1. What did you do in 2004 that you’d never done before?
Got a UTI. Put soap on my green beans instead of olive oil. Sang karaoke. Got a job that actually requires that pesky MSW. Foiled my boss’ office. Wore fishnets in public. Learned the Thriller Dance. Volunteered at the polls. Got my first hate mail. Won a Diarist Award.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My New Year’s Resolution last year was to have more fun, which, when I think about it, is sort of awful. I was really sad this time last year, I think. Anyway, I did a decent job of having fun this past year and I am confident that this year’s resolution (to be more fabulous) will work out pretty well too. I even bought a feather boa specifically to wear out tonight and if that’s not fabulous I don’t know what is.
3.Did anyone close to you give birth??
Yes, two wonderful women I know who both happen to be named Amy. Yay Lily and Charlie!
4. Did anyone close to you die??
No, thank heavens.
5. What countries did you visit??
France, Switzerland, Italy, and England.
6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
Bravery, creativity, and peace. ?
7. What dates from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July 4th weekend, when I moved into my house. ?
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I guess making it through the summer when I thought I would die of a broken heart. (My heart is still broken but I’m pretty sure I’m not going to die. Which is nice.) Also, traveling by myself in France and getting a raise and promotion and finding a nice house with nice housemates. ?
9. What was your biggest failure?
Ending my relationship the way I did. ?
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No, but maybe that’s because I got a flu shot. ?
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Various plane tickets and my Netflix subscription. Also my new mattress. ?
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
All the people who tried to get out the vote and actually gave a damn during the election. ?
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I will have to go with the boring standard of “The Entire Bush Administration and All It Has Wrought.”?
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, plane tickets, going out to eat and student loans.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going on my European trips and all three visits to the ABL. ?
16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
Tell Her This and Your Sweet Voice. ?17. Compared to this time last year, are you:?
a) happier or sadder? Both, in completely different ways than I was last year. ?
b) thinner or fatter? Uh,no idea. About the same?
c) richer or poorer? Richer, I am happy to report.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Telling people I loved them when it was appropriate to do so and keeping my mouth shut when it was appropriate to do so, and not confusing the two. Also, pimp hands. ?
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Crying.?
20. How did you spend Christmas?
I spent it with my mom in Miami, riding out to the lighthouse and taking pictures of herons, and then coming home and eating delicious roasted vegetables. ?
and then coming home and eating delicious roasted vegetables. ?21. Did you fall in love in 2004?
No. ?
22. How many one-night stands?
None. ?Although I guess there are still about fourteen hours left of 2004, so everyone cross your fingers for me.
23. What was your favorite TV program??
The Office and Firefly.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year??
No, I don’t think so.
25. What was the best book you read?
Oh, man. I need to start keeping a list of what I read. I read a lot of great books this year, I promise you, absolutely none of which are coming to mind at the moment. I am so embarrassed. The Namesake? Was that this year?
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Rilo Kiley (I know, years after everyone else), The Reindeer Section, and the Garden State soundtrack. ?
27. What did you want and get?
A laptop and chances to travel.?
28. What did you want and not get?
An engagement ring and a new President.?
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, probably, if we’re taking about movies you have to get up and out of your pajamas to go see. Napoleon Dynamite was pretty good too. I’m sure I’d have liked Shaun of the Dead had I gotten it together to see it. ?
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned twenty-nine in March and I had a little birthday party and went to Portland for the weekend. ?
31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
There is no one thing. Maybe if I hadn’t been so sad for so long for so many different reasons. ?
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004??
“Fuzzy hair and v-necked t-shirts.”
33. What kept you sane?
My friends, family, and this journal. ?
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I’ll copy Eliza and say Martin Freeman as Tim, yo, and then I’ll copy Sundry and say Johnny Depp.?
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Oh WHERE TO BEGIN.
36. Who did you miss?
The Key Girls, my mom, my sister, and all the other friends I don’t get to see often enough. (Also, should this be “whom did you miss?” or is it just me?)
37. Who was the best new person you met?
and also Miz Ritchie, whom I’m pretty sure I met this year. And my co-worker R. And my housemates. ?
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004.
Love is not enough.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I’m a modern girl
But I fold in half so easily…?