2005 – A Prologue for things to come.
So, 2006 is finally here. A year I’ve been waiting 13 years of public education for. The year I’ll graduate high school, start college, look to go to the west coast, and hopefully gain some more independence. But just like with every good story that’s worth reading there’s always a prologue that gets you excited for the things to come. For me that’s exactly what 2005 was; a transition year for the things to come in 06. I couldn’t come up with a top 10, so I wrote this in chron order. So here we go…
2005 began on a somber note with Matt moving out and going to a new assignment to serve full-time at the Jersey City Assembly Hall. It was quite a change for all of us since Matt’s the first kid to leave the pack. In January we had a sort-of surprise going-away party for him, complete with an entire skit about a day in Matt’s life (Mike should have won an Oscar just for his imitation of Matt dancing to Kriss Kross-Jump), an embarrassing trivia game called “Mattyopardy” and of course a song dedicated to Matt. Even though we really miss him, we know that he wouldn’t be happy unless he was doing the most he possible could in serving Jehovah, and that makes us happy.
In February there were 3 awesome nights:
- Joyas (as in the words of Candace “the best night EVER” as she throws her head back). With the combo of loud music, sick Thai food and the whole BK crew, it was a night to remember
- Going to see the Orange Gates in Central Park (“does anybody know what they are gonna do with all that orange plastic anyway?”)
- The Car Show at the Javits Center – it stands out probably because it was the first night I had a real convo with someone who has now made her way into my own circle of trust. Plus I got to sit in an Audi.
March was the Mae concert, my first gen admission concert. After that night I listened to their song “Painless” everyday for about 3 months.
Then in April there was RFTPA 05. Oh what can I say about our 2nd RFT. Even though the people were not as flowing with brotherly love as you would have expected, we had a great time. It was probably the most anger-filled RFT so far if there was one… I mean come on, all we did on Sunday was debate like 4 different topics that caused some peoples neck-veins to come out. We even had a rumble, which I am proud to say I started, and I finished (you hear me out there russo russo? I beat you on the hotel room floor just like we are gonna beat your little whimps from the Bronx on the field come this spring. Got it?) I’m really kidding though; we had good, Christian, (mostly) clean, wholesome fun. A weekend for the books. Literally.
I also got to see Dashboard live in April and hear vindicated live.
May 2005 will go down in my life as the month I conquered my beast of beasts… the AP Chemistry test. Even though the class made me develop a twitch in my right eye, I am proud to say I survived with my love for chem. intact.
On May 21st, 2005 a historic event occurred that changed the world of sci-fi forever… Star Wars Episode III The Revenge of the Sith was released. You might call me obsessed when I tell you I saw it at midnight that night and skipped school the next day, but then I can also tell you I went on to see it again the next night, again that Sunday night, and again 2 weekends later. A bit fanatical? Nah…
In June there was Sue’s Grad weekend, which I will remember as the weekend Sue and I went the distance by staying up all night on our balcony over-looking the ocean eating pirates booty and chatting, waiting for the sun to come up. Good times my friend.
Summer of 05 had its moments, and also changed a lot of things for me. Here’s some of it:
- Going to Six Flags 4 times to use my season pass. KINGDA KA RULES ALL. Ok, except Nitro front row at night. Right Courts?
- Matt’s BBQ on the roof with his ingenious pulley system of hoisting meat in a bucket through the ceiling.
- Getting my first cell-phone
- Learning to use an atm machine for the 1st time.
- Starting to work for Dell-Tech Enterprises…
- PASSING MY ROAD TEST
- Getting my first car… THE FOCUS.
- Our weekend at Nina and Jesses for Sue’s grad party – staying up all night for 2 nights in a row talking
- Going to Seldom Worked Territory in Chelmsford, Mass- a congregation that completely opened their arms for us and probably encouraged us more than we could have for them.
- Returning to the greatest place on earth….Disney World- riding the Aerosmith rollercoaster 4 times in a row, going to a real Luau, and having the sickest Italian food at Portobellos in Downtown Disney.
September has always been the worst month of the year for me. But this September I looked to change that. I started my senior year of high school, which rocks simply because everyday I get to drive away from that place after 6th period. I also started regular pioneering, which has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. More than anything else this year I’ve learned to rely on Jehovah for a lot. There really is no way I would be able to pioneer, go to school and work at the same time if I didn’t have his help, and that’s the kind of lesson I needed to learn by experience. One of my highlights of this past fall was finishing my first territory map. I seriously think it is the most fulfilling feeling to hand in a completed territory, and I can’t wait to be able to do it again.
