| 1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
Proposed with the actual intention of getting married. My ill-fated engagement to 'Her Whose Name Can't Be Spoken' was more of a prove-my-love sort of thing than any serious plan.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Well, I did lose weight, and that was my plan. I didn't keep enough of it off though, so my resolution is to do better this year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousin, yeah, but we're not as close as we should be. Heck, I didn't even know the little nipper's name until Boxing Day, and that was like six weeks after he'd been born.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Robyn Herrington died this past year. Amazingly lovely lady, she was. It didn't make any difference that we all knew it was inevitable.
5. What countries did you visit?
This year wasn't a banner year in the travel department. Next year though...
6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
Stability. I want my job to continue on an even keel. I want our plans to come to fruition without crisis, and everything to stay on course.
7. What dates from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
October 4, the date I started my new job. It felt like God had made me wait for this particular one, that everything had been done to direct me in this one direction. And of course, Christmas Day, when Lisa gave me a honeymoon.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting a job? Losing 50 pounds? A toss-up really. I guess getting a job, since I still have the job.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Losing my job. Not so much losing my job as being woefully unprepared for it. I should have seen it coming, I should have been ready. And I took so long to get past the denial of the loss that I still feel ashamed.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Banner year there. I don't even think I sprained my ankle this year.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
The engagement ring. It still looks perfect to me.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My Lisa. She stood by me every second, even when my actions were making her tear her hair out. Unrelenting support and unconditional love.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
51% per cent of American voters.
14. Where did most of your money go?
I thought we just frittered it away on buying toys and eating out. We did a lot of that, yeah, but apparently Lisa siphoned a lot into her private account to buy my present.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Battlestar Galactica mini-series.
16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
Crabbuckit by k-os. I can't tell you the trouble we went through to figure out the name of that damn song once we heard a clip of it in a movie theatre.
17. Compared to this time last year, you are:
More grown up. I have plans.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Plan ahead. I still fall into the trap of thinking only in terms of the next couple weeks.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Lying around doing nothing.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
This year was all about family. Lisa's mom was alone this year, so we brought her to be with my family on Christmas Day. Having nearly all my loved ones in one room is the bets way to celebrate. It also meant fewer stops we had to make in one day.
22. Did you fall in love in 2004?
Every time I woke up beside Lisa.
23. How many one-night stands?
Nope. I was a good boy.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Lost. Seriously. Damn, DAMN good show.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
The reverse actually. All my anger towards people is fading as time goes by. Those who have hurt me I have not necessarily forgiven them, but I have simply moved on.
26. What was the best book you read?
The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker. Phenomenal first work.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Johnny Cash. I was given a copy of American IV: The Man Comes Around and was so moved by the stark bleakness of it that I played it over and over until it played in my brain by itself at night. I had never been a Johnny Cash fan until then.
28. What did you want and get?
An Xbox. Now I know what all the guys are raving about.
29. What did you want and not get?
Laser eye surgery. One day I will wake up and be able to see unaided.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I have to say it was The Incredibles. Everything I wanted in a Superhero movie.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Recovered from Con-Version I think. Ate a free birthday meal at Tony Roma's I recall. I turned 33 this past year.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Financial security. 2004 was a year of anxiousness about finances. It made for more arguments and bitterness than anything else.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
Heh. I was big on comfy-and-lazy while off work this year. But with fancy highlights in my hair.
34. What kept you sane?
Lisa. Peanut butter. In that order.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Kirsten Dunst. I think Mr. Raimi is making a tradition of getting her very, very wet in the Spider-Man movies and I couldn't be happier.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The entire American election really. I cannot image the American people voting for someone who seems so dedicated to eroding the rights that the Americans fought so long to preserve. But they did.
37. Who did you miss?
I have a good friend who went downhill this year, losing all the ground he had gained since we were kids. I miss him. I miss his potential.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
My new boss. She's awesome. I've never had a boss really dedicated to helping me do a better job.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004:
Happiness does not just come to you. You have to go out and make yourself happy. |
