2011 Wrap up
Hey everyone, sorry I had a mini hiatus. Things got kind of hectic during the holidays and I lost a little steam when it came to updating- got a little homesick and depressed and then next thing I knew the holidays were practically over!
Anyways, here is a picture update of how December went by:
First, Conny turned 1! (Note: That is not Conny's cake, just a candle I impulse bought while at a stationary store- it was too cute!)
We opened presents, had cupcakes and then headed off to the Aquarium!
Conny was absolutely fascinated! She loved walking up to the glass and putting her face on it! (Did I mention she was fully walking BEFORE she turned 1? That's my girl!)
Then, I got to saw down "my own" Christmas tree!
(IT WAS AWESOME. For the first time in my 25 years I didn't have to stare at my parents plastic tree- not that I'm against plastic trees, I'm not. I'm against having THE SAME TREE FOR 25 YEARS... THE THING IS FALLING APART. It seriously has like 2 branches left and cries every year my mom yanks it out of the box from the attic "booo waaah I'm an old Christmas tree!! JUST LET ME DIE!!!" )
Ahem- anyways...
Well after that I grew older! (I'm not doing any growing "up" these days, just sideways :P)
Cat made me a cake for my birthday- and I got a new camera for my birthday since my little Olympus went to the great recycling bin in the sky after an unfortunate meeting with some "German Sangria"
Cat took me out to a show/dinner thing (unlimited drinks-- whoo boy baaaaad idea!) where I got serenaded by a Robbie Williams impersonator while wearing a light up Santa Claus hat... actually Cat and her friend who runs the show planned it from the beginning! That's how "Robbie" knew to pull me on stage and why Cat and all her friends made such a big deal of me not taking it off! "LOLZ"
Then, it was Christmas! In German tradition the tree get decorated on the 24th, then the 25th is the second holiday.
On the 25th I roasted my first Duck! I spent all day in the kitchen and he (Cat thinks it was a boy duck) turned out not only beautiful ans tasty too!
Beautiful right? You can go ahead and feed my ego by telling me how wonderful it looks. If someone wants me to roast them something (Duck, Turkey, Chicken, etc), you buy the bird and provide the kitchen- I'll cook dinner and hep with the dishes :P... Any takers?
Then! on the 28th my brother arrived for a visit! We had a few 'uneventful' days in little old Bröthen- did some scenic walks, saw the old DDR (former East Germany, not the Konami game) border, he went to Hamburg for a day and then on December 31st we headed off to Berlin! We spent New Years near the Brandenburg gate (the equivalent of being a few blocks over from Times square) with my friend Alyson (who is an American who lives in Berlin) and her sister who was visiting. We set off fireworks-something I had never done before and toasted in the new year with some sparkling wine (about 5 minutes to midnight Alyson and her sister got in a fight and kind of ruined the mood a bit, which was a bummer but my brother and I hugged and it made us appreciate our relationship that we don't fight over little things anymore... actually we don't fight anymore period. :D
And that's how 2011 ended for me.
Sebastian was here until the 5th, we were in Berlin until the 4th. We did some site-seeing, but we didn't see everything Sebastian wanted to see. Although, I hope at least he didn't feel shorted on his visit. I tried to tell him he wanted to do too many things for the amount of time he was here-barely a week- so I hope he understood that and that I wasn't being uncooperative. But hopefully, while it was a small trip it was hopefully enough to light a spark for a future trip and I enjoyed seeing, talking, reminiscing and laughing with my 'little' brother.
And now, to finish up this 2011 wrap up, here is a little meme I stole from Maddie's LJ, you can read on under the cut.
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
I went white water rafting and zip-lining on South America’s longest zipline (those of you who know me and my fear of heights understand how much of a challenge this was- not even to conquer my fear, but to tell it shut up for a few minutes.)
