The 2004 Survey

Oh yes, it's that time, once again...
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1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
Voted, got married, moved to NY, started grad school, flew on Aer Lingus, got up on a table at work and did an Irish jig for 13 Irish customers (true story!).

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I never had any. Next years- pay off the damn credit card. Right, cause that'll happen...

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
umm... no.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
again, no.

5. What countries did you visit?
Ireland

6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
A little more $. A published story. A fondue set- I asked my parents for one for Christmas. And then?? WE WILL DIP EVERYTHING IN CHOCOLATE, HA HA! And.. I'd like some Oregon Chai. Every time I go to the stupid grocery store their sold out of the original kind. And some pumpkin bread. My mom said she would send me some and I haven't seen a crumb of it yet. What's up with that, mom? :) Do I sound hungry to you? I feel hungry right now.

7. What date from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Remember when Jen and I got up at karaoke night and sang "I Will Survive"? That was a good one. Was that even in 2004? I dont know. A few of the Tuesday Girls Nights with Erin and Sara. This stuff is so hard to remember a whole freaking year later.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I got into four of the seven grad schools I applied to.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Despite my five month plan, I have failed, once again, to pay off my credit card.
But hey, if youre going to fail, fail miserably, and that I did. (Does this sound familiar? Hey, that's because it was the same thing I put last year..)

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Well, there was that one night that I cut my finger open while I was washing a big knife and I ran downstairs to Dave's with Rob's boxers wrapped around my finger to stop the bleeding and ended up going to the emergency room. I got two stitches.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
An MP3 player. I use it alllll the time. A disk drive for my computer (boring, but so true! until it broke recently)AND- NETFLIX!! Netflix is freaking great. And my subscription to Oprah magazine. If you have a problem with Oprah, I dont want to hear about it.


12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Sierra's when she won I Spy by claiming that what she saw was an invisible swinging monkey that no one else could see.
Also, Axel's when we went camping and he said "Who do you think liked s'mores more, Lewis or Clark?"

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The people of Michigan when they voted to pass the ban on gay marriage.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Earlier in the year- to going out, eating out, having fun.
Later in the year- to one very expensive room in a big building with an elevator that's broken on Fridays.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The wedding, going to Ireland, getting the wedding video from Joe, going home for Thanksgiving.

16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
The theme song to Sex and the City, because I spent two solid weeks watching every episode from all 6 seasons.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?toss up
ii. thinner or fatter? basically the same
iii. richer or poorer? Oh that's a funny question. I am quite a bit poorer this year, thanks.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
reading, hanging out with people, playing Balderdash, eating oranges

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
worrying about nonsense, bitching about my job at Comstock when it was actually a really good job for the timebeing.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
At home in Davison, which will be nice.

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
My sister, easily.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Desperate Housewives! And, I have an addiction to the Apprentice, as you all know. Yes, I am ashamed. Close seconds- Daily Show, Jeopardy. I'm beginning to love Law and Order, my sister's fault.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I dont really think so.

24. What was the best book you read?
White Teeth by Zadie Smith. Awesome book. And I'm not ashamed to say I read two Dan Brown books- the DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons and enjoyed them both.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I don't think I discovered anyone new. Sorry. Want to know who I like? JoJo. Dont tell anyone, it's embarrassing.

26. What did you want and get?
A hammock. I spent plenty of time swinging in my hammock. And a shirt from my dad that says "Talk nerdy to me, I love the geek speak."

27. What did you want and not get?
A pony. Ha! just kidding! I dont know really.

27.5 What did you not want but got?
Fleas. Ha! just joking. I added that question just so I could say that.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Garden State!! Anchorman was a close second.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 23, and I drove to Chicago to see Lily and we took a picture together next to a giant baby head statue. Then I came back to Kzoo. I went out to Shakespeares with Rob and Jon and Jo and Ryan and Jen and Joe. I swear I only had two drinks. But by the time we left I was...well, drunk. I insisted on Rob taking me to Meijers to get ice cream,even though it was on the complete other side of town, and since it was my birthday he gave in. When we got there, we walked inside and I totally couldn't remember why we were there so I turned to Rob and said "what are we doing here?" and then he got pretty mad at me.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More soup in bread bowls from Panera. A trust fund.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
I would call it a mix between "hey, this is clean, I'll wear it" and "hey, this isn't clean, I'll wear it anyways". I would call it the year of the sweatshirt.

32. What kept you sane?
Pop. I love pop. Mmmm.. Coke in a can.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I may have a crush on Jon Stewart. And Elliot from Law and Order.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Please, let's just forget it. I can't think about it anymore.

35. Who did you miss?
My sister, though Rob will say "how can you miss her, you're on the phone with her for an hour every day!", Danny and his badnickness, my mom and dad, Tanya and our champagne dates, Erin C, absolutely everyone in Kzoo (desperately), Food Dance and everyone who works there (except Paul H. who I couldnt stand) even though I was desperate to get out at the time, Sar because even though I see her every few weeks or so we used to live together and that was fun.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
I have been sitting here for a long time trying to think of someone new I met and really got to know well, and I can't come up with anyone. There are a few other grad students at Sarah Lawrence I really like, but no one I've gotten really close to.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003:
Park in well lit places so no one breaks into your car. One Long Island Ice Tea is plenty, no need for a second.

38. Quote a song/movie lyric that sums up your year:
"Uh, I just ate a big red candle"