1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?
There was a lot of new this year, and again, some good, some less so. I skied with relative confidence (definitely on the nice list), I bought a house (YAY/abject terror), I worked on a Habitat construction site (more fun than I anticipated), I worked in retail for a brief stint (not surprisingly, this was less fun than shopping, but I loved the hell out of my sweet, sweet employee discount). I also started working with an RE to deal with the wonky lady parts/lack o' babies situation, and yeah, I really could have done without this; it has not exactly been the highlight of my year.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I'm really not a resolutions person. And by not a resolutions person, I mean I have never kept one, ever, so I no longer make them.
Although I suppose you could say that I resolved not to make new resolutions and that I have totally succeeded on that front.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, several friends had completely adorable, smooshy, delicious babies this year. I intend to do a lot of snuggling and spoiling.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, for which I am unendingly grateful.
5. What countries did you visit?
Nothing international, but there was a lot of domestic travel this year. We started 2012 in Steamboat, CO, then met friends in Lake Tahoe in March. We traveled to Hawaii for a spectacular two weeks in September, and we sprinkled in a few trips to Massachusetts as well. We just got home this afternoon from our holiday trip to New England -- Christmas outside of Boston with my family, then skiing in New Hampshire with Mark's. All in all, it was a pretty solid year for travel.
(I could do with seeing less of Atlanta and Minneapolis, though, Delta. Throw me some direct flights from DC, for the love of GOD.)
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
Um, see above re: reproductive endocrinologist and wonky lady parts and draw your own conclusions.
7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I'm not sure I have any particular dates etched in my mind; 2012 was more a year of particular memories and impressions than Big Days. I'm pretty ok with that though.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
New job, maybe? Mastering homemade pizza dough? I don't know. I am pretty proud of myself for starting the ball rolling on the medical front, though. I am a terrible patient, but I have really started dealing with both the baby thing and the allergies/sinuses that have been plaguing me for years.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I was pretty unhappy with the state of my career for the vast majority of 2012, and it was a dark time. I thought I had thrown away my career by leaving Big Law, even though it had broken me, physically and emotionally. I was really disappointed in myself for hating consulting, hating the freelance life, hating the isolation of working alone at home. I felt like I wasn't pulling my weight at home, and that was a pretty crappy feeling.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I am knocking on every available wooden surface, but no, not really. I don't think I had so much as a cold (*ptoo, ptoo*). I am pretty sure this had just about everything to do with the 1000% decrease in stress and angst that came with leaving Big Law.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
OMG, hands down, my new espresso machine. It is a Breville Barista Express, and it is spectacular. Built in burr grinder, pulls perfect shots, makes amazing foam really fast. I love it more than one should love a household appliance, really.
12. Where did most of your money go?
Oh lordy, new houses are expensive. Oh, and Sur La Table; I basically signed my paychecks right back over to them.
13. What did you get really excited about?
I really loved Hawaii. Like, REALLY. The few days we had in Maui (i.e. the first trip Mark and I have taken alone since our honeymoon) were blissful. I would go back in a heartbeat, even though it took a whole day to get there. Just name the date and I'm in.
14. What song will always remind you of 2012?
My husband has the musical tastes of a 16 year old girl, and I don't think I will ever tire of listening to him sing "Call Me Maybe" and "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" along with the radio in his falsetto, just to make me laugh. Goober.
15. Compared to this time last year, are you:
– happier or sadder? Oh, happier for sure. Real employment agrees with me.
– thinner or fatter? Fatter. Fatty fat fat pants. UGH.
– richer or poorer? I know this sounds nuts, but both. Dual incomes are AWESOME, but buying the new house is eating up a solid portion of our savings. We just need to get that down payment over with, and then we can start saving up again.
16. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Trusting that things would work out and enjoying everything I am so blessed to have.
17. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Fretting, worrying, beating myself up, lamenting things that I felt were out of my reach.
18. How did you spend Christmas?
In Boston, with family, as I have forever. This year, we were able to make it home in time for the Christmas party with my mom's side of the family, and Mark's parents joined us for my mom's big Christmas Eve dinner for my dad's side, which was great. We then headed north to meet up with Mark's parents for a few days of skiing at the mountain where they spent every weekend until they moved to Arizona. We headed back to my parents' for New Years; we lit fireworks in the snow and had great Italian takeout and lots of fabulous wine. I rang in 2013 over late night tipsy talking with my mom while my dad and Mark both turned in early. I couldn't imagine better.
19. What was your favorite TV program?
We watch so much garbage, it's hard to narrow down a fav. I am really liking Nashville right now, although I also really liked PanAm, so clearly my taste in television is, um, forgiving? I am not loving Revenge as much this year, but I am very much looking forward to the return of Smash. Oh, and I am the one still devotedly watching Grey's Anatomy, and I will be here until the bitter end.
20. What were your favorite books of the year?
Unbroken was amazing, although I wish I hadn't read it immediately before flying 6 hours into the middle of the Pacific; I loved Gone Girl as well, and I think Insurgent was also this year -- another I couldn't put down. I didn't do a whole lot of reading this year, for whatever reason, but I would like to change that in 2013.
21. What was your favorite music from this year?
I'm not a big music person -- I've always been a top 40 kind of gal, and I'm more than happy just streaming Pandora when I'm home. I listen to NPR in the car, for which my entire conservative family mocks me, but I like it.
22. What were your favorite films of the year?
This is pathetic, but I think The Hunger Games may have been the only movie we saw in a (2nd run, cinema pub) theater; we liked it a lot though. Ted was a recent rental; I thought it was really funny, but a lot of it may have been funnier for us because we're Boston natives. Still a thumbs up though.
23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 33 and we went to dinner -- Belga Cafe in DC. Love that place.
24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
This is a tough one. There are always things that would make life better, but I keep getting slapped in the face by the fact that things come together in their own time and I just need to be more patient and trusting, which is really hard for control freaks, damn it.
25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Oh for [expletive] sake. Whatever covered my fat ass? Yoga pants, generally. Jeans and t-shirts for the store. Flip flops almost always. Fashion is so not my game at the moment.
(I will say, though, that I have been so completely and utterly inspired by Elizabeth's clothing series over at Princess Nebraska, which I will link to when I am on a real computer and not a mobile app. So accessible, yet consistently cute and put together. Love it.)
26. What kept you sane?
Mark, hands down. He's a keeper, that one, even when he's a giant pain in my ass. Drives me nuts, but I laugh every single day -- even on the shitty ones.
27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
If something is meant to be, it will happen. It may not come together as you wanted or imagined, or in anything close to the timeframe you anticipated (ahem, UNDERSTATEMENT), and being patiently proactive sucks, but yeah. It's worth it eventually. I really hope this continues to be true.
To all of you, a very happy New Year, and wishes for all the best in 2013!
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