Gapers Block has ceased publication.

Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
 Thank you for your readership and contributions. 

TODAY

Thursday, March 28

Gapers Block
Search

Gapers Block on Facebook Gapers Block on Flickr Gapers Block on Twitter The Gapers Block Tumblr


Fuel

j / December 29, 2005 7:31 AM

Though not originally mine I believe it's a rather swell guide by which to live:

Work like I don't need the money,
dance like nobody's watching, and
love like I've never been hurt.

That's my 2006.

slb / December 29, 2005 8:23 AM

in my endless quest for perfection:
-quit smoking (again)
-drink/party less
-write more/finish more creative projects
-try to be less of a slob
-exercise more (not just in the summertime)
-spend less money
-fix my brain so i never freak out about stupid stuff

these are the same resolutions from last year. i made some headway, actually. and i did quit smoking last year, i just started again about mid-year. i need to make june resolutions too - maybe that would help-

eep / December 29, 2005 9:00 AM

This year I'm going to try to eat healthier (with the hope that it will help me lose weight), exercise at least semi-regularly (with the same hope), and not get involved too quickly with stupid boys.

I didn't make any resolutions for 2005, so I don't feel guilty about breaking them. Heh.

leah / December 29, 2005 9:14 AM

I'm going to be more ambitious.

And that about covers it.

Oh and break up with all my baseball crushes. Or at least pare it down.

CVAL / December 29, 2005 9:25 AM

*Keep Pushing*
Everything within the scope of worthwhile achievement falls under this tenet.

appopt / December 29, 2005 10:41 AM

For 2005 I resolved to keep up with local news and politics, so I subscribed to the finest news source in the city. But for some reason, I haven't received the Red Streak for the past couple of weeks. Wonder if I forgot to pay the bill.

For 2006, I'll try to be a little less ambitious. Let's see, I'll ...
* eat more octopus balls.
* stop paying ATM fees.
* drink more Berghoff beer (and try to convince the cranky old people to keep their restaurant open).

Moon / December 29, 2005 10:41 AM

Well, I was going to go to bars more, but I didn't.

I did make a resolution to move into a new apartment, but that was kind of shoved onto me, since they tore down my old building.

And the White Sox did win the World Series, which was a resolution I made.

sky / December 29, 2005 11:44 AM

I don't think I had any for 2005, or else I did, and felt guilty so pushed them out of my head.

*Apply to grad school. Stop mentally freaking myself out of taking the GRE.
*Pay bills on time. Pay bills. Get back car insurance.
*Quit Smoking.
*Stop going to gay bars as much and go to straight ones.
*And of course....join a gym. and go to it. So when I'm at the straight bars I'll be smokin!...well hopefully not cigarettes, but you get my gist.

jen / December 29, 2005 11:56 AM

- to get out of the country at least once
- to photograph more
- to bake more
- to begin my rigorous two-year (well, maybe three) schedule of paying off student loans

last year's resolution was simply to use the hand dryers in public restrooms instead of adding to the mountain of used papertowels in the trash. and i think i did pretty well on that one.

jen*nee / December 29, 2005 12:37 PM

I resolve to eat more, drink more, smoke more, f*ck more, curse more, travel more, go to as many shows as possible, go to as many baseball games as possible, spend as much time at the beach as possible, and hopefully find a partner in crime who enjoys being a heathen as much as I do.

Baldeesh / December 29, 2005 12:39 PM

Didn't really have any resolutions for '05 - I did say something about travelling, which sort of happened, but not enough.

'06 -
Totally quit smoking.
Learn to cook different dishes.
Find an apartment that isn't ruthlessly baking in the summer and then freezing in the winter.
Be a bit more confident with the dudes.

fakeidentity / December 29, 2005 1:27 PM


To get an identity of my own and to stop fronting for 'the man'. To be a real person with a real job.

Veronica / December 29, 2005 1:59 PM

My resolution for '05 was to do the 52 books, which I did. Same thing for '06, but since I know I can do it, maybe I should add something else to the mix? I won't say find a boy, because I'm certainly not going to be with a boy who isn't right for me, but maybe I could make an effort to find a boy. Date a boy, even. Yeah. That's my resolution. (If nothing else, I should have hilarious stories by the end of the year.)

holden / December 29, 2005 3:36 PM

help jen*nee with her resoluations.
j/k

i did pretty good on my main resolution for last year of starting and keep a blog. It's been a lot of fun and even though its mostly just read by my family, it is a nice little journal/message board. I haven't kept a journal for a long time, and it is nice to be able to look back and re-read about some of your adventures.
Other than that, I'm going back to school to get my masters and switch careers, which, while not a resolution, is very fun and exciting.
I would love to say 'learn to play piano or guitar' but i just don't see me having the time to do that in '06. Hopefully '07.
Pick 1 actual recipe a week and make it. (less cooking the same things or just whatever I think up in my head.)
Find an organization or cause and volunteer/join/donate. This is the one I will focus on for '06. Now...which org?

Leelah / December 30, 2005 7:46 AM

My main resolution last year was to either do a triathlon or join a master's swim team. I was well on my way to a triathlon when I got a severe case of bronchitis, so that went to hell. I did manage a few 5ks though.

