2012 in Review
I've done this every year since 2003! Here's 2011.
1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No, in fact I'm probably worse off health and spirit-wise. I really have to do better!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, Daniel's brother David and his wife Katie gave birth to beautiful baby Ryce. Also Amy Lucas had Madeline, Angie Harrison had Eliza, Diana White had Zelda, Jenny Hunkapiller had Henry, and Anna Claire Vollers had Wyatt. Actually there was an influx of them in 2012.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My friend Stacy Lambert from middle school. So tragic!
5. What countries did you visit?
South Africa, Swaziland, and the Netherlands! I also got to travel for work to Ft. Walton FL, Dallas TX, and Tucson AZ. That was my first time in Arizona.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
A little more stability in my job. A plan for the future...
7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 9: Watched Bama pound LSU to win our 14th national championship!
April 8: Found out something that made Mom & I fall out for several months
June 29: Found out my Grandma Mary Sue was diagnose with Alzheimer's
July 19: Finn's 10th birthday (6th adoptiversary)
August 8: Our 3rd anniversary
August 22: Daniel started pre-med classes
September 13-25: South Africa adventure
October 27: Avett Brothers at VBC
December 18:
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Got certified in my job. Touched a new continent.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I feel like I embarrassed myself a lot.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
More migraines, an awful stomach bug...
11. What was the best thing you bought?
The excursion to Langa Township as part of the South Africa trip. We were originally going to skip it to explore Cape Town more, but it became the most eye-opening experience of the whole trip.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I had a lot of really great girl's nights with Jenny, Sarah, and Kaitlin.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Mom's for a while, but I think everything's better now.
14. Where did most of your money go?
South Africa. Also our shower renovation cost a bunch of unexpected dough.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Downton Abbey & Doctor Who!!
16. What songs will always remind you of 2012?
The Winter Sounds "The Sun Also Rises"
Avett Brothers "Live & Die"
Taylor Swift & the Civil Wars "Safe & Sound"
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Eh maybe not quite as happy. More stressed out.
b) Thinner or fatter? Um, yeah. Fatter.
c) richer or poorer? Holding steady
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Girl's nights!
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
As always: TV
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Christmas was pretty hectic. Since Grandma & Papa are in Morningside assisted living, we didn't get together at their house, and we tried to fit a ton of family events into two short days. Christmas Eve, we went to Regina & Gary's for lunch and then zipped over to Nonnie's for Mom's side. Everybody was in a pretty good mood, and it was a long relaxing evening. Bright and early on Christmas we went to David & Katie's for breakfast, but Silas wasn't there, so I was kinda bummed not to see him. Baby Ryce had a cold (snotted in my hair!) but was still the epitome of cute. This was the unusual part-- Aunt Karen brought Papa & Grandma to her house for a few hours on Christmas afternoon, and to avoid overwhelming them with people, we were just supposed to "come and go" throughout the afternoon. Daniel & I went at the same time as Dad and Cyndi, and we all snacked and visited for a while until Gma & Papa got tired and wanted to go back to the home. The weather started getting really stormy at this point, but we still went over to Dad & Cyndi's for a really nice steak dinner, just the four of us. Got home after 10, and Daniel had to go to work tomorrow, so it was a little exhausting. But all in all a good holiday.
21. A few random memories:
We went to Gatlinburg for a long weekend and stayed at the Blue Mountain Mist Inn. Makes me crave their biscuits just thinking about it!
22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Yes. With my new niece Ryce!
23. What were your favorite concerts of the year?
Jimmy Buffett at BJCC
Winter Sounds at Copper Top and the Basement
Avett Brothers at VBC
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Doctor Who, Lost, Merlin, Supernatural
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nah
26. What was the best book you read?
Read almost all the Outlander novels and the first 3 George RR Martin Song of Ice & Fire books, read Hood... a lot of fantasy fiction
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Actually listened to the ratio most of the year... didn't really discover a lot of new things.
28. What did you want and get?
Another wild, romantic adventure-- this time to Africa
29. What did you want and not get?
Kept trying to get another cat, but Daniel (and myself) talked me out of it
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Hunger Games, The Dark Knight Rises, The Avengers, Moonrise Kingdom, Amazing Spiderman, the Hobbit (pt 1)
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 29, and Daniel & I had a nice dinner at Macaroni Grill. We also threw a party for me, Grandma, & Papa at our house and went to Sam & Greg's with Mom's side.
32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Fewer migraines.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Most of my new stuff was from J. Crew, so kinda fancy for me.
34. What kept you sane?
Meh, not a lot.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Josh Holloway & Matthew Fox, Jared Padalecki & Jensen Ackles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Presidential election. Needless to say, my guy didn't win.
37. Who did you miss?
When Papa broke his leg and Grandma was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, everything started changing for that side of the family. Didn't see much of them for months at the end of the year.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
All the babies!
39. What do you look forward to in 2013?
A new adventure!
40. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012:
Hard work is (often) rewarded
41. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"I need time to stop moving, I need time to stay useless" - Cloud Nothings
1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
- Stood on the Cape of Good Hope looking out over the south end of Africa
- Took a land rover through Kruger National Park and saw rhinos, lions, giraffes, elephants, etc. in their natural habitat
- Saw Jimmy Buffett live & watched the Hobbit onscreen with my Dad
- Got elected to be VP of a local professional society
- Had a big falling out with Mom, but reconciled
- Went to a sci-fi convention-- Doctor Who to be precise
- Enjoyed the London Summer Olympic
- Shot a bunch of different handguns, including a Walther P-22, a Ruger LCP, and a .357 revolver
- Bought a new (to me) vehicle! 2010 Subaru Outback
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No, in fact I'm probably worse off health and spirit-wise. I really have to do better!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, Daniel's brother David and his wife Katie gave birth to beautiful baby Ryce. Also Amy Lucas had Madeline, Angie Harrison had Eliza, Diana White had Zelda, Jenny Hunkapiller had Henry, and Anna Claire Vollers had Wyatt. Actually there was an influx of them in 2012.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My friend Stacy Lambert from middle school. So tragic!
5. What countries did you visit?
South Africa, Swaziland, and the Netherlands! I also got to travel for work to Ft. Walton FL, Dallas TX, and Tucson AZ. That was my first time in Arizona.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
A little more stability in my job. A plan for the future...
7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 9: Watched Bama pound LSU to win our 14th national championship!
April 8: Found out something that made Mom & I fall out for several months
June 29: Found out my Grandma Mary Sue was diagnose with Alzheimer's
July 19: Finn's 10th birthday (6th adoptiversary)
August 8: Our 3rd anniversary
August 22: Daniel started pre-med classes
September 13-25: South Africa adventure
October 27: Avett Brothers at VBC
December 18:
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Got certified in my job. Touched a new continent.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I feel like I embarrassed myself a lot.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
More migraines, an awful stomach bug...
11. What was the best thing you bought?
The excursion to Langa Township as part of the South Africa trip. We were originally going to skip it to explore Cape Town more, but it became the most eye-opening experience of the whole trip.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I had a lot of really great girl's nights with Jenny, Sarah, and Kaitlin.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Mom's for a while, but I think everything's better now.
14. Where did most of your money go?
South Africa. Also our shower renovation cost a bunch of unexpected dough.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Downton Abbey & Doctor Who!!
16. What songs will always remind you of 2012?
The Winter Sounds "The Sun Also Rises"
Avett Brothers "Live & Die"
Taylor Swift & the Civil Wars "Safe & Sound"
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Eh maybe not quite as happy. More stressed out.
b) Thinner or fatter? Um, yeah. Fatter.
c) richer or poorer? Holding steady
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Girl's nights!
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
As always: TV
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Christmas was pretty hectic. Since Grandma & Papa are in Morningside assisted living, we didn't get together at their house, and we tried to fit a ton of family events into two short days. Christmas Eve, we went to Regina & Gary's for lunch and then zipped over to Nonnie's for Mom's side. Everybody was in a pretty good mood, and it was a long relaxing evening. Bright and early on Christmas we went to David & Katie's for breakfast, but Silas wasn't there, so I was kinda bummed not to see him. Baby Ryce had a cold (snotted in my hair!) but was still the epitome of cute. This was the unusual part-- Aunt Karen brought Papa & Grandma to her house for a few hours on Christmas afternoon, and to avoid overwhelming them with people, we were just supposed to "come and go" throughout the afternoon. Daniel & I went at the same time as Dad and Cyndi, and we all snacked and visited for a while until Gma & Papa got tired and wanted to go back to the home. The weather started getting really stormy at this point, but we still went over to Dad & Cyndi's for a really nice steak dinner, just the four of us. Got home after 10, and Daniel had to go to work tomorrow, so it was a little exhausting. But all in all a good holiday.
21. A few random memories:
We went to Gatlinburg for a long weekend and stayed at the Blue Mountain Mist Inn. Makes me crave their biscuits just thinking about it!
22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Yes. With my new niece Ryce!
23. What were your favorite concerts of the year?
Jimmy Buffett at BJCC
Winter Sounds at Copper Top and the Basement
Avett Brothers at VBC
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Doctor Who, Lost, Merlin, Supernatural
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nah
26. What was the best book you read?
Read almost all the Outlander novels and the first 3 George RR Martin Song of Ice & Fire books, read Hood... a lot of fantasy fiction
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Actually listened to the ratio most of the year... didn't really discover a lot of new things.
28. What did you want and get?
Another wild, romantic adventure-- this time to Africa
29. What did you want and not get?
Kept trying to get another cat, but Daniel (and myself) talked me out of it
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Hunger Games, The Dark Knight Rises, The Avengers, Moonrise Kingdom, Amazing Spiderman, the Hobbit (pt 1)
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 29, and Daniel & I had a nice dinner at Macaroni Grill. We also threw a party for me, Grandma, & Papa at our house and went to Sam & Greg's with Mom's side.
32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Fewer migraines.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Most of my new stuff was from J. Crew, so kinda fancy for me.
34. What kept you sane?
Meh, not a lot.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Josh Holloway & Matthew Fox, Jared Padalecki & Jensen Ackles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Presidential election. Needless to say, my guy didn't win.
37. Who did you miss?
When Papa broke his leg and Grandma was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, everything started changing for that side of the family. Didn't see much of them for months at the end of the year.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
All the babies!
39. What do you look forward to in 2013?
A new adventure!
40. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012:
Hard work is (often) rewarded
41. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"I need time to stop moving, I need time to stay useless" - Cloud Nothings