January 19, 2004

Year in (p)review

Posted by brette at 12:21 PM in disjointed . | 10 Comments

Every year my friend, Randy, sends an email out to all of his friends listing the things he did last year and the things he plans to do in the upcoming year. Many of his friends hit reply all and tell everyone about their year. It's usually very interesting. Thus far this year, I've learned about a woman who, last year, resorted wall paintings in Cyprus and Delhi, another woman who had an abortion and became more active in female reproductive rights, a couple that bought each other artwork by the same artist for valentine's day, etc. My favorite preview was "More fornication, less procreation, more biking less driving, more whisky less beer." I just finished mine, which is below. I hope you all decide to post your year in (p)review
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On January first last year, a friend of mine never returned from a dive in the Bahamas. She was working as a marine biologist in a field school, but I think that was a dive for fun. A friend of mine likes to tell about the time he was peeed on in times square just after the apple dropped on new year's eve. He always ended that story with, "I should have known it was going to be a bad year." For a while, especially when another friend was in a coma, I thought I would say that about 2003. However, 2003 was not a bad year. It was a year in which I:

- spent thousands of hours on the phone with people I love, learning about them in ways I wasn't able to when we were geographically close

- swam every weekend in the summer and hiked every weekend in the fall

- learned that leaving a job is a lot like breaking up with someone, impossible to do gracefully

- did yoga and lifted weights often enough to reduce my lower back pain and feel 'good' in general

- visited my 6th grade science teacher to tell him that I am a scientist now

- started cooking with friends once a week

- rededicated myself to buying locally and biking or carpooling whenever possible

- received the best gift ever from my brother, a c.d. of a concert we went to years ago

- saw a double rainbow during an early morning walk in Carmel Valley

- went to many art shows, the three most memorable were Hiroshi Sugimoto at MCA in Chicago, Jan Fabre at Fundacio Joan Miro in Barcelona, and the permanent collection at Cloisters in NYC

In the next year, I'll be graduating, bumming around for two and a half months, and starting a new job in a new city. I'm trying to think of some lofty goals, but I feel that I only have enough energy to finish school, travel, move, and meet new people. Maybe next year I will try to improve myself.


 

Comments

You're right, about it not being a bad year. I bad year is when nothing good happens. I good year is when bad things happend and you stil end up alrigt.

Posted by: KW at January 19, 2004 1:35 PM

2003 was a tough year and it was an amazing year. I try to focus on all the good.

2003:

- I met Tracy.

- Visited New York City for the first time and many subsequent times.

- I met lots of new people and got reaquainted with a lot of old friends I had let slip away in previous years.

- Spent more time with my siblings than in previous years.

- Moved to Philadelphia.

What I want out of 2004:

- Travel. Me and Tracy are trying to go to Italy in the Spring. Some short trips are in order as well -- snowboarding this winter, a couple weeks at the beach in the summer, things like that.

- I want to make Philadelphia feel like home. When I walk outside and see the city in front of me, I still feel like such a stranger to it.

- Take my GRE and apply to grad school.

- Get more involved in some hobbies. I need to spend more time taking photos.

- Read more, learn more.

Posted by: ryan at January 19, 2004 2:08 PM

2003 was insane:
-I graduated.
-I was first runner up for my dream job, so...
-I temped, temped, and temped some more.
-I celebrated a year with Matt and met his entire family.
-I moved into my own place.
-I almost destroyed my car, which was miraculously restored to the tune of $1,000.
-I got back on a reasonable, enjoyable path with my former roommates and started to renew the friendship aspect of our relationships.
-I have questioned my decisions and my goals more than I ever have before.
-I did not get a kidney infection.

This year, I plan to get a job that I enjoy and possibly make other life-altering decisions. Maybe I'll go back to school...

Posted by: Emily at January 19, 2004 7:30 PM

2003
-developed boyle

2004
-hope boyle goes away

Posted by: villageidiot at January 19, 2004 10:38 PM

Sounds like y'all had pretty exciting years. Especially Jt, hahaha. I'm pretty sure this is all I did last year:

- bought a car and then realized maybe I shouldn't have because I...
- bought a condo in a giant tower a block from work and also...
- bought a cheap bike and a turned it into a grocery haulah by attaching a basket to it. I rolled with cm.
- took a lot of pictures of the local graffiti, mostly stencils. made everyone look at them.
- as a new property owner (tax payer) and pedestrian I became more interested in the area I now call home. I attended a city council meeting and some transportation seminar and officially changed my address so I could vote here.
- thought about stuff

This year I plan to:

- think some more
- if the carsharing coop gets off the ground I'm selling my vehicle. otherwise fight for mileage-based insurance. which I will fight for anyhow because it'd be good.
- promote local street art and see some things improve around town
- finish this damn zen garden gameboy game we started making last summer
- do some sort of online zine with klepton.com. post a bunch of stupid shit to disjointed
- make sure hash bash happens this year.
- and change the world for the better. haven't quite figured out how yet.

Posted by: agent1073 at January 19, 2004 11:07 PM

klepton.com??? didn't i make you sign a non-compete clause??

Posted by: ryan at January 19, 2004 11:17 PM

Speaking of car share, I've been putting some thought into getting involved with the Philly car share. Its a pretty vast program with 22 cars downtown. http://phillycarshare.org The nearest car to my apartment is about 3 blocks away, a Toyota Prius (hybrid). Here are the $$ details:

  • One-time, non-refundable application fee: $25
  • One-time deposit: $350, fully refundable
  • Per hour charge: $3.90
  • Per mile charge: $0.39 (includes gas!)
  • Monthly $10 administrative fee
  • Posted by: ryan at January 19, 2004 11:47 PM

    That non-compete runs out 3 months from the day.. I QUIT!! Just kidding, heh, it would have a different focus. Or rather, it would have a focus. ;) Right now it's still just an idea a friend and I have been kicking around some. But of course I'll always claim the "D" (for disjointed).

    Posted by: agent1073 at January 19, 2004 11:49 PM

    Aw, I'm envious. The group here has been fairly quiet as of late and I haven't heard a response yet from when I pinged them yesterday. For a $25 one-time fee you might as well join if you think you're ever gonna use it (like insurance) since then you've got the 24 hour access.

    Posted by: agent1073 at January 20, 2004 12:16 AM

    2003
    - Helped found PhillyCarShare. (It took up all my time, so that's all I have to report! :-)

    I highly recommend PhillyCarShare, if you're considering it. 97% of members say they're "extremely satisfied" or "satisfied" with the service. Members also have given up 330 private cars, and report saving an average of $2,017 per year. So it really works! It's very convenient -- just reserve any time via internet or phone, hop in, & go. Personally, I think it's the best thing to happen to Philadelphia in a long time.

    Posted by: Clayton at February 17, 2004 10:11 PM