This year, it's to achieve National Board Certification and to get some lovin' from somebody who isn't totally repulsive or self-destructive. Good thing I leave for Amsterdam tonight...

MIchael / December 30, 2005 9:46 AM

to further pursue my continuing education at Scumbag University (post-doctorate, mind you).

Mack Avenue / December 30, 2005 10:30 AM

To continue providing unprecedented levels of attentive service to the lonely ladies of Chicagoland...As Milli Vanilli once put it, girl you know it's true.

Jason / December 30, 2005 11:44 AM

In 2006 I will receive regular invitations to black tie events. Should I choose to attend, I will charm the women with my new command of the French language. The men will be inspired by my recent publications with a prestigious university press.

-

In 2005, I quit smoking and started work on my PhD. But I did not find the appropriate girl. But I did move to a nicer neighborhood. But I don't write real letters as often as I would like.

Emerson Dameron / December 30, 2005 6:57 PM

1. Be better
2. Stop apologizing

Carlotta / December 31, 2005 12:25 AM

1. Take better care of myself, health-wise (esp. w/ losing weight)
2. Get a better job
3. Get rid of all my clutter.

Didn't really make any resolutions last year, but as I turned 50 this year I'm more aware of my mortality and the need to live more fully.

elena / December 31, 2005 5:10 PM

I resolve to:
1. take that darn c.p.r. class they offer at the YMCA
2. submit my book proposal
3. write more regularly
4. stop offering unsolicited advice
5. criticize others less -- but avoid more frequently those who are guaranteed to annoy me
6. spend less money on crap I don't need or only need because I am being lazy

8.

Austin / January 1, 2006 9:29 AM

In 2006 I resolved to do only 1 thing. Take a vacation. I don't think I've ever actually had a real vacation.

Moon / January 1, 2006 10:59 AM

My resolution for this year seems to be "act more sullen at work".

Crap! My job is easy, but management is such a bunch of idiots.

Moon / January 1, 2006 11:01 AM

Austin, I had a real vacation about 5 years ago. It was great!

Maybe I'll do that, too. A Caribbean cruise or something.

Freddie / January 1, 2006 9:26 PM

For 2006:

-Be on time
-Go to school
-Start rowing again (hopefully at school)
-Use up my rollover minutes
-Keep in touch with old friends more

Spencer / January 1, 2006 10:10 PM

to find more excellent Chicago Blogs... like this one. :)

szny / January 1, 2006 11:37 PM

1) To use my real name when posting on GB
2) To stop reading Chicagoist (won't be hard to complete)

Robin / January 2, 2006 7:11 AM

my resolution for 05? Get an Illinois driver's license. Took care of that on Dec. 30.

For 06?
1. Procrastinate Less
2. Cook more adventurous meals
3. No more shopping for pants on the internet! Never works!
4. Make more friends.

Moon / January 2, 2006 11:45 AM

I have had great success shopping for pants on the internet.

Sarah / January 2, 2006 2:42 PM

Past resolutions have included joining the circus and becoming an avant garde performance artist. Done that, yo.

Resolutions for this year:

1. Travel to Iceland and do something to write home about, e.g. cross the arctic circle, ride a horse on a glacier, climb into a volcano
2. Find fellow velour clad hedonist for meaningful relationship (or at least for sex)
3. Finish my friends' wedding present (embroidered scenes from Coney Island) before they've been married for a year and can't accept it anymore
4. Be slightly more selfish
5. And slighly less responsible

Leah / January 2, 2006 3:29 PM

My two resolutions for 2005 were to become a jew and buy a condo and I did both. I also lost and gained the same 5-10 lbs over and over.

This year I want to lose more than I gain.
Find a publisher for my book.
Find a date for next New Year's Eve.
Do the dishes.

mel / January 2, 2006 4:15 PM

To try and gain 5 pounds. I know it will be tough, but I have an eating plan and a personal training program involving a lot of sitting and lying down.

Moon / January 2, 2006 7:10 PM

mel, I have a great recipe for pizza and Dr. Vino can lead you to some good wines.

/A sure recipe to gain 5 pounds.

michelle / January 2, 2006 9:57 PM

in 2006, i will try to...
-be a better money manager. i shop way too much.
-go to barcelona in july.
-continue to workout at least 3 times a week.
-get a job teaching either art or sped.
-meet a man who is smart, funny, honest and thoughtful.....and it wouldnt hurt if he were hot too.
-find new places to fall in love with in chicago.

Freddie / January 3, 2006 3:35 AM

in addition:

-actually use my in:chicago card in chicago.

GB store

Recently on Fuel

Urban Ethos [26]
What is Chicago's "urban ethos"?

Cool Glass of... [16]
What're you drinking?

Supreme Decision [22]
What's your reaction to the Supreme Court's decision on the Affordable Care Act?

Taking it to the Streets [20]
Chicago Street Fairs: Revolting or Awesome?

I Can Be Cruel [9]
Be real: what is the meanest thing you've ever done?

View the complete archive

GB Store

GB Buttons $1.50

GB T-Shirt $12

I ✶ Chi T-Shirts $15