And the Cycle Begins Anew

It’s 2005. Man, it felt like 2004 went by fast! Especially the latter half.
I hope everyone had a great New Year. We had a nice time—we invited some friends over and had a low-key evening chatting, hanging out, eating, drinking, and turning on the TV just long enough to watch the ball drop. It was fun.
It was also nice to have a few days off from work, especially since several days were really mild and we took my daughter to the nearby playground (she loves the slide and the swings). And of course seeing my dad, my youngest sister, my cousin and his family, and one of my oldest friends and his wife during the last week of the year was a great way to end things out.
I’ve never been much for New Year’s resolutions. I do like to set goals for myself, though—some very do-able, others a bit challenging, and some that are utterly blue-sky.
I also often do a recap at the end of the year or start of the next one, summarizing events for friends and family. I thought about doing that this year, but realized that I did that for my birthday in October, and only a few things have changed since then.
Instead, I saw this on a friend’s blog, and it amused me enough to lift. Hope you don’t mind, G.

1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
I got a full-time job and I bought a house. I also signed a contract for my first full-length novel.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
See above—the question for me is whether I met my goals or not. I met some of them, but not others. I'm pleased with what I got done last year, overall.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Several people, yes, including my sister-in-law.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My mother, and we all miss her constantly.

5. What countries did you visit?
Alas, not a one. 2004 was not a good travel year for me.

6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
More money would be helpful, certainly. I seem to find myself in a career, which is something I haven’t had before, so that should be interesting. A bigger TV? I’m not sure.

7. What dates from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
February 28—the day my mother died (or at least the day we all found out).
September 6—the day we signed on our house.
November 6—the day we closed on the house.
November 13—the day we moved into our house.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
See #1—it’s a toss-up between getting a real job, signing a novel contract, and buying a house. Probably the house, though.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not getting a new Clockworks book out—the first year that’s happened.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing major, just a cold or two.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Our first home.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My daughter, for being so cheerful. Most people say that babies are cranky a lot, but she is usually all smiles and giggles.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Things among my immediate family were a bit strained in March and over the summer, for obvious reasons. I think we’ve gotten past that now, though. I hope so.

14. Where did most of your money go?
The house. And my daughter, who eats like I do.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My friends and family are probably shaking their heads right now, thinking “when does he get really excited about anything?” Okay, so I’m low-key. I was thrilled about the novel, and about the house. And about both baby-namings—our cousin’s and our daughter’s—because we got to see a lot of our relatives and for happy reasons.

16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
“Our House,” maybe. Or "My Father's Chair," by Rick Springfield--it's a beautiful, haunting song.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Not sure, really
b) thinner or fatter? Thinner, much to my wife's chagrin
c) richer or poorer? Poorer, but I own real estate!

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Spending time with my mom. Spending time with my wife and daughter. Hanging out with friends.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Putting off starting projects until I had to scramble to finish on time. Getting stressed about money. Arguing with my wife, or my sister.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
Visiting my wife’s family in NJ.

21. Did you fall in love in 2004?
No, that happened ten years ago.

22. How many one-night stands?
Continuing my record of “not a one.”

23. What was your favorite TV program?
That’s a toss-up between Carnivale, Deadwood, and Lost.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
There are very few people who have earned my hatred—and they have certainly earned it forever. Do I dislike anyone now that I either liked or didn’t know last year? Yes—my former landlady.

25. What was the best book you read?
Read? Who had time to read last year?
Seriously, I only got to read a few books in 2004. I know I read at least one new F. Paul Wilson novel, and tons of books at work of course, but I can’t remember what else.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Music?

27. What did you want and get?
A house. A novel. A bunch of cool DVDs.

28. What did you want and not get?
Want, hope for, and not get? Not much—okay, a comic book deal, but that looks like it’s fallen through. Want but not really expect to get? A G5, a plasma-screen, a new sword.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Spider-Man 2, probably. Actually, it’s one of the only ones I saw this year—or was that the year before?

30. What did you do on your birthday?
Nothing, actually. I kept meaning to do something after the fact, but didn’t get the chance, and my daughter’s was the week before mine so we were busy celebrating hers.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Having my mom still here.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
Again everyone is shaking their heads. What, jeans and a T-shirt aren’t a fashion concept? College Student? But I don’t get to wear T-shirts much any more—really I’m stuck in Business Casual now.

33. What kept you sane?
My daughter. No matter how rotten my day has been, coming home and seeing her smiling at me brightens me up. My wife and friends do, as well.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
? No idea. I don’t remember fancying any of them, much.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
None—I avoid that stuff like the plague. Bad for the health.

36. Who did you miss?
My family and my best friend—even though I got to see them a few times, it wasn’t often enough to suit me. And yes, my mom tops the list.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
My co-worker Steve. Good guy, and together we’re the office vaudeville team from hell. Thanks very much, try the veal.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004:
Useless to me now, but: if you’re thinking of ever buying a house, do so as soon as you can. Every month you pay rent instead is a mistake.
Also: tell your loved ones that you love them. Don’t wait. You may not get another chance.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up the year:
That requires me to know song lyrics, which my wife will testify I don’t.

Well, I hope that amused everyone, and gave you an idea of what the year was like for us. Here’s hoping that 2005 is a happy and healthy year for all of us, and that we all get what we want but don’t let it go to our heads (or our thighs).