A year-end Survey. I’m a bit late, but I can never resist this sort of thing.

1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
I made a pineapple upside-down cake. I learned to edit digital video.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I kept my single resolution reasonably well. But there was some downsliding. I'm still deciding on a resolution for 2005 – but I try to pick something manageable. Like one year, I resolved to shut cabinet doors.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes. Lots of people.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes. Only one person.

5. What countries did you visit?
England. Ooh, does Florida count as another country? It feels rather like one.

6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
More physical energy.

7. What date from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Frankly, it is all rather a blur.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finishing a novel: Fly on the Wall.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I do not think of myself as failing. I think of myself as working on stuff.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Just the usual flu. I'm tremendously lucky.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My first sofa. A plane ticket to see my very ancient grandmother.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Ivy's.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The American voting public, re: the issue of gay marriage.

14. Where did most of your money go?
To the tax man. After that, medical insurance. After that, mortgage. But I did spend a rather shocking amount on clothes, directly following a new book deal.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I pet a deer. A DEER. For a long time!

16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
I don't have an answer.

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

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

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

20. How did you spend the holidays?
Sick with the flu.

21. Did you fall in love in 2004?
I stayed in love.

22. How many one-night stands?
Excuse me?

23. What was your favorite TV program?
Pimp My Ride.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.

25. What was the best book you read?
The Most of P.G. Wodehouse. As it says on the cover, "it is impossible to be sad while reading Wodehouse" – and I find that to be true.

26. What was your favorite film of this year?
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

27. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
Audrey Hepburn meets Rosie the Riveter

28 Whom did you miss?
My three best friends from high school – but I got to see two of them.

29. Who was the best new person you met?
Heather. But maybe that was in 03. I'm not sure.

30. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004.
Imparting valuable life lessons is a sure way to make other people annoyed with you.