Ringing in the New Year

1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
I rode the tallest and fastest rollercoaster. Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point. It was my 100th coaster.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I know better than to make any resolutions as I never keep them. I won’t make any for 2005 either. I think I simply resolved to make sure 2004 was better than 2003 and it was.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, my cousin Amanda had her baby, Liam, in April. He’s a cute as can be. (Aside from my own child of course)

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thankfully.

5. What countries did you visit?
None. But I did visit several states this year. Texas, \Oklahoma, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
More money. Trust.

7. What dates from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
April 16 the date of my divorce and July 10 the date Marty and I officially started being a couple.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting divorced. The work I did on the house.

9. What was your biggest failure?
My marriage.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not really. I think I’ve developed a pretty good immune system by visiting so many schools. Except for spraining my ankle when I visited Steve in Michigan.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
New printer/scanner/card reader. Wallpaper and border for Josh’s room.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I would say Marty except for the fact that he screwed up on my birthday. Mostly he’s been good. Except for the whole ex-wife thing which I’ll eventually deal with.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and disgusted?
Only myself at times. Not really. That was 2003. So I guess nobody other than perhaps advisers who didn’t meet their deadlines.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Bills, trips, work on the house.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to my coaster convention and riding my 100th coaster. Going to see Marty. Marty coming to see me. Emerald earrings from Marty. First season of Monk from Patrick. CSI seasons 1 & 2 from Marty.

16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
Like I actually listened to music of this year… I mostly listen to older stuff or classical. I guess the song that reminds me the most of the year is Beautiful by Christina Aguilara. Kind of became my theme song at the end of 2003 from my dance workout classes.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier… mucho happier
b) thinner or fatter? About the same, maybe a few pounds added that I need to deduct.
c) richer or poorer? Poorer since my bonus was cut in half. But still o.k. financially.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
More exercise.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying. Speculating.

20. How did you spend New Year's Eve?
With Marty and some friends and family.

21. Did you fall in love in 2004?
YES!

22. How many one-night stands?
None in 2004.

23. What was your favorite TV program?
Monk, CSI

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nope.

25. What was the best book you read?
The Five People you Meet in Heaven

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The movie “Ray”

27. What did you want and get?
To ride new rollercoasters. A good relationship

28. What did you want and not get?
New sewer line. New heating and air.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
I didn’t really see that many movies this year. “Ray” was the most recent. Nothing that has been placed high on my favorites list, but “Ray” was indeed a good movie.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 35 and took Josh (my son who shares the same birthday and turned 14) and his friends to the movies.

31.What one thing would have made your year measurably more satisfying?
Marty being out of coast guard.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
Fashion? What’s that? Comfortable and casual.

33. What kept you sane?
Getting divorced.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
William Peterson and George Eads from CSI.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
None. I don’t care for politics. Glad that Bush won though.

36. Who did you miss?
Marty when I was away from him.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
Patrick who has become a good friend. (Marty wasn’t new since I met him in high school.)

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004.
Long distance relationships suck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down…
The medicine go down….