NationStates Jolt Archive

Thats right ladies and gentlemen, its nigh on a year since I arrived, and I'm kinda interested as to what everyone's achieved in a year....

Passed Grade Eleven. Performed in two musicals. Came as close to getting the lead for next year's musical as is possible without actually getting it. Learned how to make good desserts. Travelled to Europe. Started running. Read alot. Watched TV alot. Ate alot.

Another qualification so another set of letters behind my name. This takes the total number of letters after my name to the same as the total number of letters in my name!

Got my first job collecting glasses, got drunk alot, did my exams (i think I just scrapped through) and went to Download Festival 06

Another year of college has passed me by, and I successfully slacked my way to a B+ average, which I'm not all that happy about. I've drank enough to drown a village. I've made plenty of money, raided New York City and Washington DC. Nearly blew myself up (twice) and nearly got myself killed. I've gotten pissed off, and sexiled. At the same time I've turned down four opportunities to sexile someone else. I fell asleep in class. A lot. Ran for North Campus Senator in the Undergraduate Student Government elections, and lost. As did my presidential candidate. And, uh, yeah. Stuff. The life of a college student who is just trying to live his life and get by with what needs done.

Let's see, what HAVE I done this fiscal year...well, I had to make my first CPS call, I got my dog microchipped, I started parting my hair on the side, I tried to move out of my parents' house twice (and realized twice that I still don't have enough money to do so), I turned 24, aaand okay yeah, basically nothing. :(

OH I started graduate school last year. That's something.

Meh. Prepared to be depressed.

I've lost one great grandparent, whilst another grandparent has contracted terminal cancer. I've gone into sixth form at my school, whilst my best friends left for another sixth form college, so, that sucks.

On the up side, I actually have a job, have Reading tickets, and have decided that the new people at college might not be too "mainstream" for me afterall.

Ive grown a beard enjoyed myself and collected acres of junk.

Actually worked in my field instead of talking about it, which has included:
My own IMDb page with two whole entries for movies no one will ever hear of...

WAY too many reality shows.

Also, WAY too many sketchy months where I either didn't think I would or actually didn't find work.

$800 some odd in parking tickets in the city.

Only managing to meet one famous person, and it was someone I grew up with. (he didn't remember me, but his dad did.)

Despite that, I really enjoy what I do so it's all good.

Next year, I have to work on some of my own stuff for a change. We'll see.

Ive grown a beard enjoyed myself and collected acres of junk.

Ooh, a beard AND junk. A man after my own heart.

(I'm intent on making you blush again.)

Failed at life.


ETA: $800 some odd in parking tickets in the city.Well okay, that's something I accomplished right there. Feeling better already. :p

moved to GA, got a job

celebrated 3 years with my gf 2 years living together

thats about it.

Failed at life.

You be how old, exactly?

You be how old, exactly?
Too old. :p

Got engaged. :D

Ooh, a beard AND junk. A man after my own heart.

(I'm intent on making you blush again.)


Im far too old to blush twice in one day.:p

Went to Disney World, got myself off academic probation, performed in a musical, embarrassed myself with at least one woman, kept track of New Year's 2006 around the world.

Passed 11th Grade, took my first AP tests, formed a band, dissolved a band, chosen possible careers, chosen new possible careers (repeat, ad nauseum), advanced to black belt candidate in martial arts, read a lot, and wrote a little.

So basically, I've done nothing that really matters.

Failed at life.


ETA: Well okay, that's something I accomplished right there. Feeling better already. :p
I had a girlfriend (once upon a time...aaaannyway) that had a hard time understanding why she was into me, so I sent her a recording of an essay called "Women who love men who don't pay thier parking tickets." She thought it summed it up nicely (even contained a line about wanting to change thier name to Tonya, which was the name of the, um, well endowed girlfriend she had to wait around for me to break up with (or vice versa, as it happened) before she could make her move.) It was also back in my musician days.

Ooh, a beard AND junk. A man after my own heart.

(I'm intent on making you blush again.)
Pff, I've had a triumphant beard and lived in junk for years. Oddly enough, for about as long as the prime condition in my previous post no longer applied...I refuse to make a correlation.

