Year In Review 2012 with Meme
Year in Review
January
*Lacie came up for a quick visit and we acidently drank a $50 bottle of wine. We laughed for awhile over it.
*Went to Disneyland with Jenni
*Bought a car by myself at Carmax in Buena Park
*Got my lady bits checked out. Everything was okay. Yay!
*Survived my first 100k+ unit inventory.
February
*Photographed Amy and Nate's engagement photos
*Natalie, my dear friend from high school and the manager who hired me, leaves my work.
*Was informed that as soon as the manager position was filled and the first assistant manager returned from back surgery, that I would be demoted to key holder due to company restructuring.
*Began to man my store with one key holder and one temporary key holder. Massive amounts of stress ensues.
*Had a most lovely dinner out with my former coworker from Francesca's, Amber
*Got eyes checked and teeth cleaned one last time before insurance ended.
March
*Take a quick jaunt down to San Diego to visit my aunt and spend some time at the photo museum taking in one of my favorites, Ruth Bernhardt.
*Spilled nail polish on my laptop keyboard; spent the next month using the on board keyboard. This is something I do not recommend anyone doing.
*Wedding dress shopping with Amy.
April
*Went on a date with a new guy and was sent a shot from someone else. Flattering and awkward all at the same time.
*Saw Hunger Games with Jenni then indulged in sampler platters and margaritas.
*Random ladies night out to Chili's with Jenni and her friend Lindsay. Lot of laughs were had
*Threw caution to the wind and randomly visited Nor Cal. Had the best deep dish pizza.
May
*Goal writing for work proves to be hard and then goals I come up with are more or less completely ignored/disregarded.
*Julie returns to California!
*New manager hired, assistant returns...pay,benefit, and hour cut takes effect.
*Finally got the chance to work a wedding at the famed San Yesidro Ranch in Montecito.
*Attended "The Sketchbook Project" show in Echo Park with Jenni after missing it the year before in San Fran
June
*Dress debacle of the year! Dress shows up and I had made the mistake of ordering my normal size...not the store's crazy sizing. I then have to pull some strings and get the right dress right away.
*One night in Columbus...ate yummy food and drank many yummy cocktails, did karaoke with a live band. Then attend Lauren's graduation in Athens, Ohio, spent time with the fam bam in a beautiful cabin in the Hawking Hills.
*Travel to Nor Cal again; attend "The Sketchbook Project" again while there.Took in an A's game and some delightful Golden Gate Bridge views.
*Jenni and I travel to Long Beach to help our girl Teresa celebrate turning 21.
July
*Amy has her Mad Matter themed bridal shower. I handmade lilies for her gift and they turn out awesome. This automatically nominates me to make her practice bouquet for her rehearsal.
*Experienced the most painful hiccups at work which sent me home early and almost to urgent care.
*Nor Cal trip again! I pick up Dave from LAX and drop him off. Saw the midnight showing of Batman with Kasey and his mentor Marlin. Visited Stacy and dug the vibe at both watering holes we experienced. Woke up all early after not sleeping well and busted my ass to get to work on time...worst idea.
*My tire pops thus ending my months of questioning, "why does my wheel keep shaking?" turns out I need new brakes and calipers. The bastards didn't even fix it all right the first time which sends me off the deep end.
*Date day with mom and dad to the Annenberg Space for Photography in LA to see "Who Shot Rock and Roll." Then a bit of window shopping and fancy dinner/drinks at the Hyatt Regency.
August
*Kasey visits and we have a great day in Santa Monica playing in the surf on one of the hottest days of the summer. We also stop at Tommy's for some chili burgers and then I make, from scratch, bacon ravoli. To.Die.For.
*Pool night out with Julie and friends. This will go down in history as to why we never play at the Simi Pool hall because some dude up and 'stole' the jukebox and only played bad gay man songs.
*Amy and Nate get married. Most beautiful and fun day of the year from start to finish.
*Visited Lacie in Santa Barbara.
*Interviewed with another retail company with no luck.
September
*Attempt to quit smoking and failed.
