The Arbitrary ChuckJerry

I did this last year, after having stole it from Joe, and I stole it from him again this year. Although I genuinely intended to do it again, so I guess I only stole it once.

1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
I got a Master's Degree. I went to the Caribbean. That's about it. I generally stay away from new things.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't. My goal was to sell my father's house and it's still not sold, but I did make a good deal of progress towards that goal. Not enough, mind you, as it's not done, but I didn't ignore it, which is worth something.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My homegirl Melissa gave birth to a boy about two or three weeks ago. Welcome to Earth, Sean Egbert.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
I don't believe so.

5. What countries did you visit?
Last year I hadn't even left the East coast, and this year, thanks to the cruise I took, I've been to Puerto Rico, Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten, and the US Virgin Islands. It was cool.

6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
A better schedule next school year. I got screwed this year.

7. What dates from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
No idea. There aren't any that are etched at the moment, so there certainly won't be moving forward.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Maybe the master's degree. I think it's an achievement to have stayed so happily married for this year and the two before it. I'll go with that one.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I sitll haven't sold that damn house. It weighs on me every single day.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I don't really get sick. No injuries, either. Cholesterol is still high, but I'm trying.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
An iPod. It's literally life changing.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The people in Pennsylvania who voted out the school board that tried to force intelligent design on them. Christians think that there are only Christians in the world. It's pretty silly.

The people who went and tried to do good things after the tsunami and the hurricane.

Jenna Dabney for taking a pimp ass drive across the country.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Dubya, Big Time, Rover, Scooter, Brownie. Worst of all is that motherfucker Bill Frist who made statements about watching video of Terry Schiavo and said that she seemed to look alive to him in his medical opinion. If that's not a violation of the Hippocratic oath, for lame partisan purposes, no less, then I don't know what is.

Less bad on a social level is the job that Isiah Thomas is doing as the president of the Knicks. He's not made one good trade or free agent acquisition. Drafting Frye, Robinson, and Lee was good, but certainly spectacular. I've said it before, I could have been a better GM than Scott Layden and Isiah have been over these last few years.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Savings account. I have to get more savvy about investing.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I loved that cruise about 10 times more than I thought I would. It was the best vacation I've ever taken easily. I don't typically get really really really excited. I love to play basketball at the Jewish Center, though. That gets me pretty hyped.

16. What song will always remind you of 2005?
Galang - M.I.A.

Here's the story. Someone who I wanted to see was on Conan O'Brien and I had it tivoed. I watched whoever it was and then I fell asleep. I was half awake when I heard the musical guest, which happened to be M.I.A. I wasn't watching the TV, but the song was fascinating me to the point where I couldn't sleep anymore because I had to listen to it. I watched it again later when I was awake and then proceeded to buy the whole album off of iTunes after reading about it. It takes some getting used to the sound, but it's really a phenomenal album. I didn't understand all the reviews that said it would change the way you think about music, but now I get it.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
b) thinner or fatter?
c) richer or poorer?
about the same, fatter, richer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I wish my diet was better. I have stretches of greatness and then not greatness.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Ignoring things I didn't necessarily want to do.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Opened presents, went to in-laws, went to Teaneck and hung at Vinny O's for most of the night. Great time.

21. Did you fall in love in 2005?
With my iPod, maybe.

22. How many one-night stands?
None. I like that it's "how many" versus "were there any".

23. What was your favorite TV program?
Scrubs and The Amazing Race. 24 is awesome too. I watch a lot of TV, but I think these are my favorites. If I listed every show I watched regularly, you wouldn't believe that I did anything else with my life.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I can't thnk of anyone I hate, either now or then.

25. What was the best book you read?
My reading got sidetracked a bit this year with Bill Clinton's "My Life". It took me the better part of the year to read, as I've mentioned earlier.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Pseudo-punk. I don't know what the genre is actually called, but I really got into shit like The Strokes, The Killers, and Hot Hot Heat. It reminds me of punk with a pop twinge, which is why I've decided to call it psuedo-punk until I know what people are actually calling it.

The album by M.I.A. is infectious. I think I love it.

Also everyone should check out Marc Broussard if you haven't already.

27. What did you want and get?
The summer off. I can't even put into words what that does for my sanity.

28. What did you want and not get?
Kathy and I were both hoping she'd be pregnant by now, but I can't say I mind the extra effort.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
I saw fewer movies this year than I have in the past. I wonder if the movies are not as good, or if some combination of DVDs and DVR is making me go less.

I can't really think of a great movie I saw this year. I liked the new Harry Potter movie. Sin City was ridiculously enjoyable. Syriana was really interesting. The only other movie I even remember seeing this year was Hustle and Flow. That was good. I saw "The Island" now that I think of it. Good idea, bad execution, like "The Truman Show".

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 27 and I had dinner at my house with a bunch of family members there. It was fun.

31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Obviously the house thing.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
I like to wear those newsboy hats. My fashion concept revolves around wearing them. Really whatever the people at Old Navy and the Gap decide is in fashion is my fashion concept, since that's where 90% of my clothes are from.

33. What kept you sane?
Summer vacation, as mentioned before. Letting drama flow through me, rather than stop with me.

A rum and coke every now and again. More than one ruins the effect.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I'm not sure what this means. I think I'm secretly in love with Scarlett Johannsen after seeing several of her movies this year.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Terry Schiavo. We couldn't just let the woman die with dignity. Gross.

All the other shit was predictable at least. I never would have put it past the Bush team to torture or illegally spy on people.

36. Who did you miss?
I still don't see as much of Luke, Brian, Chris, and Dave as I'd like. As this is such, I miss them when I don't see them.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
No one really comes to mind that I met this year. I'm not really good at making new friends. I've had the same friends since 3rd grade, more or less. The same friend unit, anyhow.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005.
It's much easier to just do it than to think about all the scenarios that might pan out if you do. It's invariably easier than you imagine.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"Some will win. Some will lose. Some are born to sing the blues.
Well the movie never ends it goes on, and on, and on, and on."
Journey - Don't Stop Believing

This line has nothing to do with my year, I just love this song. I couldn't think of anything that says 'status quo' with succinctness.