Personal Year @ MindSay

So I log in and lo' & bee hold, I see the teeny tiny toolbar up top der, ey.

So I had to set my font size to larger.  Such is Mango.

It's been a weird start of the new year on many levels: personal, career, school, relationships, ag.

So much to take care of, so much to remember, so much to do, so many people to smack...

This year I resolve to define who I am, to see what I'm made of, to most importantly strengthen my relationship with God so that my integrity is never again called into question.  I am a open book in some ways, a vault a la Fort Knox in others; the duplicity of the Gemini.

I want to get closer to nature, to figure out what my responsibilities are to Mother Earth.  I'm not talking going vegan, but it is not a bad notion.  What am I saying?  I'd turn into a twig!  You are what you eat, right?  I wanna be a flauta then (con un poco pico de gallo).

I need a new job, I need a home improvement loan, I need a county worker that will enter my childcare hours correctly, I need a husband that isn't selfish, who isn't oblivious to the effects of his actions, I need patience with children (HA!), I need a little sister who realizes that last minute wedding planning is hectic (helloooo did she not pay attention to when I got married?), but it's all good.  I'm here..I'm still standing, I'm still strong (Thank you, Antwone Fisher!) 

It could always be worse.  Even when we think life is spitting shit in our eye.  One does not have to play with the cards initially dealt.  So Go Fish, y'all.

Git that trump. 

Sincerely,

Mrs. Mindsay 2005

1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?

I made my own rings...

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? 
Nope. Didn't make any last year, am not making any this year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? 
My sister. :D I'm an auntie now! 

4. Did anyone close to you die? 
Thankfully, no. 

5. What countries did you visit? 
Nada.

6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005? 
Being more open about my feelings with others. 

7. What date[s] from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory? 
Uh...

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? 
I stopped cutting for six months now. Also became comfortable with who I am (and who I'm not. heh.). 

9. What was your biggest failure? 
Not getting my drivers permit sooner.  

10. Did you suffer any illness or injury? 
No. I did stub my toe a few times though. 

11. What was the best thing you bought? 
Uh... my first Ani DiFranco CD? I dunno... don't really care. 

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? 
My own! Hah. No... and uh... I dunno.  

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? 
My own. And a friend's. And my mothers. All three of those. 

14. Where did most of your money go? 
CDs.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? 
My neice being born.  AND MICHAEL BEING PROVEN INNOCENT OF COURSE! The best day of the year, right after my neice's birth. :D

16. What song/s will always remind you of 2005? 
I have no idea. I kinda stopped listening to mainstream music this year. So yeah..

17. Compared to this time last year, you are: 
Happier. More outgoing. More comfortable in my own skin. More loving. Less worried. 

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? 
Meditating.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? 
Worrying. Thinking too much about the past and daydreaming. 

20. How did you spend your Christmas?

At home? 

22. Did you fall in love in 2005? 
Nope.

23. How many one-night stands? 
Zero.

24. What were your favorite TV programs? 
Super Nanny! :) Only show I really watch. 

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? 
No. In fact, I love people now that I hated last year.

26. What were the best books that you read?

Youth In Revolt

Books by my Spiritual Teacher

27. What was your greatest musical find?
Ani DiFranco (although I discovered her at the middle of '04, I didn't become a huge fan until January of '05) and the Dresden Dolls. A few others, but those were the greatest.

28. What did you want and get?
I didn't get all I wanted, but I got what I needed.

29. What did you want and not get?
See above.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
The new Oliver Twist movie,

Chicken Little,

I don't think this came out in '05, but I saw it this year, so yeah: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

The Aviator.

FINDING NEVERLAND!!!!! 

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? 
I don't remember what I did. Probably nothing. I turned 16.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Nothing really. Maybe getting credit for my first semester of Sophmore year. 

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
Wearing whatever the hell I want, even if others think it's ugly or doesn't match or "shocking". Woot. 

34. What kept you sane? 
My best friend. Music. Meditation.

35. Which celebrity figure did you fancy the most?

Ani DiFranco. 

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Uh... a few things. Can't really say. I kinda just really got into all of that this year, so much of it was discovery for me.

37. Who did you miss?
My dad.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
I didn't really meet any new people.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005:
Don't become attatched to anything, especially people. And to love others with the unconditional love of your soul, not from the lusty, material love of your mind and heart. 

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
everything i do is judged
and they mostly get it wrong
but oh well
'cuz the bathroom mirror has not budged
and the woman who lives there can tell
the truth from the stuff that they say
and she looks me in the eye
and says would you prefer the easy way
no, well o.k. then
don't cry

-Ani DiFranco "Joyful Girl". I hope it also continues into 2006. :)

I hope you all have a wonderful New Years and a beautiful 2006!

ONE LOVE

~Liv~

This is the year to take care of business. So now down to the nitty gritty. You are ready to settle down and put down roots. You want everything organized and in its place. This is not a a gee, I have to do it, but great, now I can do it and really enjoy the work. You are making plans and goals and accomplish them. The results will be flavored, however, by your intentions. Is your outlook only for yourself or for the greater good of everybody? Depending on your choice your accomplishments will be totally different. You act very responsibly this year and what you set out to do, you see through. You are planning for the future. In any dealings you have it is important to get to know the facts and not to take risks. Your focus is on mending and repairing rather than daydreaming. You're more self-assured and trust your instincts and don't accept others opinions as easily. But at the same time respect other people's opinions as equal and don't criticize them for being different from yours. Having to work on something you have already done will bore you and make you feel confined. So keep an eye open for new projects that challenge you. There is no way getting around budgets and routine this year. Keep your promises and work through difficult situations. Next year will be much freer. Don't let the restrictive feeling bring you down. When the year is over and you look back you will be proud of what you have accomplished.

Taking the analogy of a farmer planting a field, the little plants are growing nicely