2004

Sorry it's been so long; I am getting over being sick, as is nearly everyone I know. I had such a fantastic week with my visitors, and now I'm back to missing them; the trees are coming down and everything's back to normal.

I was thinking about 2004, the person I was before it and the person I was after. All the stuff I complained about during the year, everything that made me sad, I realize now, has contributed to this self-aware happiness that seems to be sticking around. I don't think I've ever felt more confident, relaxed. It's nice.

(A short amendment to that: The one thing that made me sad this year which did just that and nothing else was losing my dog. All that has contributed to is missing her, even though it's better than it was.)

I've had this post sort of sitting around unfinished for awhile, and it's still unfinished but I'm too laden with the sniffles to finish it. So here it is, 2004 - an unfinished year, or so it seems.

My resolutions go thusly (there are many this year, inspired by the list Roz keeps on the back of her door year-round):

1. To step up the working out by doing some sort of sport, or activity, so that I learn new skills while keeping fit. Self-defense preferable, as I've been wanting to do that for a long time.
2. To read at least a book every two weeks. I'd much rather read one a day but...the schedule, the schedule.
3. For every left-leaning article I read, to read one right-leaning one (preferably on the same topic).
4. To play less Final Fantasy VII on my roommate's Playstation.
5. To play more Tetris. (And beat roommate at said Tetris, heretofore unaccomplishable).
6. To stop eating the ice cream my roommate insists on making from scratch. Right after this bite. Hey, is that blackberry?
7. To remember to crosspost this journal with my LJ. (I always forget.)
8. Ice skate in Central Park at least once.
9. Fall on my butt in Central Park at least once. (Should be easy to accomplish with #8.)
10. Journal more regularly.
11. Sleep eight hours (and only eight hours) a night. (HAHAHAHAHAH!!!!)
12. Start the big proposal I'm writing (subject to be revealed in a big way if all goes well) by January 7, finish by February.
13. Finish the books on my bookshelf.
14. Read a Jane Austen a month until I'm through the complete works (at least two friends are cheering this one).
15. Get to Canada for a reason I can't reveal yet.
16. Call people in lieu of e-mailing.
17. Spend at least one weekend reading a Harry Potter book (sixth one preferable. This one is a no-brainer).
18. Ask more questions (to everyone but one person who knows who she is).
19. Watch all my DVDs before buying new ones. (This one is already out the window. I bought the first season of Alias and Angels in America, and more.)
20. Get to Los Angeles, to see Arjuna, like I've been promising for two years now, because I really miss him.
21. Go to London again (:D) and actually do touristy things this time.
22. Stop eating the ice cream! MUST STOP! (Just one more bite...)

And the things I've done in 2004:

lost:
worries. weight. worries. my dog. my glasses. time. money. patience for cowards.

gained:
clarity. self-respect. self-worth. happiness. friends. friends. friends. a nephew. many cousins. money. frequent flier miles. more editing work.

learned:
so much. about people. about me. about giving. kung fu. (not really.) the release date. the wedding date. texas hold 'em. that stress makes my hair fall out. that i might be bald soon.

In 2005:
I could do with less:
food. biscuits. cowards. people who underestimate my intelligence. people who overestimate their own. cowards.

I could do with more:
compassionate people. food. time.

What I did in 2004 that I've never done before:
Became a reporter. (A real one.) Used an anonymous source (a non-HP one). Got a desk at my paper. Wrote an investigative series. Went to a movie premiere. Went to a movie premiere in another country. Went to the party after the movie premiere in the other country. Went to the party for the release of a DVD. Got a second hug from JK Rowling. Actually spoke to JK Rowling. Danced with an Innkeeper. Danced with a Slytherin. Got a (big) little brother. Fought. Simplified. Moved. Paid rent. Sold stickers. Donated. Stuffed envelopes. Went to London twice in two weeks. Went to Hawaii a second time. Became a bridesmaid. Played poker. Won poker. Got picked up. Got rid of a lot of junk and baggage. Learned. Left the year smiling.