Got engaged. :D

Congratulations. :cool:

Pff, I've had a triumphant beard and lived in junk for years. Oddly enough, for about as long as the prime condition in my previous post no longer applied...I refuse to make a correlation.

Interesting.

Im far too old to blush twice in one day.:p

In a day? Good lord, how old are you?

In a day? Good lord, how old are you?

46

I remember when dirt was just rocks.

46

I remember when dirt was just rocks.

Hey, my mom is 49. ...Not bad!

I got hired to my current position, after three years of hit-and-miss, short-term contracts, temp work, and jobs on spec. And thanks to my recent singular efforts, my employer just got us a deal worth 30+ million.

I had a girlfriend (once upon a time...aaaannyway) that had a hard time understanding why she was into me, so I sent her a recording of an essay called "Women who love men who don't pay thier parking tickets." She thought it summed it up nicely (even contained a line about wanting to change thier name to Tonya, which was the name of the, um, well endowed girlfriend she had to wait around for me to break up with (or vice versa, as it happened) before she could make her move.) It was also back in my musician days. Well, failing at life is one thing, but to be adequately summed up by a ditty about unpaid parking tickets would be even more depressing. Then again, I don't have a well-endowed girlfriend, so who knows.
In other news - have I told you that I've seen your IMDb page? Mwahaha. I promise I'll check out the movie(s) when they ever come out.

Hey, my mom is 49. ...Not bad!

Hmm is she single?

Well, failing at life is one thing, but to be adequately summed up by a ditty about unpaid parking tickets would be even more depressing. Then again, I don't have a well-endowed girlfriend, so who knows.
In other news - have I told you that I've seen your IMDb page? Mwahaha. I promise I'll check out the movie(s) when they ever come out.
Good luck on the first one. The second one screened but I missed it. That one's likely to have some realise but I don't know how much Germany is going to care about a movie about a historic event in San Jose...I would think they'd see that and go, "That was a big thing for you in 1933? Ah geez...poor babies...:rolleyes:"

Thats right ladies and gentlemen, its nigh on a year since I arrived, and I'm kinda interested as to what everyone's achieved in a year....
Hmm.

* Gone from being virtually impovrished to being relatively well off.

* Settled on the Ph.D. program I want to pursue.

* Paid off my home and most of my bills.

* Bought a new ( 2003 ) car for my ex.

* Began a comprehensive exercise program.

* Started the wheels in motion to adopt my two grand daughters.

* Bought a $500 used car for myself and fixed it up so it looks presentable.

* Acquired a second cat by default.

* Set up a trust fund for my grandchildren.

* Agitated a whole BUNCH of people on NS General.

* Oh yeah ... began my "war" with cancer.

Hmm is she single?

Not anymore, but thanks for asking. Are YOU single? ...wait...Mr. Hartranft?

Gained a wonderful boyfriend and best friend :) (I could dwell on that part for ages, but there's just too much to say - he simply rocks, and I can't wait to spend my future with him :fluffle: :))
Worked at and created a wonderful, beneficial and healthy relationship that I'm incredibly happy with :)
Done all my GCSEs - have yet to find out the results - and not only prepared well for them, but stayed calm about them all.
Enrolled and was accepted at a new college for September.
Pretty much overcome depression, or - at least - survived and got through various bouts of depression, and managed to do a fairly good job at fighting it off a lot of the time.
Got a job which I just started on Wednesday.
Gained a lot of self-confidence and a better attitude towards myself and life.
Become a fighter against the evil of gender stereotyping.
Become a lot happier.
Become more understanding and forgiving.
Become better at making choices in my life. (Big ones - I still suck at small decisions :p)
Learned the value of honesty.
Become closer to my parents.
Lots more as well.