September was also the month of the long-awaited Jack concert. Even though I had contracted bronchitis and was sick as death, it was all worth it in the end.
2 days later was the Matt-organized Mets game. Ok, so they lost. No one was shocked. Just wait till next season…
October started with my first trip to the Annual Meeting. Hearing experiences from all over the world from countries I didn’t know existed, and then 4 talks from the GB was topped off with learning the 2006 text scripture which I proceeded to tell everyone I saw for the next 2 weeks. It really is a privilege to be able to attend, and I hope I get to go next year.
2 weekends later was our third road trip… RFTBO. A trip of many firsts; including the first time I temporarily became “high RFT”. A test-run for future things to come I hope…
The weekend after was the Vineyards weekend at my house with Nina, Sue, Nola and Reem. (Nina I hope you realize I haven’t forgotten about your little white-face trick that made me knock Reem off her feet… I’ll get you back. Don’t you worry...) For some reason all weekend we kept trying to top the last person who scared us, and it just got better and better. That weekend was complete with 2 sleepless nights, various antics, and a trip to the vineyards. Good times.
Now we come to November (don’t worry I’m almost done). The month of the best vacation I’ve been on so far… Judy’s Cruise Group say whhaaa! There were so many awesome memories on this trip- the cave tubing and Zip-Lining through the Belize jungle, the karaoke nights, kayaking in Costa Maya, bargaining with the Mexicans, the late nights on the Heli pad, our message in a bottle dropping, the dodgeball tournaments (go team Mustache!), the line of the trip “Yo Soy Tu Papa?!” and so much more.
In December I spent an awesome weekend with Sarah, Noor and Reem in Jersey going to a wedding Friday night and then doing the work weekend at Stanley Sat and Sun. The last week in December was graced with the presence of my dear Sue at my house. We did it all; cheesecake factory, the beach at night, good movies, an awesome service day, finding the castle, the hunt for axe, and our Wednesday night lollygagging on Route 110.
It was a year of many new beginnings for me, and hopefully just a prologue of the things to come in 06…
Songs of 2005
Acceptance- So Contagious
Mae- Ready and waiting to fall
Green Day - Holiday
The Killers- All these things that I’ve done
Butch Walker- Mixtape
Stereophonics- Last of the Big Time Drinkers
Nada Surf- Inside of Love
Jack Johnson- Better Together
So, 2006 is finally here. A year I’ve been waiting 13 years of public education for. The year I’ll graduate high school, start college, look to go to the west coast, and hopefully gain some more independence. But just like with every good story that’s worth reading there’s always a prologue that gets you excited for the things to come. For me that’s exactly what 2005 was; a transition year for the things to come in 06. I couldn’t come up with a top 10, so I wrote this in chron order. So here we go…
2005 began on a somber note with Matt moving out and going to a new assignment to serve full-time at the Jersey City Assembly Hall. It was quite a change for all of us since Matt’s the first kid to leave the pack. In January we had a sort-of surprise going-away party for him, complete with an entire skit about a day in Matt’s life (Mike should have won an Oscar just for his imitation of Matt dancing to Kriss Kross-Jump), an embarrassing trivia game called “Mattyopardy” and of course a song dedicated to Matt. Even though we really miss him, we know that he wouldn’t be happy unless he was doing the most he possible could in serving Jehovah, and that makes us happy.
In February there were 3 awesome nights:
- Joyas (as in the words of Candace “the best night EVER” as she throws her head back). With the combo of loud music, sick Thai food and the whole BK crew, it was a night to remember
- Going to see the Orange Gates in Central Park (“does anybody know what they are gonna do with all that orange plastic anyway?”)
- The Car Show at the Javits Center – it stands out probably because it was the first night I had a real convo with someone who has now made her way into my own circle of trust. Plus I got to sit in an Audi.
March was the Mae concert, my first gen admission concert. After that night I listened to their song “Painless” everyday for about 3 months.
Then in April there was RFTPA 05. Oh what can I say about our 2nd RFT. Even though the people were not as flowing with brotherly love as you would have expected, we had a great time. It was probably the most anger-filled RFT so far if there was one… I mean come on, all we did on Sunday was debate like 4 different topics that caused some peoples neck-veins to come out. We even had a rumble, which I am proud to say I started, and I finished (you hear me out there russo russo? I beat you on the hotel room floor just like we are gonna beat your little whimps from the Bronx on the field come this spring. Got it?) I’m really kidding though; we had good, Christian, (mostly) clean, wholesome fun. A weekend for the books. Literally.
I also got to see Dashboard live in April and hear vindicated live.
