My Year In Review 2012

I honestly thought I'd done a Year in Review for 2011 but I can't find it so if I did I put an invisibility cloak on it or lost the decoder ring.  

My year in review 2012

1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
I online dated.  You can read about it here, here, here and here.

I, also, drove 3 1/2 hours up north.  In my car.  By myself.  It's silly I've never driven any long distance by myself before but it's even sillier that I did so in my old and very cantankerous car.  It all worked out okay (my car was a champ!) and was way worth it.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't have a resolution this year.  Instead I wrote down some goals to work though this year.  I didn't complete my list 100% but I did a whole hell of a lot better than I would have had I gone with a resolution.  Goals, update 1, 2, 3.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

No, not yet.  I get to answer this question with a yes next year though...yay!!

4. Did anyone close to you die? 
Yes.  Nathan (1/18) & Cyrus (10/26).

5. What countries did you visit?
Physically none, but I'm dating an Irishman so that's like visiting Ireland, right?!

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?

Someone close to me not dying, especially if it's by their own hand.

7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 18th, it's the day Nathan committed suicide.  Pretty much changed my life and definitely changed my whole year.

The night I walked in and found Cyrus dead pretty much seems to be sticking too.  

Death is so....so... RUDE!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I guess it would be going out of my comfort zone and trying online dating.  Actually meeting up with the *coughweirdocough* guys in person and not running the moment I laid eyes on them was a big achievement I think.

Or maybe I should say my biggest achievement of the year was online dating and NOT being axed murdered in the process.  You know, because sometimes it felt like that may be an inevitable conclusion.

9. What was your biggest failure?
A part of me feels like my biggest failure was completely being side swiped by Nathan's suicide and having no clue something like that was in him mind.  

I, also, feel I failed Cyrus by not noticing he was sick before he was super sick and not being able to get him into the vet before he died.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Does serious heartache count?  If so then, yes.  If not then, no.

11. What was the best thing you bought?!
I haven't bought anything "big" this year so nothing stands out.    

Maybe Tristan Prettyman's new album 'Cedar & Gold'. It's all kinds of awesome.  Raw emotional awesomeness.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Anybody who made it through this craptastic year.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Well, obviously Nathan's.  Then there are 2 or 3 other's who I will refrain from naming.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Bills, as always.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing Jason Mraz with Karie (again!) 10/2.  And, dating an exceptionally HOT, charming and handsome 6'5" Irishman.

16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
Restless Dream by Jack's Mannequin
Distance by Christina Perry & Jason Mraz

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder?
Sadder.

ii. Thinner or fatter?
The same??

iii. Richer or poorer?
Poorer.  

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
NOT mourning and missing those that I love.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Crying over & missing those I love.  

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas with my family & Irish on the 22nd, I hung out with Nick on Christmas Eve (dinner & a movie, saw This is 40), and had Christmas dinner with my BFF & the rest of the Hills on Christmas.

21. Did you fall in love in 2012? 
Yes.

22. How many one-night stands?

None.  You know, cuz I'm just that good.

23. What was your favorite TV program?
Dexter
Leverage
(Only listed my new favorites)

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hates a strong word but I definitely don't have a lot of love & respect for a person or two.

25. What was the best book you read?

Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Glen Hansard
The Walkmen
Milo Greene
JayMay
Ray LaMontagne

27. What did you want and get?

A crazy love affair totally worth being written about... 

P.S.  Just cuz it's worth writing about doesn't mean I am writing about it (obviously).  That would require time and words.  Who has time or words?!  Not I.  


28. What did you want and not get?

I wanted a non-craptastic year and definitely didn't get it.  This year will go down as the crappiest year EVER.  And by EVER I mean to date.  Which is kind of saying a lot because that is 34 (just shy of 35) years of calculation.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Once, though it wasn't a film from this year.  It's just one I finally watched.

The Avengers

Happythankyoumoreplease

And, I do have to say that Breaking Dawn Part 2 didn't suck.  I hated the book but pretty much thought both BD Part 1 & Part 2 were awesome.  Even if BD Part 2 had me all kinds of pissed off during parts... those of you who watched it know what I'm talking about.  I actually got yelled at for saying "That/this is bull shit!" too many times.  Hee!

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 34, and I was sick.  I don't really remember it but I do know it was the last day Nathan & I "talked".

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Not to sound like a broken record but Nathan not committing suicide would have been a good start to a more satisfying year.  

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?

I wore a lot of dresses, maxi dresses & maxi skirts & wedges.  Not sure what fashion concept that is but it's what I wore.

33. What kept you sane?
The same things as always, my 10mg's of Citalopram & my BFF, Karie.  I can add Crystal to the 'BFF & keeps me sane' list this year.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I finally got the whole Ryan Gossling thing.  Not sure if I fancied him the most but I definitely took notice.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Woman's rights and marriage equality.

36. Who did you miss?
Nathan.  We were just starting to hang out a lot.  

Crystal, Bug & Claire.  They moved almost 4 hours away so no more (weekly) hang outs.

Cyrus.  I still can't believe the little bugger died on me... especailly, before Parker.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
Irish!!

and Texas... but that's all I've got to say about that.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012:  
It's better to have love and lost than to have never loved at all. 

Also, to make sure the important people in your life know that they are important.  To not be afraid to tell someone how you feel.  You are less likely to regret telling someone you love them than to regret never having been able to say it at all.    

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
It's funny how the words we never say
Can turn into the only thoughts we know
'Restless Dream' ~ Jack's Mannequin

If you're lost and alone
Or you're sinking like a stone
Carry on
May your past be the sound
Of your feet upon the ground
Carry on
'Carry on' ~ Fun.

2012 Goal: Quarterly Update #3

It's half way through December so I'm a bit behind on my 2012 Goals update.

