more of chitty's memes

i rather like this one:

1. What did you do in 2005 that you had not done before?

tons of things. nothing in particular comes to mind, but it was a heavy year. maybe being a team leader and succeeding.

2. Did anyone close to you give birth?

sammy's wife. and their story is so touching anyway it still makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

3. Did anyone close to you get married?

a couple of people - wonderful ceremonies!

4. Did anyone close to you die?

not this year. unfortunately my great uncle and aunt aren't doing so well, and seeing them getting so old so fast was shocking.

5. Did you travel? Where did you go? Best holiday memory?

does my week of guard duty count? a great holiday here with my mum... and CAPE TOWN!! AMAZING!! VORTEX!! (and think, i just removed a whole bunch of exclamation marks)

6. Best thing(s) you bought?

a solar-powered bobbing smiley face. a new pc.

7. Where did most of your money go?

not talking about rent and bills...
food. army food sucks.
and partying. mostly not very good parties, but i've developed a need for alcohol on my weekends.

8. What do you wish you had done more of?

studying relevant things. getting on with my life instead of letting the army direct my every step. being silly and irreverent. SB.

9. What do you wish you had done less of?

working. taking the army seriously. wasting time on israeli girls.

10. What kept you sane?

my friends, when i got to see them. SB.
finally getting an interesting and meaningful project.

11. What drove you mad?

my commanders. my uniform. stupid people. wasting my time. sleep deprivation.

12. What made you celebrate?

every spare moment. my birthday (there's a first). "letting go" of one of the guys i replaced.

13. What made you sad?

how much of the aforementioned DIDN'T make me sad. missing so many things in cape town, and missing my friends outside the army (but here) too.

14. How was your birthday this year?

fantastic! a real surprise birthday party, and lots of people who actually cared.

15. What political issue stirred you the most this year?

none of them. couldn't give a damn. although the americans gave me plenty of opportunity to laugh (or at least snicker unpleasantly), as usual.

16. Were you in love in 2005?

oh yes. but it was unrequited, so in my book that doesn't hold much water.

17. What would you like to have in 2006 that you didn't have in 2005?

peace of mind. an honourable discharge. a mentally stable girlfriend. sleep. money. motivation. some form of physical exercise.

18. What date from 2005 will be etched in your memory and why?

6th of august. SB's first sms.

19. What song will remind you of 2005?

oooh. tough one. probably disturbed - voices... or marilyn manson - coma white... or mindless self indulgence - faggot... there're a lot.

20. Compared to this time last year are you happier?

are you kidding? *exactly* this time last year i was horribly sick and on guard duty over a little arab village. so yes, you could say i'm happier.

21. Biggest achievement in 2005?

turning a couple of arbitrary soldiers into a team. still puts a smile on my face.
surviving? managing to pay rent each month? getting my commanders to realize what idiots they've been?

22. Biggest disappointment in 2005?

and still - not being a REAL soldier. SB breaking it off. not having achieved much in my life plan.

23. What is the one thing that would have made you more satisfied?

accomplishing something for myself.

24. Best new person you met this year?

hmmm. tough one. i guess overall the mongoose wins. if it wasn't for him i wouldn't have met the others, and he's responsible for a lot of great weekends.

25. A valuable life lesson you learnt this year?

not so much learned, but reinforced - i will not stand idly by when others need help.