A zefrank board challenge!

[LadyCrow]

Greetings all. Time to put your thinking caps on, 'cuz I have a question to post to you.

:: drum rolling ::

What has the year 2002 been for you?

(I know, I know... Technically, there's still a few weeks left; I figured it's close enough to Dec. 31, right?)

Here's my response:

This year has been a year of change for me. Let me explain what I mean...
- I moved to an apartment for the 1st time
- I got fired from my full-time job
- I found a better full-time job
- I've been dealing with the money "issue", now that I support myself (ie, having enough $ for food, bills, etc.)
- my tolerance for people's bullshit is @ an all-time low (it took the death of a dear friend's mother for me to realize that life is too ****ing short to put up w/unecessary kaka)
- my cooking "skills" are improving, & I want to learn more
- I started my own business
- I bought my own Christmas tree & decorations this year (never did before; it may seem trivial to some, but it's a big deal for me)
- I now wear glasses for work, reading & computer (not a surprise, since the need is on all sides of my family; a couple of weeks before the eye-strain headaches started, I said to my father, "Gee, I'm 31 <@ the time> and don't have glasses yet....) My lesson from this: BE CAREFUL WITH WHAT YOU SAY, FOR IT WILL BITE YOU IN THE ASS!!!
- I don't have any pets now (there were 3 cats @ home, & I couldn't bring any of them with me although I sorely wanted to; but then, it would've been totally cruel to take them from a house into a tiny apartment... if I have to, though, I definately would) Well, I forgot to mention the spiders & occasional mouse I hear in the ceiling...
- I attended a major public event alone for the 1st time (by choice &/or necessity), and had a great time (wrestling, for those interested... I LOVE that stuff)
- I don't have a tv (again, by choice &/or necessity) It's a "luxury" I really can't afford, and besides, I've got more than enough stuff here to do while being a lazy bum (reading, 'puter, etc...)

And one of the most important things:
- I joined this board



I know there's other things, but my brain is too tired to figure them out.

Well, I'm waiting.

Pax,
LC

[AllegroNg]

This year was incredible for me! It all started when.. well..

1. My dad moved to the Bahamas, and turned 50, my fam and i held a surprise pirate-themed party for him in Florida. Then we went to the Bahamas. It was more beautiful than you could imagine! And the hermit crabs..
2. I went to Europe for the first time with my college orchestra. The Alps are incredible!
3. Went to Pa, and Hilton Head (does that count?)
3.5 Saw Jewel in concert! <3
4. Went to the Bahamas again
5. Quit my job at Starbucks
6. Went to Colorado
7. Went horseback riding for the first time (dream come true for me!)
8. Found a new music job
9. Found Beale, my love!
10. Ran outta money, but, it was so worth it. I'd do it all again anytime!
11. Did NOT get laid once. Can you believe it?! Cooties, I'm tellin you!
12. Found Ze's butt!

[SimplyCosmic]

A couple of signifigant things happened this year.

1) Someone gave me a house. No mortgage. Free & clear. My first house. My only house. My home. Having been homeless twice, both times with my then very young child in tow, this is an extra precious gift. It's a run-down house. A small house. A house no one seems to have cared about or wanted before. Until me.

2) My son, my only child, my, oftentimes only reason to live, turned eighteen on the sixth of December. We've grown up together, pretty much. I'll try to avoid getting mushy here, but believe me, it's an amazing thing.

[amanda]

hmmm...not sure I should play, as it is kind of depressing. But it does make for a strange story.... and it has a good ending.

Year before- living in San Diego, can't find a job. Living with a friend on a sailboat. Marina like a happy commune- only old boyfriend's ex-wife is living there also...

Jan. 1st- fly out of LA to Auckland, NZ. Hitch to Wellington. Meet up with old boyfriend. Live happily in New Zealand summer. See Ze's page for the first time- laugh myself silly.

Skint for money...work visa taking too long....