#1. Wear each pair of shoes I have (at least once)... 

Well, I've still been wearing shoes.  I kind of gave up on the whole documenting thing.  I got rid of a lot without wearing them to decide.  I'm ending the year with 43   shoes and 23 flip flops.  I'm not sure how many shoes I actually got rid of & how many were new this year, it's totally lame but when I was purging I never thought to write down what I got rid of.  There's about 6 more pairs I may get rid of still but I haven't quite decided yet.

Standing: Excellent.  I have less shoes than I started with, so I got rid of more shoes than I bought this year (I think I have 8 new pairs of shoes that I bought or won).  I think that's pretty dang good.

#2. Get rid of things... 

I went through boxes I've been holding onto that had things from my childhood in it or things I was holding onto that were my Nana's.  I got rid of a few things but most of them were too important to get rid of.  I cleaned out both of my closets and got rid of a lot of clothing I didn't wear anymore.  I should have tackled my outside storage closet but never got around to it.  Meh, oh well... I can try next year. 

Standing: Okay.  I mean, I got rid of SOME things.  


#3. Go on a date... 

I went on two online dates AND I've been dating Irish for 6 months.  I just wish I'd met him prior to tackeling the whole online dating thing.

Standing: Excellent.  Goal is complete.


#4. Sew a 50's style dress...  

I never made my 50's style dress.  I tracked down a few patterns in the size I needed but by the time I went to buy them they were sold.  Vintage patterns are in high demand... damn hipsters!  I may try again next year, you know, once my sister has recovered from helping me with the botched DYI dress we did (found here) or some miracle happens and someone lets me use their sewing machine to try sewing myself.

I did make a dress, "fix" said dress,  and then "trashed" said "fixed" dress and then never tried the project again.  I still want to make a maxi version of the dress but I guess until I can perfect the short version I shouldn't waste all the fabric needed to make the maxi dress.  

Standing: Good.  (See above).


#5. Finally making myself my no sew fleece blanket...  
*(Still)Nothing but cricket sounds here*

Anytime I thought about making the blanket Remington would remind me why I no longer do crafts in the house.  Also, just trying to fix things makes me want to kill him.  Mostly because I'm fixing the things he's ruined.  He's a complete moster when I try to make the bed or fold blankets so I just haven't had the gumption to try it yet.

Standing.  Bad.


#6. Get new glasses...  

I didn't get any farther than thinking I needed or should get new glasses.

Standing: Bad.


#7. Visit Bearizona...  

I didn't get around to visiting Bearizona.  

I did, however, drive to the Albuquerque Bio Park.  We (me, Crystal & brood) spent the day exploring the zoo, botanic garden and the aquarium. 

Crazy fact:  It takes less time to drive from Eagar, AZ to Albuquerque, NM than it does to drive from Eagar, AZ to Williams, AZ.  WHAT?!  Eagar to Albuquerque is 197.9 miles and Eagar to Williams is 209.7 miles.  

Standing. Okay.  Same difference, right?

Healthy Choice Baked Entrées

Finally a frozen meal that is both healthy and doesn't taste like chewing on a popsicle stick.  

Crowdtap isn't just about Old Navy and clothing sample shares... I know, who knew?!  I was selected to do a sample share for Healthy Choice.  I wasn't completely thrilled since we actually had to pay out of pocket for this sample share.  There was no FREE product this time, just a link to a coupon for a $1.00 off a Healthy Choice Baked Entrée. The coupon is almost 50% off the retail price but after receiving so much FREE product I think I'm a bit spoiled.  I haven't looked elsewhere but at Wal-mart Healthy Choice Baked Entrees are $2.18 so I only spent $1.18, which really I can't complain about.  

I shared the coupon link with a group of friends on Facebook and sent an email to some who didn't have FB.  So far no one is willing to spend money to try a frozen meal, especially since it's a FROZEN single serving meal that is HEALTHY.  Nothing says EWWWWW, GROSS! more to me than FROZEN & HEALTHY.   I've pleaded and badgered them to no avail but really I can’t blame them.  I, at least, get some compensation…even if it’s only in the form of Crowdtap Points.

There are 6 flavors: 
Fettuccini Alfredo  
Lasagna with Meat Sauce 
Italian Sausage Pasta  
Four Cheese Ziti Marinara 
Roasted Chicken and Potatoes 
Chicken & Rice

I'm not a big fan of Italian food and I was worried when all I was seeing were the Italian flavors but I managed to found one lone box of the Chicken & Rice Bake and a few of the Roasted Chicken & Potatoes Bake.  I chose the Chicken & Rice because it seemed the safest and I actually like Chicken & Rice.  Plus, it's wild rice… yes, please!  Yum!  I actually liked it.  Yes, you read that right…  I actually liked it.  A FROZEN and HEALTHY meal.  I was extremely surprised because I do not eat frozen meals.  They all totally taste like popsicle sticks to me.  If I wanted to chew on a popsicle stick I’d at least eat the yummy popsicle part first, you know.   

The Healthy Choice Bakes are perfect to take to work for lunch, especially if you are on a diet.  If you're not and you're super hungry one Healthy Choice Baked Entree won't be enough but for a Healthy single serving meal it's perfect.  It was a little bland but not too bad and it did have some flavor.  The wild rice was really good, the broccoli tasted exactly like frozen broccoli tastes (good but not as good as fresh broccoli), the cheese sauce was okay (and where I think most of the blandness came from), the chicken was pretty good (I'm usually not a huge fan of microwaved chicken because if it goes bad it goes very bad but this was pretty tasty).  I more than likely will buy a Healthy Choice Chicken & Broccoli Baked Entree again and I think I'll try the Roasted Chicken and Potatoes Bake at some point too.