2004, abridged:

1. What did you do in 2004 that you’d never done before? Tried to get pregnant. Bought a house.  Signed a teaching contract.  Started grad school. Saw Rollins do spoken word.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I forget what they were! Last winter was so crazy.  This year, I have a few health-related ones, directly related to #17, part ii: which are to drink more water again, walk 5 miles/week, remember my vitamins every day, and eat more salads again!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes, I became a great-aunt x2, with Damian in June and Jacob in December.  In my internet circle, several people: Emily & Laura, and in a hybrid of internet/real world friends, Annemarie.

4. Did anyone close to you die? No.

5. What countries did you visit? Canada! (I think? I’m pretty sure I made it over the river in the last 12 months.)

6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004? A baby, of course.

7. What date from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? 5/14 — it’s the day we closed on our house, and the first night Dave ever spent in his very own house.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Impacting kids’ lives in a positive way. Finding out I’m a damn good teacher.

9. What was your biggest failure? I really hate the word ‘failure,’ but I stopped counting POINTS when I started TTC, thinking it would be immediate; as such, I’ve gained some weight back that I do not want. 

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Just allergies. Goddamned allergies. And eczema. Grr.

11. What was the best thing you bought? The house!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? 

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? What was it in the end, 52 percent of the country? Yeah, them.

14. Where did most of your money go? Mortgage payments.  Most of my spending money? Various TTC accoutrements: OPKs, HPTs, and oh, the books . . .

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?  Seeing Rollins speak! Trying for a baby!  And TypePad! (that’s for you, PJ.)

16. What song will always remind you of 2004? That one about ‘dreams in which I’m dying are the best I’ve ever had,’ which I just googled and came up with "Mad World" by Tears for Fears. Really? THE Tears for Fears? Was there some kind of comeback, or what?

17. Compared to this time last year, are you
i. happier or sadder? happier
ii. thinner or fatter? fatter 🙁
iii. richer or poorer? richer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Writing, exercising, photography

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Procrastinating

20. How will you spend Christmas? With my husband & parents; dinner with the MIL added in.

22. Did you fall in love in 2004? Every day, with Dave.

23. How many one-night stands? 0

24. What was your favorite TV program? The Amazing Race

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? No

26. What was the best book you read? This year?  Ummm, see Babyopedia for that.  Little Earthquakes was my favorite from the list I think. Nothing earth shattering.

27. What were your greatest musical discoveries? Err, none? God, I suck at the music questions.

28. What did you want and get?  A house, a contract, straight As

29. What did you want and not get? 2 pink lines/a baby, a newer car

30. What was your favorite film of this year?  Fahrenheit 9/11 really moved me, and I laughed at Anchorman

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 29, and watched F9/11 by myself, surrounded by WWII vets that gave the film a standing ovation. Very bizarre afternoon.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? A baby? Or maybe, buckets of money falling from the sky, allowing me to get a newer car and never have to work again.  Or, for a different election result.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004? HA! Seriously.  Okay, um, "try to stay the same size until you need maternity wear, and continue wearing khakis and solid color knit tops, because even un-pregnant, my ginormous tits prevent the wearing of anything with buttons."  I’m still the same size, but definitely filling it out more.  Need to reel it in, because who knows when a baby might show up?

34. What kept you sane? My husband, the internet, and yoga

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Always Rollins. Always.

36. What political issue stirred you the most? Indecision 2004!

37. Who did you miss? I wish Amy lived here, if that counts

38. Who was the best new person you met? Angie, a coworker

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004: Working hard gets you a lot of things; a baby is not one of them.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:  "Our house/is a very very very fine house"