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I had such fun filling this out last year that I thought I'd do it again. 1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before? I moved to and lived in San Francisco. 2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't recall making any resolutions for this year. I am making some for next year that include reading for fun every day for at least a minute and writing something new every day for at least five minutes. 3. Did anyone close to you give birth? I reserve the right to change this later when I've had time to think, but at the moment, I can't recall anyone having a baby. Lots of people I know are pregnant, but I can't remember giving birth yet this year. 4. Did anyone close to you die? My great uncle Lowell and my mom's cousin Dixie 5. What countries did you visit? I didn't visit any countries this year. Last year I made the pledge to visit more this year and it didn't really work out. I'm not going to make a similar pledge this year because I don't foresee foreign travel making it onto my schedule. But I am planning a tour of Europe as my graduation present to myself in 2006, so that's something to which I can look forward. 6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004? Like last year, I'd like to have more local friends and more confidence in myself. All things considered, I didn't really lack for much this year. 7. What date(s) from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? January 6 because I was accepted to State. February 13th when SF disregarded state law and allow gays to marry in the courthouse. March 24 when I met Jennifer Weiner and got my book signed. April 9-11 - home for Easter and the flight from hell. May 29 because I found my new apartment for the next two years. June 25-26 because I won a radio call-in contest and met President Bill Clinton in 24 hours! July 21 is when I left LA for good and moved permanently to SF. August 25 was my first day of college at State and my first step to finishing my degree. September 9-11, Anna and Eugenia came out to visit me. October 9, Chris got married and I had the most romantic night of my life (thus far). November 2, the day I forgot just how red this country truly is. And December 17, the day of my last final of 2004. 8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? I successfully packed up my life for the second time to move to a new city. It's the same state, but it feels like another country! 9. What was your biggest failure? I haven't really made any new friends in my new city or at my new school. That's something I'm hoping to work on in 2005. 10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I was sick a lot this year. I had a record number of migraines and other assorted illnesses. I hope that I'll be more well next year as well. 11. What was the best thing you bought? I bought an awesome pair of skinny jeans and some strappy stiletto heels that I love! I'm sure there's probably something better, but that's the first thing that came to mind. 12. Whose behavior merited celebration? I thought John Kerry and John Edwards acquitted themselves with sincerity and integrity, even in defeat. 13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? The Bush administration continues to disappoint, with its inability to admit fallibility. 14. Where did most of your money go? Rent and bills, as usual. 15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? I flipped out when I met Bill Clinton (as Kim and the Secret Service can atest). I also was pretty excited to see Sarah McLachlan in the STAR Lounge. 16. What song will always remind you of 2004? It's a tossup between "Everything" by Alanis Morissette and "Pieces of Me" by Ashlee Simpson. 17. Compared to this time last year, are you: i. happier or sadder? happier ii. thinner or fatter? thinner iii. richer or poorer? poorer 18. What do you wish you'd done more of? I wish I would have hung out with my friends more when I had the chance. 19. What do you wish you'd done less of? I wish I'd spent less time being upset about things that I can't do anything about. That was a real waste of energy that could have been put to much better use. 20. How did you spend Christmas? At my grandparents as per usual. 21. Did you fall in love in 2004? I got a crush on a professor, but no I didn't fall in love. 22. How many one-night stands? None for me, thanks. 23. What was your favorite TV program? For the first half of the year, it was "Friends" and "Sex and the City" until they went off the air. I've discovered "Gilmore Girls" though I'm not really sure it's my favorite. 24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Nope. 25. What was the best book you read? The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger 26. What was your greatest musical discovery? I rediscovered the Barenaked Ladies, which was pretty cool. I also figured out why people love Josh Groban so much. 27. What did you want and get? a new watch and winter coat 28. What did you want and not get? an iPod, TiVo...all those electronic (expensive gizmos) 29. What was your favorite film of this year? I didn't really watch any movies this year. None that really stand out anyway. 30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 24 this year and I spent the day in class and just lounging around. 