Saturday, December 31, 2011

Life Was Perfection in 2011


What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
1. I visited the Louisville Slugger Museum, Baseball Hall of Fame, & Jack Daniels Distillery.

2. I flew to and stayed in NYC alone.
3. I bought a car.
4. I caved and got a DVR.

Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I resolved last year to continue tracking the books I read and to work hard toward my master's degree. I am currently halfway through three different books, but won't finish any of them by the end of the year. That puts my total completed books at 29 for the year. Considering how much television I watched this year, that's pretty good! As far as grad school goes, I currently have a 4.0, so I'd say that is successful. I haven't accomplished everything that I wanted to, but I'm still slowly chipping away at it. In 2012 I want to continue to read. I also would love to graduate from grad school, but I won't hold myself to that one. Finally, I resolve to be brave through all the changes. I want to be adventurous and open to new experiences. I want to stop feeling afraid of the unknown. I have high hopes for 2012!


What countries did you visit?

This would be more interesting if you asked me about states. I stayed in good ole American again this year!

What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Adventure.


What date(s) from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

1. March 17th -- the day I flew to NYC.

2. May 13th -- the day Brian came home for R&R.
3. May 28th -- the day Brian left after R&R.
4. July 9th -- the day Derek Jeter hit his 3,000th hit (a mammoth homerun!).
5. July 10th-29th -- the dates for our roadtrip vacation.
6. August 26th -- the day I turned 26.
7. August 31st -- the day I signed the lease for our new place in LA.
8. October 1st -- the day I emptied our storage unit and moved into our place.
9. October 26th -- the day Brian came home.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Completing a year of grad school with a 4.0.


What was your biggest failure?

Remaining unemployed. I really should have gotten a job while I was home.


Did you suffer illness or injury?
I've had a cold for the last week. Nothing much besides that!

What was the best thing you bought?
My Ford Fusion Sport.


Where did most of your money go?
The down payment for my car.
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Brian coming home.

What song(s) will always remind you of 2011?
1. The entire Sigh No More album by Mumford & Sons

2. Colder Weather by Zac Brown Band
3. Just a Kiss by Lady Antebellum
4. Someone Like You by Adele

Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
Happier. I'm looking forward to the next year.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Fatter. This holiday season has not been kind.
iii. richer or poorer?
Money wise: Richer, but not by too terribly much.
Life wise: Richer.

What do you wish you'd done more of?
Challenge myself.


What do you wish you'd done less of?
Mindlessly watch TV (seems to be a continual problem).


Did you fall in love in 2011?
Already did that quite a few years ago.


How many one-night stands?
Never ever. ((I really should just delete this questions...the answer never changes.))

What was your favorite TV program?
Some of these have actually changed from last year: Sons of Anarchy, The Lying Game, Once Upon a Time, Switched at Birth, Pretty Little Liars, Real World, Jersey Shore, House, Bones, Grey's Anatomy, One Tree Hill, The Vampire Diaries, The Secret Circle, Glee, Community, The Office, New Girl...

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I can think of a few...


What was the best book(s) you read?
1. Divergent by Veronica Roth

2. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
3. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

What were your greatest musical discoveries?
Mumford & Sons. I'm still not sick of it.


What did you want and get?
A new car.


What was your favorite film of this year?
I have two: Crazy, Stupid Love and The Help.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 26 on the 26th. I baked my own peanut butter cup cupcakes and listened to the first football game of the high school season on the radio.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
My precious kitty wandering into my life.


What kept you sane?
Family. Always family. (Ditto from last year!)


Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Charlie Hunnam (Jax from Sons of Anarchy) and Derek Jeter (as always!).


Who did you miss?
Brian and Keith.


Who was the best new person you met?
No new people this year...again. I really need to get out more.


Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:

Don't try to predict or understand what other people will do. You will drive yourself crazy trying.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

Where you invest your love, you invest your life

"Awake My Soul" by Mumford & Sons




Friday, December 30, 2011

Looking Back: 2011

((This is an amazingly picture-heavy post. Just FYI. I took a lot of photos this year apparently...))

JANUARY

I got new boots for the new year...

I hung out with my favorite little man (and his mother!).

I went on a Diana Gabaldon bender for a few months, too.


FEBRUARY

It snowed....a lot!

We took a few long walks in the snow/ice over the 4 days we were snowed in.

I started observing at my old high school.

My parents and I flew to NYC to attend my great-grandmother's funeral.

The famous castle house (it's a family thing).

Playing Monopoly Junior with two of my cousins at my grandparents' house.

What do ya know - it snowed there, too!

I hung out with my brother (and the rest of my family) at three wakes.

The funeral home before the funeral (it was SO cold!).