*Kasey visits LA for a convention and squeezes in dinner with me and his debate partner Keyon.
*Attend a Dodger game with mom and dad where the Dodgers won! Beginning of some major Dodger fever in me for the playoffs.
*Stacy visits and we get all sorts of gussied up and hit the town.
*Got a new cell phone. Same kind as the last one but new.
October
* Attempted to give the dating scene another go and more or less rioted over the things I got to see as a site mod.
*Yet another visit to Nor Cal. This time with the most fabulous stint in Napa for wine tasting. Sheer beauty.
* Received the oddest request to date at work: outfitting a doll head to toe.
November
*Voted in the presidential election.
*Store manager is fired, new manager is transferred, assistant manager leaves, temporary key holder from earlier in the year is promoted to permanent key holder... All making my work life far less enjoyable.
*Mom and dad visit Iowa, leaving me to my own plans for Thanksgiving. Spent it at Jenni's home and felt like I was among family.
*Black Friday is successful and not as stressful or busy as 2011
*Took Julie and Richard's Christmas card photo at their brand new condo.
December
*A night of drinking with Mandy and her cool as hell crew.
*Vowed to put together a gingerbread house and destroy it for Festivus. Only the damn thing would not stay together for the life of me (and momma, she tried too). Ended up throwing it away very anticlimactically.
*Spent every day at work ripping my hair out over the holiday music. In an 8 hour shift, each song was played twice. That's 10 times in a week and just, uggg. 40 hours of Cheetahlicious Christmas.
*Got set up with a very nice guy but decided after two outings that we had no chemistry.
2012 MeMe
1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
Purchased a car by my self, operated a store on sheer luck for 3 months,finally got to experience The Sketchbook project after wanting to do so for a full year, and stood next to a dear friend at her wedding. It was a very tame year.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I vowed to be a better person and cross things off my life list. I didn't exactly succeed in these but I didn't fail either. For 2013 I would like to read a book a month.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No. A few acquaintances did. Rachel from high school to her second boy named Lincoln, Brittney from college to her first little girl. My co-worker SaLeenia will pop any day now. As will Melissa from high school, my cousin's wife, and Ashley from college.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Sam from my Good Juju service group passed away near Thanksgiving; while I only knew of him in passing, he has a profound impact on me and anyone who ever crossed his path.
5. What countries did you visit?
No passport=no travel
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
I need some happiness. I walked around this entire year like a zombie pretending I was okay when really, I was just doing my best to get by.
7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Lauren's graduation in June. Amy's wedding in August. Picking up Dave from the airport after 6 years in Asia in July.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Making sales plans and payroll those three months when we had no manager or second assistant manager. Attempting to take bigger stabs at my debt.Getting all kinds of medical appointments banged out before my insurance got taken away.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Laziness. Giving up far too easily far too often.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope!
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My dream car; a 2002 PT Cruiser complete with chrome wheels, a sun roof, a tape deck (because it's the best way to play an iPod and those mixed tapes from High School) and CD player.
12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My company. For using me and then not believing in me.Not once but a few times.
13. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Mom and dad- for being very patient and so loving.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Loans, car payments, credit card, car repairs, food, gas.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The half dozen times I got to see Kasey. Dave being back in America.The new store managers we hired (a weight being lifted off my shoulders.)
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Gotye- Someone That I Use To Know
Carly Rae Jepsen- Call Me Maybe
The Lumineers- Ho Hey
Alex Clare- Too Close
PSY- Gangnam Style
Mumford & Sons- I Will Wait
Fun.- We Are Young
Josh Garrels- Words Remain
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? sadder
ii. thinner or fatter? About the same if I'm not mistaken.
iii. richer or poorer? poorer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Full bodied laughing. Going to The Getty.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Smoking. I was supposed to quit in September but that didn't happen.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
It was beautifully simple. I gout out of work on time, got glammed up for service, ate dinner with the fam, tried not to cry a few times at service, looked at lights, wrapped a few last minute gifts, woke up and opened my 3 gifts + stocking, helped make breakfast, napped, grabbed warm drinks with Kasey, looked at lights at Candy Cane Lane, and stargazed.
