2005 in survey form

A 2005 survey, yanked from Clement (which he appears to have made private)...
1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
Vacation in Europe - Spain and London. See the blog.

2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
One goal was to go on a short-term missions trip again. One that's carrying over to this year is to take more responsibility for my personal finances.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No one that I'm super close to. But Reni has one of the more adorable baby girls around.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope.

5. What countries did you visit?
Mexico, England, Spain.

6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
More focus on processing my life. Plus, I want to gain some real estate knowledge.

7. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Don't remember going on any dates. Oh, this meant calendar type dates... hm, no specific dates, really, more like events and decisions (which will be detailed following this survey).

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting to know myself and my friends better.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not following through on some opportunities to share the Gospel. Not working on some significant weaknesses, such as prioritizing leadership training.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not much aside from the occasional cold and dropping a table on my leg in Mexico.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A vacation.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The youths that went on the Mexico missions trip grew up quite a bit, and it's carrying over into youth group.

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

14. Where did most of your money go?
Spain vacation. Moving out into a rented place in Mountain View. CDs. Food.

15. What did you get?
Relaxation. New experiences.

16. What song will always remind you of 2005?
"City of Blinding Lights" and "Love and Peace or Else," by U2. Even though the album was released in 2004, these songs were the highlights of the U2 concert in April of 2005. "There's something about the grandiose nature of The Edge's jangly, chiming guitar as an atmospheric song gradually changes into a full-gallop rocker that just makes you feel happy to be alive."

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? more content
ii. thinner or fatter? apparently I may have lost some weight
iii. richer or poorer? materially, poorer since I'm paying rent now. Personally? Enriched with experience

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Reading/studying nonfiction topics like finance.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Playing Flash games like Heli Attack 3 on the web.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Church, watching football, napping, spending time with family, dinner, watching "Bruce Almighty."

22. Did you fall in love in 2005?
Don't think so...

23. How many one-night stands?
None.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Got into "Lost" this year, so I'll go with that.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't think I genuinely hate anyone...

26. What was the best book you read?
Why Smart People Make Big Money Mistakes, by Belsky and Gilovich. Recommended by Joseph.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Jazz (John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Preservation Hall Jazz Band). Runners-up would be Bob Dylan and Vienna Teng.

28. What did you want and get?
Time away from my life here in Silicon Valley.

29. (The survey didn't actually have a question for this number, so ask me a 2005-related question and perhaps I'll answer it)

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
In terms of theatrical releases, would probably have to say Batman Begins.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Church sports day with basketball and softball, sashimi dinner at night with parents. Turned 27.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Spending every morning in the Word and prayer.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
As simple as possible. T-shirt/jeans/sneakers, preferably in white/black/blue/green/grey.

34. What kept you sane?
Prayer.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
The 2005 NBA champion San Antonio Spurs.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Nothing's coming to mind. This is kinda distressing.

37. Who did you miss?
Can't say I missed anyone. My community was pretty good this year.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
2005 was more about deepening existing relationships with people.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005:
We're not going to be around forever - so invest in someone to take over when you're gone.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"The more you see, the less you know / The less you find out as you go / I knew much more then than I do now" - "City of Blinding Lights", U2