there are no songs about memes...

... and that's not really a bad thing. But let's try one anyway.

1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?

Drove across the Midwest -- ate cheese in Wisconsin; saw Dayton, Ohio (twice!); got close to Iowa; bought pants in the Mall of America; wandered around southern Minnesota looking at things that had only been fictional in my mind. Entertained the thought of LIVING in the Midwest (probably not in my future). Finished writing a book, for the 6 millionth time. Kissed someone in a forest. (Sorry, barf. Will try not to make this barfy.) Did a headstand. Became obsessed with Netflix. Walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. Stayed in a hotel room alone.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I kind of kept them -- I was way better about exercise and yoga until about two months ago. And yes, I will make more, probably the same ones or similar, for next year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

No, although a couple people who are semi-close to me did.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, knockoneverywoodensurfaceeverywhere.

5. What countries did you visit?

Wow, I didn't leave the U.S. this year, unless you count Detroit. I'm going to England next summer to visit R., and Los Angeles in the spring to visit T., and New Hampshire over Presidents' Day with the sisterfriends.

6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?

More sleep, more self-discipline, a consistently working car.

7. What dates from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

My birthday and Oct. 20. I think I'll also remember Aug. 29, the day Katrina hit.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I think I'm starting to trust people in a way I haven't before. I did a couple things I was really really scared of this year, and I think it let me be little bit less cynical and pessimistic and superstitious. My guard came down a bit in 2005. (Also, the whole book thing, maybe.)

9. What was your biggest failure?

Continuing to let anxiety make a lot of my decisions for me. Not learning to ride a bike, again. I also really really suck for not getting my knitted holiday gifts finished on time, but I'm still working on that.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No, although this high blood pressure situation is not really to my liking.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Well, the best thing I was given is definitely insulated curtains from my parents, which I always think aren't helping keep the cold out until I stick my hand between them and the window and feel how freezing it is. The best thing I bought was probably my first-ever pair of knee-high boots.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

The panda cub. And my friends, frankly. We kind of ruled 2005.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

We aren't going to talk about politics here, right? But you can guess.

14. Where did most of your money go?

If only I knew. To Amtrak, to car repairs, to various yarn stores, to my overpriced gym, to eating out way too much.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

The new book that's in my head, and the old book that's pretty much out of it. Harry Potter. H. and K.'s new house. Getting my own office, maybe soon.

16. What song will always remind you of 2005?

What is that song that's always on XPN about the "waaaaay up hiiiiigh" -- they play it, like, every day. That song. Also the White Stripes' "My Doorbell."

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? happier
b) thinner or fatter? a bit thinner
c) richer or poorer? about the same

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

Enjoying things without worrying.

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

Do you know I actually can't think of anything, unless I went back to the last question and put it in this category? Wow.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

J. and I are going to the movies on Christmas Eve (which is also Chanukah Eve), and then I'm getting up early Sunday to drive to Lancaster to see the family and help my mom with the mammoth party they're throwing that night.

*(now is where I start editing because this is getting boring and repetitive)*

23. What was your favorite TV program?

Still Gilmore Girls (you guys, MADELINE ALBRIGHT was on the show. In Rory's DREAM SEQUENCE. Come ON, how much better does it get?). But after Netflixing the original British version of Coupling, that's a close second. It's hilarious and great.
25. What was the best book you read?

Hmm, just one... Primo Levi's "Periodic Table," and the Alice Munro short stories. And "Cat's Eye," but that doesn't count because I read it a bunch of times before.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Girlyman, Girlyman, oh Girlyman.

27. What did you want and get?

A good relationship.

28. What did you want and not get?

A digital camera. Still holding out a shred of hope for Chanukah, but I think it's not to be.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?

I saw way more movies this year than usual (thanks, Netflix!) but there isn't one single standout. Oh, maybe Good Night and Good Luck, which made me proud of journalism for a change. Dr. Strangelove was great. And I adored Bride and Prejudice, although I did not adore the person with whom I saw it.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

28, and I spent it with J at dinner and at the movies (at Good Night, come to think of it). A few days later, I had the most surprising surprise party in the world. This was a stunningly good birthday year.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

If I had gone a whole year with no cavities. I made six months, but still shooting for the full 365.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?

Hahahaha, right. The trip to the Dayton Salvation Army Store with H. and K. helped things along, but it's still the same old.

33. What kept you sane?

Decaf coffee. And bloggers, actually -- I've found a bunch of new ones this year and sometimes their day-to-day routines bring such a welcome pattern to my own days.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I have a little crush on what's his face from the BBC Pride and Prejudice series now -- Mark Darcy, but I forget his real name. Er... er... Bridget Jones has it too...

35. What political issue stirred you the most?

Will break the normal self-imposed silence: I got really, really into the Sc**ter L*bby thing, and the J*d*th M*ll*r matter in its entirety had me paying very close attention professionally. Personally, I was moved and saddened and horrified by the news from Darfur, and how little all of us really know about it.
37. Who was the best new person you met?

Oh, J.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005.

Oy. How about a nice quote instead:

If the real world were a book, it would NEVER find a publisher. Overlong, detailed to the point of distraction -- and ultimately, without a major resolution. -- spoken by Hamlet in Jasper Fforde's Something Rotten, which I am currently reading

Also:

I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by. --Douglas Adams

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

That's really hard... this doesn't sum up my year, and the main thrust of this song really has nothing to do with anything that happened to me this year. But um, yeah... it's probably my favorite song from an album that will make me think of this year? Or something? OK, whatever:

from "Postcards from Mexico":

When you slammed through my life
Like a screen door in a hurricane wind,
All I could think was how to find you again.
But Route 80 was snowed under,
And the roads to the canyon were closed.
For our safety, I suppose.

The sound of your voice is like longing feels
When you whispered my name in the dark.
And the thick yellow Brooklyn
Night sky through the window
Burned itself into me,
Deep as my history.