Learn how to dive because,

February 20th- fly out of Auckland to Thailand. Go to an island and dive for a week. Delicious. Happy, Happy.

March 1st- arrive in Hainan, China. Our new home for the year with new jobs- teaching english.

Get into the job- contracts are signed...signed again .. resigned... nullified... fought over... rewritten by me and the school... resigned....

Owner of the school steals from my salary, giving it to boyfriend, he knows about it and agrees (I had no idea at the time).

Humilated in front of school. Boyfriend starts persuing other women who are our fellow teachers. Take a field trip into the wilds of Hainan with the school. Can't access Ze's page- it's blocked in China.

Threats of government officials ransacking my home if I don't conform, lying from my boyfriend, poor even by Chinese standards. Find a new job far, far away- Manchuria. (Northeast China, near Russia)

Get my salary for May, go straight to booking office, give them all my money for the plane ticket, pack up and disappear.

School sends police after me. There's nothing they can do since they can't find me.

Settle into new (better paid) teaching job. I'm now living in the industrial heartland of one of the most polluted countries in the world. Right away start looking for teaching in Japan.

Get extremely sick- put into the hospital for a week. Questionable if I would make it out- I did. (obviously).

Continued with job hunt, meet some great girls who force me to go out and have some fun. Found a good job in Japan- accepted! Relax a little. Take a train to Bejing, fly to Tokyo.

September- Tokyo, meet up with new boss. He takes me to my new place. Settle in. Enjoying the quiet.

October- get access to Internet at home. First thing? Check Ze's page. See the board. Laugh myself silly.

So here I am.

[bealeblues]

well, those stories pale my by comparison, so i'll just kick back here quietly....

although i'll sit back here and blush over a certain portion of NG's story....

[amanda]

Oh, no you don't beale...

don't do that. Please.

That's exactly the reason why I wasn't going to post this. I was afraid that people would see this, and go, "Oh my life is THAT exciting. I think I'll not say anything."

nonononnonononononono!!!!!! DAMNIT! NO!

Life is not a competition. My adventures are the same as anyone else's- just mine have "exotic" place names with them. And even that don't mean a hill of beans- you can board a plane and go to Manchuria if you want- by all means. (But I wouldn't recommend it.)

Good days and bad days, sickness and health, riches and poverty, ineptitude and brilliance, can strike us ANYWHERE. And it will too.

I've paid for my grievences and I still continue to do so. No matter where I am.

So beale, tell us...what was the year 2002 like for you? And don't be modest and leave out that raise you just got...

[dinzdale]

Well I didnt do Jack Shite this year either.....

Drank too much and let another year go by. Not a productive citizen at all really. Something's gotta give, or I'll lose the rest of these marbles.

Glad I found this site, and have enjoyed a lot of good stuff with a great bunch. thanks.

[masterofNone]

ignoring Amanda's fabulously exciting existance replete with romance, intrigue, betrayal, and international settings....

professionally
- Officially established my business in January
- Created some cool stuff for Colonial Williamsburg
- Got my web site up and running
- Learned Flash MX
- finished a distance learning application I've been writing for a couple of years and applied for a patent. (pretty cool stuff)

personally
- Joined a health club (result... dropped 25 pounds)
- ended a 12 year affair with a fabulous and goofy woman
- spent most of the year being busy and trying to be good.
- Got my open water SCUBA training and certification in Islamorada, FL

[bealeblues]

ok, ok, i'll post my 2002 story... .let's see.....


first woke up in 2002 in south carolina (it's no manchuria, but it'll do in a pinch).... i was on sabbatical from practicing law, determining whether or not to return to that kind of grind, replete with lots of new years resolutions that i of course never kept....

i ultimately decided to return to law after much IM prodding from my immediate boss, so i hopped in the car in march and headed farther south, back to LA with the cajuns and alligators and my old office.... with another batch of resolutions that are still in limbo....

i got closer to my cousin (no, not in the typical TN way, so don't even take that path) who needs some positive male guidance (but he's stuck with me, poor bastard) b/c he's in a transition phase of his life and has the potential to do something on a huge scale if he heads in the right direction....

and a 7 year relationship ended along the way, due pretty much to my own fault and devices.... (i have cooties too NG)

so now, for 2003, i have resolved not to make resolutions, which, of course, i won't keep.....

