I’m a little late on this, but I just saw it on Jason’s site. Thanks, Jason.

1. What did you do in 2004 that you’d never done before?
Bought a house

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t remember making a specific resolution, except for the usual ones of getting healthier and being nicer. I don’t know if I’m any nicer, but I’m healthier, so that’s cool.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Denny’s cousin’s wife–I don’t know her very well yet, but I imagine that will change.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Fortunately not. 2004 was death-free in my circle.

5. What countries did you visit?
I think Ireland was the only non-US country I went to in 04.

6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
A wallpaper-free kitchen

7. What date from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Probably the day Denny proposed. I think it was June 16th. It’s confusing, because I thought it was going to be the next day (he tricked me, the weasel), so I can’t remember if I have the actual date right in my memory since I had mentally planned to remember a different date.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I can run three miles now! This is a big deal for someone who used to dread the mile run in P.E. with all her might.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Well, we didn’t get a house we put an offer on. But it doesn’t really matter since the one we got is better, for less money.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Um…I burned my hand a couple of weeks ago. Nothing else springs to mind. I probably had a cold or two.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
La casa

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
A cousin’s spouse (I won’t say which cousin or which spouse to maintain a certain ambiguity) was remarkably well-behaved during our last encounter.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The American public, last November.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Real estate

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting married–which I have not actually done yet, but I got excited about it in 04. Also seeing my all-time favorite band, the Pixies, live in concert.

16. What song(s) will always remind you of 2004?
Probably “I Can’t Forget,” a Pixies song (actually a Leonard Cohen cover) that they played in the show, and I also sing it to myself when I run sometimes.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you
i. happier or sadder?: Happier, no doubt about it.
ii. thinner or fatter?: Thinner. Whoo! Not to mention physically fitter in general.
iii. richer or poorer?: Much, much poorer financially. But I have a house.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Um…sit-ups? Not really. I don’t know.

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

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it with various family and friends at various dates around and on Christmas.

22. Did you fall in love in 2004?
Yep, but not with anybody new. It’s cool.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Coupling and Desperate Housewives

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate is a strong word. There were a couple of people at the Pixies concert who annoyed me, but I wouldn’t say I hate them.

26. What was the best book you read?
I’m not done with it yet, but I’m really enjoying the complete stories of Eudora Welty.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Denny, if you’re reading this, you know I’m not the world’s biggest Dylan fan. But I’m developing an appreciation.

28. What did you want and get?
A house. A sparkly ring.

29. What did you want and not get?
Um…an all-expense paid trip to some fabulous island where they feed me shrimp and pineapple all day and I never get a sunburn?

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Hrm…Napoleon Dynamite, maybe? That seems weak. I haven’t seen any of the heavy-hitters for Oscar nominations yet. I liked Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, too.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I went to Ailwee Caves (Ireland’s premiere show caves, doncha know), had champagne, and went out to dinner at a lovely little place in western Ireland. I had duck and we sat by the fireplace and talked politics with the owner. It was wonderful.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Um, a big fat raise? But I do ok.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
Meager. No new outfits until after the wedding, for financial reasons. Well, I bought a wedding dress, which I guess is a concept by some stretch of the imagination.

34. What kept you sane?
Healthy living balanced with occasional indulgence.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Joey Santiago

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
One particular issue? I guess the death penalty is the one I feel the strongest about, though it seems moot in this country.

37. Who did you miss?
The Novo gang

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Denny’s cousins Nick, Matt, and Sarah

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004:
Tea tree oil and baking soda can clean a musty mattress.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
“I’ve come 500 miles today. I’ve come a long way, I’ve come a long way and never even left L.A.” –“Come a Long Way,” Michelle Shocked