Lifted from Kerri, you know I can't resist a good opportunity to sum up.

1.What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
Became a vegetarian. Yep, there's a pretty big change. I decided to go veg around Jan 1, purely coincidentally, and it's one of the best choices I've ever made.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
A nauseating amount of elaboration to come, but I will say I've kept some and not others; the point of making them, for me, is just in the interest of forward progress, and forwardly progressed I have. ;) I will make more, oh, you'd better believe it.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
It just, just occurred to me that Misti must have given birth in the past twelve months... yes, must have, as I last saw her pregnant a year ago. But I guess since I haven't seen her since then I can't call her anyone close to me. I cut ties with everyone, call me a bitch if you must. It still freaks me out that someone my age is married and mothering. ...especially Misti.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
One of my mom's coworkers died. I didn't know her very well, but it really affected me. She was a wonderful person, and just the horror of her death, the way she must have suffered... It is still strange to have personally known someone who was murdered. That has always seemed like a strange and distant unreality. It's something that changes you in a way I'm not sure I can describe.

5. What countries did you visit?
None, but in a little over a month!

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
An earned 4.0 semester, greater financial security (it would take a miracle), and less stupid panicky stressfulness.

7. What date(s) from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Apparently no dates will, as such, but there are these memories: Chicago, the escapes to Columbus (which really don't feel like this year), seeing Benjamin again, the initial experiments with alcohol... hmm, this wasn't a big year for capital-E Events.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I don't know, I don't think there was any single biggest achievement I can point to. I just feel like I've grown up a lot this year. Doing more entirely on my own, with less of that niggling fear that's always to whatever degree been with me. I have a sense of direction. It's just been a good year, and I feel good about things. I think that's an achievement.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I let myself down a few times. I never work as hard as I ought to, and I haven't done a whole lot to earn the things I have. I guess my disappointment is the greatest guarantor of personal change. I learn from failure, which is all that keeps me from becoming a failure.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I've had a cold more often this year than probably any other, including presently, but nothing major. I spilled hot butter on myself, and decided having withstood that I could withstand a tattoo.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A blender? Maybe the perfect Egyptian cotton bronze yarn for my Ravenclaw scarf. I don't buy myself things all that often.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Lani and Josh are always and eternally amazing. I think there is a sense in which I didn't give anyone else a chance to be amazing to me.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Aside from the decision-makers in my government? Again, I don't think I let anyone close enough to affect me that way.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Bills -- my outstanding debt to Marietta, credit cards, car loan. Alcohol. Stupid shoe binges. Dinners out. I'm terrible with money.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Jason Mraz. Can you call my anticipation of Phyllis Schlafly excitement? Harry Potter V.

16. What song(s) will always remind you of 2003?
Hey Ya - Outkast (as my brother and I decided tonight, it is probably the best "popular" song of the year)
Pink Floyd, and the "pecan pie" song, and everything I associate with driving with Lani & Josh
What a World - Rufus Wainwright
Matchbox Twenty's newest album
Liz Phair, all of Exile in Guyville
0% Interest, Absolutely Zero, Tonight Not Again, &c &c -- Jason Mraz

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier, always happier. I actually am, because this time last year I complained a lot more about being home. And I'm okay with it now, really.
ii. thinner or fatter? About the same. Maybe two pounds either way.
iii. richer or poorer? I have more money in my bank account now, but if you size up my debt... poorer, much poorer.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Spending time with some of the seniors, some I was just starting to become friends with and I regret not getting to know them better. Studying.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procraaaaaastinating!! In all my many ways.

20. How will you be spending Christmas? The eve with my dad tomorrow, the day with my mom and brother, and later with my aunts and uncles. Sometime within the next two weeks with my older siblings.

22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
Did not fall in or out of love this year, but certainly made a lot of personal progress on the subject.

23. How many one-night stands?
My slate is still clean, there.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
24 for the first half, a renewal of my The West Wing obsession for the second. Which together almost entirely accounts for my total television viewership.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't hate much of anyone. But how I feel about most people hasn't changed much either way during the year. Perhaps the fairest gauge is to say this: the more I get to know almost anyone, the more I like them. Most people, on the whole, still annoy the hell out of me.

26. What was the best book you read?
The Hours. No question there. There would be a question if I had finished Mrs. Dalloway, but I'm still about halfway through. (Such a slacker.) Wuthering Heights, too.

27. What was your greatest musical discoveries?
Jason Mraz. Rediscovered Liz Phair. Really delved into Pete Yorn. Ben Lee.

28. What did you want and get?
A double. The chance to study in Europe. A summer job where I could get paid, essentially, to read Harry Potter and Thomas Paine.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Hours, though it fell short of the book; Adaptation, LOTR, Love Actually. A classic discovery: Dead Again.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 21 this year. I spent most of the day in class -- from 9:30am to 9:30pm, nearly non-stop -- but was then whisked away to Applebees by my two best friends for drinks and a gift of an engraved shot glass. One of my favorite birthdays for their thoughtfulness. ...and the alcohol, too. ;)

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
To be honest? I hate to say this, but money. I am in such scary debt. Money.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
I actually feel like I'm in the middle of a wardrobe revolution. I go to stores, I feel torn between the juniors and misses departments. I started out 2003 with my standard wardrobe of hoodies and long-sleeve tees, jeans almost exclusively, closely-fitting sweaters, in predominantly blue and black. Now I feel more drawn to cardigans and oversized sweaters, khakis, corduroys and grey pants, trouser socks, in earth tones and burgundy. I will always always prefer brown corduroy coats.

34. What kept you sane?
Lani and Josh. They are my sanity. Driving. Music. Sometimes this diary. Sometimes my own resourcefulness and level-headedness (I said sometimes).

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Here's to all the silver-haired foxes!! Alan Rickman, Gabriel Byrne, Mark Harmon, Richard Schiff, Kenneth Branagh. Men with huge potential to become bona fide silver-haired foxes: Colin Firth, Hugh Grant. And let us not forget the if-I-were-to-swing-that-way-I-would-totally-sleep-with... ladies: Emma Thompson and Allison Janney.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
I was probably most up in arms over the debate about gay marriage and the definition of family. Phyllis got me pretty stirred up over any and all women's issues -- you name it. And of course the attacks on Iraq. I saw things in my country I never imagined I would and I was appalled.

37. Who did you miss?
Benjamin... it's always Benjamin, and I saw him again this year, but then he stopped emailing me. And he updated his diary and was online finally last night. And I don't know what contact is appropriate after already sending three unanswered emails. Dammit, if you're freaking reading this, freaking email me. If you freaking care. Otherwise freaking stop reading this because I'm freaking embarrassed. My god, I'm so silly.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Hmm, I don't know. I don't meet many people because I am militantly antisocial. Haha. Well, I think I formally met, sometime this year, HotPot, and he's a pretty cool guy. Oh, man, what's the matter with me? I totally met Matt this year! Matt, you're freaking awesome, and I don't think you're told that enough.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003:
Don't drink alone. Don't drink in the middle of the day. However, there are some professors for whom you can write drunk papers and get so away with it.
Love actually is all around.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I might change this later when I've had some time to think on it, but for now, let's go with:

And that is the consequence of actually feeling.
Counting Crows