This pretty sums up everything…

Got this yearend survey from Ala, one of my favorite Filipino celebrity bloggers around:

What did you do in 2005 that you’d never done before?
Take an intro diving lesson, go to my dream places like Japan and Palawan, work in Customer Relations, write for a national newspaper’s technology section
Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t remember making any New Year’s resolutions for 2005 and I sure as hell would have performed badly in keeping most of them. *frown
Did anyone close to you give birth?
Most of my well-meaning friends are still trying to make a baby. I hope their wish comes true.
Did anyone close to you die?
A close cousin of mine was killed by robbers in Vancouver who barged into their house last November, only a few weeks after arriving in Canada. Really saaad. Made me realize that such kind of violence is not exclusive to the Third World.
What countries did you visit?
Japan. Vibrant Japan. Only Japan.
What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
Who doesn’t need more money to pay all the bills??
Time, precious time to do all the things I’d like to do and spend with my family
What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The time when I first went out with MSS *sigh.
Cruising Tokyo Bay, riding the bullet train and meeting my blog friends in Japan.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I can only name a few ‘little’ achievements: surviving a graveyard shift after every graveyard shift (whew); close to 32,000 hits in just one day after being mentioned in Instapundit; starting my blog column (and missing two deadlines since); fully paying my son’s college education plan
What was your biggest failure?
Not being able to supervise my son’s school work every step of the way
What was the best thing you bought?
I used to think it’s the iPod, but I wonder why the battery drains so easily now 🙁
Whose behavior merited celebration?
MSS – for being kind, consistent, generous and selfless.
Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The culture of tsismis in my company appalls me
Where did most of your money go?
Clothes! the upkeep of my household and my kids
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The few times I travelled
Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? — Sadder. For self-explanatory reasons.
ii. thinner or fatter? — Thinner.
iii. richer or poorer? — Richer. (surprisingly)
What do you wish you’d done more?
Read more books. Blog more.
What do you wish you’d done less of?
Cuss less. (Punyeta!)
Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I still hate Obscure Blogger and her ilk.
What was the best book you read?
I am still reading Memoirs of a Geisha… maybe that.
What did you want and get?
A change of work assignment. My column. A decent, devoted man.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If the Dec. 25 incident didn’t happen, my year would have gone quietly well.
What kept you sane?
My best friend who was always there to give me the wisest, most enlightening advice
Who was the best new person you met?
Blog friends and new workmates.
Somebody single, never married and younger than me like MSS.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005:
It pays to be alert to your own surroundings. Not everyone can be trusted.
I’ve learned to be less horny because my relationship with MSS is purely platonic (*sigh. believe it or not!)
“I will survive, no matter what.”
What was the nicest thing someone told you about yourself:
“I wish I can still be as sexy as you when I am your age.” Bwahahaha
What did you like most about yourself this year?
My capacity to adapt and bounce back easily from all sorts of misfortunes and disappointments.
What did you hate most about yourself this year?
My impatience, impulsiveness and carelessness.
Was 2005 a good year for you?
Overall… yes.
What was your favorite moment of the year?
The few vacations I took.
Where were you when 2005 began?
in our old apartment, sleeping.
Where will you be when 2005 ends?
In a hotel with my son Paolo and some gay friends.
Do you have a New Year’s resolution for 2006?
Be wiser with my finances. Pay off my housing mortgage and credit card bills.
Get a new car because I feel so deprived already.
Go to Boracay again because… Boracay is calling me!
Read more books and watch more movies.
Spend more time in the kitchen.
Get rid of my clutter.
Visit Norway or the US.
Master TextTwist. (hehe)
Eat less pork and rice (masarap eh!). Watch my diet.
Wear more skirts.
Be more zealous in meeting my deadlines.
How are you different now that the year has ended?
I realize that everything is not so rosy and sheltered in our world but still, I have to keep on hoping and believe in the inner goodness of people and God’s wonderful purpose for me.
What are your wishes for the New Year?
To be a better mother and spend more quality time with my kids (they are growing up fast!)
Less crimes, poverty, and negativity around us.
Good health, prosperity and God’s never-ending blessings for my family, loved ones and all of you my friends.
Happy New Year to all!!!

2006resolutions