I'm not feeling too well today and so Rob and I decided to spend the day lounging around the house and watching TV. We ordered in some pizza and are now planting ourselves in front of the computer. I saw this questionnaire on Nobody's journal and thought I would follow suit.

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1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?

I got married, I graduated from law school, I passed the California state bar, and I got sworn in as an attorney. Not bad for one year.

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I didn't make any resolutions and I won't make them this year. I pretty much do what I want to do to better myself when I feel damn good and ready. Resolutions just aren't my thing.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Chuck and Jess had their first child - a daughter named Fiona. I haven't heard from Chuck at all in awhile, but I got this information second hand.

Kat and Marcelo had their first child as well - a son named after his father. I got to see the little one a few months back.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

I was very lucky on this front. No one close to me passed away in 2003.

5. What countries did you visit?

None. My only trips were to Solvang and to my Mom's house.

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?

A job as an attorney with a salary that I can be happy with.

7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

March 8, the day I got married.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Graduating from law school and passing the California bar on the first try.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not being able to find a job yet.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Illness: I had pneumonia about three times (at the very beginning of the year, during the bar exam, and just now). I had a bronchial infection at the end of the year. My asthma acted up badly during the fires. I also had the normal bouts of colds and flus.

Injury: My back acted up a few times. I messed up my toe something fierce (and the nail is looking like it might come off soon). But other than that I was relatively injury free in 2003. Illness on the other hand I was not so lucky with.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

I was tempted to say this new computer that I'm typing on, but I didn't buy it. It was a Xmas gift from my Dad.
The best thing that *I* bought was probably Rob's wedding ring.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Carrie's for buckling down with me when we were studying for the bar. I really don't think I could have passed without her help. We really pushed each other and made sure we both stayed on track. She rocks.
Also I would have to say Rob for putting up with the two of us during bar review (and calling him with fish noises incessantly) and cooking for us every night when we were studying. Also couldn't have passed the bar without him.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

I won't name names, but I was appalled when a friend of mine told me that I was making a mistake by getting married.

However, the main person who had me feeling that way was Bush.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Rent, bills, food, etc. I did buy fun things as well, but most of it went to the necessities.

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

First and foremost getting married. It's nice to know that soulmates do exist and that I found mine.

I also got really excited when I logged onto the bar's website and saw that my name had made the pass list.

And lastly, I was super excited about being able to go out to Illinois for a week and visit my Mom and Nana.

16. What song will always remind you of 2003?

"Deliver Me" by Sarah Brightman. It didn't come out in 2003, but it was the song Rob and I had our first dance to at our wedding reception.

Probably also "Shout At The Devil" by Motley Crue and "Dancing Queen" by ABBA. Two of the songs that Carrie, Shannon, Berek, Rob, and I rocked out to in a limo the weekend after taking the bar.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?

Happier, I may not have a job, but I proved to myself that I can do what I set my mind to.

ii. thinner or fatter?

Probably about the same. I've gone a bit up and a bit down, but I think I'm in the same general area that I was at the beginning of 2003.

iii. richer or poorer?

Once again, the same. My parents still support me and Rob still makes about the same salary wise so my income really didn't change at all.

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

Had a bit more of a social life and seen my friends more, but if I would have done that I don't think I would have passed the bar. I wish I would have had the time for it, but I wouldn't change anything going back.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

My gut reaction here is to say studying. However, once again without the studying I wouldn't have accomplished what I did. So while I wish I would have been able to do less of it, I would do it over again just the same. Am I making any sense here?

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

I spent it at my Mom's house in Galena, Illinois. I got to spend it with my Mom, Nana, and Rob.

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?

My Mom. I don't see her near often enough so we talk *a lot* on the phone.

22. Did you fall in love in 2003?

No, but the love that I was already in definitely got stronger.

23. How many one-night stands?

None.

24. What was your favorite TV program?

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, and Angel.

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

Not that I can think of.

26. What was the best book you read?

All my reading was for law school or the bar. None of them would merit "best".

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I normally hate modern music. I learned that there is some decent stuff out there (Evanescence, Liz Phair, etc.).

28. What did you want and get?

A law school diploma, an unbelievable husband, and some pretty neat jewelry. ;)

29. What did you want and not get?

A job in Chicago. Unfortunately I'm still unemployed and I'm still in Los Angeles. Blech.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?

I'm probably forgetting something major, but the ones that come to mind right off the bat are "Underworld", "Kill Bill", and "Finding Nemo".

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

Went to Solvang for the weekend with my husband. I turned 29.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

A job!

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?

Don't go outside naked.

34. What kept you sane?

Nothing. I never claimed to be sane. Rob, my Mom, and Carrie did keep me from becoming homicidal at times though.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I really could give a rat's ass about celebrities.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

The ban on partial birth abortions.

37. Whom did you miss?

Mostly my family because they're so damn far away.

38. Who was the best new person(s) you met?

I don't think I met anyone for the first time this year.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003:

If you're trying to sleep and there's a cat right next to you watching you very closely, don't move. Once they know you're awake you're doomed and they'll want to play with you and won't let you get back to sleep.

Oh, no wait, that's what Rob learned last night when he dozed off on the couch.

As cheesy as it sounds, I did learn that if you work your ass off and put all of yourself into something that it can really pay off in the end.

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

From a private posting in this journal dated February 9, 2003 here is a song written by yours truly called "The Dirty Litterbox Song":

(Sung to a cross between a Tiny Toons song and the Itchy and Scratchy song.)


It's stinky!
It's skanky!
It's really, really nasty.
It's full of,
Cat pee pee
Rob change the litter box!
Hey!