2006: A Year in Review

(I originally published this post last Thursday but blogger decided to file it in December 2006 because that's when I started writing it. A few people mentioned that they haven't seen an update in a while, even though this has been up for almost a week. Now I know why.)

And now, for the annual Year in Review. Last year, it was blatantly stolen from Yo Ambro!

1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
Went on an all-day biking trip, visited Detroit, got engaged. :)

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
There's always room for improvement!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
One close to me, then a whole lot of people in my community. The one close to me, being the most important- my sister-in-law gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, my nephew Aiden, in February.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no.

5. What countries did you visit?
Aruba!

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
A new, clean, beautiful apartment, a bit more health, and less spending time at doctors for unknown ailments.

7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 1 – the official first date anniversary, the second time around.
July 15- the night we got engaged.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finding my true love and learning to enjoy my job.

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. (Same as last year, apparently I haven't figured out how to overcome this one yet.)

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yup, had some stones rolling around my head, which caused crazy nausea and vomiting. Not fun at all. Two major incidents on Super Bowl Sunday (two days after my nephew was born) and in May. See more here and here.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My new laptop, more West Wing dvds, a bike.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Mom's and Dad’s, always. The voting constituency.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
- President Bush (still)
- someone close to me; still trying to figure out how to deal with it.


14. Where did most of your money go?
- New York Mets
- Food and gas
- My bridesmaids (but they won't know that for another couple of days unless of course they are reading this now)

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
- me and Andrew
- New York Mets
- Aiden
- A Democratic majority

16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
Got no clue...

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? – much happier
b) thinner or fatter? – I believe a teeny weeny bit heavier
c) richer or poorer? – richer, thanks to GT.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Read, bike, and exercise.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Get into arguments with Matt. But I feel things are getting better. I'm trying.

20. How will you be spending (did you spend) Hanukah?
With my friends

21. Did you fall in love in 2006?
Hell yes!

22. How many one-night stands?
None.

23. What was your favorite TV program?
The West Wing, even though it's cancelled, I watch the DVD's all the time.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I think there are times when I dislike one or two people more than others and I wish I didn't do that. Sometimes I just get this viceral reaction and then other times things are fine. But tate is such a strong emotion. Don’t think I really hate anyone.

And that one person I wrote about last year under this question: well, I put the ball in his court and instead of stepping up to the plate and doing the honorable thing, he cowered away and decided not to deal with things. (Yes, I'm being blatantly vague, but it's something too personal to write about at this point.)

25. What was the best book you read?
"The Flanders Panel" by Arturo Perez-Reverte.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
None. But I still love Barrage. :)

27. What did you want and get?
- True love. So corny, but what did you really expect from a woman who's getting married in 2 days?
- To enjoy my job

28. What did you want and not get?
True reconciliation with someone close to me.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Stranger than Fiction. Absolutely terrific, fabulous movie. Totally under the radar but definitely worth it.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 27 and a good friend conspired with Andrew to throw me a really nice dessert party on the Friday night before my birthday. The weekend after my birthday, Andrew and I spent with his mom and sisters and they made me a cake, bought me some balloons, and treated me to a $50 iTunes gift card. It was a nice way to be re-introduced to his family.

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. (Yes, same as last year. Some things just never change.)

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Nothing really special.

33. What kept you sane?
My family, friends, and Andrew.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
David Wright of the New York Mets. Gotta love the boy.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
- The midterm elections

36. Who did you miss?
- Julia and Selim
- Omi and Opi
- Saba

37. Who was the best new person you met?
Tom

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.
Just how much people change in the span of year.

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

At Last
Etta James

At last
My love has come along
My lonely days are over
And life is like a song.

At last
The skies above are blue
And my heard was wrapped up in clover
The night I looked at you.

I found a dream that I could speak to
A dream that I can call my own
I found a thrill to press my cheek to
A thrill that I have never known!

You smiled,
And then the spell was cast
And here we are in heaven
And you are mine at last!

To everything, there is a season

It was a day full of good news.

First, for all those who were worried, Andrew and I officially do not have syphilis. Thank you, DC, for requiring the blood tests before issuing us a marriage license. Because, you know, I was worried.

And, for the rest of you who thought the housing market in DC was a bit sluggish: I am proud to report that after 25 days on the market, Andrew's condo is under contract! Not only under contract, but above asking price!! Under contract in 25 days, while two other apartments in his building are still actively looking for buyers, even after at least 2-3 months of being on the market. How's that for a job well-done?

Not on our part, mind you. All we did was listen to our realtors, who obviously knew what they were talking about when they asked Andrew to re-paint, re-tile the kitchen floor, put in new carpet, and de-clutter his apartment to the point where it looked like hardly any living was done in that apartment. Three cheers to Elly and Kira for being terrific realtors. Of course, they, like every realtor, are out for the sale, but throughout this entire process, they've treated us like we're they're only clients. They worked on Christmas and New Year's day for us to get the job done. We raise a glass to them!

But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. Closing is on Wednesday January 31st, and a lot can happen between now and then (not to mention our wedding and the fact that we won't be here for a week afterwards). So, let's not party and celebrate just yet. Let's just say that it should all happen in good time.

To everything, there is a season.

Going Dry

I decided I don't like alcohol. It's not that I can't hold my liquor. I've never gotten drunk before, but not for lack of full cups in hand. Even after 3-4 drinks, I don't get drunk. Perhaps I'm just not drinking enough. But that's besides the point.

The point is that my body just doesn't like it. I don't really enjoy it. I go to a bar and have trouble figuring out what to order since nothing really does it for me. I'm not a beer drinker. I've stayed away from most Vodka-mixed drinks a long time ago. And now I add Rum to that list.

I had one drink tonight-- just one!-- of the mixed juice-rum-seltzer variety. And it's currently still doing backflips and handstands in my stomach. Not good. I've been feeling kinda lousy the last 90 minutes or so and I'm not convinced it's going away anytime soon. Blech.

I've had drinks before without this negative reaction, but why risk it? I do like wine every once in a while. The only thing that too much red wine does to me is put me to sleep, so that's safe. And I do enjoy a good gin and tonic (Bombay Safire of course!) when it's nice out. But I think I'll be staying away from the mixed drink for now. Hell, I don't really think I'll miss it much, to tell the truth.

Now if only this stomach discomfort would just go away... :-/