Merry Christmas & the 2006 Recap

First of all, Merry Christmas to everyone! I hope everyone has a great day with family or friends. Christmas day is usually a low key day for me but right now I'm running around packing a suitcases to go with me to Vietnam and DC. I'm only stopping in LA for a few hours before arriving in DC 12 hours before my first class on January 8. I'm very excited about my trip and I promise to take a lot of pictures.

Since this will also be my last post of 2006, I'll also put up my annual end of the year wrap up survey. Looking back, I realized how much has happened and how much I have to be thankful for. So Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Goodbye California, Happy New Year's, and thanks for a great 2006:

2006 Recap

1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
The highlights of my “firsts” in chronological order: Got a kiss when the New Year’s ball dropped, went wine tasting, went out to the Sunset Strip, had a picnic in the Sculpture Garden, celebrated a one year anniversary, gambled in Vegas (ok, so it was just one slot machine), followed March Madness, saw an active volcano in Hawaii, graduated college, built my own bed, had my first law school class, met a Supreme Court Justice (Ruth!), voted absentee, went to Capitol Hill for election night, took a nine hour final, flew home for the holidays, going/went to Vietnam.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I said I wanted to the read the entire bible, that didn’t happen. No major resolutions for next year except the basic taking care of myself on a daily basis- mind, body, and soul.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Just marriages, no babies- that I know of at least.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not that I can recall.

5. What countries did you visit?
Vietnam for winter break!

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

7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
August 12 & 21- the days when I moved to DC and started law school, respectively. It was really the start of a new life with lots of challenging and exciting changes.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Surviving, and actually enjoying, my first semester in law school while simultaneously adjusting to life across the country on my own. Enjoying my senior year as well as graduating with college and Latin honors was also high on the achievement list.

9. What was your biggest failure?
The only thing I wish I did better was keep in touch with friends.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing major except finding out that I was allergic to an antibiotic I took for my sore throat. And a weird bout of asthma as I was adjusting to my new DC environment.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Although I’ve gotten many steals on Craigslist and at Filene’s Basement, the best purchase by far was the George Foreman Grill & Crockpot combination from Target. No apartment should be without these two things.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My parents, for giving the best gift any parent could give a child: a personal loan so I could go to any law school I wanted without huge interest from private loans. They, as well as Alex and my many friends, should also be credited for being supportive when I needed it the most.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Friends with self-destructive behavior (emotional, not physical besides binge drinking). Not only is it sad to see them not take care of themselves, it also makes me frustrated when they act selfishly to the detriment of caring people around them.

14. Where did most of your money go?
The Giant grocery store and Washington Metro also get the majority of my money (after tuition and books of course).

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Visiting Alex for the first time in Syracuse, showing my parents my new apartment, watching the Democrats take back the house, watching UCLA beat USC!

16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
Gnarl’s Barkley’s “Crazy” because I have this memory engrained in my head of driving in my friend’s car around Lake Arrowhead for the Bruin Democrats retreat where this song is playing. It pretty much embodies the carefree times of my senior year…wow, what a difference a few months made.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you
i. happier or sadder? Happier
ii. thinner or fatter? Same I think.
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer- law school = negative income.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Explore DC more, watch my finances better, and go to the gym.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worry about everything and judge people.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Flying to Vietnam!

22. Did you fall in love in 2006?
Everyday, all over again.

23. How many one-night stands?
None

24. What was your favorite TV program?
West Wing- I was very sad when the series ended but now I have all 7 seasons on DVD! Law & Order- which I watched a great deal of this summer to “prepare” for law school. Project Runway, Top Chef, Ugly Betty, Grey’s Anatomy, and my new guilty pleasures: Bridezilla & Platinum Weddings. I watch way more tv now than I ever did in undergrad but those 1 hour tv breaks are amazing for your sanity.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate no. But I have developed a deep dislike of former Senator George Allen and Florida Gators.

26. What was the best book you read?
The Kite Runner this summer. I really enjoy books that give me a glimpse of other cultures and this book was a real page turner, couldn’t put it down.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
My iPod and all the music and podcasts it brings into my life. I admit it, I used to be a nonbeliever. Now I’m hooked.

28. What did you want and get?
To move to Washington, DC for grad school. Oh, and looking at last year’s survey I saw the things I didn’t get then but I got this year: the elusive 4.0 and a victory over USC!

29. What did you want and not get?
A coffee table and/or foosball table for the apartment.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Little Miss Sunshine- I seriously almost started tearing up I was laughing so hard. Akeelah and the Bee also gets honorable mention.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
For my 22nd birthday, I had a lovely lunch at the Gardens, had my last Bruin Democrats meeting ever at Chilis for dinner, and was completely shocked with a surprise party at my apartment afterwards. I really could not have asked for anything more- an Alex made amazing panda cake, starbucks icecream, and lots and lots of good friends. Going to the Stinking Rose with my parents and Alex the next week was also very fun.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Cheaper airfare to Syracuse and Los Angeles. And a national championship in basketball.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Warmer clothes for this thing called seasons, and my usual preppy attire that actually fits into my new academic environment.

34. What kept you sane?
Free mobile to mobile minutes between my cell phone and Alex and my parents. Also mental health breaks- whether they be a game of tetris, going down to the fitness room, cooking dinner, or watching tv with my roommie.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I don’t know about fancy, but I do admire any famous person using their celebrity for good. This year my favorite was former Vice President Al Gore for taking an important issue he was passionate about and sharing it with the rest of the world.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Russian spy poisoning. Just kidding…kind of. Although I care about a lot of issues that handling of Iraq is probably the issue that “stirred” me the most, especially after listening to many Meet the Press podcasts and reading much more international news to learn more about the situation. And of course, even though I did not participate, I followed the 2006 midterm elections very closely.

37. Who did you miss?
Everyone that I hardly get to see anymore that I did when I was at UCLA- my family, Alex, all my friends, Dr. Tuttle on council nights.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Chinatown + Jessie- referring to the group I hang out with most at law school. There’s also been many other amazing people that I’ve met at school. And even though I knew my roommate from before at UCLA, I’m glad I know her better now.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.
After you’ve done everything that you could and tried your best, you just have to have faith in yourself, others, and God that everything will turn out alright- it usually does.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
A cliché song that they played at our graduation, but very fitting nonetheless-
“It’s a beautiful day, don’t let it get away” –U2