paul / January 1, 2007 9:29 PM

It's going to turn out awesome if I manage to be the first one to post this year!

Baldeesh / January 1, 2007 10:47 PM

2006... I probably won't look upon that year too fondly, but good things did happen.

And if the manner in which I welcomed this year has any bearing on the months to come, things are going to be a hell of a lot more pleasant.

tony / January 2, 2007 12:20 AM

Last year was fairly ordinary... no real significant milestones, other than making it to the next auto insurance bracket. Heh.

So far, I got nothing to complain about. However, I have appointments scheduled for three fillings in the next few weeks, so that may change.

jasmine / January 2, 2007 12:29 AM

2006 was fine until December. Nothing major happened. Did a lot of biking around town. December was crappy enough to make me beg 2007 to come sooner. And here it is.

2007 will be great because I'm going to make it great. I'm going to stay busy and have fun.

kate / January 2, 2007 3:04 AM

I had perhaps the best summer ever in 2006 but the rest of the year was a bit rough.

2007? Who knows. I've spent most of the new year sleeping so I'll need more time to get fully acquainted with 2007. I hope to find a job that isn't awful.

tyler / January 2, 2007 8:08 AM

2007 was looking really hot until my alarm went off this morning.

4point44 / January 2, 2007 8:48 AM

2006: new baby paisley.

2007: more paisley.

Hal / January 2, 2007 9:17 AM

2006 = Stressful, stressful, stressful.
2007 = Looks like more of the same.

But I have only myself to blame. Working on an aldermanic campaign through the end of Feb, followed by doubling up on my course load in school. Oh, yeah, and the whole full-time job thing.

jaymce / January 2, 2007 9:18 AM

2006 was epic... quit my job in san francisco on jan 3... spent three months in thailand and vietnam... moved to chicago, spent an amazing summer in my original hometown... got a job on labor day... bring on '07

carrie / January 2, 2007 9:34 AM

2006=fantastic

*I bought my place
*I did a decent amount of traveling
*and! I got a great boyfriend

I'm totally looking forward to 2007.

Allan / January 2, 2007 9:43 AM

In 2006 I was overweight with a shitty job, a potential drinking problem and no real friends. In 2007 I am still overweight with a shitty job, a potential drinking problem and no real friends. So things are looking pretty good if by "good" you mean sad and pathetic, which is what I mean when people at work insincerely ask "How are you" to which I typically respond " I'm good" and quickly retreat to my desk to avoid any sort of extremely uncomfortable casual conversation. My one aspiration is to somehow get on that Queer Eye show or have Oprah take pity on me and flip the bill for some ridiculously expensive slob make-over show. My segment would end with Oprah perusing the audience for comments on my new look. All the ladies would say how hot I am and ask me what I'm doing later that night. Rambunctious applause and tasteful cat calls would ensue. Oprah would do that dance that she does and announce her next next formerly repulsive guest. After the mandatory pat on the back from show producers and camera crew I would walk out into the cold Chicago air and my inevitable obscurity. A few days later I would receive a complementary tape of the show that I would have to go buy a VCR to watch.

bad january 1 / January 2, 2007 9:43 AM

i got my place robbed last night, so 2007 isn't looking to be so great.

Marilyn / January 2, 2007 9:48 AM

I feel certain that as the years go by (and particularly in my last year), I'll look at 2006 as the most significant year of my life.

2007 will probably be spent processing 2006.

fluffy / January 2, 2007 10:57 AM

2006 - I learned a lot about myself and dealt with some personal issues that I should've dealt with years ago. I also consolidated all my debt and have been paid off some loans and credit cards - that was pretty huge for me.

2007- I'll move to a new apartment in October, I plan on working on my art a lot more and maybe having a few shows. I'd also like to go to California and Washington state - I've never been there, but everyone I know says I'd love it there.
I also plan on making some short movies about my cat.

leah / January 2, 2007 11:04 AM

2006 was hard work. I did buy a leedle condo but I find myself single & mostly scared now!

My darling Fran, my iPod, just kicked the bucket this morning so 2007 bites it so far.

