Stolen from Tasha, who stole it from a girl named Jane

Since I'm not sleepy, why not be introspective? Goodbye 2003.... what did you ever do for me?

Click on 'more' to read 40 questions about Aaron circa 2003...


01. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?

I went to not one, but two big conventions - WizardWorld Chicago and Dragon*Con. Both made me even more of a fan of the things I like... it makes me wonder how much fun I've missed in the past. Thanks so much to James for Chicago's Big Adventure and to the Dragon*Con crew.

02. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I didn't have any. In fact, I really don't remember what I even did on New Year's 2003.

03. Did someone close to you give birth?

Yes... Luke and Brittany. If I have one regret, it's not seeing their child yet.

04. Did anyone close to you die?

"i never took the time to stop and realize that death takes many forms, even while alive" - Goodbye, by Plankeye

05. What countries did you visit?

canadia, eh.

06. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?

a steady signifcant other.

07. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Nov 26. First date with the most intelligent gal I've ever taken out on... well, a date. And a good date to, at that.

08. What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year?

Guess that would be moving into/buying the house. Wow. Seems like so long ago.

09. What was your biggest failure(s)?

Not being able to connect with the team, the students, the office... and most importantly, God in the ways I should have this summer during FUGE. Camp raped my life by coming in out of no where and throwing me around for a ride I was no where prepared for physically, mentally or spirituallt. Thank you Jesus for carrying me throw that with all my stumbling and sleeping and confusion.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Breif illness here and there. Oh - and Rec Lab when I almost died. Wow... that was 2003 as well. I almost forgot about that.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Bought? That means I had to exchange money for some sort of material good, right? My mom's christmas present... an Apple-made photo album of the family. Not only did it help pay for Steve Job's lunch (or, if we estimate a cheap lunch of $10.. then a week's worth of lunches), but my dad was able to help in scanning the pictures and my mom absolutely loved it. The right gift at the right time for the right reason. It's something that I honestly hope to inherit one day.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Behavior? James Baggett. The faithful friend who not only climbed out of the debt whole, but celebrated it by giving me one of the most memorable gifts I've ever had - Chicago Wizard World 2003. Paid for it all, he did. He calls and I so seldom find the time to call him back because I'm just terrible at that sort of thing... but he calls anyway. One of the most loyal friends I have.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

My own. Seems there are things that I should have learned by now. Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life. How does God reach us? Through the heart. And so, when we break off those little pieces, He gets to spend time rebuilding, rekindling, renuturing that love He developed in us. And as those wounds heal, we bleed love in all the wrong places. The love He has for us gets poured out in the wrong ways.

And it's not fair that this poor heart of mine is to be so damaged and wounded when I hand it out to the right reciever. Forgive me, future bride.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Credit card bills. But that's what happens when you move into a house, but stuff like a TV and couch and table and lawn mower and so forth and so on.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Caffiene. Not the drug, but the coffee shop. And not really the coffee shop, at that - the people in it. I've always wanted a place where I could go as a refuge... and knowing that any time when I'm having a long day at work I can drive down the street and see the Troika of my closest nashvillian friends - Tasha, Logan and Mark - it gives me a feeling that I truly am making a place for myself... and making true friends in a world so blah.

Number 2 would be working at RCKTWN. Never thought I'd be running sound or light or stage managing at a place I always dreamt of visiting... never once thought I'd be part of the crew. Owe that one to God and prayer. I think I wrote an entry on that a while back... or at least thought about writing one.

16. What song(s) will always remind you of 2003?

"Going Under" by Evanescence (My "moving into the house" album)
"God Thinks" by Voltaire (Dragon*Con)
"Hurt" by Johnny Cash (Dragon*Con)
"The World Can Wait" by Over the Rhine (it's OtR... come on)
"So Not About Me" by Paige (for FUGE 2003)
"Be Thou My Vision" by Pedro the Lion (for the 24GOD video that never aired...)
"Hush" by Waterdeep (for retinroducing me to good music)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

older. and i feel like it.

ii. thinner or fatter?

fatter. i ate too much at the LifeWay cafe. i've actually been losing weight lately since Caffiene food is more expensive for less food. ;-)

iii. richer or poorer?

poorer. $6957.81 in debt, before the $99,466.31 left on the house's principle

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

pray. read the bible.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

sleep. no really.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

in Cincy with the family.

22. Did you fall in love in 2003?

heh. read the blog on "The Last First Kiss." Did I fall in love? I don't believe we fall in love.. but we choose to love. But for the sake of the question... I fell into the love of friends in Tasha/Logan/Mark. I fell in love with reading good comics, not just the ones that i'm expected to read because they're popular. I fell in love with my job... fell out... and now am coming back around to it.

23. How many one-night stands?

I'm a virgin by choice, and staying that way. One-night-kissing-sessions? Eh, c'mon... like you really want to know... ew.

24. What was your favorite TV program?

buffy.
angel.
the screen savers.
he-man.
.hack.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

hate's a strong word. heh... i really don't think I hate anyone.

26. What was the best book you read?

Wild at Heart. no question whatsoever there (unless we're including the Bible... yeah yeah - typical sunday school answer)

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Pedro the Lion (i discovered him in 2002, but didn't buy an album until this year... does that count?)
Over the Rhine (same thing... KaZaa...)
Evanesence

28. What did you want and get?

real friendships. see again: tasha/logan/mark; shawn; andy; rena; james; michelle; beth; daphne... several of those have been friends for quite a while. I was just too guarded to realize how good of friends they truly were.

a church home: mosiacnashville.org

a real techie job: rcktwn.com

29. What did you want and not get?

the second buffy game that's on sale for $20 for the xbox. an iPod. being told from work that i did a good job this past summer.

30. Favorite film of this year?

dare i say it? Pirates of the Carribean

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

turned 23. I'm thinking that we were leaving for WizardWorld Chicago

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

becoming classified as full time at LifeWay.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?

fashion? appearntly "not-good-enough-for-professional-casual-attire." or so i've been told.

34. What kept you sane?

dreams.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

christopher walken. oh.. fancy.. the biritsh word for "attraceted to/like in a romantic way."

hmmm... yup. Christopher Walken.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

anti-Christian sentiment... for Christmas. C'mon people. Christmas. Christ-mas. CHRIST - MASS. Our Lord and Saviour, JESUS CHRIST. AND a MASS. A Worship GATHERING. Yeah. Obviously Christmas has nothing to do with Jesus and those silly Christians. Oi.

37. Who do you miss?

Sarah. You liked to talk a lot... but at least you liked talking to me.
Stephie. I want the Stephie I knew back... not this girl that preaches things she doesn't really believe.
Jason. Thank you for protecting our country. But c'mon man... you even helped me pick out the paint on my walls. I miss you buddy.
Bethie G. My first Nashvillian friend. I only dont talk to you that often because it hurts knowing that this Sunday I'm not buying the food and you're not cooking it. And that I won't hear you sing anytime soon.

38. Who was the best new person you met?

Gotta take the easy out and say Daphne. I've learned so much from Nov 26 on...

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003:

You've never met a mere mortal (CS LEWIS)

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

Hush little baby don't say a word
Daddy's gone and bought you a great big heaven to rest in
He's bought it with blood and put the seal in your heart
it'll give you the hope you need to get up and start again

when all the things you thought you left behind are still hanging on
and everything you try to do right ends up all wrong

and on the inside everyone else seems basically fine
but on the inside even they won't let go of the dead and cling to what's alive
well I AM

(Hush, by WATERDEEP