Sunday, December 31, 2006 

Third (or is it fourth?) annual survey

1.What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before? drank poison (you know what I'm talking about), rode an Amtrak train, went to Chicago, bought a car, tried (and failed) to be a supermodel (this time, anyway).

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions and will you make more for next year? I did save up some money to take a trip, so that part was successful. Getting my finances in order: still working on that, but I've got a good start. Writing in my journal every day: failed miserably.

3. What countries did you visit? The same one I visit every day. I'm gonna have to fix that; I'm running out of witty ways to say "the US."

4. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006? A good desk - not too small but not too heavy.

5. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? April 29th. Easter weekend/Monday after. May 5-8th. Actually, not particular days so much as the last couple weeks of April and the first couple of May.

6. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Making it through the semester alive and relatively unscathed.

7. What was your biggest failure? Keeping the apartment clean. My stuff is EVERYWHERE.

8. Did you suffer illness or injury? I had a mean stomach ache on Thanksgiving. I also went to the dr for a swollen foot/ankle only to pay them $60 for nothing (it healed on its own anyway).

9. Whose behavior merited celebration? My brother, for actually moving to Arizona like he wanted to and having the courage to stick it out when things weren't going so well at first. Jeff, for being there for me at one of my low points when no one else was around.

10. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Appalled? No one. Depressed? Dan, right about the end of April/beginning of May.

11. Where did most of your money go? Rent/utilities. Bills. Nothing too exciting this year...*sigh* I guess that means I'm growing up...

12. What song will always remind you of 2006? Sean Paul "Temperature." Fergie "London Bridges." JT - "Sexyback." Muse - "Hysteria." Among others.

13. Compared to last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? At this particular point in time? I don't know. This year has been a rollercoaster and I can't say I'm not glad to see it end.
ii. thinner or fatter? I think I'm starting to level off.
iii. richer or poorer? I've got more money and more bills. You tell me.

14. What do you wish you'd done more of? Travelling and going out. Meeting new people. I got a good start but I want more!

15. What do you wish you'd done less of? Spending money on things I don't need instead of saving it.

16. How did you spend Christmas? My Christmas actually started Christmas Eve. Dan and I got up early and went out to my mom's and grandma's in Owosso for Christmas with them. I came home and worked 4 hours, then we went to Dan's sister's for Christmas presents. Christmas day, I woke up somewhat early, got my present from Dan (multimedia player - the Archos 404) and gave him his. Went to my dad's for dinner and more presents (got to see my grandparents, whom I haven't seen in probably a year and a half); came home for a bit then went to Dan's family in Bay City.

17. Did you fall in love in 2006? I was already in love. It just got put on the back burner for awhile; some things had to change. And they did.

18. What was your favorite TV program? I hear there's some pretty interesting ones out now. I watched some VH1 over the summer...

19. What was the best book you read? ...I don't think I read a book that wasn't for school. I can't remember the last time I read a book for pleasure. I bought a couple from Barnes and Noble at the beginning of the summer, but then returned them cuz I needed the money for something else.

20. What was your greatest musical discovery of 2006? Internet radio. I should listen to it more often.

21. What did you want and get? A trip to Chicago.

22. What did you want and not get? Jeff to move back to Saginaw. I haven't given up yet though!

23. What was your favorite film of this year? "Pirates II"! And "Step Up." "V for Vendetta" was pretty good too.

24. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 20. Dan took me to Great Lakes Crossing on my birthday; the next day (Saturday) my mom and grandparents came up from Owosso to visit. My mom put red highlights in my hair for me then that night Dan, Matt, and I went to Mt Pleasant to go to the Wayside.

25. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Paying off all my debts.

26. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006? Sort of random. I have a lot of new stuff.

27. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Jack Sparrow? I don't do too much celebrity fancying anymore; I'm too busy.

