2011: The Year in Review

1. Where did you begin 2011? 

At Zack Stickrod's in Stillwater

2. Did you have a New Year’s Resolution? 

1. give up all non-chocolate candy; 2. do some kind of physical activity at least 3 days a week

3. What was your status on Valentine's Day? 

single

4. What did you do for St. Patty's Day in 2011? 

Six Flags Over Texas with Heather

5. Did you play an April Fool's joke on anyone this year? 

no

6. Do anything special on Easter?

I worked at the ZooFriends office till about 3pm, then went over to Aunt Sheila's to see family.

7. What did you do on the 4th of July?

I was in Chicago with Colin. We went to The Museum of Science and Industry, then walked around the city for a bit looking at sculptures. Then we watched the fireworks from a spot near Millenium Park.

8. What was your favorite summer memory of '11?

spending time in Chicago with Colin

9. What were you for Halloween? 

Lady MacBeth

10. What happened on Thanksgiving?

Spent time with the fam at Aunt Sheila's

11. What about Christmas?

Festivus with Dad/Tina/Mel/Richard at the Jazz Lab to see Souled Out; Christmas Eve at Aunt Sheila's, Christmas Day at Grandmother's; and the day after Christmas, I had some friends over for a small dirty Santa

12. Did you get kissed under mistletoe?

nope

13. Best Christmas present?

PlayStation 3

14. Describe your birthday.

I went up to Tulsa for a couple days. Ate Sushi at Asahi with Colin, Ryan, Chris, Sam, Samantha, Daniel, and Garrett. Then Colin, Ryan, Chris, and I went to see "Source Code." The next day Colin and I met up with Graham and we went to see "Your Highness."

15. Best birthday present?

"Beauty and the Beast" on DVD (from Colin)

16. What was your best month?

February--got a job, met a guy, reconnected with old friends

17. Did you know anybody who got married?

Melissa/Richard, Cyrus/Shannon

18. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Melinda

19. Did anyone close to you die?

no

20. Where did you live?

Edmond, OK

21. What countries did you visit?

none, but I did visit Illinois and South Carolina

22. What was your favorite vacation? 

Chicago for a week over the 4th of July

23. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

A more concrete plan of the future, namely what I want to be when I grow up.

24. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory?

The weekend Colin and I first started dating

25. What was your biggest achievement of the year? 

finding Colin, and finding two jobs that I enjoy

26. What was your biggest failure?

not exercising enough

27. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I got pretty sick in late summer, but it was just a bad cold

28. What was the best thing you bought?

Dragon Age II, plane tickets to Chicago, season pass to Six Flags, plane tickets to North Carolina, the first 4 books of "A Song of Ice and Fire"

29. How did you earn your money? 

ZooFriends, Edmond Public Library

30. Where did most of your money go?

gas, movie theaters, plane tickets

31. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Josh Groban

32. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

eh, I dunno

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

Josh Groban concert, visiting Colin in Chicago, Blue Man Group concert, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 midnight premier, spending time with Colin and friends in Chicago for New Year's Eve

34. What song(s) will always remind you of 2011?

"Rolling in the Deep" by ADELE, "Bells of New York City" by Josh Groban, "Space for Rent" by Whomadewho

35. Compared to this time last year, are you:

I. happier or sadder? 

happier

II. thinner or fatter? 

thinner

III. richer or poorer? 

richer

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

exercise

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

get sunburned

38. Did you fall in love in 2011? 

yes

39. Do you dislike anyone now that you didn’t dislike this time last year?

no

40. Did you have any encounters with the police? 

I got one speeding ticket

41. What were your favorite TV programs?

Bones, Castle, Game of Thrones, Doctor Who, House, Black Books

42. What was the best book you read?

"A Game of Thrones" by George R. R. Martin

43. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Whomadewho, Band of Heathens

44. What concerts/shows did you go to?

Band of Heathens, Josh Groban, Blue Man Group, The Stage Door Theater's production of "Till Death Do Us Part", Souled Out

45. What were your favorite films of the year?

The Adjustment Bureau, Midnight in Paris, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, 50/50, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Anonymous, Our Idiot Brother, The Guard, The Descendants, Beginners

46. What did you want and get?

Dragon Age II, PlayStation 3

47. What's one thing that would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

If Colin hadn't been in Chicago all summer

48. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?

wore my glasses a lot, plaid button-down shirts, I was kinda rockin' the Indie look sometimes--I even bought some skinny jeans (to be worn with boots) :P

49. What kept you sane? 

Colin

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

Josh Groban, Cillian Murphy, Rhys Ifans

51. Who did you miss most? 

Colin Logan

52. What's one thing you thought you'd never do but did in 2011?

enjoy having a customer service job

53. What's something you learned about yourself?

I tend to have issues when something I planned and looked forward to doesn't turn out the way I envisioned it.

