Sunday, January 1, 2012

is it copping out? or just a tradition?


Happy New Year, blog world! Welcome to 2012, also known as The Year I Will Turn 30 on 12/12/12. Be prepared to be reminded about that a lot. I realize my birthday was just like 3 weeks ago, but I am SO FRIGGIN EXCITED about the 12/12/12 thing that it's basically all I can think about.

At least it's better than whining about infertility, right?

But don't worry, whining is why you know and love me. So I won't let you down in this new year. To kick things off, I have a tradition to continue-- the Year End meme thing! At first I was thinking it was totally a cop-out to do this thing again. Then I realized...maybe it's not a cop-out...maybe it's a tradition. After all, this will be my third year doing it...it'd basically be a crime NOT to fill it out. Even if it is basically an exact duplicate of last year's answers. Even if nothing has changed. Even if that's REALLY depressing to realize and think about. 

Ugh. Let's roll, kids. If you have no life would like to review my answers from past years, head over to 2009 and 2010.

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before? 
Went rock climbing, went on an airplane with my husband, met my blog BFF in real life, got a Big Girl Camera, Zumba..I'm sure there's more, why don't you just go reread the whole last year's worth of blogs if you're interested? ;)  

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't remember if I made any last year, which means I probably did not. I don't really plan on making any this year, either. 
 
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Did anyone close to me NOT give birth? That would be a better question.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Well, sort of. I wasn't personally super close to them, but some people I love were. My brother-in-law Tom's parents passed away last summer.

5. What countries did you visit?
The good ol' US of A! I think I managed to see Georgia (surprise, surprise), South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas this year. 
 
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Hmm, let's see...a baby? A six pack? (of abs, not beer. I already have a 6 pack of beer.) How about some photography skillz? Oh, I'd like to have 100 followers! That would be cool.

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
 No particular date is standing out right now...but I bet I know what date from 2012 will stand out: 12/12/12!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Surviving it? Not kidnapping a baby?

OK, on a more positive note: I achieved CRAFTINESS this year. I'm pretty proud about that! 

9. What was your biggest failure?
 I don't feel like I've been a particularly good friend the past (few) year(s). I guess it's a combination of being sad/jealous/stressed out/tired/overthinking/at work. I'm better at being open and honest on a computer. But I should work at being a better friend in real life.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Eh, just the usual. A few sinus infections, asthma flareups, ruptured cysts, MRSA...nothing special.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Definitely the camera. Or the smartphone. Or my glue gun.
 
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Matt, who is the best thing that's ever happened to me.
 
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Umm...the jury of the Casey Anthony trial. Appalling.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Truthfully? Probably to our mortgage. But that's boring! Ha. It FEELS like most of our money went to acupuncture, even though it was not really all that much (in the grand scheme of things). 

15. What did you get really excited about?
Crafting. Going to Texas. My triphasic chart. Getting our camera. Adoption.

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
 The songs that I used on my brother and sister-in-law's wedding rehearsal slideshow I made. I had to listen to them 28293493 times in order to time everything perfectly on Kizoa.
I won't bore you with listing them all; they were mostly country and I can probably safely assume I'm the only person here who likes country music (besides my brother and his wife, of course).
 
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
(a) happier or sadder?
I don't know, probably happier. I am feeling really encouraged about adoption right now. But don't worry, give me a few weeks and I'm sure it will wear off! (Pessimistic? Or just realistic?)
(b) thinner or fatter?
About the same, I guess. I would personally describe it as 'perfection.' (HAHAHAHA)
(c) richer or poorer?
Richer, I guess. Woohoo! Go me! I got about 3 quarters bangin' together in my wallet...
  
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Working out...I got a little less hardcore this year. But now that Zumba has entered my life, I feel myself being re-excited about working out! Also...I got Zumba shoes for Christmas. Just sayin.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Sitting at home feeling sad.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With Matt's family. It was wonderful! I am so especially thankful this year for my wonderful sister-in-laws who I adore spending time with. And Baby Timmy's not so shabby himself...
 
