1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Bought a house.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Nope. Didn't get my book written. I made the same one this year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nobody particularly close, though my co-worker Julianna had a baby in late December. Her name is Gemma, which I don't know how to pronounce; hard G or soft G? I won't know until she comes back from maternity leave, probably, because I feel stupid asking the question.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, for a change.

5. What countries did you visit?
The U.S.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
More money. More stability.

7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
August 1, when the bridge fell down. July 16, when Kip lost his job. And Sept. 21, when he got a better new one.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Qualifying for a home loan. And buying a house.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not getting my book written.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Normal respiratory stuff. Nothing serious.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Our house. (I sense a theme here.)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Megan, who finally dumped her fuckwit husband late in the year.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I'm not going to answer this. Although too often mine did.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Um. Our house. And bills.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing my BFF Cindy Price in September, when she flew to the Twin Cities for our lawn party. And Kip's new job.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
"Everything" by Michael Buble.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? About the same, I fear.
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer financially.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Dancing. And belly dancing.

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

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With Kip and Andrew, my mother, my sister Jennifer and my stepsons Tim and Eric.

22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Over and over, with the same man.

23. How many one-night stands?
None.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
"American Idol" and "Boston Legal."

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. I still hate Megan's fuckwit ex-husband.

26. What was the best book you read?
Possibly "The Abstinence Teacher" by Tom Perrotta. Or "Thief of Words" by John Jaffe.

27. What was your greatest musical (re)discovery?
Gwen Stefani. Yeah, I'm late to the party.

28. What did you want and get?
Our house. Getting tired of this answer yet?

29. What did you want and not get?
Financial security.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
"Across the Universe."

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 48. Kip and I went to a movie and had lunch.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I'd finished my damn book.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Hippie chick.

34. What kept you sane?
Kip and Andrew.

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

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Getting the redneck asshole out of office and someone with a brain there instead.

37. Who did you miss?
Daddy.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
I didn't actually see her in person, and I've known her for a long time, but I kind of reconnected with Bethany, and she is one of my new heroes.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
Kip and I can get through anything.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
What a long, strange trip it's been ...