54. Was it a good year? 

yes

55. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:

Most people are stupid and rude, but you you shouldn't let it get you down, because there are also really smart and considerate people out there who make up for it.

Number of movies watched on video/Netflix: 75

Number of movies seen at at theater: 39

Number of full television seasons watched: 20

Number of books read: 20

2010: The Year in Review

1. Where did you begin 2010?

At Eli's in Stillwater

2. Did you have a New Year’s Resolution?

Not really

3. What was your status on Valentine's Day?

in a relationship with Sam Kirzner

4. What did you do for St. Patty's Day in 2010?

I was at Disney World with my Mom. We went to Raglan Road, a pub in Downtown Disney.

5. Did you play an April Fool's joke on anyone this year?

no

6. Do anything special on Easter?

Went to Aunt Sheila's to hang with family.

7. What did you do on the 4th of July?

In Tulsa, went to dinner at Spaghetti Warehouse, then to the Drillers game with Sam, Dad, Uncle Tim, Grandmother, and Papa Jerry. Met cousin Sarah and Uncle Jeff there--Jeremy was pitching for the San Antonio Missions.

8. What was your favorite summer memory of '10?

Liz/Drew/Fagan housewarming party in Stillwater, June 4-6

9. What were you for Halloween?

Lois Lane (Sam was Jimmy Olsen)

10. What happened on Thanksgiving?

Aunt Sheila's with the fam

11. What about Christmas?

Festivus: Dad and I went to Stillwater to have dinner with Melissa; Christmas Eve: Aunt Sheila's; Christmas Day and day after: Grandmother's in Bartlesville

12. Did you get kissed under mistletoe?

no

13. Best Christmas present?

new iPod from Mom and new car battery from Dad

14. Describe your birthday?

I don't really remember. =/ My mom came up to Tulsa and we ate and did stuff...

15. Best birthday present?

I don't remember what I got. :P

16. What was your best month?

probably March

17. Did you know anybody who got married?

I don't think so

18. Did anyone close to you give birth?

cousin Lara Sheppard

19. Did anyone close to you die?

no

20. Where did you live?

USA West at TU; Edmond, OK

21. What countries did you visit?

none

22. What was your favorite vacation?

Disney World over Spring Break

23. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?

a job that I like AND that pays decently

24. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory?

the day Sam and I broke up

25. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Graduating, I guess

26. What was your biggest failure?

my relationship

27. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I had a REALLY bad cold in October, and I had a 24 hr stomach bug in December

28. What was the best thing you bought?

KT Tunstall's new album "Tiger Suit"

29. How did you earn your money?

The Collegian/Blunck Studios

30. Where did most of your money go?

gas, movie theaters

31. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Apolo Anton Ohno

32. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

mine

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

Disney World

34. What song(s) will always remind you of 2010?

"Lost" and "Difficulty" by KT Tunstall; "Bulletproof" by La Roux; "Whip My Hair" by Willow Smith

35. Compared to this time last year, are you:

I. happier or sadder?

sadder

II. thinner or fatter?

about the same. I was gaining weight for a while, but I've lost some in the last few months.

III. richer or poorer?

richer

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

exercise

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

eat crappy food

38. Did you fall in love in 2010?

39. Do you dislike anyone now that you didn’t dislike this time last year?

can't think of anyone

40. Did you have any encounters with the police?

no

41. What was your favorite TV program?

The Mentalist, Doctor Who

42. What was the best book you read?

"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" by Steig Larson

43. What was your greatest musical discovery?

KT Tunstall's "Tiger Suit"

44. What concerts/shows did you go to?

Josh Turner's senior recital, Trans-Siberian Orchestra

45. What were your favorite films of the year?

Inception, Toy Story 3, Tangled, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Karate Kid, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Salt, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1

46. What did you want and get?

The Mentalist on DVD

47. What's one thing that would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

if I had found a job I enjoyed

48. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?

grew out my bangs; mostly wore jeans and t-shirts

49. What kept you sane?

being busy; watching The Mentalist and Dexter

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

Cillian Murphy, Simon Baker

51. Who did you miss most?

Sam Kirzner

52. What's one thing you thought you'd never do but did in 2010?

break up with someone I love

53. What's something you learned about yourself?

...what's Evian spelled backwards?

54. Was it a good year?

I'm not sure. Finishing school was definitely nice, but my life has kinda derailed since then.

55. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:

Sometimes the right decision is the one that fucks everything up.

2009: The Year in Review

1. Where did you begin 2009?

On a plane (Delta) to Ireland, over the Atlantic.

2. Did you have a New Year’s Resolution?

Not that I can remember.

3. What was your status on Valentine's Day?

single

4. What did you do for St. Patty's Day in 2009?

I was in Cork, Ireland and Melissa was visiting me. We went to the parade in town with Tessa, Jason, Anna, and Chris. Then we met up with them again later (sans Chris) at a small pub called Sláinte. I had Rekorderlig pear cider. Mmmmmm.