31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? A different decision about a personal matter in October 32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004? Same as always, though I got into layering and tried to wear more sweatshirts. 33. What kept you sane? My family and my friends, however far away they may be. 34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Jon Stewart 35. What political issue stirred you the most? 2004 Presidential election 36. Who did you miss? Too many to name 37. Who was the best new person you met? Though I technically met her in 2003, we didn't really become friends until 2004 - Kim! She rocks the most! 38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004. Always bring a friend! 39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. The world's on fire / It's more than I can handle / Tap into the water, try to bring my share / Try to bring more, more than I can handle / Bring it to the table / Bring what I am able Jenn posted at 2:14 PM | |
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Yesterday and today, I have spent mostly slothing around. It's quite a nice feeling. I finished the first of many books that I brought with me, which felt really good. I've missed reading for the fun of it. I think that's going to be one of my New Year's Resolutions. Yesterday, we went out shopping for a card for Caryn's birthday. To my utter amazement, they don't seem to make cards for the Big, Scary 25th birthday. Are those of us who are soon to be that Big, Scary Age the only ones who care about it? I had to settle for a sappy one. I figure it'll be okay, considering she and I have been friends for 23 of those years. I got up about 1pm today. I have showered, but I have yet to get dressed. I should do something soon because Rachel is coming by around 5:30 to go to dinner. Jenn posted at 3:02 PM | |
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Kristin and I had a crazy adventure today, driving to Caryn's work to have lunch this afternoon. We had horrible service, but still had a good time, talking about all the girly things that we talk about when we get together. It's so nice to just be with my good friends, who I love, but never get to see. I expect I will be seeing much more of them over the course of the next year, however ;) Richmond was great! It's so nice to be able to talk with my "fake" cousins as adults. We missed the teenage years and it was a bit awkward when we started to seeing each other again. Now, we've gotten past all that and can just hang out and talk like people. The six of us were laughing and talking, getting rowdy like usual which is always fun. Thanks to my speed demon driving, we left Colonial Heights at 10:30, but were home by midnight. Jenn posted at 5:44 PM | |
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Have just arrived home from day in Richmond. Spent the day with "fake" cousins and aunt. Will post photos and more details later. Very tired. Reading: Wanderlust by Chris Dyer Jenn posted at 12:16 AM | |
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I went out to the mall last night. We picked up something for my cousin Ellen and I wound up getting a new winter coat. After about an hour, I was done, having not fully recovered from my bout with the flu. The parents have gone out shopping again and I have decided to try my luck at online shopping and overnight shipping. So far I haven't been successful, but I will prevail! I have an invitation to go out for dessert tonight, but I'm not sure I'm feeling up to it. We shall see. Jenn posted at 1:26 PM | |
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I had been feeling sick since last week, but it hit me full force last night. We went over to Tia Nena's for a family get-together and I couldn't even make it to dinner. I ended up curled up in the fetal position on my cousin Carolina's bed, shivering and achy. I seem to have gotten over the worst of it and I'm thinking about going out to the malls tonight. My course schedule didn't allow any time for Christmas shopping and it has come to my attention that Christmas is in 3 days. Sigh. We haven't had phone service for the past few days, but it came back on today. So if you were trying to call my parents house and we didn't answer, that's why. I guess I better go hit the shower before Daddy comes home and it's dinner time. Jenn posted at 4:42 PM | |
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I arrived exhausted and sore, but happy to be home on Saturday night. A quick stop at McD's for dinner and I poured myself into bed after doing laundry. I went to church yesterday and saw a few old friends, which was very nice. Spent the afternoon and evening hanging out with my family, including my aunt and uncle in from Tucson. I was supposed to go to an open house with friends, but the friend got sick, so no go. It was just as well, I think. I woke up late today and have yet to get dressed. I suppose it's time to do that so that I can go to my grandparents and say good bye to my aunt and uncle. Shall do a better update soon. Watching: "The West Wing" Jenn posted at 12:35 PM | |
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Finals are finished. Fall 2004 is over. That is all. Jenn posted at 4:47 PM | |