Generally... had a very good year :)
Ups and downs of course, but generally... I've come pretty far :)

edit:
Ooo, just been reminded of seeing Dream Theater and Santana live, both of which were amazing gigs :D

In the last year I've passed exams, started studying for more exams, gone to many gigs, increased my clubbing nights, started learning to drive, help organise parties and discos, lost a part time job, gained a many long term friends and generally enjoyed life to the full

Gained a wonderful boyfriend and best friend :) (I could dwell on that part for ages, but there's just too much to say - he simply rocks, and I can't wait to spend my future with him :fluffle: :))
Worked at and created a wonderful, beneficial and healthy relationship that I'm incredibly happy with :)
Done all my GCSEs - have yet to find out the results - and not only prepared well for them, but stayed calm about them all.
Enrolled and was accepted at a new college for September.
Pretty much overcome depression, or - at least - survived and got through various bouts of depression, and managed to do a fairly good job at fighting it off a lot of the time.
Got a job which I just started on Wednesday.
Gained a lot of self-confidence and a better attitude towards myself and life.
Become a fighter against the evil of gender stereotyping.
Become a lot happier.
Become more understanding and forgiving.
Become better at making choices in my life. (Big ones - I still suck at small decisions :p)
Learned the value of honesty.
Become closer to my parents.
Lots more as well.

Generally... had a very good year :)
Ups and downs of course, but generally... I've come pretty far :)
You two are so in love I just want to poke you with a stick...

You two are so in love I just want to poke you with a stick...
...towards an embrace with Huw?

(in rough chronological order)

1. passed my year at uni despite clinical depression, an abscess causing constant pain in the exams, doing no revision and not attending any lectures or seminars for 2 out of 6 modules.

2. went to amsterdam on holiday with flatmate. got heavily stoned every day, very drunk, partied, did shrooms and ecstacy for the first time; went back to his place for the week after, recorded music in a makeshift studio (with myself as the engineer), took lots more assorted drugs (a la loads more pills, coke, tonnes of weed (we sent back a good ounce of nederhash but they grew their own in a barn too, so plentiful supply for the hookah), plenty of booze) and generally had a hedonistic time :)

3. with great difficulty returned to work for my parents

4. got friendly with some girl i met on the forums here, originally via TG, and then proceeded to become good friends, great friends, and around november time slipped into what has now turned into a fantastic and singularly special relationship with Glitziness :fluffle:

5. realised drugs and booze were pointless and weren't fun for me. i was using them at uni to escape and bury the depression, hiding the true problem from clear sight and ability to confront those problems. since that holiday i have drunk approximatley 0.75 pints of beer, and smoked nothing. you could say i've gone teetotal :eek:

6. got more confident, got more skills, become generally a new person thanks to Glitziness, my parents' support, dealing with depression as best i could, and finding relative success in work (bringing in 30 grand from a brand new product i developed in the first 6 months of sales is pretty good ;))

7. got a drum kit, a new TV, a PDA with GPS, a new laptop, built up savings.... got a big load of money stolen (fraudulently :() and then got it back again, been to two conferences, been to all sorts of places with Amy, grown up a lot.... basically, its been something of a turnaround year in my life :) i'm still not sure what to do with myself, where to go next, and i'm sure i'm not yet over my depression or ready to leave home again just yet, but with Amy's help and my new outlook on life, and with my parents support, i'm now looking forward to the future (for the most part)... even if its still all confusing and scary :p



i always write too much for these things :D

Not anymore, but thanks for asking. Are YOU single? ...wait...Mr. Hartranft?
Yes I am.

Erm, Mr Hartranft?

If only you'd waited until September to ask this, then I would have had something nifty to report...

Ah, well. In the past twelve months I have started and nearly completed an MA in International Affairs at the country's most prestigious school. (I finish in August)

Doing the programme involved moving out from my parents', that has been an experience... (First roommate was decent with some iffy spots, second roommate and I get along excellently)

Hmm... That's pretty much what I have focused on in that time...

Well, I have made lots of new friends, put an effort into improving my iceskating (That worked pretty well) and tried rollerblading (That still needs a bit of work). What else? ...Oh, I have built my online journal into "the most comprehensive blog I've ever seen", according to a colleague.

And I've tried escargot. It was groovy.

Oh, did I mention that I've met some of the closest friends I could ever imagine having? I've dropped about twenty-five pounds, regained twenty and dropped another ten? Rediscovered the joy of electric razors? Sat on the national mall with a beautiful girl and listened to a concert? Stared at the stars? Felt the touch of God? Made the mile and a half trek back from the theater to the dorm after seeing The Omen with another beautiful girl and drank Kahluah and watched the Adam West Batman movie to comfort each other? Showed my own personal moral fortitude several times, and showed rationality when others had lost it? Maintained a friendship with two close friends in spite of the tension that exists between them? It's been a pretty damn decent year in my opinion, and what I would change all involves the tiny details.

