Going out with a Bang! (2005 Reflections)

The questions for this blog entry were taken from Nnaeka's blog, who took it from QueenB, so thanks to whoever started it!

1. What did you do in 2005 that you’d never done before? Um, that's private. ;)

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Not even one! (I only had one and decided to give up on making them.)

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes. Congratulations my friend and see you soon!

4. Did anyone close to you die? Yes, my beautiful aunt Freweini Tewolde. Rest In Peace.

5. What countries did you visit? Um, British Columbia? (Let's say "Province" for this one)

6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005? A baby! Just kidding, *uncomfortable laughter* but I would have to say, more adventure, excitement, determination to change what I don't like.

7. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? July 2005. Also private. And September 2005 when my sister returned from her trip abroad safe and sound.

8. What were your biggest achievement of the year? Finished half of my Master's degree with a course overload...and presented at two conferences. Completed a summer work project successfully despite setbacks.

9. What was your biggest failure? Not sticking to certain plans.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Not really, unless you count a broken heart. (Awww!)

11. What was the best thing you bought? iPOD Babbbyy!!!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Kanye West tellin' it like it is, "Bush don't like Black People" at the Hurricane Katrina telethon.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? President Bush and PM Blair (as usual), some person I love and one of my close friends.

14. Where did most of your money go? Rent, Entertainment, shoes.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Getting a job with some smart professor. (Okay so I had an uneventful year....)

16. What song will always remind you of 2005? Let's Get Lifted, John Legend and T-Shirt, Destiny's Child, And Kahsay Berhe's CD for sure!!! And Mos Def, "The New Danger", Track 11.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i.i.happier or sadder? Happier but more anxious.
ii.thinner or fatter? same. (not good!)
iii. richer or poorer? Can you be rich while still in debt? If yes, then I'm richer.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Go to the gym.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Worry about situations/people that I have no control over.

20. How will you be spending Christmas? With my family.

21. Did you fall in love in 2005? No, but what's love anyway?

22. How many one-night stands? None, thank you very much!!!

23. What was your favorite TV program? Didn't watch TV till this November. But I'd have to say BBC. Oprah has also been a new addiction.

24.Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? I don't think I've ever hated anyone.

25. What was the best book you read? Just academic journal articles and parts of books, what I call "pragmatic reading"...didn't really finish a novel, although I started a few, oh! except one and I didn't love it. (11 Minutes, Paulo Coelho)

26. What was your greatest musical (re)discovery? Gigi and Esthero.

27. What did you want and get? My own apartment.

28. What did you want and not get? A million dollars?? I dunno, answers to political questions such as, "were there really WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) in Iraq?" But my hypothesized answer satisfies me.

29. What was your favorite film of this year? Didn't watch many. But "Life in Debt" was good, got my activist juices flowing.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Hung out with my friend Nicole. Did you just ask my age?

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Proactivity on choices I feel are critical to my happiness. Errr, ok, that was cryptic. A trip to Africa!

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005? Monaco-style black hair and glowing skin in the summer. Black Diadora and Bejeweled.

33. What kept you sane? My ambitions and some friends and family. Reading against-the-grain commentary on African politics .

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I guess Iman?? But really, Beyonce. (shame...)

35. What political issue stirred you the most? Lack of decision on the Eritrean border. And the media coverage on Hurricane Katrina.

36. Who did you miss? My family in Eritrea.

37. Who was the best new person you met? Good question. Had to think on this one ... I guess, James CN Paul and Clarence Dias. Two of the founders of International Human Rights Law... Dr. Paul worked in Addis Ababa University as Dean for 7 years in the late 60s and early 70s. Both were fascinating to talk to because of their depth and breadth of knowledge on development issues.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005: Take time to figure out how you feel about something and then act accordingly. Try not to think your way out of your feelings because more often then not they will be operating against you and betraying what you think are your intentions. (Know thyself but don't overindulge in self-awareness either... a very post-modern and privileged Western thing to do that makes people too self-conscious and self-centred!!! THIS BLOG ENTRY IS A CASE-IN-POINT!)

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year… "I'm not a businessman I'm a BUSINESS, man" (Jay Z on Kanye's "Diamonds from Sierra Leone...but I'd change it to "businesswoman") and, one more, "Men do leni'yu?" by Abraham Afwerki.

40. If you could travel to two places in 2006 where would they be? BRAZIL and SOUTH AFRICA!