28. Who was the best new person you met? Some of the fun kids from class this semester. Hopefully they keep in touch.

29. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006: When you want something to happen, you've gotta just do it; don't sit around and wait for it to happen on its own. Also...I spent more time going out and socializing with people instead of being a recluse, and it was a lot of fun...I'm sure there's a lesson in there somewhere, but I don't know what it is.

30. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. "Drive back baby to me, fast in your car, I'm here waiting CRASH, into me real hard..."

Posted by Rachel at 6:41 PM |

Monday, December 18, 2006 

girl! I wanna take you to a gay bar!

Sunday night after work Ryan dragged me out to The Mixx to meet his new boy toy (he actually does exist!). When telling me how to get there, he was like, "there's a big sign, you can't miss it!" What he failed to tell me was that the sign was not lit up, and it was 1130 at night...

It was a little weird, I have to admit. It's a strange feeling to be somewhere that your sexual orientation, of all things, is the minority. I'm not used to being the "third wheel," either, especially to Ryan. And I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing two guys cuddle... But other than that, it was fun. They have pool tables, a restaurant area, and a dance floor (which wasn't open, but Ryan has mentioned going sometime when it is), as well as karaoke (the song "Shoop" by Salt and Pepa takes on a whole new persona when sang by a man...).

Speaking of karaoke, you'll never guess who was there (unless you're Ryan or I've already talked to you). Pam - yes, Pam - treated us to a rendition of J-Lo's "I'm Real." I think she was there with a group of people, I dunno, she didn't come talk to me at all (I wasn't even sure if she saw me there for awhile; Ryan thinks she didn't come over cuz of him). I guess she was miffed that I didn't say hi to her either.

I did see this guy Bryan that I used to work with though, which was cool. I haven't seen him in ages and he was a pretty fun guy.

That about covers it I guess. We didn't stay very long after I got there. Ryan asked me, "so do you think I'll ever get you back in this place?"

We'll see.

If nothing else it gives me something to post about. :P

Posted by Rachel at 2:38 PM |

Friday, December 15, 2006 

Tickets for the trip have been ordered. They cost a little more than I expected, but I told you guys $5o, so $50 it is. They're officially on their way here.

YAY!!

Posted by Rachel at 12:17 PM |

Thursday, December 14, 2006 

I don't usually consider myself much of a girly girl but the other day I bought some shoes at the mall that look like ballet slippers and I adore them.

In about two weeks I'm going to be homeless.

In other news, Dan and I got our townhouse. I'm beyond excited about that.

And finally, it's 10:55 on a Thursday night, and I'm considering going to bed because I'm bored and don't know what else to do. I haven't had this much free time since summer and I don't know what to do with myself.

Oh, 10:57 now. I refuse to let myself go to bed before 11 when I don't have to get up early the next morning.

Posted by Rachel at 10:59 PM |

Wednesday, December 13, 2006 

As of about one pm today, my semester was officially over, and it feels great.

Posted by Rachel at 1:36 PM |

Monday, December 04, 2006 

Last Call for Chicago

I need a final list soon, so I can reserve some train tickets before they're all sold out.

So far I have 4 yesses, a maybe, and three "I don't know" votes:

Dan, me, Ryan, and Jeff are all in for sure.
Alex says maybe.
Anna says she doesn't know, and Josh is checking with Ren to see if they're interested.

I'm going to need definite answers from everyone probably by December 13, which is next Wednesday. I won't need any money from anyone until after Christmas; even then, I'll only need $50 for the train ticket right around the first of the year (to pay my credit card, which is what I'm using to buy them all). I won't need hotel money ($70 for two nights) til we actually get there on January 19th. I had to reserve the room on my credit card, but we can pay with any form of payment.

So c'mon, guys. Lemme know what's going on.

Anna, it'd be particularly sweet if you or Kelly came so I wouldn't have to be the only girl. ;)

If anyone else I didn't mention here is interested in going, now's the time to let me know!

Posted by Rachel at 11:09 AM |