22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Only from afar.
23. How many one-night stands?
1
24. What was your favorite TV program?
The New Normal, How I Met Your Mother, and The Mindy Project have been added to my normal list. Go On is something I could easily stop watching but somehow still has me coming back.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't ever hate anyway but I am not a fan of my former or current work counterpart; he straight up got my boss fired and she has the most foul attitude.
26. What was the best book you read?
Still in the middle of reading Paper Town by John Green. It's pretty darn good.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Civil Wars
28. What did you want and get?
Nothing comes to mind at the moment. Perhaps I'll get back to you.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I think I saw about 5 or so new movies in the theaters this year but, I was sure to see Moonrise Kingdom and it was my favorite.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 26 this year. I kicked it off by going to therapy and then heading to Santa Barbara for the day with my girl Jenni. We went to one of my favorite watering holes, tried to do some shopping, and looked for my favorite bakery. Which was closed for the day. Mom and dad probably fed me dinner too, but I forget.
32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More therapy. It would have cracked the combination to more happiness, for sure.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Jeans and shirts.
34. what="What" kept="kept" you="you" sane?
Mass amounts of YouTube videos, the new DVR, wine, the hot tub, and Hulu. Also my loved ones.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Decided I liked Ryan Reynolds this year.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Just about all of the California propositions on this year's ballot.
37. Who did you miss?
My sister, Dave, Kasey, Lacie, Anna, Caitlin, and every once in a while I did find myself missing Nydia.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
My last boss Shelle, bridesmaid Mandy and her group of cool-o- friends who could easily become my friends this year, and the cool as hell waiter from last night.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012:
Not happy? Make it happen. Ok. Now. What's next? 1-2-3 go.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
"Now I'll be bold as well as strong
And use my head alongside my heart
So tame my flesh and fix my eyes
A tethered mind freed from the lies" -Mumford and Sons
For me it's always a waiting game; but one that's always, always, always filled with hope. I've always been okay and will continue to be okay. My form of greatness is within my grasp. It's just a matter of hard work, dedication, and time.
January
*Lacie came up for a quick visit and we acidently drank a $50 bottle of wine. We laughed for awhile over it.
*Went to Disneyland with Jenni
*Bought a car by myself at Carmax in Buena Park
*Got my lady bits checked out. Everything was okay. Yay!
*Survived my first 100k+ unit inventory.
February
*Photographed Amy and Nate's engagement photos
*Natalie, my dear friend from high school and the manager who hired me, leaves my work.
*Was informed that as soon as the manager position was filled and the first assistant manager returned from back surgery, that I would be demoted to key holder due to company restructuring.
*Began to man my store with one key holder and one temporary key holder. Massive amounts of stress ensues.
*Had a most lovely dinner out with my former coworker from Francesca's, Amber
*Got eyes checked and teeth cleaned one last time before insurance ended.
March
*Take a quick jaunt down to San Diego to visit my aunt and spend some time at the photo museum taking in one of my favorites, Ruth Bernhardt.
*Spilled nail polish on my laptop keyboard; spent the next month using the on board keyboard. This is something I do not recommend anyone doing.
*Wedding dress shopping with Amy.
April
*Went on a date with a new guy and was sent a shot from someone else. Flattering and awkward all at the same time.
*Saw Hunger Games with Jenni then indulged in sampler platters and margaritas.
*Random ladies night out to Chili's with Jenni and her friend Lindsay. Lot of laughs were had
*Threw caution to the wind and randomly visited Nor Cal. Had the best deep dish pizza.
May
*Goal writing for work proves to be hard and then goals I come up with are more or less completely ignored/disregarded.
*Julie returns to California!
*New manager hired, assistant returns...pay,benefit, and hour cut takes effect.
*Finally got the chance to work a wedding at the famed San Yesidro Ranch in Montecito.
*Attended "The Sketchbook Project" show in Echo Park with Jenni after missing it the year before in San Fran
June
*Dress debacle of the year! Dress shows up and I had made the mistake of ordering my normal size...not the store's crazy sizing. I then have to pull some strings and get the right dress right away.
