Further Up and Further In

First of all, because it uses the word ‘fancy’ in a very British way (love that), and secondly, because, public figure? Really? I guess in England with the Royal Children and all that, it’s more feasible, but in America, who is really going to say “My biggest crush this year was on my mayor”??

Anyway.

As everyone is probably realizing, I enjoy survey/meme type things. Here’s another one, taken from Linda over at sundrymourning.com. I did it kind of in a rush, and I think I may go back and edit some of it when I’ve had more time to think about the answers. But here’s a good first try.

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

Worked a full-time, 8-5 job. Also, sung in a wedding (Elisa and Lee’s).

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

I don’t know that I made any resolutions. Oh, maybe to actually exercise. I didn’t really start doing that until November, though. Does that count?

I think my main resolution for 2007 is to really get in shape. I’ve gotten a good start in the past few months, but I need to keep at it. Also, to find a place where I can ride regularly. Which is scary and intimidating, but I want it to happen badly enough that I can push through that. I hope.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yup, Kristen & Matt had a wonderful baby, Owen, in March. And a couple of other friends had babies too, but they’re the ones we see the most.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

…not that I know of.

5. What countries did you visit?

France (we were there from December 26th, 2005, to January 4th, 2006. So it counts).

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

A whole heart (figuratively speaking…my physical heart is just fine).

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

I can’t really think of any. I used to remember dates so clearly. Maybe (and this isn’t a specific date, but it’s close) the last Friday of September, ‘cause that’s when I realized that I was all messed up emotionally. Which was hard, but good, and much needed.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Probably succeeding in my new job (GETTING the job, really). And working through all my emotional junk, so far.

9. What was your biggest failure?

That it took 6 months for me to get a job. Specifically, all those times when possible employers would say “Well, we REALLY liked you, BUT…we liked the other person better. Sorry! Best wishes!”

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I got violently sick to my stomach in February, but that was just a weekend thing. I didn’t break any bones or have any major injuries (yet! Still five days to go, maybe I should stop talking).

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Bought with my own money or gift money? With my money, probably Everyday Minerals makeup. GREAT stuff. With gift money, probably my birthday boots (knee-high brown leather cuffed flat boots from Nine West). Maybe some clothes, I don’t know.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Um, I’m not really sure. Everyone’s? I feel like everyone was just awesome this year. I’ll say, particularly, though, my friend Rachel’s – she’s in India right now using her nursing skills for the desperately poor lower-caste women and children there. I am SO proud of how adventurous and self-sacrificing she is.

Also, seeing the way God has brought wonderful husbands into two of my close friends’ lives is just a thrill.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

I can’t really think of anyone’s.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Hahaha. Toward bills. Rent, power, water, gas for the car, all that. My own ‘fun money’ went mostly toward clothes and books.

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

Starting to ride again! Also, getting a job (all of those times when I was waiting to hear back from possible employers I was heart-poundingly excited). And a puppy, but that’s on hold for now.

16. What song will always remind you of 2006?

Can I pick several?

Natural Woman – Kelly Clarkson’s version (this was the first year I watched American Idol, so some of the songs people covered ended up in my heavy rotation list)
Little Boy Heart Alive – Andrew Peterson (I got it in 2005 but I listened to it nonstop in 2006)
This Thorn – Twila Paris (I know, I know, but y’all, the words are amazing)
Closer To You – Brandi Carlisle
Sing His Love – Caedmon’s Call
Black Horse and Cherry Tree – KT Tunstall (another American Idol one)
Born – Over the Rhine
For You I Will (Confidence) – Teddy Geiger (I miss Love Monkey!)
A Page Is Turned – Bebo Norman (I sang this in Elisa’s wedding)
Portadown Station – Sandra McCracken
Handel’s Messiah
Rain In Lafayette – Pat Green (I made a great mix CD with this song and the next one on it that I played pretty much nonstop the first few months of 2006. It has lots of driving-to-a-job-interview memories attached with it)
The Man Comes Around – Johnny Cash
Let’s Give’em Something To Talk About – Bonnie Raitt (another American Idol-inspired song)
Leave The Pieces – The Wreckers
Summer Sunshine – The Corrs (I put this on a mix CD that I took when I went to the beach with Rachel in May, and it will always make me think of that)
Rock Of Ages (When The Day Seems Long) – Sandra McCracken

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

a) Both, really. I’ve experienced more deep-down happiness in the few months than probably in the last few years. But I’ve also experienced more deep-down sadness. I’ve just had more real feelings since September than I have since 2002.
b) Fatter. Definitely fatter. Hehe.
c) Richer, but just by a little bit. Having a full-time job will do that to ya.

