It's time for...

The annual Sundry End-Of-The-Year Questionnaire.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Let my son drive my car. Voted someone for president who wasn't a white male.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Last year I started an exercise routine (running) which I stuck with for about five or six months. I plan to start again come January.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No.

4. Did anyone close to you die? No.

5. What countries did you visit? None.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? Hope.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Week of July 4 - beach vacation with three 15-year-old boys. Nov. 4 - Presidential election.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? After 15 years of marriage, I finally bought Big Daddy a gift that he didn't return.

9. What was your biggest failure? Not keeping up with my writing. Not going to BlogHer. AGAIN.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? My body rebelled a bit against the running thing. But nothing major.

11. What was the best thing you bought? Shoes. Everything from the Channel slingbacks to the half-price Jimmy Choos to the specialty running shoes. I am good at the Shoes.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Big Daddy's nephew. [Please keep praying. I'm especially worried since I heard this morning that Israel is preparing ground strikes against Hamas.]

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Governors who keep breaking the law.

14. Where did most of your money go? In my gas tank, unfortunately.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? The presidential election.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? "Stronger" by Kanye West.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Sadder
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter. Or maybe about the same.
c) richer or poorer? About the same.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Running. Singing. Writing.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Working.

20. How did you spend Christmas? At home.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008? YES. With Facebook & finding old friends.

22. What was your favorite TV program? House is still tops with me.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? That governor from Alaska.

24. What was the best book you read? The entire Sarah Vowell library.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Radiohead. MGMT.

26. What did you want and get? A democrat moving into the White House.

27. What did you want and not get? A new camera.

28. What was your favorite film of this year? As far as love-it-so-much-I-could-watch-it-over-and-over: Once, Iron Man. Also enjoyed: La Vie en Rose, August Rush, Juno, Lars & The Real Girl, Boy A, The Diving Bell & The Butterfly. [Yes, I KNOW most of those movies came out in 2007. I hardly ever go to the theater and almost always watch movies on DVD. So I'm a year or so behind.]

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 42 & I don't think I did anything special. Went to work. Celebrated a new president. Ate chocolate cake for breakfast.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Going to BlogHer. Finally getting to meet Carmen in person.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? First half: Factory Girl. Last half: Mad Men.

32. What kept you sane? Time alone. Or IDK, maybe that made things worse.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? President-Elect Obama.

34. What political issue stirred you the most? The economy.

35. Who did you miss? Tim Russert, especially during the election coverage.

36. Who was the best new person you met? I'm gonna have to go with HARRY.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. Don't travel with four testosterone-packed males and expect to have a relaxing beach vacation.

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

"You can't always get what you want.
You can't always get what you want.
You can't always get what you want.
But if you try sometimes, you just might find
You get what you need."