*One night in Columbus...ate yummy food and drank many yummy cocktails, did karaoke with a live band. Then attend Lauren's graduation in Athens, Ohio, spent time with the fam bam in a beautiful cabin in the Hawking Hills.
*Travel to Nor Cal again; attend "The Sketchbook Project" again while there.Took in an A's game and some delightful Golden Gate Bridge views.
*Jenni and I travel to Long Beach to help our girl Teresa celebrate turning 21.
July
*Amy has her Mad Matter themed bridal shower. I handmade lilies for her gift and they turn out awesome. This automatically nominates me to make her practice bouquet for her rehearsal.
*Experienced the most painful hiccups at work which sent me home early and almost to urgent care.
*Nor Cal trip again! I pick up Dave from LAX and drop him off. Saw the midnight showing of Batman with Kasey and his mentor Marlin. Visited Stacy and dug the vibe at both watering holes we experienced. Woke up all early after not sleeping well and busted my ass to get to work on time...worst idea.
*My tire pops thus ending my months of questioning, "why does my wheel keep shaking?" turns out I need new brakes and calipers. The bastards didn't even fix it all right the first time which sends me off the deep end.
*Date day with mom and dad to the Annenberg Space for Photography in LA to see "Who Shot Rock and Roll." Then a bit of window shopping and fancy dinner/drinks at the Hyatt Regency.
August
*Kasey visits and we have a great day in Santa Monica playing in the surf on one of the hottest days of the summer. We also stop at Tommy's for some chili burgers and then I make, from scratch, bacon ravoli. To.Die.For.
*Pool night out with Julie and friends. This will go down in history as to why we never play at the Simi Pool hall because some dude up and 'stole' the jukebox and only played bad gay man songs.
*Amy and Nate get married. Most beautiful and fun day of the year from start to finish.
*Visited Lacie in Santa Barbara.
*Interviewed with another retail company with no luck.
September
*Attempt to quit smoking and failed.
*Kasey visits LA for a convention and squeezes in dinner with me and his debate partner Keyon.
*Attend a Dodger game with mom and dad where the Dodgers won! Beginning of some major Dodger fever in me for the playoffs.
*Stacy visits and we get all sorts of gussied up and hit the town.
*Got a new cell phone. Same kind as the last one but new.
October
* Attempted to give the dating scene another go and more or less rioted over the things I got to see as a site mod.
*Yet another visit to Nor Cal. This time with the most fabulous stint in Napa for wine tasting. Sheer beauty.
* Received the oddest request to date at work: outfitting a doll head to toe.
November
*Voted in the presidential election.
*Store manager is fired, new manager is transferred, assistant manager leaves, temporary key holder from earlier in the year is promoted to permanent key holder... All making my work life far less enjoyable.
*Mom and dad visit Iowa, leaving me to my own plans for Thanksgiving. Spent it at Jenni's home and felt like I was among family.
*Black Friday is successful and not as stressful or busy as 2011
*Took Julie and Richard's Christmas card photo at their brand new condo.
December
*A night of drinking with Mandy and her cool as hell crew.
*Vowed to put together a gingerbread house and destroy it for Festivus. Only the damn thing would not stay together for the life of me (and momma, she tried too). Ended up throwing it away very anticlimactically.
*Spent every day at work ripping my hair out over the holiday music. In an 8 hour shift, each song was played twice. That's 10 times in a week and just, uggg. 40 hours of Cheetahlicious Christmas.
*Got set up with a very nice guy but decided after two outings that we had no chemistry.
2012 MeMe
1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
Purchased a car by my self, operated a store on sheer luck for 3 months,finally got to experience The Sketchbook project after wanting to do so for a full year, and stood next to a dear friend at her wedding. It was a very tame year.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I vowed to be a better person and cross things off my life list. I didn't exactly succeed in these but I didn't fail either. For 2013 I would like to read a book a month.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No. A few acquaintances did. Rachel from high school to her second boy named Lincoln, Brittney from college to her first little girl. My co-worker SaLeenia will pop any day now. As will Melissa from high school, my cousin's wife, and Ashley from college.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Sam from my Good Juju service group passed away near Thanksgiving; while I only knew of him in passing, he has a profound impact on me and anyone who ever crossed his path.