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Today was such an insanely stressful day and tomorrow promises to be the same, but I just keep telling myself that I can sleep on the plane on Saturday. I crammed like crazy for my NYC final and I'm hoping it paid off. I only had problems with two of the twenty map sites and three of the fill in the blanks. We were given the option of three slide essays to choose two from and miracle of miracles I could have written on all three of them. But the best news came at the beginning when he handed back our book review essays -- I got a 100! That definitely took the pressure off the final for me. I also picked up my seminar paper this afternoon from my prof and I got an A-! I guess all of my hard work really did pay off. Well, I gotta get back to reading for my PoliSci final. I'm not really worried about it after hearing how my TA is going to grade and the hints that Prof C dropped during the study session on Wednesday, but I still need to go through my notes and skim the articles. And I have to be "up" in four hours to get ready to go, but I doubt I will actually be going to sleep between now and then. Jenn posted at 5:51 AM | |
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I started off my morning by running uphill for the bus which came five minutes early. When we got to the top of the hill, I was glad we were running early because we came upon a bad accident. A Honda hatchback was laying on its driver side and the passenger side was pretty mashed in. There was no sign of another vehicle, so I assume that it had already been picked up because there's no way the car just fell over. I got to school with time to spare before the review session started for the first time this week. Turns out Prof C was battling some bad East Bay traffic so he was about 15 minutes late. We reviewed for about an hour and a half and I feel really good about the test now. I need to skim the readings, but I've got a good handle on the concepts. (Which is more than I can say about my NYC exam I've got tomorrow) Today was also my registration for next semester's classes and I got the schedule I wanted on the first try. I'm taking 16 units and they are all upper division (well, not Comp Politics, but I'm sure it's going to be tough nonetheless). I've got two professors that I had this semester (whom I LOVE!) and three new profs to break in. Here's the schedule: Comparative Politics MWF 9:10-10am California Government and Politics MW 10:10-11:50am with Prof C. The High Middle Ages MWF 1:10-2pm with Prof R. Dynamics of the American City TTh 9:35-10:50am Social Changes in Modern Latin America TTh 12:35-1:50pm I took a nap this afternoon and then boxed up some stuff I need to send to my parents for the holidays. I've been memorizing a map of Manhattan and trying to figure out what my prof is going to think is important. I was not very successful at this for the midterm, but I still got a B. Here's hoping my luck holds out. Jenn posted at 1:59 AM | |
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-"Spanglish" -"Ocean's 12" -"Bridget Jones and the Edge of Reason" -"Garden State" (on DVD) -"The Aviator" Jenn posted at 4:19 AM | |
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I took my Western Civ final this morning. I think I did better than my last exam in that class, but I don't think I did well enough (95 or better) to get an A, so it's a B for me in Western Civ. I sold some of my books back and only got about 30 bucks back. I went to the mall to get a new watch, but I couldn't find one I liked for less than $50. I did treat myself to a little something that tenth muse recommended and had a nice chat with the girl behind the counter who had taken finals this morning too. I came home and took a nap until the phone woke me up. Tomorrow, I meet Jimmy Carter. Jenn posted at 12:11 AM | |
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So, I'm watching "Full House" while I study for my Western Civ final (which starts in about four and half hours) and after the problem is resolved, the family bursts into spontaneous applause. Has that ever really happened to any one? Seems corny, but I think it would be really cool. Kinda like starting the slow clap. Jenn posted at 8:48 AM | |
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Up here in Northern California, they have Disneyland commercials, but instead of the "just drive down and see us" kind, they advertise vacation packages and such. And I'm looking at a friend's Disney World pictures right now and thinking about how much I miss Disneyland. When I lived in SoCal, I would go to Disneyland every year around Christmas and revel in the Christmas-y feel of the place while wearing short sleeves. In addition to redoing the design of this page, I also updated a few pages of the main site. When I updated the escapades page, I added a few more to it as well as links to other people's lists. Looking at my own list and other people's I'm struck by how much I've truly done in my life and how much there is left to do. Jenn posted at 8:07 PM | |
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So, I can't stop redesigning this thing ;) Enjoy! Jenn posted at 4:52 AM | |
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Eugenia, Anna and I discussed this on our GNO for my birthday and as I was flipping through the channels today, I realized I had forgotten a few.
