2004 Year in Review – Joey Coleman
- 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 - 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 - Did anyone close to you give birth?:
– No - Did anyone close to you die?
– No - What countries did you visit?:
– Never left Canada - What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?:
– Purpose - 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
- What was your biggest achievement of the year?:
-Getting into University and getting a B in Nursing and a “B-Plus” in Political Studies. - What was your biggest failure?:
-Not properly exercising my rights and standing up for myself during the first four months of the year. - Did you suffer illness or injury?:
-Not really. - What was the best thing you bought?:
-My digital camera. - 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. - Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?:
-I have watched from a distance as a couple of my friends in Hamilton have fallen apart. - Where did most of your money go?:
-University- about 15,000 dollars so far (books, tuition, fees, moving, rez, food). - 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. - 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. - 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 - What do you wish you’d done more of?:
-Making friends at University
-Research into my legal rights
-Exercise in the summer
-Travel
-Volunteering - What do you wish you’d done less of?:
-Eating
-Making a fool of myself - How will you be spending Christmas?
– I spent Christmas in Winnipeg at a friends - Did you fall in love in 2004?
– no yet, we will see what 2005 has in store - What were your favorite TV programs?:
– Jack & Bobby
– Monday Report
– Corner Gas
– JAG
– The Practice
– Dog: The Bounty Hunter - Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?:
– I do not hate people, dislike more, yes. - What was the best book you read?:
– I have only read textbooks sadly - What was your greatest musical discovery?:
– Arrogant Worms - What did you want and get?:
– Good Marks
– Freedom
– Respect - What did you want and not get?:
– Tons - What was your favorite film of this year?:
– Shrek 2 - 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. - What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more
satisfying?:
– Having transferred army units in April. - How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?:
– Growing my hair and not shaving for days on end. - What kept you sane?:
– Pinball - Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?:
– None, no time - What political issue stirred you the most?
– The Submarine Accident - Who did you miss?
– I missed my Hamilton area friends, especially Annette, Sarah, Kama, and Rhea - Who was the best new person you met?:
– I hereby wish to exercise my constitutional right to remain silent! - 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 - 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.