...here.

I will not post here from this day forward. I'm not deleting this LJ, though. There are too many memories here I cannot bear to lose.

This is so nice that I'm posting it to my blog.

May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live life as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.

- Neil Gaiman

(as a forwarded text message from Mikka Wee, thanks! ü)

Saw it first from Ayee then stole it. :)

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’ve never done before? Try not to drown in swimming class, try to swim 20 LAPS in 20 MINUTES (I said try), sign up for a dance class, quarrel and not talk to a (best)friend for 5 months and running, interview some prominent people be close to more people aside from my blockmates :), help plan an event for the org I love :)
   
2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't have resolutions, and I don't make them every year. ;p
   
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My former high school classmates. Ang dami nilaaa, ewan ko kung bakit.
   
4. Did anyone close to you die? No.
   
5. What countries did you visit? Spain. Hahaha I wish.
   
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007? More confidence, less drama, better time management so as not to kill myself during paper and article deadlines, forget friendship feuds (pagod na ko), my own laptop (COMING SOON yesssss), and OTL. Hahaha ;p
   
7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Global Fun Carnival "adventure" with COMMotion people. I don't know why, I just remember gazing at the brilliant lights of that Ferris wheel while I stand there on that damned parking lot. That image has been etched in my memory since. Noooo. Hahaha ;p And maybe because it's recent--I can't remember much of last year.
   
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Haha, getting an A for Sir Escaler's class. :) I ♥ Sir Mark. Also, being a dean's lister again for the 1st sem, though I wouldn't really mind if I wasn't. WAIT, I would mind pala. Being in the dean's list gives me the privilege of unlimited cuts--in my case, unlimited latenessesssssssss. Haha
9. What was your biggest failure? I don't know. Swimming 10 laps for 20 minutes? Hahaha. Holding back on some things.
   
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? No.
    
11. What was the best thing you bought? I don't know.
    
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? I don't know ulit. Hahahahaha
    
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? A lot of people, pero for a short while lang naman.
    
14. Where did most of your money go? Definitely food. And countless photocopies for readings.
    
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? A lot? Hahaha. Not excited, more like agitated--the GUIDON Christmas Party.
    
16. What song/s will always remind you of 2007? Umbrella--not only by Rihanna, but also covers by various artists.  All About You - McFly :)) cute eh.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: Happier or sadder? I'm happier, because I finally got revenge bwahahaha. Okay kidding. Pero happier. :p Richer or poorer? Pooooorer. GUIDON Christmas party, holiday splurging, being too generous for my own good---wala na. Haha ;p
    
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Enjoyed, not take things too seriously.
    
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Maging emotional. Ayoko na, che. Haha. And, as mentioned, hold back.
    
20. How will you be spending Christmas? Celebrated it with relatives :), ate A LOT, stayed up late, "partied" with neighbors (HAHA! May Christmas party pa kasi kapitbahay namin hahahaha ;p)
    
21. Did you fall in love in 2007? Twice. Fell out of love (no choice, haha ;p) with the first, and...I'm still denying the second. Okay, ONCE.
    
22. How many one-night stands? Ano to? Haha
    
23. What was your favorite TV program? Ano ulit to? Hahaha. Super Inggo, no kidding. Hahahahahahaha
    
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I don't hate her. I'm just disappointed with her, and I'll probably talk to her sometime because I'm tired of this already.
    
25. What was the best book you read? For One More Day by Mitch Albom, but, yes, 5 People was better.
    
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? I can actually enjoy R&B! Hahahahaha ;p
    
27. What did you want and got? I can't remember. :)
    
28. What was your favorite film of this year? Wala. Hahaha. I didn't even watch a lot of films this year.
    
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? For some reason, I don't want to remember what I did on my birthday (except the other half of the day). I was 18. :)
    
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? More cooperative groupmates. Hahaha. Less seriousness in life. Tama na talaga, nase-stress lang ako.
    
