1. What did you do in 2004 that you’d never done before?
lived in new york city, officially changed my major to English.
2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
i don’t make new year’s resolutions. i function more on the semester basis so even though i’ve got minimal free time next semester, i’m going to give writing for at least thirty minutes a day a try next semester and hopefully finish either a well-developed short story or a short novel by the end of April.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
not that i know of, i don’t think.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
gramps. 03 june.
5. What countries did you visit?
unfortunately for me, none.
6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
an erin during the fall 04 semester.
7. What date from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
spring 04: the edwards event with emma and lee at columbia, 23, 29, 31 March., weekend of 15 April: visiting erin’s “upstate” dwelling, last weekend of freshmen year when i got thoroughly sloshed
summer 04 coffee shop days and movie nights with two of my favourites, camping with Megan and Kenny
fall 04: 26 oct, 13 nov, 13-14 dec, apple picking with katy, art, and nikki, anthony’s halloween party
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
letting go of a lot of ill feelings
9. What was your biggest failure?
you can’t fire me from life this year; there were shortcomings sure but failures none.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
usual colds and all
11. What was the best thing you bought?
the prophet by khalil gibran, leather journal/black notebook
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
props to the best friends, bro, and mom.
13. Whose behaviours made you appalled and depressed?
59 million americans
14. Where did most of your money go?
bookstores!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
living in the city, my classes, skydiving which didn’t happen… art!!!
16. What songs will always remind you of 2004?
wonderwall – oasis; moon safari – air; oodles of beatles’ songs; the c.b. memoirs playlist;
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier
ii. thinner or fatter? about the same
iii. richer or poorer? richer
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
that guitar thing, that writing thing, that reading thing, that exploring nyc thing – the usuals
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
that procrastinating habit should really kick the bucket
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
spent it transplanting myself from my beloved metropolis to rural mississippi
21. How will you be spending New Years?
with my p.blizzy fools
22. Did you fall in love in 2004?
not with anything/one knew but only reaffirmed my love for certain people/places/things.
23. How many one-night stands?
zippo
24. What was your favourite TV program?
don’t particularly watch television but the bbc comedy, The Office, was intriguing the few times i watched it
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
hating people is like letting them live rent-free inside your head… no i’ve gotten progressively better at charging rent.
26. What was the best book you read?
read so much amazing stuff but this one goes hands down to the prophet by khalil gibran, which is actually a long poem so i’ll throw in fury by Rushdie.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
rediscovering rusted root, finding guster and counting crows and elliot smith
28. What did you want and get?
to live in the city, improved relations with people in general and some specifics
29. What did you want and not get?
i have no complaints
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
released this year: the incredibles. previously released: breakfast at tiffany’s, psycho, rear window, north by northwest, europa europa, life as a house… many others i’m sure.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
turned 19, played drinking games with the roommates and had lunch and park time with the fam.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
life doesn’t get better than what i’ve got
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
two words: fake birkenstocks; the same as usual… english major-esque as nikki would say.
34. What kept you sane?
music, books, writing, best friends.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
none
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
let’s get fucked 2004 otherwise known as election 2004
37. Who did you miss?
the ones i love when i was away from them.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
best new person: probably jack. jerry mac and ian freeman are awesome too.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004:
live life one day at a time.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
it’s not a song lyric but a self-discovery as told by camus: “In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer” runner-ups (which are also quotes): “what will prevail is your passion, not your tale” – tom robbins and “sleep or write. this is the secret of life” also “the secret is to drink around the pen” – cj