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

Work out. Read good, new-to-me fiction. Take my library books back on time. Keep up with my friends. Love sacrificially.

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

Be afraid of what other people are thinking. Stress out. Pin my hopes on things that won’t really satisfy me. Shut off my feelings.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

Well, already did, but we went to Brandon’s parents’ house in Dallas (Plano, actually). We were there for a week, and it was AWESOME and relaxing and fun and just great all-around.

21. Did you fall in love in 2006?

Not with anyone new. But yes, sort of. I think the best thing I’ve realized about marriage is that we have our whole lives to figure this out. And I know I love Brandon a lot more this year than I did last year, so that makes me happy in and of itself and gives me a lot of hope for the future, too.

22. How many one-night stands?

Hmmm. Let me go consult my little black book. Looks like the answer is somewhere in the 60-70 range.

(Kidding, people. Kidding.)

23. What was your favorite TV program?

Just one?

24
American Idol
Lost
Surface
Top Chef
The Office
Heroes
What Not To Wear

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

Nope.

25. What was the best book you read?

Probably The Time Traveler’s Wife. But that’s a hard question, because I re-read so many books this year. And all of them were wonderful. But Time Traveler’s Wife was the best new book, I think.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Brandi Carlisle (thanks Brandi! [different Brandi – but cool coincidence, huh?]), The Wreckers, and Jill Phillips.

27. What did you want and get?

Oh, tons of stuff. Particularly stuff for horseback riding – new breeches and boots.

28. What did you want and not get?

An InStyle subscription, but that may still be coming…

29. What was your favorite film of this year?

Oh, I don’t know. I LOVED The Holiday. I don’t remember what other movies I saw that I liked as much as that one.

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

I was 24. Brandon and I have the same birthday (he was 26) so we went to Maggiano’s (on a gift card! Yay!) and then rented A Prairie Home Companion. We may have done a little shopping, too. A few days before my birthday, Rachel took me to The Cheesecake Factory for some Godiva cheesecake and drinks.

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

See #6.

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

Hahaha. “Personal fashion concept.” Because yes, I do talk about my clothes in such hoity-toity language. Um, I’d say “Evolving.” The first six months of the year I was working part-time in a hidden little office, and part-time from home, so I was…we’ll go with ‘casual.’ Then I got a full-time office job and what do you know, they aren’t actually that crazy about you wearing old ripped t-shirts and flip-flops to work. I’ve gotten really familiar with my black pants and black pilgrim shoes. And fallen in love with colored fitted tees. SO versatile.

(Reading over this before posting, I realized that it may have come across that I wanted to wear JUST a ripped t-shirt and flip-flops to work, so let me assure you that I do wear pants on a regular basis. I’m not that casual. Yet.)

33. What kept you sane?

I owe it all to Lucky magazine. And my wonderful husband. And counseling. (I’m actually serious about those last two.)

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

Fancy, as in, “have a crush on”? Should I go with the safe answer that will not make me look like a 13-year-old teeny-bopper and say John Krasinski? Or…no, we’ll stick with that.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?

I…pretty much ignored politics this year. Whoops.

36. Who did you miss?

All my faraway friends! All of my closest friends except two live in states other than my own.

37. Who was the best new person you met?

Elizabeth! It’s so great to become close friends with someone in just a few weeks. Especially when it comes at just the right time.

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

No amount of trying will transfer head-knowledge into heart-knowledge – God’s gotta do it. And He will, but it might take some time.

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

I’m quoting two (both by Jill Phillips, yes, off of her album Nobody’s Got It All Together) – the first one for the first part of the year, and the second one for the past few months.

Working hard to tie up the loose ends / so hard to decide who you let in / put your best foot forward with a grin / … / don’t whitewash the truth about yourself / nobody’s got it all together / if you want to be like everyone else / nobody’s got it all together (Nobody’s Got It All Together)

I come to you with my broken heart in my hands / … / since you’ve brought dead ones to life / I know you can do that with mine / so I come to you with my broken heart in my hands / … / The door to your kingdom is grace / and you gave your own life away / that the door will be opened (The Door)

These aren’t the songs that I’ve listened to the most or anything (hardly – I just got the CD for Christmas), but they really describe the past year very well. So I had to use them. I might find something even better just by listening to the stuff I’ve been listening to all along, but these are so accurate that I kind of doubt it.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 27th, 2006 at 2:05 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.