[Arif-ul Haq]

d

[red]

January
I received the third Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI) into my back in an attempt to ease pain in my back from a herniated disc. It helped a little, but I was still walking with a walking stick and using handicapped parking.

February
Husband surprises be by purchasing airline tickets to Europe!! WHOOPEE!
I started a Spanish class. Too bad I didn't have anybody to speak it with daily. It might've stuck.

March
We got our brand new king-sized bed! We had been sleeping on a crappy futon mattress for the last five years. I love my bed, oh bed, bed, bed, bed, bed, bed, bed.

May
Attended the Texas Star Party. The stars are so beautiful they make me cry.

June
Evil supervisor resigns. Whoopee!!
Work sucks I need to get out of there.
We start going to a real financial advisor. Wanna know something funny? We were going to put all of what the said into practice after our Europe trip. DOH!

July
After months of back pain I find Bikram Yoga and I finally find relief.

September
After eight years with my personal trainer, I tell him I want to do Yoga exclusively because it is soooo good for my back.

November
I found out one of my friends is pregnant.
We start our trip to Amsterdam, Paris and London. I am so lucky I found Yoga. If I hadn't I would have been touring Europe in a wheelchair.

December
We finish our trip to Amsterdam, Paris and London.
I back out of the garage and screw up my right side mirror.
I was laid-off from my job with pay.
I am looking for satisfying way to make money.

I can't believe how lucky I am!!

[Deviate]

i read my original post and realized how negative it seemed.

this sums it all up:

in 2002 i complained too much of what i cannot change.

in 2003 three i shall create change.

-st.

[lapietra]

Wow. Just found this looking for ze's Resolutions 03 page. Will try again later...

2002 was mostly spent being extremely irresponsible but doing wonderfully personally rewarding things (if not financially).

I was receiving unemployment through October of 2002 after spending many years working in boring to horrible secretarial jobs- hence the "irresponsible" - but I wanted not to have the distraction of a full-time job while I tried to learn new skills. Actually did look for work but kept finding that my skills weren't advanced enough, so I just kept trying to learn more.
Finally had to break down & start temping - but then ended up at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, where I've been applying some of my new skills, albeit minimally and not as creatively as I'd like. But it's a good start.

In January I continued my studies at the Lee Strasberg Institute (I had started in September 2001 studying classical theatre). Became friends with the instructor who was directing a production of Shakespeare's "Two Noble Kinsmen" through Theatre of Arts. Became the stage manager and eventually took over 4 roles in the show. Also designed the flyer and program for the show.
In late June designed the flyer for and performed the role of Mistress Quickly in a production of "Merry Wives of Windsor" through the Lee Strasberg Institute with the same director. Both had a blast and became disgusted with the director's lack of consideration. Vowed never to work for her (or anyone else) for free again.

Auditioned for and was accepted to the Antaeus Academy, a series of workshops moderated by some of the best classical theatre performers in the business. Started having serious thoughts about changing career directions. Performed in a showcase with some incredible young actors and actually felt like I was holding my own...

Created a Flash 5/MX site for a friend of a friend - learning the software as I was going along. Finished the site in July. lisarobert.com
Started to organize myself to revamp previous, HTML-only sites.

In April (or so) one of my three adult cats brought in two little black kittens. Went through the process of trying to get them homes or at least to a shelter & finally gave up. Now have 5 cats. Zounds.

My dad & stepmom moved back from New York after being there a year & a half - realized how much I love and need my dad.

Continued to take classical vocal lessons - took a break starting in November... felt like I was trying to juggle too much.

