Thursday, January 07, 2010 

The University of Baltimore (where I've applied to grad school) is taking way too long to respond. I guess if I don't hear from them by tomorrow (since it's been the 2-3 weeks they said it would take) I'll call them again Monday. I'm getting a little antsy to find out where my life is going to take me next. Though hanging out with all my good friends and my new(er) crew lately has been alleviating my impatience. I've definitely learned the importance of having good people in my life lately, for sure.

I've also been plugging away at writing; I managed to write something poem-like every day in November (thus accomplishing my goal) and while I didn't manage to send any of it out in December like I'd hoped, there are still a variety of magazines and contests whose deadlines haven't come yet. I finished a short story the other day and have written a couple poems in the short time since January started; I've also been moderately successful at starting to write in my journal regularly (again, for the thousandth time). Just need to keep it up.

And I've been out and about a lot lately too; even if it's just down to the coffee shop, my day feels more productive if I get out of the house. My latest big adventure was New Year's Eve; the parts I remember were fantastic. My birthday's coming up in a couple weeks, which should result in some more adventures if I play my cards right. Also have a vacation the third week in January and I'm tentatively working out a road trip for that. With everything going on, I've nearly forgotten to dread winter, even though we're well into it. Here's hoping the good things keep on comin'.

Posted by Rachel at 6:22 PM |

Friday, January 01, 2010 

My annual New Year's-ish survey seems like a good place to start blogging again. If I actually decide to make this a habit. We'll see.

1.What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before? Got an internship, tried a long-distance relationship, took a vacation (complete with airplane flight) by myself...

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more for next (this) year? I never remember my resolutions from the year before. It probably had something to do with money, or writing, or bettering myself somehow... I've thought vaguely about resolutions for this year, and it seems like I should make some, it being a whole new decade and all.

3. What countries did you visit? Didn't make it outside of US borders in 2009.

4. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? a plan of some sort. And a smaller camera. I love mine, but it's too cumbersome for parties and bar gatherings.

5. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Etched? Hm. Since I stopped keeping a journal regularly, or updating this regularly, or setting the date and time on my camera properly, I don't remember specific dates so well. But I remember going to NYC in May. Riding with Jon on his motorcycle over the summer. Vacation in OK to visit Sarah. Other moments that I've immortalized in writings, I suppose.

6. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Procuring my internship, going on previously-mentioned solo vacation, writing a poem-type thing every day in November for NaNoWriMo.

7. What was your biggest failure? Relationships.

8. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nothing of note, thankfully. Hopefully this trend continues.

9. Whose behavior merited celebration? A few people.

10. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? My own, a time or two. Otherwise, no comment.

11. Where did most of your money go? Bills, I'm sure. And vacations/trips.

12. What song will always remind you of 2009? A few. Shivaree, "Goodnight Moon." La Roux, "Colourless Colour." Cold War Kids, "Passing the Hat." Michael Franti/Spearhead, "Say Hey." Toploader, "Dancing in the Moonlight." And from earlier in the year, Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" and either version of "Lollipop." And that "Let it Rock" song.

13. Compared to last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? I think happier, for sure. But I definitely had to go through some crap along the way to get here.
ii. thinner or fatter? I don't know. Probably have leveled off.
iii. richer or poorer? Well, I've spent myself down the the last few dollars in my bank account too often lately, but my savings is a little better than last year, I think.

14. What do you wish you'd done more of? partying with the Christi/Peter/Cassie crew.

15. What do you wish you'd done less of? Procrastinating, changing my mind instead of going with my gut feeling.

16. How did you spend Christmas? Christmas eve at my dad's, that night and Christmas day at my mom's, then Christmas evening in the company of various friends.

17. Did you fall in love in 2009? ...yes.

18. What was your favorite TV program? Boston Legal. Weeds wasn't bad either. And The Office.

19. What was the best book you read? I read a few memorable ones. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. Cat's Cradle by Vonnegut. The Kreutzer Sonata by Tolstoy. Some good poetry too - Loose Woman by Sandra Cisneros among others.

20. What was your greatest musical discovery of 2009? Mika! I knew of him before that, but I really like his latest album. And perhaps Pandora, though it's a little too soon to be sure.

21. What did you want and get? An internship.

22. What did you want and not get? A better job and a fresh start somewhere else. I don't regret this as much as I would've thought though. Except maybe the better job part.

23. What was your favorite film of this year? Probably "Up." It's the only one I can really remember. Avatar in 3D was an experience too, though.

24. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 23. Spent most of the day at home by myself, watched The Little Mermaid and talked to various people on the phone. Went to Olive Garden that evening with some people, and then bowling and to the bar.

25. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? I was going to say, "getting out of Saginaw," and that's probably still pretty true, but the kids I've been spending time with as of late make the town much more appealing.

26. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? Expanding. And expensive, in that I bought too many new clothes.

27. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I didn't really bother with celebrity crushes for the majority of the year. Then I saw what Mika looked like. :P

28. Who was the best new person you met? I have this problem where I meet people, but it takes me awhile to actually get to know them and realize how cool they are. So, most of the people I've discovered as being pretty cool (Christi, Peter, and Cassie again, among others for sure... :P) I knew prior to 2009. But, some of the people I've met through them would probably be on this list, if I were actually going to make it.

29. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009: I'm going to be very generic here, because these both have multiple meanings, and I don't really feel like sharing details: 1. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. 2. The street works both ways.

30. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. "Seems like everywhere I go, the more I see the less I know..."

Posted by Rachel at 9:54 PM |