Tropical vacation in 2 weeks I can barely wait for...

Josh / January 2, 2007 11:06 AM

2006 was uneventful. I fear this year will have a significant and unwanted change in it, because things have been too stable for me for too long.

skafiend / January 2, 2007 11:56 AM

Dang, Allen, if that was a real post...things still could be a lot worse. You could be James Brown, i.e. dead. So make like the GFOS and get up offa that thang...My life is sucking right now too but I hanging on the stupid belief that it's going to get better, and that I have to make it better. Damn, all Dr. Phil and shyt up in here!...

Emerson Dameron / January 2, 2007 12:02 PM

'06 was all over the damned place. I travelled for the first time in years and had some of the best and worst professional, psychological and financial experiences of my life.

'07 will probably be more relaxed. I hope it'll involve seeing hills again. If I get through this year, I'll be a few months shy of 30... which means I have that long to become rich, celebrated and secure, or I'll have to spontaneously combust on my birthday.

carrie / January 2, 2007 12:36 PM

Fluffy- for real, please make movies about your cat. I want to see. That is a good 2007 goal.

madachode / January 2, 2007 1:04 PM

2007: making sure that the public knows that roads were built for automobiles and not bicycles

eep / January 2, 2007 1:17 PM

2006 was good and bad. Some people I care about died and/or got very sick. I spent way too much on car repairs and/or parking tickets. I'm deeper in debt than ever, and I gained a lot of weight.

BUT I have great friends, a steady income (even if the job does drive me crazy), a wonderful family with a new nephew in 2006, and an amazing guy. So if 2007 keeps up the way 2006 ended, I think it will all go pretty well.

wordup / January 2, 2007 1:24 PM

2006: Bought a condo. Bought a car. Got a great job. Got fired. Got divorced. Got two more jobs. Got fired from both.
Switched careers (I'm a shitty journalist) and hoping for the best in 2007.

kevin / January 2, 2007 2:01 PM

did you really name your baby paisley? that's different, but i kinda like it.

David / January 2, 2007 2:12 PM

2006: Sold the car, paid off $23,000 in debt (wonder how? It's called a budget.) and saved a shitload of money.

I got fired from my suckass job in April, but because we'd sorted finances, I was able to take six months off and figure out what I really wanted to do.

Got engaged to my girl, and (again, because of the budgeting) I was able to get the ring and pay C-A-S-H. Felt good.

2007: Making those dollars sweat and scream while they work for me. Saving up for the wedding. Taking design classes at Harrington (what I really wanted to do), and working my new job.

A man, a plan, a canal. Panama!

4point44 / January 2, 2007 2:32 PM

no, we didn't name the baby paisley. but she looked like a paisley on the ultrasound. and when she smiles it makes me think of paisley. it makes me think of this paisley.

Justin / January 2, 2007 2:34 PM

On the upswing.

mike-ts / January 2, 2007 3:20 PM

A change in the calendar is a crappy reason to start a plan. Just because the year changed isn't going to carry one through the hard times. Making a goal based on a strong desire will.

I'm fat isn't a plan. I'll get Dr. Ornish's book and lose 3 pounds per week, and not step on the scale, but judge progress with belt notches, is a plan. I ain't got no friends is no plan. I'll go out after work and try to chat it up with at least three people, or I'll go to three venues this weekend and talk to interesing people to my left and right is.

When I have a worthy goal, losing weight is no problem. When I have weak goals, it is. It's not that the bowl of spaghetti is stronger than my will, the energy from the bowl of spaghetti when I'm dragging butt is stronger than a flimsy goal, but weaker than a stronger goal.

