1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before? I worked at a camp, sang at a wedding, drank alcohol, went to a bar, went caving, climbed a climbing wall (even the inverted side), belayed for a climbing wall, lived an entire hot summer with no air conditioning, been a Fish team leader, not been in a college theatre production, worked at a church, had strep throat, and went to the ER.  I'm sure there's some more, but that's quite a few.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't know if I had any.  Next year's resolution is to make it the best year ever!  (That should be one I have every year.)

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?  Um...kinda.  I mean someone who is kind of close.

4. Did anyone close to you die?  My uncle.

5. What countries did you visit? Does Iowa count?

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006? A good attitude (it could've been better in 06), healthier relationships, a car, financial independence to some extent, and of course an internship.

7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Hmm..probably my birthday.  Troy and Joannie's wedding on June 2nd I think it was.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? I finished my portfolio.  Wowee..that was big.  Going caving and dominating the climbing wall was definitely up there too.

9. What was your biggest failure? Procrastination.  Getting dominated on the camp mudslide.  Junk with different relationships.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Did I ever!  Within one week of camp I got a bad back injury on the mudslide, had stomach flu, sinus infection that went into my eyes to create pink eye, sore throat which went into my ears to create an ear infection, and fever.  It was a CRAZY week.  Then in the fall I got strep throat over Labor Day when I was in SD.

11. What was the best thing you bought? Hmm...not sure.  Maybe my headlamp.  In the realm of camp, it's all kinds of cool.  I got grown up clothes too.

14. Where did most of your money go? Florida trip, living this summer, getting clothes and stuff for my room.  Going out to eat...my down fall.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Florida trip.  Camp!  Summer weddings.

16. What song will always remind you of 2006? "Hey There, Delilah" by Plain White Ts and "Stand in the Rain" by Superchic[k].

Compared to this time last year, are you:

17. Thinner or fatter? Thinner.

18. Richer or poorer? Financially poorer.  Educationally richer.  Socially...hard to tell.

19. What do you wish you'd done more of? Spending quality time getting to know people.  Helping to serve others.  Travel...but I did do a lot of that.  Exercise.

20. What do you wish you'd done less of? Dinking around on my laptop...hmm....

21. How will you be spending Christmas? With my family.  We're going to my Aunt's house after church.

22. Did you fall in love in 2006?  Not really...well, maybe with my major and with my field work church.

24. What was your favorite TV program? Judge me if you must, but I'm addicted to reruns of "America's Next Top Model."

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? I don't think I hate anyone really.  I've definitely grown apart from several people that I was really tight with last year.

26. What was the best book you read? Umm...maybe "Velvet Elvis."  I haven't read many books lately though.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Hmm...maybe Barlow Girl.  I also started getting into a lot of my own music last year.  I don't know where that went...

28. What did you want and get? A job at camp, admittance to a professional program.....

29. What did you want and not get? A role in the One Acts, a spot in Vocal Jazz, and a solo on the Christus CD.

30. What was your favorite film of this year? I think I only saw one and it was "Across the Universe."  It was okay, but I don't think I'd count it my favorite.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 21.  A bunch of people went to Old Chicago for dinner and then we went back to my dorm for cake.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? More time with friends.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006? Classic and cute.  More professional.

34. What kept you sane? God.  The voice of my mom on the phone.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Tyra Banks (ANTM)

36. What political issue stirred you the most?  Probably the war in Iraq.  I'm more informed and affected now that my sister is going there.

37. Who did you miss? My teammates, HS friends, camp friends, other YE people, people on internship/graduates.

38. Who was the best new person you met? Hmm...maybe camp folks (a tie with Kaity, Carey, and Scott) or CSPer's (a tie with Kristin and Melissa or Luke).

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006: Life is what you make of it.  Even if it sucks...use it as a vacuum to get rid of the mess.  This has been a really hard lesson.

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

"...I believe that love is the answer
I believe that love will find a way.."

Bittersweet Symphony
'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Trying to make ends meet
You're a slave to money then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places
where all the veins meet yeah

No change, I can't change
I can't change, I can't change
But I'm here in my mind
I am here in my mind
But I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
I can't change my mind
No, no, no

Stand in the Rain--Superchic[k]
She never slows down.
She doesn't know why but she knows that when she's all alone, feels like its all coming down
She won't turn around
The shadows are long and she fears if she cries that first tear, the tears will not stop raining down

So stand in the rain
Stand your ground
Stand up when it's all crashing down
You stand through the pain
You won't drown
And one day, whats lost can be found
You stand in the rain

She won't make a sound
Alone in this fight with herself and the fears whispering if she stands she'll fall down
She wants to be found
The only way out is through everything she's running from wants to give up and lie down.

So stand in the rain
Stand your ground
Stand up when it's all crashing down
You stand through the pain
You won't drown
And one day, whats lost can be found
You stand in the rain