Snatched from greygirlbeast.

1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?

I went to Boston, where I'd never been before. I'd never been to any big east coast cities before.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Hmm, I usually do a resolution entry each year, so I'll hold off on a detailed response, but, in general -- you win some, you lose some. I will, indeed, make resolutions next year. I love closing-of-the-year, greeting-the-new-year rituals with a love that surpasseth understanding.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

What, like right there next to me on the train? No. But seriously, folks... Liz and Mike should have a baby coming along any day now, so ask me later.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, it's been a good year for the living.

5. What countries did you visit?

North Carolina. (Ba-dum-chi!) No, haven't left the continental U.S. this year. Have, in fact, never been to another country, not even Mexico or Canada. This is because I suck.

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

A wife! A published novel! Looks like those are both in the works, so all's well. I wouldn't mind getting a two-book publishing deal!

7. What dates from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

I'm not so good with dates, but I'll remember the morning my agent told me we had a novel offer, and the night I lost the Campbell, and the wonderful dinner with my editor in Boston, and hanging out with Greg and Jenn in Tahoe, and being in Scott and Lynne's wedding, and lunch with Dora and her family at Worldcon, and seeing Karen at Wiscon, and having dinner with Liz and Mike and Janet and Jason, and swimming in the pool with my brother and sister, and hanging out on the beach with Mom, and eating barbecue with Dad, and talking with D. all night on Scott's balcony, and the night I brought Heather flowers for no reason... I have a rich and good life, and there are many fine moments from this year, and just recounting a fraction of them makes me smile.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Selling a novel.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Hmm, I dunno. Losing the Campbell, I guess, but being nominated for it was pretty awesome by itself.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nothing unusual, just colds and such.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My iPod. Best purchase I ever made!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

There are lots of stand-up guys out there, and I'm not sure I can narrow it down to one.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

There are lots of assholes out there, and I'm not sure I can narrow it down to one.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Rent, of course, for I live in the Bay Area.

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

Selling my novel, and finishing another novel, and visiting my family.

16. What song will always remind you of 2004?

Ah, always a tough one! There are several. Rilo Kiley's "Glendora", Modest Mouse's "Black Cadillacs", and "Screen Door" by Uncle Tupelo seem tied-up with various parts of the year in my head.

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

One year older, a bit richer, just as much in love, with a more stable living situation (no more crazy landlord), more successful, probably happier. Though it's a bit stunning to realize that I’m still writing the same Rangergirl spin-off story I was working on this time last year! It doesn't have an airship anymore, but it's still basically the same story. I'm going to finish it this year, damn it!

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

I wish I'd written more, taken more walks, traveled more, seen my friends more, and gone to the Parkway theater more (movies and pizza and couches!). I wish my life was arranged in such a way that recreational drugs were an entertainment option, but those days seem to be very much behind me.

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

Getting pissed-off for no good reason. Letting stupid crap grind me down. Getting discouraged by insignificant setbacks.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

With Heather's mom and sister and our nephew for part of the day, and reading books and playing with toys for the rest of the day.

22. Did you fall in love in 2004?

Yeah... with the food at my neighborhood Chinese restaurant! But not with a new person, no. Though a couple of long-standing crushes continue.

23. How many one-night stands?

None. Those days appear to be behind me, too. I was never good at one-night stands anyway. I almost always wound up calling them a day or two later and getting into a relationship. Which was usually a good thing.

24. What was your favorite TV program?

Eh, we mostly watch TV on DVD, so it's nothing new. Probably Sports Night for comedy, The Shield for drama. There's nothing on television I currently go out of my way to watch, though I'm always happy to stumble across Venture Bros. on Adult Swim.

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

Actually, no. It's been a bad year for the making of enemies.

26. What was the best book you read?

Not an easy question. Interesting, as always, and I'll be writing a year-end summary for A Certain Magazine on this very subject, probably, but... hmm...Perfect Circle by Sean Stewart is a contender, and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell really did it for me... this requires further thought, but both those books would make my top five.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

My brother turned me on to Rilo Kiley, which has improved my life greatly.

28. What did you want and get?

A novel contract, an Xbox, and an iPod.

29. What did you want and not get?

I pretty much get everything I want. The key is not wanting too awful much. The only big-ticket items I wanted were the Xbox and the iPod, and when I came into surprise money, I bought them. Everything else I ever want is, like, a book or a game or a sandwich or something, and I just buy those.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?

Probably The Incredibles, though I have very high hopes indeed for The Life Aquatic.

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

My birthday is tomorrow. I will be 28. Tomorrow, I will indulge my every hedonistic desire, and I'll spare you the details.

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

A more stable living situation. Having the house up for sale was maddening, with people coming to look at the unit constantly, with the endless repairs that were necessary to make the place salable, with the uncertainty about whether we'd have to move out... it was a constant background hum of anxiety that is, thankfully, over now.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?

Urban Slouch.

34. What kept you sane?

Heather. Singlehandedly and with great aplomb.

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

I'm not hugely into the cult of celebrity, but I guess the woman from Firefly, Jewel Staite, pushed my "damn-she's-cute" buttons. (I had to google her to find her name, though, which makes me something short of a super-fan, I guess.)

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

The presidential election.

37. Who did you miss?

I missed Meg and Amily a lot -- didn't get to see either of them at all, and there were a couple of opportunities where I almost managed to see them, which made it even sadder.

38. Who was the best new person you met?

My editor, Juliet, who is not only a great editor but a superfun person. I met my agent in person this year, but we met via phone and e-mail last year, so I guess that doesn't count, though she's awesome, too.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004:

I'm not sure I learned it, but I was certainly reminded of it: Embrace the good things in your life, minimize the bad things, treat your friends well, and don't drink a whole pot of coffee at 10 p.m. or you'll never get to sleep at all that night.