In 2007

I saw this on Ancodia's blog and felt compelled to supply my own answers:

In 2007…

1. Will you be looking for a new job?
You bet your sweet acorns I will be.

2. Will you be looking for a new relationship?
Looking for? No. Receptive to? Maybe. Unless we're talking about Gil Grissom, Sayid or John Krasinski, in which case yes, yes and yes.

3. New house?
Definitely.

4. What will you do differently in 07?
Try to assume the best in people and situations until proven otherwise, wear my good clothes most days, wear skirts more often.

5. New Years resolution?
See above. Additionally, try not to swear or make crude gestures in traffic quite so often (but swear and make crude gestures among friends as often as I see fit), practice piano more often, starting with scales and arpeggios (and possibly learn a new concerto).

6. What will you not be doing in 07?
Sleeping past noon (except on special occasions), working most holidays and weekends, vomiting (knock on wood), losing any more hair, losing any more sleep, dwelling on the past.

7. Any trips planned?
Yep. New York in the very near future. And possibly Chicago with my favorite drummer in the very, very near future. Also, Vegas with Erroneous, if circumstances allow.

8. Wedding plans?
Not my own, but I plan to be gussied up and teary-eyed for at least one ceremony (bride and groom, you know who you are!).

9. Major thing on your calendar?
Jan. 31: Move-out date. So much to do before then.

10. What can’t you wait for?
Peace. A full night's sleep. Bygones becoming bygones.

11. What would you like to see happen differently?
An end to animal abuse and human suffering. Also, I'd like to see drivers understand the merge right sign on the northbound on-ramp from 75 to LBJ. Is that too much to ask, frackers?

12. What about yourself will you be changing?
A lot, most likely.

13. What happened in 06 that you didn’t think would ever happen?
I quit smoking before I turned 30 (and had a bit of a relapse after that). I flew by myself to Hawaii. I left a good, solid job (for several good reasons) for the great unknown. I overcame my fear of wearing a swimsuit in public. I forgave someone a seemingly unforgivable wrong.

14. Will you be nicer to the people you care about?
Man, I hope so. I haven't been at all myself the last several months. "People I care about," please have faith and patience.

15. Will you dress differently this year than you did in 06?
See Nos. 4 and 5.

16. Will you start or quit drinking?
Meh. I'm an editor and writer. Survey says ... pour me another.

17. Will you better your relationship with your family?
I do hope to spend more time with my family now that I'm not working such strange hours.

18. Will you do charity work?
Yes.

19. Will you go to bars?
Probably (see No. 16).

20. Will you be nice to people you don’t know?
Yes. I almost always am nice to people I don't know, unless they do stupid things in traffic. I tend to get along with strangers extremely well.

21. Do you expect 07 to be a good year for you?
Yes.

22. How much did you change from this time last year till now?
Immeasurably.

23. Do you plan on having a child?
Not this year. But I may adopt a companion for dear Simon.

24. Will you still be friends with the same people you are friends with now?
I hope so. I love them dearly.

25. Major lifestyle changes?
I'll probably be carless in a matter of months. Does that count?

26. Will you be moving?
Yes, hopefully to New York.

27. What will you make sure doesn’t happen in 07 that happened in 06?
Staying in painful or unpleasant situations merely because change takes time and energy. Second-guessing a decision to speak my mind. Beating myself up for speaking my mind and loving too much.

28. What are your New Years Eve plans?
Funny you should mention it. I had planned to spend a calm, sober evening at home with young Simon. As it turned out, I had an unexpected encounter with my favorite drummer (the second in one week!) and met some people I should have met years ago.

29. Will you have someone to kiss at midnight?
I did indeed, though it was a bit after midnight.

30. One wish for 07?
That people I care about have many joys and few regrets.