2005, a retrospective
"This is...the point when I need everyone to get on the dance floor" - Jermaine Dupri on Mariah Carey, It's Like That
I'd been thinking long and hard about how I wanted to sum up this year then Amandarin posted the questions:
1) Was 2005 a good year for you?
Meh. I think I walked through 2005 in a fog. There's been way too much death, the spectre of death and the dealing with death in the last 2 years, really. My nearly constant optimism has been severely challenged and I spent a whole lot of this year sad, feeling unaccomplished and maybe a tad depressed. It is probably why I haven't written here much at all. So, no, 2005 wasn't the best.
2) What was your favorite moment of the year?
Going to SXSW was probably the most spectacular but I also loved going to Louisville to MC a celebration. Jeez Louise, when I look back, this year feels so long.
3) What was your least favorite moment of the year?
The entire first two weeks of August.
4) Where were you when 2005 began?
In a house on Curson getting kissed, drinking hypnotiq and watching a lot of people doing silly things.
5) Who were you with?
Anna, Felicia, Lauren, Jess, Tracy and a cast of dozens.
6) Where will you be when 2005 ends?
at The Temple Bar getting my funk on to Breakestra.
7) Who will you be with when 2005 ends?
Anna, Felicia, The Lovely Miss Mahoney and only LA's sexiest multiculti crowd.
8) Did you keep your new years resolution of 2005?
I can't remember my resolutions from last year and I don't even want to look.
9) Do you have a new years resolution for 2006?
To be more present in the lives of those I care about.
10) Did you fall in love in 2005?
For the first time in a long time...No.
11) If yes, with whom?
N/A
12) If yes, do they know?
N/A
13) Are you still in love with them?
N/A
14) Do you regret it?
N/A
15) Did you breakup with anyone in 2005?
Nope.
16) Did you make any new friends in 2005?
Yes.
17) Who are your favorite new friends?
The fine folks in the cult of tae bo and my parents. We're definitely transitioning to friendship successfully.
18) What was your favorite month of 2005?
Maybe March. October was pretty good too.
19) Did you travel outside of the US in 2005?
Sadly, no.
20) How many different states did you travel to in 2005?
Three: Texas, Kentucky and New York
21) Did you lose anybody close to you in 2005?
Define "Lose"? The simple answer is yes. The complex answer is not for the blog I don't think.
22) Did you miss anybody in the past year?
Yes. Very much.
23) What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2005?
I've thought hardest about Syriana, Crash, King Kong, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire and Batman Begins. Syriana probably wins out. But this year was really all about TV on DVD.
24) What was your favorite song from 2005?
Common - It's Your World, Parts 1 & 2
25) What was your favorite record from 2005?
Mariah Carey - The Emancipation of Mimi, M.I.A. - Arular
26) Did you see any concerts this year?
Yes, several
27) Did you have a favorite concert in 2005?
Both Sleater-Kinney shows I saw this year were excellent (and particularly liked them at South By with Wayne Coyne sitting on the side of the stage enjoying their set from an excellent vantage point) and Coachella rocked as usual but I think I liked the Spin Finals with Common, Kweli and Kanye killing it best. I didn't see nearly the number of shows I have in the past this year. That will be remedied in the new year.
28) did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2005?
Not all at once but yes, very regularly. There was one incident that we just won't talk about.
29) did you do a lot of drugs in 2005?
No. Didn't do any.
30) Did you hope for something you didn't get in 2005?
Yes. Sadly.
31) Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
Yes, but see question 28. We're not going to talk about it.
32) What was the biggest lie you told in 2005?
"I'm good. I'm good."
33) What was the worst lie someone told you?
I don't know. I don't much keep track.
34) Did you treat somebody badly in 2005?
Yes. The second half of this year I was very neglectful to a hell of a lot of relationships.
35) Did somebody treat you badly in 2005?
I don't know. Karmically I think it all evens out. Maybe I treated myself badly this year.
36) How much money did you spend in 2005?
A lot which would've been okay if I had been working while I was spending much of it.
37) What was your proudest moment of 2005?
Looking out at our blogging while black audience and seeing a packed house.
38) What was your most embarrassing moment of 2005?
Hmmm, I don't know. I actually tend not to be embarrassed much lately.
39) If you could go back in time to any moment of 2005 and change something, what would it be?
I'm not much for changing the past but I would've stayed in Austin for the entirety of SXSW.
40) What are your plans for 2006?
To be boundless energy.
I love that you plan to be boundless energy. Not to have it, or to find it, but to be it.
Fantastic.
Posted by: amandarin | December 28, 2005 at 11:26 AM
To concern myself with the most shallow aspect of your entry (not that you're shallow, but you know what I mean, right?) OMG SYRIANA. OH.EHM.GEE.
Also, you should make at least some portion of 2006 about Firefly, and then Serenity. Oh yes you should.
Sincerely,
that odd girl from Wisconsin.
Posted by: sarah | December 28, 2005 at 01:22 PM
I think you're already boundless energy, baby.
Posted by: Jessica | December 28, 2005 at 05:38 PM
Sigh...this makes me love you even more than ever! I hope the '06 proves to be a swashbuckler, or blockbuster, or whatever is really really good!
Posted by: miss ahmad | December 28, 2005 at 09:19 PM
You are going to have an awesome 2006. I can just feel it. :)
Posted by: CatherineG | December 29, 2005 at 09:32 AM
Catherine and Nisa -- I feel good about 2006. The oh-sex as the bitch posse might say.
Sarah -- I'm big on Syriana, meh on Firefly. I just tried to get into it for the second time in the past month and haven't been able to. The pacing of the show just doesn't work for me.
I get bored.
And finally, I love Jessica because she thinks I'm boundless energy and gave me a new year's kiss two eves early.
Posted by: Jason T. | December 30, 2005 at 10:43 AM
Well, I didn't want to miss my chance, you know? :)
[Hi Nisa!]
Posted by: Jessica | December 30, 2005 at 01:54 PM
Hey I really enjoy your site and I hope you don't mind if I filled out you retrospect on my site. And don't worry I put a link back here...
oh yeah I said if they drop my name you'll give them a cookie..so you better start baking. ;)
keep up the good work in '06
Posted by: Brandon | December 31, 2005 at 09:29 AM