Jenna's House of Idiosyncrasies Version 10.0 [Focus.]

Looking back, and forward.

1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
   I paid all of my own bills, and therefore, gained the advantages and the perils of being a fully independent adult. I bought a car. I made out with (among other things) someone I had only met just hours earlier. I bought my own alcohol, with my own money.
2. Did you keep your New Years resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
   I didn't. I was going to get my credit cards paid off, and as it turns out it's pretty hard to do that. Here's hoping I can make it work this year!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
   No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
   No!
5. What countries did you visit?
   Didn't make it out this year.
6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you didn't have in 2004?
   Honestly? Someone in my bed.
7. What date from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
   I won't go into details, but someone I love very much had gone missing, and I will never forget how in felt to be sitting alone on the floor in the corner of a hotel room, sobbing with worry and helplessness at 10 in the morning, the tv turned up to drown me out. Thankfully, everything turned out ok.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
   I got a raise in April.
9. What was your biggest failure?
   I managed to fail the only class I was taking fall semester.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
    Bronchitis. Twice.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
    My computer, which is fabulous. I'll be paying it off until I'm forty, I'm sure. Second: my car. Third: my futon.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
    The best friend.
13. Whose behavious made you appalled and depressed?
    Um, somebody that I used to know.
14. Where did most of your money go?
    Bills, groceries, CDs, clothes, BDSM devices, you know. The usual.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
    My 21st birthday.
16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
    anything by the Killers.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
    Happier. Totally.

    ii. Thinner or fatter?
    About the same, I think.

    iii. Richer or poorer?
    Poorer. Can't complain though. What you reap is what you sew.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
    A part of me wishes I hadn't given up drawing.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
    Drink too much -- drink to hangover.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
    Me, Dad, and the illustrious younger sister Sarah, at my parents house, probably watching TBS.
21. Did you fall in love in 2004?
    No. But I wanted to. It just didn't work out.
22. How many one night stands?
    I think the standing definition of a one night stand is if you actually had sex with someone. (Correct me if I'm wrong.) So none.
23. What was your favorite TV programme?
    I almost never watch tv anymore, but my favorite thing to do when I go stay at my parent's is to stay up and watch bad late night tv with my Dad (i.e. The Lost World, 30 year old episodes of Chips, infomercials).
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate at this time last year?
    No.
25. What was the best book you read?
    The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge by Carlos Castaneda
    It's basically an anthopology book, where a researcher becomes an apprentice to a shaman. He takes lots of drugs. He questions his existence. It's awesome.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
    I gave certain bands (NIN, A Perfect Circle, Deftones, Tool) a chance and discovered I actually like them. (Thanks Neil!)
27. What did you want and get?
    Action.
28. What did you want and not get?
    An iPod. I know material things are a shallow answer but I really want one.
29. What was your favourite film of this year?
    Monsoon Wedding technically had it's American premiere in 2002, but I didn't see it (or even know of it) until earlier this year. Maybe it springs to mind first because I'm listening to a lot of Bollywood music right now, but it's not Bollywood, and it's AWESOME.
30. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
    21. I went out drinkin'. It was super fun. (Nate saved the day.)
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
    I would've like to get a little further in school than I really did.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
    I'm always hot, even if I am kind of punky sometimes.
33. What kept you sane?
    I'm prefering insanity and absurdity more and more.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
    I don't much go in for celebrities? I just love musicians in general.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
    Hard to pin down. The election kind of engulfed everything.
36. Who did you miss?
    Heather.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
    Neil. Hands down. He argues about music with me all day, somehow has an amazing rapport with me even though I think in nonsense, and pushes me all the time to let the more ambitious, happier Jenna to come out. He's very valuable, and I'm lucky I stumbled across him.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004.
    You might be crushing on someone just because your heart is lonely, and it doesn't actually have a whole lot to do with the actual object of your affection. Do not make stirring confessions of your infatuation, because as soon as you get some attention from somebody else, the infatuation will pass, and you'll slap yourself in the forehead for being so silly.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
    “Doggin' on others has become my profession / since you put the lights out in my heart”
    &
    “If that's all you will be, you'll be a waste of time / You've dreamed a thousand dreams, none seem to stick in your mind / Two points for honesty”