Continued to go to weekly therapy sessions for anxiety/depression... attitude incrementally improving. Still not sure if I'll ever meet my personal health goals... Started an exercise program, did really well for a few months, fell off the wagon again due to an upsetting personal event (not the following).

Met and fell in love with a married guy. Behaved with [near] flawless integrity according to my belief that I'll meet someone even better someday and won't have any indiscretions on my conscience.

And, of course, joined the wonderful zefrank bulletin board and become aware of some of the most unbelievably wonderful humans in the world, flung out like stars across the surface of the earth. I love yous guys. Thanks for inspiring awe, envy, and hilarity, stretching my mind and providing me with all kinds of entertainment and creative challenges.
smoogies

[dickieC]

Review of the Year

Ah well, time for one of these then.

This is the year I finally stopped being a permanent student. It had lasted nearly ten years, so it had to come to an end sometime. But I feel like a newly-married woman who has taken her husband's name: remembering to call myself Dr. is very odd. Now I am faced with the stress of trying to get a proper job that I want to do before capitalism gets hold of me and forces me to do something I am ambivalent about. Heigh ho, that's the challenge for 2003.

What else? Had an amazing holiday in the south of France for a fortnight, including almost losing my footing on a steep path in the Tarn Gorges (almost never made it to register on the Zefrank board). Then to the west of Ireland where two of my friends were getting married. Finally learned the meaning of Guinness.

Also, managed to stop being infatuated with someone who is a good friend to me, with the result that she's now an even better friend. That's a relief. Actually managed to ask out a couple of women, though never got beyond first date (I suppose it helps not to ask out (by accident) women who are already married - note to self: check left-hand ring-finger more assiduously). Failed to stop obsessing about my ex (a.k.a. evil-mad-psycho-bitch-from-hell); in December I discovered that one of the jobs I'm applying for would involve moving 450 miles to work in the same building as her - eek!!

Life is very good here. Next year I may double my salary and be worse off. That's life.

[noxxville]

2002

Everything in the last two years has been a blur, but I will try to decipher it here.

Step-Grandfather died. Sad becuase I'll miss him (I was raised by my grandparents for many years). But I feel better because he had been on the brink for years and I'm sure he's better not having to live through his pains.

Promoted twice. With that came much more work but also much more freedom (ironic) and considerably more respect. No longer bottom of totem pole.

Solidified reputation at work for being a bit too honest. Boss threatening to send me to "people-skills" improvement workshop (I know she's joking. She probably enjoys having me around because I'll tell people they're being stupid when she wished that she could).

Befriended a tiny little orange cat that I, for some reason, named Chicken. I have a history of poor pet naming choices.

Flew to LA to build website for my ex-girlfriend's godmother. That was a bit awkward but through the year we've actually become quite good friends and I'm lucky to have her to talk to.

Realized that I should really finish my degree someday. Began pursuing suitable college program.

Took girlfriend on whirlwind CA tour (I grew up there). Her first time being in the Sierras, she loved it, although driving in the snow over twisted mountain roads scared the bejeezus out of her.

Found Ze's site. Shown it to everyone that will give me 5 minutes on their computer.

Got DSL - internet no longer annoying.

Went to U.K. for work with boss. Ate way too much. Boss made me order all of the deserts that she wanted.

Declined to join a stock club run by one of my coworkers. The club's name had the anagram R.I.S.C.. Am I the only one who sees the danger and irony there?

Girlfriend's mother almost gets the liver she's been waiting for - twice. Once she's on the table almost ready to go under when they realize that the new liver is damaged.

My mother comes to Chicago to visit for the first time since I moved here (2 years ago). She couldn't get over the street name Wacker Dr. (Mother is a bit silly)

Began to repay numerous debts (finally) and get my life back in order.

Decided to quit smoking at least seven times. Decided I'm not a quitter.

Remained very much in love.

For the first time since I was a wee lad, I can honestly say I'm happy.

Joined Ze's board. More happiness.