Blatantly stolen from Yo Ambro!
1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
I went skydiving with 5 friends. It was a tremendous experience.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I think I did, but I don’t remember if I explicitly made the resolution or not.
I’ve got a couple I’m working on now for this year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Three births, in the span of 4 days!
- My sister gave birth to a beautiful angel, my nephew Gabe.
- Elana gave birth to the ever-cutey Mohawk girl, Ayelet.
- Sara gave birth the adorable long-boy, Avi.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no.
5. What countries did you visit?
Aruba.
6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
Personal, financial, and professional stability and security. How’s that for not asking for much?
7. What dates from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 5 – the day I decided to get up off the matt and start being happy again
June 8, 9, and 11 – Avi, Ayelet, and Gabe’s birthdays
October 27 – What goes around comes around, in so many ways
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
- Getting knocked down but not staying down for the count. Recognizing that life goes on, friends and family will always be there to lean on, and that I can grow and become stronger from negative experiences. In theory we believe this; but only when reality hits, do we find out if it’s true or not.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Letting things fester for too long instead of just nipping them in the bud before they became big issues.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Thank God, no.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My digital camera
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Mom and Dad’s
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
- President Bush
- Jake Abramoff
- Crazy, fanatic, off-the-wall Jews
- The leadership of the local Transportation Workers Union in NY
- Bill Frist and his diagnosing Terry Schiavo from a video fiasco
14. Where did most of your money go?
- New York Mets
- Food
- Clothing for my new job
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
- Rami and Rebekah
- New York Mets
- Washington Nationals Opening Night at RFK with Rami, Matt, and Jesse
- My job at IWA (until that dream crashed and burned)
- Gabe!
16. What song will always remind you of 2005?
- Caged Bird by Alicia Keys
- the verse “What Goes Around, Comes Around” from at least 2 different songs
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? – much happier
b) thinner or fatter? – basically the same
c) richer or poorer? – richer, thanks to GT.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Read.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Get into arguments with Matt
20. How will you be spending (did you spend) Hanukah?
- With Shuli and Avi in Boston
- With my parents in DC
- With my family in NJ
- With Andrew and my terrific friends in DC
21. Did you fall in love in 2005?
Maybe. [gulp!]
22. How many one-night stands?
None.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
The West Wing
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is such a strong emotion. Don’t think I really hate anyone.
Well, except for one person, from a long, long time ago, but I don’t think hate describes how I feel either.
25. What was the best book you read?
See question #18.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Alicia Keys and Barrage (though I discovered them a few years back so it really doesn’t count.)
27. What did you want and get?
- My happiness back
- Financial and professional security
28. What did you want and not get?
True professional fulfillment, but I’ve come to terms with that and am happy where I am in my life for now.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Paradise Now
(I don’t think I saw that many movies last year, though of the ones I saw, this one was pretty good and thought-provoking.)
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 26 and a really great friend (someone I truly miss in my life right now), Jesse, got my friends together and took me out to ESPN Zone to have a few drinks and watch the Mets beat the Cincinnati Reds, 2-1, on a 2-run home run by Kaz Matsui in the 7th inning. As simple as the celebration was, it was one of the best birthdays ever- my friends were there and that’s all that mattered. (OK, it didn’t hurt that the Mets won, too.)
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Less drama, though at times, friendships became stronger because of it and in spite of it. But at other times, the links became cracked.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
PANTS.
33. What kept you sane?
My family and friends. Can’t get any better than that.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
David Wright of the New York Mets. Mark your calendars folks- 20 years from now, he will be inducted in the Hall of Fame as one of the greatest 3bmen to ever play the game.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
- The disengagement from Gaza
- Hurricane Katrina
36. Who did you miss?
- Marti, Maria, and Jesse
- Will
- Omi and Opi
- Saba
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Rebekah
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005.
2005 was the year I broke the mold that I had somehow created for myself and that people bought into. It wasn’t deception, but more assumptions I, and others, had made about me, my life, and how I want to live. Finally breaking out of that mold has helped me see things more clearly and has finally brought me the confidence I need to take concrete steps
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Caged Bird
Alicia Keys
Right now I feel like a bird
Caged without a key
Everyone comes to stare
at me
With so much joy and rivalry
They din't know how I feel
inside
Through my smile I cry
They don't know what they're doin' to
me
Keeping me from flyin'
That's why I say that
I know why the caged
bird sings
Only joy comes from song
She's so rare and beautiful to others
Why not just set her free
So she can
Fly, fly, fly
Spreadin
her wings and her song
Let her
Fly, fly fly
For the whole world to
see
She's like caged bird
Fly, fly
Ooh just let her fly
Just let her fly
Just let her fly
Spread the wings
Spread the beauty
