(Stole this from Mandy. You know the drill.) 1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?

Visited Washington, D.C., which was way cooler than I ever expected.

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

I definitely did not. I wanted to run 100 miles a month, and as you can see, I did not run 1,200 miles this year. But I'm going to try the same goal next year. Or perhaps logging 1,000 miles for the year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

If I recall, a certain Miss Alice was born this year.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, thank God.

5. What countries did you visit?

Does our country's capitol count? Because I won't be seeing any new countries any time soon.

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

A decent, steady, fantastic career.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Oct. 2 was big and scary and refreshing for reasons you can guess. Also, Nov. 9 was my first night in my new home, in my new life, one mile down the road from my new(ish) boyfriend.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Surviving was pretty admirable. Also finishing my fourth marathon.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Taking a horrendous job in Milwaukee, which jump-started the downfall. Also those times Harley kept shitting on the floor.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Not a one. Phew! Shin splints and other terrible ills, be damned!

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Uh, the Twilight series. Just kidding! Ha! Ha... I do love my iPod Nano. Also I bought my registration into the Marine Corps Marathon, which was rather fantastic.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My sister, who one day this spring called in to work and spent hours searching for Harley in cornfields when I thought she'd gone missing and I was distraught. That was an awful morning. Terrible, horrible, awful.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

People who didn't approve of Barack Obama because "he's black" or "he's a Muslim." Idiots.

14. Where did most of your money go?

What money?

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

I remember being very excited about buying my Nano, seeing My Chemical Romance in concert, running a 4:10 marathon and seeing the White House for the first time.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?

The apple bottom jeans song.

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

a) happier or sadder? Much happier.

b) thinner or fatter? Probably the same.

c) richer or poorer? Much poorer, which doesn't say much.

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

I wish I could've enjoyed any of my jobs more, enjoyed more lazy weekends at the beach in Milwaukee, attended more concerts, written a novel and eaten more Sour Patch Kids.

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

Stressing, picking fights and looking for jobs.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

It was the best Christmas in I don't know how many years. Spent quality time with my family for a few days, and inhaled every second of it.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?

Yes I did. With a bug, no less.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Everything on the Food Network. I got addicted. And "LOST," for sure.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

Oh, hate is such a strong word... not that I couldn't put a few faces with it, though.

24. What was the best book you read?

The Twilight series. True story.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Joshua Radin was a good one. Also Automatic Loveletter - I singlehandedly discovered them. Swear. I'm also highly pleased to have found Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson, among others.

26. What did you want and get?

Just about everything on my Christmas list.

27. What did you want and not get?

An amazing job in my field of study.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

"Twilight," duh. Although "The Dark Knight" was pretty fabulous, too.

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

I turned 26 this year. My parents took me out to dinner and Lone Star, and the servers sang happy birthday to me while I rode on a mock horse.

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

Lots of money.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

Comfort. I am a huge fan of sweatpants. I also wore a lot of running clothes.

32. What kept you sane?

Rob generally does a good job of that. Also blogging and reading and endless episodes of "Dawson's Creek" and "Grey's Anatomy." Celexa doesn't hurt, either.

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

Barack Obama is pretty damn fancy.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

Gay marriage rights. Also the desperate need to get a Democrat in office.

35. Who do you miss?

I miss my family all the time. Also, some of my awesome girl friends in Milwaukee (and Ohio). AJ. Courtney. The usual.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

Erin, by far. She's one of my favorite people.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

Be happy. Do what needs to be done to get happy. Life is too short. And somehow, no matter how desperate things become, everything always works out.

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

"Whoooooooaaaaaaa, hangin' tough." - New Kids on the Block

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