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007? May ganun? Hahaha. Hmm. "Trying to look like a little girl" look. Hahahahaha
    
32. What kept you sane? Portia Jeff BEK Sandie Bessie Bestee GUIDON people family and God :)
    
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? That kid in Super Inggo. Omaygad. Ewaaaaan ko ba. Basta I like that kid. Hahaha :D
    
34. What political issue stirred you the most? ZTE deal. I remember being forced to watch the hearings on its investigation, si Papa kasi.
    
35. Who did you miss? Bestee and Bessie, lagi naman. :( And Jessica. And my cousins. I miss them everyday.
    
36. Who was the best new person you met? New person? Hmmm.
    
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007: Enjoy. Love. Forgive. Have faith, and let Him do it for you :)
    
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: If God is  a DJ, life is a dancefloor, love is the rhythm, you are the music. :)  I've been singing--okay, listening--to this song a LOT ever since I've discovered it ;p

Can I just say that I looooove the holidays? :)

Thank you thank you thank you so much, God. For everything, which is too many to mention.

Okay I'll mention na nga. :)

• For that shopping spree I haven't had in months, oh my God. I missed fitting clothes and feeling like a girl and all. Thank you too for that fun bonding time with my little sister and Mama--Mama, who made it all possible, because it was her money, not mine. Hahaha.
• For the food. The food. And more importantly, my unbelievable metabolism that allows me to eat like a pig and stay thin. I love my genes. Thank you.
  
• For various family reunions, thank you, because I missed having fun with my best friends since birth--my cousins.
  
• For having time to converse with my family without me having to cut it short because I have to do a paper or article or whatever. God knows I love my family to bits, but during school days I hardly have time to properly talk to them. Thank you.
• For turning things around so that he got his karma. Bwahahahaha I can't get enough of this. He is the reason I got all emo and dramatic last year, and what do you know...HA! Thank you God. I know you have always looked out for me, thanks. I didn't even have to do anything--You did it for me.  And thank you, for making me realize I deserve better. And that I can wait for that someone better. :)
• For having time to spend thinking about nothing. This is ultimately the best gift of all for my spirit. Thank you thank you.
• For giving me the ability to write, and write well. For You, though, my words are not enough. Thank you.
• For my wonderful, wonderful friends, thank you so much for them, I wouldn't be who I am because of these people You introduced and made part of my life. They're my silver linings. :)
• For my annoying older brother and annoying little sister, thank you. The more they stay annoying, the more I love them. Haha.
  
• For my parents whom I owe my life to, thank you. You gave me the best parents a child could have. How can I not feel thankful when they have put their own dreams to a halt just so I would have a chance to build mine? Thank you so much. I am so blessed to have them. Please don't take them away early. :)
• Thank you too for the magic--for making me happy, for making me realize that I only had to look into Your eyes when I feel like I'm slipping away. Everything has always been because of You. You have always been there.  I promise I won't get wrapped up in my little, worldly problems so as not to lose sight of You again. :) I promise to reach out more, too--to make more people thankful because of You.

• And for a million other things--windy days, music, laughter, the Ateneo, the blue sky that I love so much--thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you! :)
  

...I want to say.



Definitely, this Christmas will be one to remember, maybe even forever. :)

How many times have I wanted to give up, when all these began? I can't even attempt to count. How many times have I been thisclose to breaking down when someone, someone will just console me, until I feel all right again? I can't thank those people enough. How many times have I felt disappointed, until something, something will inspire me to continue, because I'm doing this for a reason beyond my own?

Really, we couldn't have done this ourselves. The credit is not mine...but ours. :) All of us.

***

I have never loved an organization this much. Even I am surprised. I guess I don't even have to explain. As Fr. Arrupe said--
Fall in love
Stay in love
And it will decide everything.

Thank you for letting me find love. :)

***

YES, this is a Christmas to remember. For all the million things said, and unsaid.

Beneath the green, red, and gold trimmings, I've learned how to see the silver lining: to be happy with things I cannot change, and to be grateful for the things I've been so generously blessed with.


Here's to a meaningful Christmas, everyone! :D