Almost my whole extended family on my mom's side.

We were able to spend a day in Manhattan with Keith.

Obligatory subway station picture...

My favorite picture I have ever taken. Lady Liberty sure is pretty.

...and the plane ride back (we were the first row of coach).

We got back to TX to find my dad's truck had been broken into - fun fun! (not.)


MARCH

I continued to observe at my alma mater.

I said goodbye to my explorer (after 8 years) and fell in love with my new Fusion.

I hopped on another plane headed for NYC to see my beloved brother.

I ate the best pizza in the world.

I lounged on a pier on a 75 degree day.

Lincoln Center.

Battery Park.

Radio City.

I sent Brian a fun Easter care package.

I enjoyed a (very) windy zoo day with my bff and favorite little boy.


APRIL

Baseball came back!!

I discovered the local frozen yogurt shop - yummmm!

I took a quick trip to Austin (because my in-laws were in a serious motorcycle accident).

It was really hot and humid, but downtown Austin is pretty darn beautiful.


MAY

More baseball. :)

Brian was finally home for R&R!!

We went to the zoo.

We saw a dolphin show at the Texas State Aquarium.

And took a self-portrait overlooking the water.

We stayed in a fab condo on the beach.

And then I had to say goodbye. :(


JUNE

I washed/folded allll of Brian's clothes from R&R.

I perused the sports hall of fame downtown.

I bought super fun birthday presents for a certain 3-year-old I know.

The Dallas Mavericks became NBA Champs.

Mom and I sweated our butts off watching 7-on-7 football.

I took Dad to see Jeff Dunham as a birthday gift (hilarious!).


JULY

July was the month of our epic family vacation. First non-Texas state: Arkansas!
This was a really cool arch on a small country road marking the Arkansas/Missouri state line.

Street art in downtown Louisville.

The Louisville Slugger Museum!!

All the way to Pennsylvania, baby! (Almost finished driving.)

I went on a Wicked date with my brother (super awesome).

Coooouuussins!

We returned to the place of my (and my brother's) birth and where my parents met. We also devoured Michigans at Gus'. Yummm!

We hiked through Ausable Chasm.

We visited Rulf's Orchard.

We stood where one of our houses used to stand.

We drove up White Face Mountain.

And then hiked to the peak.

I had the best adult beverage ever!

This is a Michigan.

I cautiously put my feet in the cold lake water.

The view from our rental house.

Our last morning there.

We had to swing by the Basesball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY (on induction weekend)!
We took pictures outside of every hotel where we stayed.

We stayed at my mom's college roommate's house on the Potomac River. Gorgeous.

We toured the Jack Daniels Distillery (and purchased our fair share of whiskey).

Finally we made it home and I spotted the new football slogan for my old high school.


AUGUST

It rained! (It required dancing in it, obviously.)
I dog-sat for Happy...

Sparky...

and Lucky.

I received this pretty package for my birthday from Brian.

It rained some more (you know you're in a drought when every time it rains you take pictures and/or dance in it).

I turned 26.

On the last day of the month, I quickly drove to LA and signed the lease on our new place.


SEPTEMBER

High school football started!

Belated birthday flowers from Brian.

Mom made me.

A rainy football game with Mom.

This little darling wandered into my life...

...and stuck around.

I baked Mom a special cake for her birthday (she totally turned 29).


OCTOBER

My parents helped me empty our storage unit and move into our place in LA.

We ate at the local steakhouse.

We went to more football games.

We had one last BBQ meal before I headed back to LA to wait for Brian's return.

I attempted to put our humble abode together.

And finally: the welcome home ceremony!

He was finally home, in our place, and didn't have to be anywhere for 4 whole days!


NOVEMBER

Veteran's Day in our hometown.

Dallas trip with my in-laws (that's a jug of beer).

Medieval Times!

That's our knight. He didn't win. :(

We went to a big ICE exhibit (yes, that's ice).

Keith came home for Thanksgiving!!

We jog/walked a 5K on Thanksgiving morning.

Then we got dressed up for Thanksgiving lunch at the in-laws'.


DECEMBER

We got back to LA and I decorated for Christmas as best I could.

I love Christmas decorations!

I also LOVE this tinsel wreath I scored for half-off.

I attended Brian's official redeployment ceremony.

Brian's in there somewhere.

Afterward I babysat this little guy. We watched the Christmas parade together! 

I'm not sure what we are doing here...but we're back at home for Christmas!

Scarlett invaded my mom's snow village.

We ate Christmas Eve Eve dinner at Dairy Queen.

And we talked to Keith on Skype on Christmas morning.

I have high expectations for 2012 and can't wait to see where life takes me (and us)!