Marilyn / January 2, 2007 3:38 PM

That sounds like Lloyd Dobler's speech to Diane Court's father in "Say Anything." Have you thought of kickboxing?

p / January 2, 2007 4:08 PM

how many steps are in that plan and is any presently shopping it around to motivational book publishers in scottsdale, AZ? i know a guy named "strong-desire will". man could he get determined. also- best william-based nickname since Will.I.Am of the black eyed peas. you are right though- you're not likely to follow through without genuine desire to change/work/grow. It helps to tell others of your aims, that way it's extra motivation to see it through. And if it's the big person/less social combo thing mentioned- you can network and socialize about weight loss and hit both goals. Best David-based nickname? Crazy Dave. Or Shady Dave.

i've got a magnet in my office with lots of different cartoon facial expressions and another frame magnet that you put on the face you are that day. I put mine on hopeful face for the year.

*kara* / January 2, 2007 9:47 PM

2006 involved a lot of me having to be pretty brave.

2007 will be about me enjoying the payoff!

Carlotta / January 2, 2007 11:09 PM

Overall experiences in 2006 have provided my motto for 2007:
SEIZE THE DAY.

Don't think you'll say or do something next time because there very well may not be one. And time goes by way, way too quickly.

In 2006 I lost 63.5 lbs, started taking better care of my health and ended a relationship that was going nowhere.

In 2007 I am going to lose 40 more pounds, enlarge my circle of friends, and get a new job.

angie / January 2, 2007 11:53 PM

I'm with kara. hopefully, the decisions I have made the past year will have a big impact on the year ahead......including changing my career, moving, and seeing how that affects other relationships.
I am all about the payoff!

Mikey / January 3, 2007 9:00 AM

I think (hope) 2006 was finally my year...

After a typically non-eventful first 8 months, a lot of good things started happening...

I went to Italy for 10 days in September, came back and adopted the pit bull I had been fostering for several months...

As November rolled around, I enrolled in Chicago's CPAN program and was selected in the first lottery for which I was eligible, and am now in the process (knock on wood) of buying my first place not far from where I currently reside...

At work I have a new boss, and it looks like I'm finally beginning to be recognized for my talents and 7+ years of service to the firm. Hopefully, the money will be soon to follow...

And if all that weren't enough, I met the most incredible woman (with a 5-year old daughter) in the beginning of December and think I may be falling in love for only the second time in my life (I'm 37)...

If 2007 is to be anything like the last 4 months of 2006, then I say bring it on!!

d. / January 3, 2007 9:17 AM

i wish i had fonder memories, but 2006 just really didn't do a whole lot for me -- it wasn't very good. so screw it.

bring it on, 2007! i'm ready.

miss casual / January 3, 2007 9:20 AM

2006 was my first year back in chicago after a long hiatus in the dirty south and it was the best year in a long time. i had so much fun, got a sweet bike, started a blog with my friend, and fell in love with chicago all over again.

so i am determined to aim high and make 2007 even better. i am thinking all of 2006 plus falling madly in love with some tall dark handsome stranger and running off to vegas to get married by elvis. that kind of thing.

fluffy / January 3, 2007 9:42 AM

David,

I hope your deep psychological quest for inner growth finds you the happiness and peace, both spiritually and mentally, you are searching for in 2007.

mike-ts / January 3, 2007 10:58 AM

Marilyn, p, I know I sounded like I was spouting self-improvement guru sounding tripe, but that wasn't the intention. I read Allan's post, and it reminded me of people who'd wake up and start to make plans to do things simply because the calendar changed, and they're "supposed" to change something. I just wanted to remind people that they'd change when they had a solid reason to.

My father quit smoking all the time until he saw his brother die of lung cancer. Then he finished his last carton of Camels and didn't smoke again, even though the temptation of smokers surrounded him, there was no pull for him to restart. A bud quit every week until he decided he was mountain biking in Moab, Utah, and needed the lung capacity, then he successfully quit. A woman I work with was chubby all her life but she and her husband were happy with her build - but once she got diabetes she made herself skinny for strong health reasons.

I've spent the past ten years saying I'll learn to play that guitar in the corner. If it was a passion, or if someone was depending on me to get up to speed to be part of their band, I'd have a reason to spend 20 minutes a day to do it, but as long as "it'll be a nice thing to do", it'll not get done.