May 2005 will go down in my life as the month I conquered my beast of beasts… the AP Chemistry test. Even though the class made me develop a twitch in my right eye, I am proud to say I survived with my love for chem. intact.
On May 21st, 2005 a historic event occurred that changed the world of sci-fi forever… Star Wars Episode III The Revenge of the Sith was released. You might call me obsessed when I tell you I saw it at midnight that night and skipped school the next day, but then I can also tell you I went on to see it again the next night, again that Sunday night, and again 2 weekends later. A bit fanatical? Nah…
In June there was Sue’s Grad weekend, which I will remember as the weekend Sue and I went the distance by staying up all night on our balcony over-looking the ocean eating pirates booty and chatting, waiting for the sun to come up. Good times my friend.
Summer of 05 had its moments, and also changed a lot of things for me. Here’s some of it:
- Going to Six Flags 4 times to use my season pass. KINGDA KA RULES ALL. Ok, except Nitro front row at night. Right Courts?
- Matt’s BBQ on the roof with his ingenious pulley system of hoisting meat in a bucket through the ceiling.
- Getting my first cell-phone
- Learning to use an atm machine for the 1st time.
- Starting to work for Dell-Tech Enterprises…
- PASSING MY ROAD TEST
- Getting my first car… THE FOCUS.
- Our weekend at Nina and Jesses for Sue’s grad party – staying up all night for 2 nights in a row talking
- Going to Seldom Worked Territory in Chelmsford, Mass- a congregation that completely opened their arms for us and probably encouraged us more than we could have for them.
- Returning to the greatest place on earth….Disney World- riding the Aerosmith rollercoaster 4 times in a row, going to a real Luau, and having the sickest Italian food at Portobellos in Downtown Disney.
September has always been the worst month of the year for me. But this September I looked to change that. I started my senior year of high school, which rocks simply because everyday I get to drive away from that place after 6th period. I also started regular pioneering, which has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. More than anything else this year I’ve learned to rely on Jehovah for a lot. There really is no way I would be able to pioneer, go to school and work at the same time if I didn’t have his help, and that’s the kind of lesson I needed to learn by experience. One of my highlights of this past fall was finishing my first territory map. I seriously think it is the most fulfilling feeling to hand in a completed territory, and I can’t wait to be able to do it again.
September was also the month of the long-awaited Jack concert. Even though I had contracted bronchitis and was sick as death, it was all worth it in the end.
2 days later was the Matt-organized Mets game. Ok, so they lost. No one was shocked. Just wait till next season…
October started with my first trip to the Annual Meeting. Hearing experiences from all over the world from countries I didn’t know existed, and then 4 talks from the GB was topped off with learning the 2006 text scripture which I proceeded to tell everyone I saw for the next 2 weeks. It really is a privilege to be able to attend, and I hope I get to go next year.
2 weekends later was our third road trip… RFTBO. A trip of many firsts; including the first time I temporarily became “high RFT”. A test-run for future things to come I hope…
The weekend after was the Vineyards weekend at my house with Nina, Sue, Nola and Reem. (Nina I hope you realize I haven’t forgotten about your little white-face trick that made me knock Reem off her feet… I’ll get you back. Don’t you worry...) For some reason all weekend we kept trying to top the last person who scared us, and it just got better and better. That weekend was complete with 2 sleepless nights, various antics, and a trip to the vineyards. Good times.
Now we come to November (don’t worry I’m almost done). The month of the best vacation I’ve been on so far… Judy’s Cruise Group say whhaaa! There were so many awesome memories on this trip- the cave tubing and Zip-Lining through the Belize jungle, the karaoke nights, kayaking in Costa Maya, bargaining with the Mexicans, the late nights on the Heli pad, our message in a bottle dropping, the dodgeball tournaments (go team Mustache!), the line of the trip “Yo Soy Tu Papa?!” and so much more.
In December I spent an awesome weekend with Sarah, Noor and Reem in Jersey going to a wedding Friday night and then doing the work weekend at Stanley Sat and Sun. The last week in December was graced with the presence of my dear Sue at my house. We did it all; cheesecake factory, the beach at night, good movies, an awesome service day, finding the castle, the hunt for axe, and our Wednesday night lollygagging on Route 110.
It was a year of many new beginnings for me, and hopefully just a prologue of the things to come in 06…
Songs of 2005
Acceptance- So Contagious
Mae- Ready and waiting to fall
Green Day - Holiday
The Killers- All these things that I’ve done
Butch Walker- Mixtape
Stereophonics- Last of the Big Time Drinkers
Nada Surf- Inside of Love
Jack Johnson- Better Together
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