Please refer to this full entry for the questionaire.

2003 has been an irregular year for me. I am actually quite glad it is over. Overall, it has not been an easy, or positive year. The general tone has been rather negative throughout, except for a few gleaming moments that make it all worthwhile. While there is never any experience I have ever had that I can say I wish I have not experienced it, I can say that with these special moments, it has redeemed 2003 as a year not better off forgotten. It will never be forgotten, but it makes a good point to move on from. It seems I end up wrapping up every year lately with a "good riddance, let's move on" attitude, which I suppose is a good thing, since I am always ready and willing to move on. But there are always the hopes of something better. At least I can rest assured that for better or worse, the future will be different. Bring it on!

  1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?

- Hrm.. Turn 29? Nothing really major that I can think of that I have never done before.

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

- I have no idea what they were at this point, if I really had any. Maybe LJ can help with that this year. But I don't feel I have let myself down.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

- No.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

- No, thankfully.

5. What countries did you visit?

- Miami-Dade. Oops, did that say country?

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?

- A good job, and perhaps someone special to share life with.

7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

- Hrm, no one specific date, but there were a few memorable ones, and a specific timeframe which will forever be etched in my memory.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

- This hasn't been a very productive year, so I would have to say getting through it!

9. What was your biggest failure?

- I don't believe I have actually outright failed at anything I set out for myself to do. Setbacks, yes, but I would have to say nil on the outright failures.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

- I got sick on my trip to North Carolina to be the best man at a wedding. Thankfully, I was able to mask all symptoms during the ceremony with drugs, probably at the expense of making the aftermath of it much worse.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

- Hrm... Did not make any real major purchases this year. And I still did not completely cut myself off from luxuries. I don't feel that I am majorly missing out, nor do I feel that I am being gluttonous.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

- I am rather surprised at how my little brother is growing up away at college, compared to the little bro I remember growing up with.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

- This I would rather not get into here, but it is probably obvious to some.

14. Where did most of your money go?

- *looking around* ugh! Living! This was not a very financially positive year! But I still was able to maintain a level of lifestyle not too depressing, and remain somewhat generous.

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

- A few things here. I was a big part of two weddings. I started a new job. But I think the biggest thing was the thought of taking a major turn in life with someone very special. Too bad that did not work out.

16. What song will always remind you of 2003?

- Probably a few. But they will remind me more of my little stages of life that occurred in 2003. I doubt I will be able to recall the fact that these songs, or the feelings associated are that of 2003. Details such as the date are quick to melt away. Some of the associated music would be some of the songs popular at the time on Party 93.1. Music is very much integrated into my life and memories. Perhaps the post meaningful song to me would be Coldplay - Clocks.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or sadder?
ii. Thinner or fatter?
iii. Richer or poorer?

- Definitetly happier. This time last year, I was unemployed and going nowhere. This time this year, I have been through things that have made me a much happier person than I have been in years. Now if only circumstances would improve, things would just be peachy. Thinner or fatter? I really don't know. Probably thinner. I am starting to get a little more active lately, and I have improved my eating habits, although I have slacked in each of these areas lately thanks to the craziness of the holidays. Richer or poorer? That would definitely be poorer! I am surprised I was able to sustain myself as long as I have without a formal job. But it was not easy, nor very therapeutic to the credit situation. This one will take some time to fix up.

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

- Live.

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

- Nothing. (as in less of nothingness)

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

- Already did at this point. I spent it with my family, and was very happy to be able to do so.

21. Did you fall in love in 2003?

- Yes. Second time in my life. And it was very much so different than the first time. I see now how love is such a powerful, significant emotion - yet nearly impossible to define or quantitize. It just is.. Love. It has not remained to stay "in love", but as with all love that actually ever existed, it will always exist.

22. How many one-night stands?

- Zero. Not my style.

23. What was your favorite TV program?

- TV blows. I stayed faithful and watched all the episodes of Enterprise, but I can't say it was all that impressive. Smallville was good, but I would have to say that the show that interested me the most was Jake 2.0.

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

- It takes an awful lot to get me to actually hate someone. My opinion of someone may be reduced, but to actually hate requires a major wronging. No, I did not actually get to hate anyone this year. In fact, there is noone I truly hate this year at all. There are those who have wronged me in the past, and digression towards one who was once a friend, but those events are in the past, and I would rather not dwell on them, but at the same time I do not just forget about past events when it comes to how I interact with people in the here and now.

25. What was the best book you read?

- I don't read books. It takes me way too long, and I just end up frustrating myself while not absorbing the material. It is best done in small doses, and when I can devote as much attention to it as possible.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?

- Unfortunately, not the ability to play. Musical discoveries are happening all the time. Music plays a very important role in my life. Perhaps the music of Coldplay has tied with the best of this year to me.

27. What did you want and get?

- A job, and to fall in love. I got both. I should have been more specific. ;)

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

- At risk of forgetting something from earlier this year, at this point, I would say The Last Samurai. It was very moving, thought provoking, and memorable. There were many other good movies, but this one stands out at this point.

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

- Just took care of that. Another thing to add to the rest of the chaos of the time. I got the day off of work, and decided to sleep in and get some shopping done. After that, I spent the night at my parents' where I had a nice meal with family, and had a good time. I turned 29.

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

- Someone to share it with.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?

- Back burner. I like to look good, but I am not in a position to be making any real changes.

32. What kept you sane?

- I am sane? How can I prove it? I don't have one of those certificates you get when released from an institution. heh.. Well, I would have to say that my friends and family have been very important in that respect. It also helps to write things out in my journal. But I would also have to be very thankful to a special someone who has helped me regain a major part of myself that has been suppressed for far too long.

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

- Whatever. The Elvish women in Lord of the Rings were pretty hot. As was Eowyn.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

- Politics just get me worked up. I don't really care to get worked up like that lately, so I am not going to get into it now.

35. Who did you miss?

- I miss the people close to my heart who I cannot be with.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

- Although we have known of each other for some time, and spoken to each other many times before, I had the privilege of getting to know Laurie. I like to think that having met her has made me into a better person than if I had not.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003.

- Life. I don't think there is anything in particular that I have learned that I did not know already, or otherwise have been wrong about. But I have definitely had a year's worth of life experience.

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

- Going to pass on this one. I am getting tired, and sometimes, I am completely oblivious to the lyrics of some music. So, I cannot do myself or my feelings justice at this point by attempting to do so, at least not now. But quite often, this would be an excellent exercise to describe the here and now.