I'm a big fan of the whole idea of keeping some semblance of structure in terms of the structure of yearly posts. So this is, for most intents and purposes, the 2005-2006 version of the "end of the year" post (done with similar intentions, though mostly likely a completely unique execution) that I did last year. I have yet to officially end this, my junior year at the University of Michigan, but with only a handful of days left before I go home for the week-long separation between winter and spring semester, I figure now is as good a time as any to really celebrate the occasion. Today is, after all, the final day of classes. I do still have one exam left but, for the most part, I'm not particularly worried about it in any way, shape, or form. This is a confidence which I will, most likely, regret a few days from now.

Oh well. Live and learn. Or so I'm told. I always forget one of those in actually practicing that motto.

Anyway, honestly, I can hardly believe that this year has actually been this year. Such a sentence may make absolutely no sense when read, but lemme tell you: when I wrote that, it totally spoke to me. That is to say that this year went by all sorts of quickfast-like. I'm honestly sitting here, in my room, at 3:16am, listening to Tool and thinking: Wow, this year went by all sorts of fast. I'm having difficulties realizing that memories which seem not-so-distant actually took place more than four months ago at the very beginning of this semester. Perhaps this is just what growing old feels like... But, if that's the case, I'm beginning to see why all the old people -- er, now it's more like my temporal colleagues, I suppose -- always say that something felt "just like yesterday." Granted, I'm not quite to the point where things feel like yesterday... But more like things felt like not quite as long as they actually were. I really wish I could think of a snappier way to phrase all this, but this is more of a semi-alcohol-induced rambling entry than any kind of memorable... memoir. So it's, essentially, in the same vein of entry as the last few have been. Enjoyable, to be sure. At least for me.

If nothing else the fact that I was able to get fairly drunk with one of my classes and teacher is reason enough for putting this year up upon a prized pedestal. This is actually one of the classes that I can safely say I will miss not having in the future. I had awesome classmates, fantastic teacher, and just a generally good time despite the fact that the class had a three-hour meeting period -- which is a long time for someone who has a hard time sitting still through even the most entertaining of movies at a theater.

This year also is a first in that it is the first time that I have ever been entrusted with the sole responsibility of taking care of a living, breathing thing. I mean, sure, I've had pets before... But they were co-entrusted to members of my immediate family who were, at times, far more instrumental in their upraising than I was. Either way, I'd like to think that this little guy was raised pretty well thus far. He's still alive... And despite any claims that he may be slightly "off" (I think 'retarded' is generally the word of choice to describe him) and may, in fact, be just as insecure as a kitten as I am as a person, I think he's a pretty awesome little companionthing.

I think this is also the year in which I really realized what I wanted to do with my life. Four years ago, I would've said the whole game programming thing was a sure-fire path. There was nothing, at the time, which could stray me from this goal. Until I actually got to a point where it was a viable option -- then it was simply thrown right out of the contending fields of interest. It took time, though. I eventually decided (mostly on a whim) that I was going to "simply" dual-major in Computer Science and English, a natural combination to be sure. At the midpoint of last semester, though, I decided that Computer Science had really lost its luster in my eyes. So, with that decision, I became set on the idea of becoming a High School teacher. Coincidentally, my projected future income took a huge drop with this choice -- but that's okay. I do plan to continue writing throughout my life. Maybe the novelist in me will eventually make it big, famous, and all sorts of popular and I can start selling out to write made-for-TV movies and the like.

Ah, my aspirations are simply endless.

Alright, that's about it. I feel vindicated in my obligation to be nostalgic. That's good enough, I suppose. Now for the summary:
Best Band(s): Joshua Radin, Sufjan Stevens, or Iron & Wine.
Best Song: Sufjan Stevens - For the Widows in Paradise, for the Fatherless in Ypsilanti.
Best Movie: Serenity.
Best TV Show: Arrested Development.
Best Games: Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne, Counter-Strike: Source, Guild Wars

it's my kind of story