancer, treatment, and post-op with a brave face. I’m sure that he was scared, but he worked through the chemo, and kept busy while on disability.

The Boy’s, who’s been kind and understanding through The Worst Year of my LifeTM.

Madre’s and Padre’s, for one. They’ve been very good to me from the time I was dating through now, where they invited me to be a member of their family.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

In short, my mother’s. Whose behavior toward my relationship with The Boy has been neutral; and I should just get the hell over it already. But, I’m very depressed that my mother (and my father, to some extent), just don’t care that I’m engaged.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Gasoline.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

I think it’s fairly obvious by now.

16. What song will always remind you of 2006?

Anything off of The Decemberists The Crane Wife, probably The Crane Wife 3.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? Happier, in some ways.; b) thinner or fatter? Much thinner; c) richer or poorer? I’m still a financial mess: more long-term debt, not a lot in savings, but at least it’s not credit-card debt.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Taking advantage of opportunities, and taking control of my life, excerising.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Worrying about what other people thought, worrying to the point of crippling my opportunities.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

I spent the day at The Boy’s family’s house.

21. Did you fall in love in 2006?

Ever more so.

22. How many one-night stands?

I hereby strike this question from future New Year’s entries because it’s lame.

23. What was your favorite TV program?

Good Eats. I don’t really care for current TV anymore.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Not really.

25. What was the best book you read?

I didn’t really get to read anything this year. But, the best was probably The Nanny Diaries, of all the ones that I remember.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I don’t think I had any new discoveries this year. Maybe re-finding Pearl Jam.

27. What did you want and get?

An engagement ring.

28. What did you want and not get?

A Coach bag and a career-oriented job.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?

Little Miss Sunshine.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 22, and spent it with a lot of friends at a bowling alley in Ashland. It was definitely one of my best birthday’s ever.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

A better job.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?

Schlubby college gear (but not sweatpants, never sweatpants); to a more classic, sophisticated look involving dark blue jeans, high-heeled boots, cashmere argyle, and a white beret.

33. What kept you sane?

Honestly, Candace, Madre, my godmother, a bunch of other people who grounded me when I was going batshit insane.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Jake Gyllenhaal. Tasty.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?

Reproductive rights for women. The right for women to choose what they want for their bodies.

36. Who did you miss?

Gram. And recently, my uncle Jim.

37. Who was the best new person you met?

Laura H, Meenakshi, and Ike.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.

Take a damn chance.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

I’m changing this to a quote that sums up my year: picking songs is lame.

2006
“Much as we may wish to make a new beginning, some part of us resists doing so as though we were making the first step toward disaster.” William Bridges

Hopes for 2007
“May today mark the beginning of many new joys and accomplishments… and a continuation of all of the good things that you have already achieved.”