21. Did you fall in love in 2010?
I am possibly a teensy bit in love with Baby Timmy. Come on! You look at those cute cheeks and try not to be in love with him, too!!

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Definitely my BFFs the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and New Jersey.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nope. I don't think there have been any additions to the Hate List.

24. What was the best book you read?
Jane Eyre. I can't believe I didn't read that until this year!   

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
N/A. I don't make musical discoveries.
  
26. What did you want and get?
A Big Girl Camera, a smartphone, a trip to Texas, 2 massages, a Handy Nabber, a few mani-pedis, and the Spiritual Gift of Craftiness.
  
27. What did you want and not get?
BABYBABYBABYBABYBABY. I also did not win the lottery even though I played I think 3 times. And with said lottery winnings, I would have bought a baby (via IVF or adoption, of course. No human trafficking here!).


I also wanted to move to the Middle East and did not. But I'm okay with that (for now).

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
 I am currently struggling to recall ANY movies I saw this year. I do remember seeing Black Swan and thought it was equal parts disturbing and excellent. OH!!!! I went to the movie theater (the REAL ONE, not the dollar one) (because she got free tix) with Mollyanne and saw The Help! It was great. 

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Appropriate that this is question 29, isn't it? I turned 29. And I just went to look for my Birthday Recap post to link up to it and then I realized I NEVER WROTE ONE. And that is a tragedy, because it was a great day! We went to dinner with some wonderful friends and took lots of ridiculous pictures, so I am obviously going to share a few right now:





30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Uhh...probs a baby.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Comfortable. And sometimes cute.

32. What kept you sane?
Blogging. For realz. Crafting. Pinterest. My BFFs.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Umm...Kate Middleton? I was a big fan of the royal wedding, as you may recall.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Other than the total and complete hot mess that was the Casey Anthony jury (which actually has nothing to do with politics, but is one of the few Current Events I kept up with), I pretty much did not care about any political issues. I know there were a bunch of folks with their panties in a twist about something who were busy occupying a bunch of places, and I didn't even care about that until someone almost mugged me next to the Occupy tent in downtown Athens, and then I decided I hated all those Occupying people because they could not be bothered to rescue me. That was about as political as I got this year. I am going to try to be even less political next year, what with it being an election year and all (guess who COULDN'T CARE LESS about that, either??!!) .

35. Who did you miss? 
 I miss my friends that live far away. And the ones that live near but that I still never manage to see.


36. Who was the best new person you met?
Meeting Amanda J. in real life, most def!

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
God is good because He is good...not because He gives me everything I want.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
You're rich in love and You're slow to anger
Your name is great and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find
(10,000 Reasons- Jonas Myrin & Matt Redman)

Oh I'm sorry-- was this even LONGER than the other years? Sheesh, I thought we would never finish. If you made it to the end-- great is your reward. 


Yep, that's your reward. A picture of some fungi growing on a dead tree stump with a mountain stream in the background. I took the pic on Friday, when Matt and I took a day trip to go hiking in the mountains! And now this picture is your great reward. LUCKY YOU! Happy 2012!



5 comments:

  1. This was a way more exciting recap of 2011 than the one Google Analytics did for me!

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  2. I'd love to hear more about the adoption. :D And I listen to country too!

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  3. I've had that song in my head all day. And I love it. Seeing that you're just now writing about your birthday makes me feel better that I haven't written about mine yet.

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  4. Ok yes, I def need to steal this recap next year... or maybe for this year as a cop out follow-up to my lame 2011 recap. Other thoughts:
    #3. I didn't give birth! You're welcome.
    #15. I remember how excited you were about your triphasic chart... I was excited for you! Sorry that didn't work out better!
    #36. Yay! Thanks! Let's make that happen again soon... I know, my turn to make the trip!

    Happy 2012- hoping we both end it with little ones in our arms (but again, not through human trafficking)!

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  5. Nice recap!I didn't know it was the same thing you did for '09 and '10 but I think that is neat to answer the same q's each year and see what has changed and what has stayed the same. Hoping and praying that a year from now you have some wonderful things to recap from 2012! (And how cool will your 12/12/12 birthday be?!)

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