It's that time of the year again

Year in Review - 2007

1. What did you do this year that you've never done before?
Flew to Europe for a 17 day whirlwind vacation with Rbrooks, oggled at David, gorged on Italian gelato, tested the waters of clinical research, shadowed in the OR, saw an awake craniotomy, played drunken Operation, lied down in a the middle of an intersection, pushed the limits of my ever expanding stomach, cooked a full meal over a fire pit, drank coffee (like it was water), drove on the streets of Chicago, brought school friends back to the home town, drove down Lombard Street, down to Socal and back up, karaoke'd (and sans alcohol too), and had the best year of my life since age 16.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't think I ended up making new year resolutions last year despite my blog claim, but I've got some ready for 2008...(to be continued).

3. Did anyone close to you give birth this year?
We welcomed Baby Boy Biswas into the world over Thanksgiving and that counts in my book.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Sometimes I think my dad's side of the family's cursed. My grandma died of skin cancer at the end of 2006, my uncle died of pancreatic cancer during the summer, and my aunt died of breast cancer one month later. And within 6 months, my three cousins became orphans.

5. What countries did you visit this year?
Wow, 22 years later, I finally have an awesome answer for this question! England, France, Switzerland, and Italy. I am quite proud, yes.

6. What would you like to have in the next year that you lacked this year?
1) Better life skills - eating regularly and healthily, getting enough sleep, remembering that I have easy access to a fabulous gym etc.
2) Less drama
3) More discipline and focus

7. What date from this year will remain etched upon your memory - and why?
6/22/07 - a sunrise I'll remember for a long time.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Summer. Eurotrip, research projects, Chicago summer, home, new and unexpected friendships - how did it all get done??!


9. What was your biggest failure of the year?
Not trying hard enough to maintain old friendships.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope, it's been a good year.

11. What was the best thing you bought this year?
IBM X60 tablet. It's kind of amazing.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration (a public or private personality)?
Al Gore for winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Nancy Pelosi for becoming the first female Speaker of the House, Paris for finally making her way to jail, J.K. Rowling for closing the Harry Potter chapter of our lives so beautifully, Karl Rove for finally leaving the White House, Dennis, Mari and Martin for making afternoon cubbie sessions almost bearable and M2 year that much more fun.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Once again, the Bush administration was depressing, Seung-Hui Cho and the Virginia Tech Massacre was appalling. Also depressing was the prosecution of the Jena 6, the botched Iranian nukes intelligence report, former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto's assassination and Marion Jones' steroid scandal. And who can forget Britney's hair shaving episode, failed VMA comeback, followed by kid sister Jamie Lynn's pregnancy.

14. Where did most of your money go this year?
Tuition (I do believe this will be the answer for the next 2.5 years).

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about this year?

Hahahahaha......the kidney....

16. What song will always remind you of this year?

Rihanna - Umbrella

Corinne Bailey Rae - Like a Star
John Mayer - Dreaming with a Broken Heart

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

- happier or sadder? happier
- richer or poorer? poorer
- thinner or fatter? thinner

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Kept in better touch with friends. Been nicer to people.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Burned fewer bridges. Caused myself less angst. Gossiped less.

20. How did you spend the holidays?
Friends, both old and new, and family.

21. Did you fall in love this year?
Just with some moments in time.

22. How many one-night stands did you have this year?
One-night whats? Hah.

23. What was your favorite TV program for the year?
Desperate Housewives, followed closely by Project Runway. For the sake of my M2 grades though, let's hope for a continuation of the writer's strike for a while longer...

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yes. Pretty terrible huh?

25. What was the best book you read this year?
I just had a mini-freak out session because the only title that came to mind was BRS Pathology, but then I remembered there was summer book club, and I did read non-school books this year! The Princess Bride hands down.

26. What was your favorite film of the year?
Enchanted. I feel like breaking out into song just thinking about it :)

27. How would you describe your personal fashion concept this year?
Loose, long flirty tees, white converses, bangs.

28. Whom did you miss this year?
Ellen, Catherine, Tiff, Trish, Kristen, and Emily even though it's been over four years, I know.

29. Who was the best new person you met this year?
Sad, I haven't really met any new people this year. Nope, not for this entire year. So, the award goes to Dennis, who is a most wonderful (and newest) friend.

30. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned for this year.
Put your trust in those who deserve it.