Generally... had a very good year :)
Ups and downs of course, but generally... I've come pretty far :)

edit:
Ooo, just been reminded of seeing Dream Theater and Santana live, both of which were amazing gigs :D
yay! :) :fluffle: (i think more need be said than "yay" but i'm tired and msn is far more private, hehe)

oh and that reminds me i saw my favourite band, Pitchshifter, live in march :)
and while we're on music, this last year has seen my musical tastes broaden a whole shitload :P


You two are so in love I just want to poke you with a stick...
lol we are!


*is so cute* :D

-snip-
I... I just love that I can be as good for you as you are for me :)
Nothing could bring me more happiness :fluffle:
Just... ah, words are meaningless when being able to do those kind of things for you means more than anything else ever could, and just fill me with... some wonderful feeling. And just makes me all the more certain of how I want to spend my future with you, supporting and loving you in all that I do, and putting all my efforts into bringing you the happiness someone as wonderful as you deserves :fluffle: :)

We really do rock together :D :p

I... I just love that I can be as good for you as you are for me :)
Nothing could bring me more happiness :fluffle:
Just... ah, words are meaningless when being able to do those kind of things for you means more than anything else ever could, and just fill me with... some wonderful feeling. And just makes me all the more certain of how I want to spend my future with you, supporting and loving you in all that I do, and putting all my efforts into bringing you the happiness someone as wonderful as you deserves :fluffle: :)

We really do rock together :D :p
...with a stick...

I... I just love that I can be as good for you as you are for me :)
Nothing could bring me more happiness :fluffle:
Just... ah, words are meaningless when being able to do those kind of things for you means more than anything else ever could, and just fill me with... some wonderful feeling. And just makes me all the more certain of how I want to spend my future with you, supporting and loving you in all that I do, and putting all my efforts into bringing you the happiness someone as wonderful as you deserves :fluffle: :)

We really do rock together :D :p

Both of you can get out. Right now.:p

Stop changing the mood and actually having a life, you make us feel inadequate.;)

...with a stick...
We rock together with a stick?
Ouch...

Almost forgot my grand accomplishment.

Twenty shots in three hours. No sickness, no blacking out, no passing out. Just rocking out!

...watched the Adam West Batman movie to comfort each other...
I watched that one for the first time this year, too! It was a nifty movie. 'Gotta love the bomb scene.

I think I can sum up my year in the total of my university fines; the last I checked, it was somewhere in the amount of £300. And that's only £40 academic.

yay! :) :fluffle: (i think more need be said than "yay" but i'm tired and msn is far more private, hehe)
Hehe, I know how you feel about it all, don't worry :) :fluffle:

and while we're on music, this last year has seen my musical tastes broaden a whole shitload :P
Ooo, same here, definitly *nods*

*is so cute* :D
Ooo, do your cute face! Go on! Ooo! Oooo! :p :D

Both of you can get out. Right now.:p

Stop changing the mood and actually having a life, you make us feel inadequate.;)
You did ask...

Well, life pretty much sucked a year ago. Sooo.... I stand as living proof of huge improvals out of the blue :)

:fluffle:

You did ask...

Well, life pretty much sucked a year ago. Sooo.... I stand as living proof of huge improvals out of the blue :)

:fluffle:

So this pleasure/pain thing does work then? You get the contentment I had a year ago? Whilst wishing you the best of luck..... yaa boo sucks to you!:D

Ooo, do your cute face! Go on! Ooo! Oooo! :p :D
http://community.webshots.com/photo/550684050/2979601750091190132TdLbLo :D :p

lets see...
got fired/technically quit
started soph. year up at BU
didn't kill my idiot roommate
celebrated my sisters 21st with her in Boston
went on a cruise
lost 2 friends to cancer and 1 friend in a boating accident
lost my best friend to a fight that I wasn't even aware was going on untill about a week ago
gained a new best friend who now is one of the most important people in my life
got certified in bartending
started working out regularly
finished soph. year at BU
couldn't find a bartending job
got a lifeguarding job

4.0 GPA twice, got accepted into an IB program, got ranked in the top 30 for 15-year-old basball players, and fell in love...:)