I'm just saying, GB'ers, God bless you in your efforts to change what you don't like, but build the end reason up to be stronger than the status quo, otherwise you'll say the same things 365 days from now. I'm off to tune the six string to practice my scales. Just like I did this time last year...

Brandy / January 3, 2007 11:03 AM

Well since I moved on the 1st, I haven't had any time to reflect. 2006 was good. Plenty of positive change and confirmation that I'm on the right path. With a new home and unburdened by a lot of junk, I feel ready to zoom in 2007.

Marilyn / January 3, 2007 11:15 AM

Mike-ts - I wasn't really criticizing, but your post didn't really fit the question, so it sounded kind of tongue-in-cheek and a tiny bit preachy.

spence / January 3, 2007 11:30 AM

I think I'll remember 2006 quite fondly in the future. I expanded in many ways and experienced much more than previous years that I've lived.

In 2007, I hope to continue personal growth, as there are still several areas that can be improved upon.

anne / January 3, 2007 12:19 PM

I started 2007 off by getting a cold. What does that mean?

David / January 3, 2007 1:46 PM

Yes, because bettering oneself is strictly about a deep psychological quest for inner growth.

Ahem.

skafiend / January 3, 2007 2:43 PM

2006 basically sucked... it was the year I had to embrace the realization that (because of a specific event) I will never be even 70 percent happy for the rest of my life. Probably not even 60 percent happy. But once you accept that, everything else gravy.

Oh, and mike-ts, I hear where you're coming from. It is amusing to see so many people scrambling to get their life in order because of a flip of the calendar page. But can't hate 'em for trying. If 365 days is what it takes to motivate them, so be it. For every 100 that try, maybe only 5 stick with it, but that's five more people on this planet that are trying to improve themselves, which is fine by me.

skafiend / January 3, 2007 2:47 PM

New Year's Resolutions

spence / January 3, 2007 2:50 PM

a new year is a rebirth or baptism to try to change the cycle of there lives. While I agree that people should change themselves (for the better) all of the time, it does makes sense that most changes or promises of change culminate at the beginning of the the cycle rather than the middle or end.

jon / January 3, 2007 2:59 PM

2006 - I spent 2 months in places where I didn't speak the language. That was fun. And now I know a bit more Hebrew, Italian, and French, as a result.

2007 - looking forward to being forced to learn some Korean and Japanese!

amy / January 3, 2007 4:01 PM

2006 was a significant year for me. Many good and bad things culminated in 2006 to lead me to a place I've been struggling to reach my entire life -- I finally can honestly say that I know who I am, that I'm happy with it, and I and don't give a s**t what anyone else says about it.

Not sure what 2007 will bring but I'm excited to see what's around the corner. . .

leelah / January 3, 2007 4:20 PM

Though it started out somewhat miserably, I accomplished some good stuff in 2006... achieved National Boards, got an amazing new job (and I went with two of my friends from my old job), and I got myself to Greece (finally!)

2007 is starting out slow... but I've got fewer changes to make this year.

Flips / January 3, 2007 9:15 PM

A lot of suck-ass stuff happened in '06, but it made me stronger and bolder once I got some perspective on all of it. It also pushed me into asking for the raise I deserved that I never would have received without growing some cajones and just going for it.

I discovered a lot about who my real friends are, that's for certain.

I am feeling much stronger this year and I feel positive, plans in the works that I am excited about. And more soul searching to follow this year.

For the people w/the break-in and the cold, you're just getting the yucky stuff out the way right off the bat. I hear you on the break-in, it's rough. That was part of my trifecta of crap last year.

ack / January 3, 2007 11:49 PM

Hmmm... I guess I am looking for some motivation in 2007.

I gave up almost everything in 2006. The marriage, the dog, the fancy apt, the comfortable job, the giant tumor in my belly, the cancerous appendix, the anger, the need to take care of everyone...

It's funny. I'm light. I like it.

I just need to figure out where to float to.

C / January 4, 2007 12:16 AM

2006--My team came out on top, numero uno.

2007--Can't wait to wear the red at the friendly confines.

wordup / January 4, 2007 6:41 AM

I hear you, Ack.