I also moved to Germany (again, yes I know) but now I’m doing a sort of home stay and working as an au pair instead of studying.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn’t make any new years resolutions, and if I did they were most likely concerning weight and that most certainly did not happen. I've decided New Years Resolutions are doomed for failure, instead of big goals I am going to take each day as a learning process.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, no one gave birth but two close people did conceive, 1 close friend and my new sister in law.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes, my maternal grandmother died on August 29th, my brother’s birthday.
5. What countries did you visit?
I went to Chile in February
I visited Bavarian Germany in July, and passed through Austria for all of 2 seconds.
State-wise: I went to Florida and went to Universal Studios (Harry Potter world!)
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
I want to be more perseverant and dedicated to the things that do not come easy to me.
I want to regain motivation, yes while I did take risks I was unmotivated to better myself as a person and want to get out of feeling in a rut
7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 5th, 2011 I boarded a plane for Germany for a contract job as an au pair
August 30th, 2011 I got the phone call my grandmother had passed.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Breaking language barriers with the children I watch and live with and on second thought, finally learning to accept myself for who I am now. I may not be satisfied with who I am, but it is for now, and for now I will accept myself, my flaws and my strengths and aim to better myself... the irony that it took me gaining 50 pounds to finally realize that.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Being half assed with most aspects of my life including but not limited to: my writing, my photography, my weight, my health.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing more than usual, occasional summer cold (the benefits of working with children) occasional arthritis pain from my formerly broken left hand and some siatic nerve pain in my hip. Little things that have been augmented due to the recent weight gain.. further motivation to return to normal size.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
2011 was not a good year for clothes, I’m 50 pounds heavier and had to upsize most of my clothing. I didn’t buy any techy stuff or any overly fantastic books. I guess the nicest thing I bought was a candle made from salt from a salt mine I visited /toured while in Bavaria.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
I don’t know if I can nominate anyone personal for this, being as I spent the better part of 2011 in a foreign country and my only means of communication was via a computer screen. But I guess, anyone who had the balls to do something and stick with it- way to go! :D
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
If I can just point a general finger at any and all “political and religious extremists” that would be great.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Most of it (about 90%) went to bills and college loan repayment… and living expenses in Germany. Saving seems futile.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I was really excited to go to Harry Potter world, but that was kind of a letdown when I got there (sorry guys, spoiler).
Nerd-wise, I got really excited to watch tv shows like Young Justice (and got introduced to My Little Pony- that show is animated crack! WATCH IT)
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
“Born this way” by Lady Gaga, for too many complicated reasons to name... one of them not being her outstanding/catchy music (which while I enjoy is not the reason this song will forever remind me of 2011)
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? I don't know if I can describe this as a "happier or sadder" situation I am happy in some aspects of my life, but sad in others... I guess I would say I am more at ease?
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter, 30 pounds fatter from last year -.-
c) richer or poorer? Poorer, while I was making the same or less before I at least had savings, now I don’t have any.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing and photography related things, worked on my website and devoted myself more to creating things rather than just staring at a computer screen oggling at things other people created.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I wish I had spent less time streaming stuff, and “wasting” time on cracked and other related internet sites.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
I spent Christmas in Germany, away from my family. For the first time in 5 years I did not work retail and did not grow tired of Christmas music, in fact I mised it this year. We decorated the Christmas tree and opened gifts on the 24th as per German tradition, on the 25th I roasted a duck and spent the entire day in the kitchen, on the 26th (Christmas is 3 days long in Germany) we went for a long walk with the neighbors and went to their house for waffles and coffee.
21. How did you spend New Years?
My brother came to visit me in Germany for a week. We took a train to Berlin on December 31st and rang in the New Year near the Brandenburg gate in Berlin. We launched fireworks and had some “champagne” with friends.
22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
No, not even close.