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I got my driver's license today with the correct picture and signature. I never really think of myself as looking older, but I look clearly older on my new license. Whether or not I look my age is still anyone's guess! I have spent a quiet afternoon, just lounging around and not feeling guilty about it. I'm hoping to get my Christmas letter written tonight so I can do cards tomorrow. If you want a card, comment ;) Jenn posted at 9:48 PM | |
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I have finished my seminar paper! I got my driver's license with my picture and signature in the mail. I turned in my reflection paper evidence to the BSS secretary (long story, but trust me, it's a good thing). My favorite movie is on A&E. Reading: nothing! Watching: "Playing By Heart" on A&E Jenn posted at 6:58 PM | |
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thumbs up: sleeping in thumbs down: having cramps during class thumbs up: getting an A- on my history presentation thumbs down: foggy day thumbs up: getting good feedback on a rewrite of my paper from my prof thumbs down: finding out the elements of my NYC final thumbs up: bagel bites and chocolate chip cookies for dinner thumbs down: still working on my history paper Jenn posted at 2:15 AM | |
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So, I'm watching my absolute favorite episode of Sex and the City ("the real me") on TBS and although I haven't minded the changes made for broadcast television, this episode just isn't the same without Margaret Cho's character's constant use of the f-word. I mean one of the best lines in the episode is "Yes, fuckette, and those are some picky Italians!" It just doesn't sing as "Yes and those are some picky Italians." No matter. This was the very first episode of SATC I ever watched and it's still my favorite. "I had a choice, I could slink off the runway and let my inner-model die of shame or I could pick myself up, flaws and all and finish. And that's just what I did. Because when real people fall down in life, they get right back up and keep walking." Jenn posted at 1:49 AM | |
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Well, I did my oral presentation for my seminar paper and I think I did okay. I was shaking through most of it, but everyone was really nice. Now I just have to get the paper punched up for Friday. I'm taking the night off from dealing with it, but I'm hoping to get it finished tomorrow. I want to stop by my prof's office hours on Thursday to get some feedback before I have to turn it in. I'm trying to do research for my internship next semester so that I can get my prof some names. There's just so much going on in these last two weeks (well, really week and a half now) and I'm afraid I'm going to forget something. Only 9 days to go! Jenn posted at 1:35 AM | |
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So, I was watching Food Network tonight and they are doing a show about Christmas festivals in different parts of the country. One of the festivals they profiled was the Great Dickens Christmas Fair here in SF! I'd never heard of it before, but you know I'm so there next weekend. That'll be my reward for finishing my paper. Jenn posted at 5:24 AM | |
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I drove down to San Mateo tonight to do a little Christmas card shopping. I needed to return some stuff at Hallmark and I wanted to stop by Staples to pick out paper to put my Christmas letter on. I got there at 8:17pm and both stores were closed! I couldn't believe it! So, I drove back home, wasting an hour of my life. Sigh... Jenn posted at 12:13 AM | |
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-Falco -Fahrvernugen -Frankfurter/Frankfurterin -Fanta This post brought to you by the carbonated dream also known as Orange Fanta Jenn posted at 8:40 PM | |
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I got tired of comment spam, so I'm trying a new comment system by jumping on the HaloScan bandwagon. Enjoy! Jenn posted at 7:44 PM | |
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Today was the Tech/Miami game and I couldn't watch. I know it makes no intellectual sense, but when I turned on the game today, Tech was ahead 10-7. In the short minutes that I watched, Miami scored, tieing it up 10-10. I then changed the channel to watch a fascinating program on the History Channel about the Revolutionary War. I turned it back to ABC after that finished to find that Tech was back up, 16-10. I watched Boy Meets World for the remaining half hour and we won! The team that wasn't nationally ranked at the start of the season won the ACC today! It doesn't get better than that! Jenn posted at 4:38 PM | |
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Western Civ was cancelled today for which I am very grateful. I quite enjoy the class, but for some reason I am just tired today. I slept for about six and a half hours and I woke up like I had not slept at all. PoliSci was quite amusing today. Two of the silly jocks were the discussion leaders which always leads to laughs. I found out that my TA and I are the same age, which shouldn't surprise me, but I just figured she must be older than me. I guess I forget that I'm just way older than the average college student. I also got my election paper back and I got a 100! Go me! Oh and can someone explain to me what those new Tylenol commercials where they tell you to take the recommended dosage or don't take it at all? Did they just figure out that people OD on their medicine all the time or something? Was there some lawsuit I'm unaware of? I've got my appointment with the DMV this afternoon to retake my DL photo. Hopefully, I will look good and more importantly, they will actually put it on my license. Jenn posted at 2:50 PM | |
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I'm saying goodbye to Tom Brokaw tonight. I can't remember a time when he wasn't the voice of NBC news (which makes sense since he's been doing this for 22 years). For whatever reason, NBC and Tom Brokaw has always been my network of choice when news is breaking. It seems strange to think that his gentle voice won't be there to comfort me in times of crisis. Brian Williams has endeared me to him, however, most recently during his appearance on The Daily Show. He was able to give as good as he got and was quite funny and fabulous with Jon Stewart. But today is the end of an era and I will truly miss Mr. Brokaw giving me the news of the world. Jenn posted at 9:01 PM | |