The Year In Review

1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before? Went to Big Bend.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I only made one resolution - to keep my car interior cleaner. I'd give myself a B+. Sure, I'll make improvements next year, as well.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No.

4. Did anyone close to you die? No. I guess that's a push.

5. What countries did you visit? Just the USA. Got about 20 feet from Mexico, though.

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006? Financial independence.

7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? I don't remember specific dates unless they have significant historical importance. But events I'll remember for a while: Vince eluding USC's D and running into the end zone, seeing Neko Case and Jenny Lewis, Lumpy's 2-hole playoff win at the Colonial, seeing Mamma Mia!, finally winning the ring toss at the State Fair, and hiking the Pinnacles Trail at night. Why? They were all new and inspiring moments that will rarely, if ever again, recur.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Remembering who I am. Or winning the ring toss at the State Fair.

9. What was your biggest failure? Not getting the library built. Please see #6.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I only threw my back out once. That's not bad.

11. What was the best thing you bought? My tv. Or the pomegranate lemonade last weekend.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Ethan - Babysitting him, I took him to the bookstore during the day and were going to Chuck E. Cheese that night. After getting him one book, he asked for another dinosaur book. I told him I'd buy the book but we wouldn't go to Chuck's that night and I didn't want him to complain about it. We went home and he played with the dinosaurs all night and didn't ask about Chuck once.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? My own.

14. Where did most of your money go? The house. I guess it was worth it, though.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Waking up 100 yards from the beach each day for a week knowing I had absolutely nothing planned; the anticipation of waking up before sunrise and seeing it from the South Rim.

16. What songs will always remind you of 2006? Stars Are Blind; Fergilicious.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Ten times happier.
b) thinner or fatter? The same. Still thin.
c) richer or poorer? The same. Still poor.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? I left too many birdie putts short.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? The occasional 3 jack.

20. How will you be spending Christmas? Exactly how I planned it since last year - waking up in my own bed, being lazy in my own living room. Not travelling.

21. How will you be spending New Years? I'll see if J has Manned Up since last year and can make it till midnight.

22. What was your favorite TV program? Curb, hands down.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Well, I didn't hate anybody last year. Of the people I disliked last year, I don't know if I like them any more or any less.

24. What was the best book you read? The Year of Magical Thinking left an impression on me.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? If I started listening to Neko Case in 2006, then that. If not, I have no idea.

26. What did you want and get? A greater and deeper perspective of life.

27. What did you want and not get? A new set of clubs.

28. What was your favorite film of this year? Don't even get me started on the rapidly increasing lameness and irrelevance of the motion picture industry.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Other than going to work, I have no idea how I spent my birthday. I was 33, however.

30.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Not having to share Time's Person of the Year with the rest of the world. I am honored, however, that my on-line musings are getting the international acclaim they so richly deserve.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006? The same preppy style I've had for over 20 years.

32. What kept you sane? Realizing that Mack's tenure will not be forever.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? KC. All 4'11'' of her.

34. What political issue stirred you the most? It shouldn't be political but it is - people not understanding 1) we're engaged in a war that started long before Bush even thought about running for President 2) they're not gonna stop until one side is dead 3) it's far better for war to be over there than over here 4) they're not gonna stop until one side is dead.

35. Who did you miss? We really need to get up to Pueblo soon. It's been way too long.

36. Who was the best new person you met? The girls from the book club.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006: You gotta go all in.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

If I run uphill, I'm out of breath
If I spend all of my money, then I've got no money left
If I place all of my chips on only one bet, I'm all in

or

You raise your glass and may exclaim
"I'll put my hands on the truth by God"
But it's faster, love, than you and me
Faster than the speed of gravity
That's how it catches you from falling
And how it always, always, always slips away.