2004 Year in Review – Joey Coleman
1. What did you do in 2004 that you’d never done before?
- Lived outside of Hamilton Ontario (excluding Army
taskings/training)
- Attended University
- Went to the Horse Races
- Checked out an Old House Museum
- Rode a Bus for 32 hours (overall travel time of 36 hours)
- Did Charity Gift Wrapping
2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
- Yes, I have done better for myself than being stuck at my old job
- No, I did not return to refereeing
- Yes, I solved many of my problems
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?:
- No
4. Did anyone close to you die?
- No
5. What countries did you visit?:
- Never left Canada
6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?:
- Purpose
7. What dates from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?:
* Mid-Jan, got a brochure from the University of Manitoba encouraging me to consider full-time summer courses
* Mid-Feb, fed up with my job but do not want to give up trying, request four-month leave of absence to go to school.
* Mid-Feb, being unable to secure leave, I decide that I am moving to Winnipeg and going to school anyway. Furthermore, I decide to come to Winnipeg for an indefinite period of time. Hoping to be allowed to transfer.
* Apr 30th, I leave Hamilton
* May 2nd, I arrive in Winnipeg after 32 hours on the Greyhound
* May 3rd, My first day of University
* May 4th, A very important day in my life (cannot say why on my
blog)
* May 7th, I started a 21 hour bus trip to Edmonton
* May 8th, Bumped into a friend in Wainwright and made it to
Edmonton
* May 9th, Left (after 14 hours) Edmonton
-My Bus get diverted into Central-East Manitoba due to
the breakdown of two other buses
-I get to see the scenary of Central-East Manitoba, it
was great! I suggest that sometime in your life you take a trip across Canada by car.
* Jul 11th, made a fool of myself
* Aug 14th, made a complete fool of myself again!
* Sep 3rd, tons of people move into rez and I meet all my British friends
* Sep 5th, I am a welcome week rep
* Dec 25th, had a great Christmas day
* Dec 31st, had another great day
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?:
-Getting into University and getting a B in Nursing and a “B-Plus” in Political Studies.
9. What was your biggest failure?:
-Not properly exercising my rights and standing up for myself during the first four months of the year.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?:
-Not really.
11. What was the best thing you bought?:
-My digital camera.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?:
-My friend Annette for standing by me, especially when I was making so many changes in my life. She told me when she disagreed but stood by me.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?:
-I have watched from a distance as a couple of my friends in Hamilton have fallen apart.
14. Where did most of your money go?:
-University- about 15,000 dollars so far (books, tuition, fees, moving, rez, food).
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?:
-Quiting the army, I felt so great that evening! I remember going to the gym, then to the arcade. All my friends noticed a change in me. It like a 20 ton weight was lifted.
-My first day of University, waking up and going to class.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2004?:
-The Last Saskatchewan Pirate: I actually understand the song and one has to live in the West to get it.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
-i) happier or sadder?: *happier* by far!!
-ii) thinner or fatter?: slightly thinner
-iii) richer or poorer?: poorer in wallet but richer in life
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?:
-Making friends at University
-Research into my legal rights
-Exercise in the summer
-Travel
-Volunteering
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?:
-Eating
-Making a fool of myself
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
- I spent Christmas in Winnipeg at a friends
22. Did you fall in love in 2004?
- no yet, we will see what 2005 has in store
24. What were your favorite TV programs?:
- Jack & Bobby
- Monday Report
- Corner Gas
- JAG
- The Practice
- Dog: The Bounty Hunter
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?:
- I do not hate people, dislike more, yes.
26. What was the best book you read?:
- I have only read textbooks sadly
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?:
- Arrogant Worms
28. What did you want and get?:
- Good Marks
- Freedom
- Respect
29. What did you want and not get?:
- Tons
30. What was your favorite film of this year?:
- Shrek 2
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?:
- Worked at the (unnamed workplace) and they got me chocolate and a card. It was really great. I have to admit I miss the good times there.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more
satisfying?:
- Having transferred army units in April.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?:
- Growing my hair and not shaving for days on end.
34. What kept you sane?:
- Pinball
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?:
- None, no time
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
- The Submarine Accident
37. Who did you miss?
- I missed my Hamilton area friends, especially Annette, Sarah, Kama, and Rhea
38. Who was the best new person you met?:
- I hereby wish to exercise my constitutional right to remain silent!
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004:
- That I need to learn social skills, and that I cannot go thru life avoiding these situations
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
- “I like blue eyes, hers are green. Not like the woman of my dreams, and her hair not quite as long as I planned. Five-foot-three isn’t tall, shes not the girl I pictured at all in those paint by number fantasies I had. So it took me by complete surprise when my heart got lost in those deep green eyes. She is not at all like what I was looking for, She’s More”
This song really hit me in the late summer and it means a lot to me on so many levels. One of them is that I had this plan for my year that I did not fulfill but what ended up happening was worth more.
