Journal challenge

I found this in several journals and traced it back to "Spicey's Life"; looks like a good read.  I'll be back to see what else she has to offer.

 

2004 ... lessons learned

 

1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?  I started an AOL journal.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?  Every year I make the same two resolutions:  To read the Bible through in the year, and to lose the weight I've gained over the holidays.  Sometimes I'm successful, sometimes not. 
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?  Nobody really close to me, but a co-worker who lost a baby tragically in 2001 had a healthy baby, and it makes me happy to see her so happy.
4. Did anyone close to you die?  Yes, my mother, in January. 

5. What countries did you visit?  When I visited my sister in Texas, we shopped in Mexico.
6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?  More self-control; more boundaries.
7. What dates from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?  The date of my mom's death ought to, but for the life of me, I can't tell you what date that was.  July 4 is etched in my memory because my son was here, and we had a nice reunion with other family members and friends.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?  Getting my horse to stop acting like a spoiled brat, and seeing him turn into a horse that everybody says is perfect!  And that's due to reading books by Mark Rashid.
 9. What was your biggest failure?  I didn't pay enough attention to my spiritual life. 
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?  I was on medical leave with my left knee, and had orthroscopic surgery on it.
11. What was the best thing you bought?  Airplane tickets:  for me and my daughter to visit my sister in Texas, and to go to Washington, DC.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?  my son-in-law for quitting smoking
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?  My grandson's ignoring the letters he keeps getting (at my house) telling him to pay some traffic fine or other.  Depressed, more than appalled. 
14. Where did most of your money go?  You name it!  Travel, house payments, day-to-day bills, tractors, vets and farriers for my horse; the list is endless.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?  Our trip to Branson.
16. What song will always remind you of 2004?  "Welcome to my Life" by Simple Plan.
17. Compared to this time last year, you are:  working less at my job
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?  traveling!
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?  eating unhealthy stuff
20. How will you be spending Christmas?  It's over; I spent it with family.

21. How would you rather be spending Christmas?  Exactly as I did.
22. Did you fall in love in 2004?  Good grief, I've been married for 38 years!
23. How many one-night stands?  None in my entire life.
24. What was your favorite TV program?  I hardly watch TV.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?  no
26. What was the best book you read?  "Christmas in Plains" by Jimmy Carter
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?  Green Day
28. What did you want and get?  Trips I took:  to my sister's, to Branson, and to Washington, DC
29. What did you want and not get?  1.  a second horse  2.  a house on 2 1/2 acres about a mile from here
30. What was your favorite film of this year?  "Ray"
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?  I had to check back in my journal for this one:  I worried on my birthday!  My grandson was keeping everybody on their toes with his girl friend problems.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?  finding a church where somebody knows I'm there, or cares.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?  Sweats, jeans, and T-shirts:  does that qualify?
34. What kept you sane?  I haven't had any problems keeping sane since my children left home (raising teenagers was HELL)
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?  Jimmy Carter
36. What political issue stirred you the most?  I don't talk politics in my journal.
37. Who did you miss?  My mother, the way she used to be before my dad died.  Her brothers, my Uncle Carl and Uncle Leo, who both thought I was wonderful.
38. Who was the best new person you met?  I'm such a loner, I don't meet a lot of new people in real life; but I've "met" so many new people through these blogs I won't even try to pick one. 
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004:  It's a lesson I've been learning for the last fifteen years or so:  Life is short; don't take any day for granted.  Treasure your memories.