40 Questions

I stole these questions from Murrye because I thought they were good and fun. By the way Murrye's totally cool and hot.

1. What did you do in 2005 that you’d never done before?
Owned indoor pets, celebrated a wedding anniversary, got to be a bridesmaid.

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions and will you make more for next year?I always make New Year’s resolutions, but I rarely keep them. I resolved to lose weight (diet) but did not. I made a similar resolution for 2006 (get fit) and also plan on getting my house and life back in order.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No one gave birth that I can think of, but everyone and their golden retriever got pregnant. So this time next year, I should have a long list.

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

5. What countries did you visit?
Canada and the United States. If you’re willing to differentiate between the British nations, England as well.

6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
Order. Organisation. Punctuality. Cleanliness.

7. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory?
18 September.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Going to a real job interview and getting a real job. Also, not getting pregnant on a NFP method.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not getting my British driver’s license before my one year mark.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I got the flu pretty badly just after Christmas.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Plane tickets to go see my little brother get married.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Scott, for being such a good husband and for trying so hard to be even better.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Wow, ouch. I’d rather not say, in case this person reads my blog. But I definitely have someone very particular in mind.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent and train tickets and plane tickets to America.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Having my own Thanksgiving dinner at my house and going back to America to see all my family and friends (and getting to surprise my parents with having Scott show up!)

16. What song/album will always remind you of 2005?
Love Angel Music Baby, Gwen Stefani. Particularly “Hollaback Girl” and “Bubble Pop Electric”.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
happier or sadder? happier
thinner or fatter? fatter
richer or poorer? poorer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Gone out with people, had people over to the house, built stronger friendships with the friends I’d started to make. Specifically, I wish I’d spent more time with Debbie and Niall. I also wish I’d spent more time getting to know Jesus.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Cry, fight with Scott over stupid things, stress out over my job.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
Church in the morning, then presents with Scott, then family dinner at Scott’s folks’ house.

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
My mom and my dad.

22. Did you fall in love in 2005?
With a one Gwen Stefani, yes. And deeper in love with a one Scott McFarlane.

23. How many one night stands in this last year?
Heh, none.

24. What was your favorite TV program(s)?
The O.C.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don’t think I hate anyone. I’ve got a few people I like less than I used to but no hatred.

26. What was the best book(s) you read?
Unfortunately The Chrysalids by John Wyndham was read right after New Year so I can’t include that, though it was the best book ever. So best book I read last year? Either Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart or Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte) or Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy).

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Gwen Stefani and The Postal Service (I’m a late bloomer)

28. What did you want and get?
A laptop and a graphics tablet and an alarm clock that makes tea.

29. What did you want and not get?
Published. (Though that might be because I still haven’t sent off any poems?)

30. What were your favorite films of this year?
I *heart* Huckabees, Series of Unfortunate Events, Finding Neverland (was that 2005?) and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 23 on April 1st, and I had a murder mystery dinner to celebrate. It was awesome (and Emily is such a murderer).

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Visiting Paris again.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
I tried to dispel my hatred of the “now” and just wore things that I liked, even if they were trendy. I’ve never liked being in the trends, but this year I’ve definitely gone from American Mom to EuroTrendy (more like EuroTrash).

34. What kept you sane?
My husband and my kitties and my friend Jamie (where work was involved)

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I think you can guess that one. But in case you can’t, I’ll just say it again – Gwen Stefani.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The British people’s views on Hurricane Katrina. Relying solely on the liberal media, all I heard was how HORRIBLE the American government is. No one had any concept of all the good that WAS done, like stadiums, churches, schools and other organisations taking in thousands upon thousands of refugees and the fact that Reserve troops are STILL going down there to help clean up.

37. Who did you miss?
Amanda and Devon and my family. I miss Lincoln and Chris a lot, too.

38. Who was the best new person (people) you met?
Jamie at work, Jenny and my brother’s fiancee, Kristen. Hmm, and I don’t know for sure, but I think I met Emily in 2005 so her, too.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005.
Fights with your husband aren’t always his fault. And even when they are, you’re rarely innocent, either.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
From the hymn “O Sacred Head Now Wounded”

What Thou my Lord has suffered was all for sinners’ gain.
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine, the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Saviour, ‘tis I deserve Thy place!
Look on me with Thy favour, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

Because it seems this past year I needed more grace and favour, and I recognised my transgression, more than ever before.