Tradition

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Live outside the US for four months

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't think I made any last year . . .

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No

4. Did anyone close to you die? No

5. What countries did you visit? Australia, New Zealand, Hungary, Czech Republic

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? Credits towards a speech pathology degree . . .

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? 8/9/08, our anniversary!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Probably planning our wedding and getting married

9. What was your biggest failure? I don't know . . . can't think of any right now.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Just the usual head cold stuff.

11. What was the best thing you bought? Air New Zealand tickets

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Dre's mom helped us out a lot.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? The violence in Israel/ Gaza got me down.

14. Where did most of your money go? Food, rent, etc.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Our wedding, and NZ!

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Probably the Andres song by Esteban Jordan, since we danced to it for our first dance.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder? I'd say happier, maybe more stressed though

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Reading

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Stressing out about work

20. Did you fall in love in 2008? I fell even more in love . . .

21. What was your favorite TV program? The Office, Flashpoint

22. Do you dislike anyone now that you didn’t dislike this time last year? No . . .

23. What was the best book you read? The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman

24. What was your greatest musical discovery? The didgeridoo, when we went to Australia, and Dre's mom's Arabic Groove/ Latin CDs

25. What did you want and get? Admission to UNC

26. What did you want and not get? A tarantula (but there's still hope)

27. What was your favorite film of this year? I didn't see too many . . . "The Namesake" I suppose.

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 23 in New Zealand, and Dre and I went out to the Frog and the Kiwi for seafood in Mangawhai Heads.

29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Ummm . . . our car not breaking down? I don't know.

30. What kept you sane? Dre, friends, family

31. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Barack Obama

32. Who did you miss? Family, friends when we were in NZ.

33. Who was the best new person you met? Our roommates in Christchurch were awesome.

34. A valuable life lesson you learned in 2008? Treasure everyday.

35. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: From "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz:

But I won't hesitate no more,
no more, it cannot wait
I'm yours