A friend suggested I take more surveys and post the answers. This is the first decent survey I found, so here you go:
1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
Could you be any more open-ended? I've never been to state semi-finals or started in a varsity football game before; never had a girlfriend in highschool before (well, you could argue the eighth grade one doesn't count as she kinda moved after a month...without telling me...), never had a coed sleepover party at the beach before, never walked 12 miles in the pouring rain before, never built a can-tower to the ceiling of the Student Center, never been to that ward of the hospital (et. al.) before, never driven to the beach (or 85 miles straight) without a parent in the car, never been accepted to college before, never done a lot of things before...
It really has been a year of firsts, hasn't it?
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
If I made New Year's Resolutions, I don't remember them. I probably said something like work hard at football and improve personal relationships and get into college. Did all that, at least.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Uhm...not that I'm aware of...
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No immediate friends or family members died.
5. What countries did you visit?
This year I did not leave the continental US.
6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
A high school diploma, amongst other things.
7. What dates from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
10/10/04 - It all began.
12/19/04 - My 18th birthday.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Uhm...academically, getting into ND. (And the SATII scores, and AP scores, etc.) Football-wise, going to semis and starting a game. Romantically, ending up with a girlfriend despite not seeking one out at all.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Hmm...failing to distinguish lies from truth and not conquering my fears completely. Continuing to be an asshole to people and do things I know will piss people off for the hell of it. Fighting with my parents when I know its not a big deal. Yeah, these aren't comlete sentences, but who cares? This is a survey, not an essay.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not really...almost lost a toenail, jammed some joints up pretty bad, got some bruises, and I had a long lingering cough. These were all rather minor and expected, though...football causes such things.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Uhm...as a family, the beach house for the weekend. I personally haven't bought anything expensive yet this year (that I remember), at least, not for myself.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
ND's admission councilor, my friends sillyness and love, my gf falling asleep in my arms.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
No comment.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Movie tickets, food, that homecoming dinner, christmas presents.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My 18th, ND, dances, football games (and a dream of state), a couple of "dates".
16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
Lies (Rebellion) -Arcade Fire (best "discovered" band and most fitting song title)
Something To Talk About - Bonnie Rait (so very pertinant to my life..."practically married" indeed...)
17. Compared to this time last year, you are:
Happier, more mature, more emotionally stable (no isolated psudeo-depression brought on from being alone in a hotel room on new year's), more physically fit and uninjured.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Sleeping, football, telling people the honest truth instead of what they wanted to hear, taking chances.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying, arguing with my parents, procrastinating.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Eating good food, opening presents, and maybe seeing a movie - all with my immediate family.
22. Did you fall in love in 2004?
Guess you could put it that way. More of a deepening and changing of an existing love, but there was probably a fall in there somewhere.
23. How many one-night stands?
One night stands...right. Never had one. Prolly never will, with my "standards"...heh.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
I don't watch TV...I recall watching several shows on the History and Discovery channels that were interesting...cool things people have made, biggest disasters, etc.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
A good friend taught me not to hate, so no. Feelings of dislike I won't discuss.
26. What was the best book you read?
Oh great, could you ask a harder question? Uhm...I guess A Light in August, though there were a lot of good ones.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Arcade Fire, The Postal Service, HelloGoodbye, Matt Skiba/Alkaline Trio, Semisonic, Five For Fighting, Weekend Excursion, Best Interest, Matchbook Romance...these are all bands which I added a signficant number of songs by to my library. Don't remember when I discovered them all.
28. What did you want and get?
A hug - a girlfriend, a fun weekend - an amazing trip, a college acceptance letter - a college acceptance letter, etc.
29. What did you want and not get?
A winning lottery ticket. Maybe next year.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Damn you for finding a harder question. Eternal Sunshine, probably, though Huckabees and Garden State also rocked. I'm sure there were more, too, but I'm tired right now.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Weekend at the beach,with too many people (not really...it was a good amount, just a lot), then A Series of Unfortunate Events (the movie) and dinner at Papa Hydens with my family. I turned 18.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
One thing? This year has been incredibly satisfying sports, academics, friends, love have all been good. I suppose winning a state championship would have been an improvement.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
WTF is that?
34. What kept you sane?
Need I answer? The same thing (yeah, you're a "thing" sometimes :P) that kept me sane since the summer after freshman year...and I was crazy before that, so she's always been the thing keeping me sane, I suppose.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Fancy as in like? That chick who was in Jay and Silent Bob and Bring It On! is cute. If you mean, enjoy as an actor, Jim Carey was the most diverse this year and Jude Law was the most impressive...though Bill Murray may quickly claim one or both those titles this christmas.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Election and general insanity surrounding it...and the Catholic Church becomong politically biased, in my view.
37. Who did you miss?
"I'm not sleeping, and you're not here, the thought stops my heart. I want you to know that, I miss you, I miss you so..." Enough said.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Well...no one I met was really new, per say...I guess little freshman maggie was new and kicked ass.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004:
Do crazy things and expect crazy results. Luck favors those who take smart chances and are willing to risk failure in pursuit of success.