Another Meme? WTF??

Another meme, you say? Can’t she think of something original to write? Well, no, I can’t. Well, I can, just not today. Maybe tomorrow.

For today, the hormonal turn is BITCHY, which has moved in to join nauseas and headachy. That’s why I haven’t had much to say here, although I plan to use this space to bitch and complain real soon. Everyone else in my life is sick of listening to it.

1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
Started a weblog.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I kept them all for varying lengths of time, all of which combined would not equal a year. I will make pretty much the same ones again this year. Which is pathetic and discouraging, but better than death or apathy.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, baby boy Dylan and twins Kristin and Patrick

4. Did anyone close to you die?
I had a miscarriage. It was early in the pregnancy, so I didn't feel so much like I'd lost a child, but it was a loss nonetheless.

5. What countries did you visit?
None.

6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
Patience, grace.

7. What dates from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
March 19, miscarriage. July 24, started my blog.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Winning Blogging for Books, becoming a DotMom.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I could not live in the moment. I constantly distracted myself with politics, Internet surfing, the radio, food, whatever. Not good for me, not good for the kids.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
The miscarriage. Ugh, I’m sick of mentioning the miscarriage!

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Ah, that’s better. A sexy pair of black, strappy high-heel shoes.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
George W. Bush, Oprah.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and disgusted?
Left-wing Democrats in the U.S. Congress.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Payments on my mortgage and home equity line, I think. I hope.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Campaigning for Bush, and his ultimate re-election.

16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
“Ch-Check It Out,” the Beastie Boys

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
Sadder. Hormones, plus annoyed with myself for falling into the same old rut and not having more patience with my kids.

b) thinner or fatter?
Thinner. By about two pounds.

c) richer or poorer?
Poorer. But with a plan.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Playing.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Stressing, zoning out.

20. How will you be spending New Year's Eve?
We had a few friends over, ate chocolate cake and ice cream and watched the ball drop. Thankfully they did not feature footage of Dick Clark in his hospital bed, that I saw anyway. I even drank a little beer! (Highlight of my holiday season.)

21. Did you fall in love in 2004?
Yes, with my kids, again and again.

22. How many one-night stands?
Heh.

23. What was your favorite TV program?
What Not to Wear. I've burned myself out on that show, yet I can't stop watching (a sign of true addiction). At least now I know that all of my maternity clothes, which I bought five years ago, are against “the rules.” As I write this, I'm wearing these strechy blue leggings masquerading as jeans. They hug my legs nice and tight, all the way down, accentuating my lovely saddle bags and showing off my clown feet! What the hell was I thinking?

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I’m not a hateful person, I tend to just “turn off” from people that hurt me or piss me off. But one of my oldest and dearest friendships has ended, and I’m sad about that.

25. What was the best book you read?
Good Morning, Midnight.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Fiona Apple. Yeah, I’m a little behind in my music listening.
UPDATE: I discovered Fiona in 2003, I realized. For 2004, it was Alicia Keyes.

27. What did you want and get?
To lose 12 pounds.

28. What did you want and not get?
To keep those 12 pounds off (and no, it’s not pregnancy weight that I regained).

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Kill Bill, Vol. 2.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I drank pineapple margaritas, ate chocolate cake and stayed up too late watching mindless reality TV with my husband. I turned 35, which sounds and feels much less perky than 34.

31.What one thing would have made your year measurably more satisfying?
Having the baby.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
Trying to get a clue.

33. What kept you sane?
Writing/blogging, my mom, my therapist, chocolate ice cream – not necessarily in that order.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Johnny Depp. Wait, I thought you said "fantasy."

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Iraq War, the War on Terror.

36. Who did you miss?
My aforementioned friend.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
Jay, the mom of one of Ben’s classmates. All of my new Internet/blogging acquaintances.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004.
To live in the moment, and not project or stress about the past or future.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I don’t know that it sums up my year, per se, but it’s been my anthem for a while.

From “Apple Tree,” by Erykah Badu:

...I don't walk around trying to be what I'm not
I don't waste my time
trying to get what you got
I work at pleasin' me
Cause I can't please you
and that's why I do what I do
My soul flies free like a willow tree
doo wee doo wee doo wee

And if you don't want to be down with me,
then you don't want to pick from my apple tree {x3}
And if you don't want to be down with me,
you just don't want to get down