23. How many one-night stands?
I do have 1 night stand, it is white- it is a small table and holds some lotions and my books.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
I don’t know if I can list one- I absolutely love Young Justice, but I love Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother. I enjoyed True Blood, and Castle but those don’ t rank as my favorites.. top 5 sure but YJ, BBT, and HIMYM are my top 3.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No I don’t hate anyone, hating people requires too much energy. I’ve had falling out with people but nothing like hate.
26. What was the best book you read?
I cannot for the life of me remember what books I read last year, I know I read more than 15 but less than 20 (I was aiming for 25). I read Pride and Prejudice for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed it, reread Catcher in the Rye and loved it more the second time.. I know there were more but now I can’t remember.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I don’t think my music tastes have changed since I was like 13, but thanks to one of the ending songs in True Blood I discovered the band “Neko Case”. Seriously, check them out.
28. What did you want and get?
I got a new digital camera for my birthday (point and shoot) since mine met an early demise at Oktoberfest.
29. What did you want and not get?
My mother hinted at getting me a tablet for my birthday (earlier in the summer) and when the time came- as is usual with December babies- there was no tablet... C'est la, right?
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I only saw 1 movie in movie theaters (being that I’m in Germany)… so by default my favorite film of the year would be Harry Potter 7 part 2... Now that I think about it, I did see the Milenium Trilogy on Netflix before I left- the original "Girl With a Dragon Tattoo" movies- they are absolutely amazing. I am hesitant to see the American remake becuase I loved the Swedish version so much. Evyerone please watch the original before watching (or even after) watching the American one.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned a quarter of a century old in 2011 and expect to be having a quarter life crisis at some point… Cat (my “host mom” ) took me out to dinner at this ‘Christmas Circus’ event, which was like a dinner and a show with all you can eat and drink. She treated me and a friend (my birthday doubled also a her friend group holiday party). I got pulled on stage by a Robbie Williams impersonator who serenaded me while I wore a light up Santa Claus Hat. Unlimited Drinks wristband meant for many Mojitos and Tequilla Sunrises and the worst hangover of my life (not the worst as in gravity but the worse as in I had a screaming 1 year old to deal with ALL DAY)
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I could have fit in my own clothes
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
January-May: trying to squeeze into all my old clothes so I don’t have to buy new ones.
May-December: No longer able to fit in old clothes, sweatpants and leggings make up 98% of my wardrobe choices (the sad thing is I’m not exaggerating)
34. What kept you sane?
Being in a different country and time zones than my social circle I had to ineffectively and effectively deal with all my shit by myself. Cat helped me when my grandmother died.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
No celebrity crushes, other than thinking Matthew Grey Gubler from Criminal Minds is soo nerdy cute- I watch that show in German here hahaha).. oh wait I guess that is me fancying a celebrity.
Oooh and Alexander Skaarsgard... ok well now that I’m on a tangent.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
European news is not as censored as American News is. You don’t hear fluff pieces, you hear about the happenings worldwide. It really opened my eyes to how sheltered Americans are. Politics in America have become a game of name calling and “well I suck, but he’s worse” instead of people trying to do right by the public. On an international scale, I was stirred most by the CNN Freedom Project to end slavery. World wide poverty also struck a chord with me and reminded me how all of my concerns, worries and problems are first world problems and how we complain of our lives when there are people who are just fighting to make it through the day.
37. Who did you miss?
Friends. Friends I talk to on a regular basis and those who I don’t. The friends who moved away and friends who stayed behind. The friends who promised to keep in touch but didn’t. I missed my grandmother, even before she died but after she was stolen from me.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I met Conny, Conny is my godchild and everything to me.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:
Savor the time you have now, treasure the moments you have now because you don’t know when you won’t have them anymore. Enjoy your time with friends and family, becuase they won't always be there.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Avenue Q- For Now
“For now we’re healthy, for now we’re employed.
For now we’re happy- if not overjoyed.
And we’ll accept the things we cannot avoid, for now.
But only for now.”
Sorry for the ridiculously long post. I'm all caught up now I think!
So, that being said. I'll be back next Thursday with my weekly updates.