5. Did you play an April Fool's joke on anyone this year?

no

6. Do anything special on Easter?

There was a beer festival at a Cork microbrewery called Franciscan Well. Gail was visiting me at the time, so we went to that with a few others.

7. What did you do on the 4th of July?

I was in Tulsa visiting Sam, and we went to Kevin's and McCrary's house for cookouts. Then we tried to go see the Riverside fireworks with everyone, but they had a malfunction, so there was no show. :P

8. What was your favorite summer memory of '08?

The weekend of June 6, the first time I visited Tulsa after getting back from Ireland. Sam and I had a lot of fun, and we also got to meet up with Agatha, Vince, Graham, and Sam.

9. What were you for Halloween?

Leela (from Futurama)

10. What happened on Thanksgiving?

I went to Aunt Sheila's in Moore.

11. What about Christmas?

Well, there was a snowpocalypse on Christmas Eve, so plans for that night were cancelled, but the roads were ok on Christmas, so me, Dad, and Mel drove to Bartlesville and spent the night. Our Christmas Eve plans were rescheduled for the next day, so we all drove back to Edmond, but we picked up one of Mel's skiing friends, Sean, on the way, and he came with Mel and I to Aunt Sheila's party.

12. Did you get kissed under mistletoe?

no

13. Best Christmas present?

MacBook!

14. Describe your birthday?

That was the day my mom arrived in Cork for a week long visit. We ate at Papa John's. :P

15. Best birthday present?

Mom came to visit; and Graham and Agatha sent me a package with Skittles, Starburst, The Graveyard Book, and a Stingray golf disc

16. What was your best month?

August

17. Did you know anybody who got married?

Sarah, Jill

18. Did anyone close to you give birth?

nope

19. Did anyone close to you die?

no

20. Where did you live?

Cork, Ireland; Edmond; USA West at TU

21. What countries did you visit?

Ireland, UK, Belgium

22. What was your favorite vacation?

Most of the time I was in Ireland felt like a vacation

23. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

a job after the spring semester

24. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

When Graham took Sam and I to go shooting (guns) for the first time in early December. It was cool; I definitely wanna do it again sometime.

25. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

getting through the fall semester with good grades

26. What was your biggest failure?

not being able to make my senior project work out like I wanted

27. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I got a really bad cold in the fall, but that's about it.

28. What was the best thing you bought?

new external hard drive

29. How did you earn your money?

The Collegian

30. Where did most of your money go?

stuff in Ireland (food, traveling, movies, etc.)

31. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Irish rugby team (won the six nations cup)

32. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

national news networks in general

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

seeing Sam for the first time after getting back from Ireland

34. What song will always remind you of 2009?

"Poker Face" by Lady GaGa, "Daylight" by Matt & Kim

35. Compared to this time last year, are you:

I. happier or sadder?

happier

II. thinner or fatter?

fatter

III. richer or poorer?

about the same

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

work

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

procrastinating, missing class

38. Did you fall in love in 2009?

yeah

39. Do you dislike anyone now that you didn’t dislike this time last year?

maybe Glenn Beck. I used to like his show, but now it's kinda ridiculous.

40. Did you have any encounters with the police?

not that I can remember

41. What was your favorite TV program?

House, Castle, Doctor Who

42. What was the best book you read?

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

43. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Animal Collective, The Black Keys

44. What concerts/shows did you go to?

Animal Collective at the Stiff Kitten in Belfast; Michael Collins: The Musical at the Cork Opera House,

45. What were your favorite films of the year?

The Princess and the Frog, Coraline, The Secret of Kells, Moon, Sherlock Holmes, Star Trek, Watchmen, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, Up

46. What did you want and get?

Car, MacBook!

47. What's one thing that would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

if I had taken one less class during the fall semester

48. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?

I've grown my hair out, but kept the bangs. And I'm in love with my TOMS. Other than that, it's basically the same--a lot of my clothes are getting worn out, though (especially my TOMS), 'cause I can't really afford to buy a bunch of new ones.

49. What kept you sane?

Sam

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

Cillian Murphy; Robert Downey, Jr.

51. Who did you miss most?

Sam Kirzner

52. What's one thing you thought you'd never do but did in 2009?

have dumb little relationship fights

53. What's something you learned about yourself?

If I wear tight socks inside tennis shoes, I'll get blisters. As long as the socks are loose enough, the blisters won't happen. (I have weird feet.)

54. Was it a good year?

Overall, yes. I had a lot of fun times throughout, and Sam and I started going out, but school has been kicking my ass and I'm ready to be done with it.

55. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:

It's not a good idea to rely on one person to keep you happy; it is a good idea to keep old friendships alive.