5. What countries did you visit?
No passport=no travel
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
I need some happiness. I walked around this entire year like a zombie pretending I was okay when really, I was just doing my best to get by.
7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Lauren's graduation in June. Amy's wedding in August. Picking up Dave from the airport after 6 years in Asia in July.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Making sales plans and payroll those three months when we had no manager or second assistant manager. Attempting to take bigger stabs at my debt.Getting all kinds of medical appointments banged out before my insurance got taken away.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Laziness. Giving up far too easily far too often.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope!
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My dream car; a 2002 PT Cruiser complete with chrome wheels, a sun roof, a tape deck (because it's the best way to play an iPod and those mixed tapes from High School) and CD player.
12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My company. For using me and then not believing in me.Not once but a few times.
13. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Mom and dad- for being very patient and so loving.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Loans, car payments, credit card, car repairs, food, gas.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The half dozen times I got to see Kasey. Dave being back in America.The new store managers we hired (a weight being lifted off my shoulders.)
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Gotye- Someone That I Use To Know
Carly Rae Jepsen- Call Me Maybe
The Lumineers- Ho Hey
Alex Clare- Too Close
PSY- Gangnam Style
Mumford & Sons- I Will Wait
Fun.- We Are Young
Josh Garrels- Words Remain
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? sadder
ii. thinner or fatter? About the same if I'm not mistaken.
iii. richer or poorer? poorer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Full bodied laughing. Going to The Getty.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Smoking. I was supposed to quit in September but that didn't happen.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
It was beautifully simple. I gout out of work on time, got glammed up for service, ate dinner with the fam, tried not to cry a few times at service, looked at lights, wrapped a few last minute gifts, woke up and opened my 3 gifts + stocking, helped make breakfast, napped, grabbed warm drinks with Kasey, looked at lights at Candy Cane Lane, and stargazed.
22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Only from afar.
23. How many one-night stands?
1
24. What was your favorite TV program?
The New Normal, How I Met Your Mother, and The Mindy Project have been added to my normal list. Go On is something I could easily stop watching but somehow still has me coming back.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't ever hate anyway but I am not a fan of my former or current work counterpart; he straight up got my boss fired and she has the most foul attitude.
26. What was the best book you read?
Still in the middle of reading Paper Town by John Green. It's pretty darn good.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Civil Wars
28. What did you want and get?
Nothing comes to mind at the moment. Perhaps I'll get back to you.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I think I saw about 5 or so new movies in the theaters this year but, I was sure to see Moonrise Kingdom and it was my favorite.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 26 this year. I kicked it off by going to therapy and then heading to Santa Barbara for the day with my girl Jenni. We went to one of my favorite watering holes, tried to do some shopping, and looked for my favorite bakery. Which was closed for the day. Mom and dad probably fed me dinner too, but I forget.
32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More therapy. It would have cracked the combination to more happiness, for sure.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Jeans and shirts.
34. what="What" kept="kept" you="you" sane?
Mass amounts of YouTube videos, the new DVR, wine, the hot tub, and Hulu. Also my loved ones.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Decided I liked Ryan Reynolds this year.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Just about all of the California propositions on this year's ballot.
37. Who did you miss?
My sister, Dave, Kasey, Lacie, Anna, Caitlin, and every once in a while I did find myself missing Nydia.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
My last boss Shelle, bridesmaid Mandy and her group of cool-o- friends who could easily become my friends this year, and the cool as hell waiter from last night.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012:
Not happy? Make it happen. Ok. Now. What's next? 1-2-3 go.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
"Now I'll be bold as well as strong
And use my head alongside my heart
So tame my flesh and fix my eyes
A tethered mind freed from the lies" -Mumford and Sons
For me it's always a waiting game; but one that's always, always, always filled with hope. I've always been okay and will continue to be okay. My form of greatness is within my grasp. It's just a matter of hard work, dedication, and time.