Maybe This'll Be My Year

2012 was a pretty big year chez moi. I started this a few days ago, but it has finally come together.  I'm stealing this "Year in Review" survey from "The New Me."    Enjoy, and feel free to write your own.  It does make you think about your year!

1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before? 

   Go on a Disney Cruise!

2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions, and will you make more for next year? 

   Negative, Ghost Rider. I lasted about 6 weeks off the Diet Coke. For 2013, I resolve to be fabulous...and to turn Lexy into a U2 fan.  I've been thinking about it, and I do need some concrete goals.  As such, I will read at least 12 books, and I will blog at least once per week.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? 

   Actually, no. Several Facebook friends, a couple of coworkers, and my cousin Heather gave birth, but no babies in the immediate family.  We did acquire two dogs (Zoe and Joey, or ZoZo and JoJo) who are treated like babies by the kiddos.  They are pretty cute.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

   No. I'm very thankful for that. Several big celebrities died this year, like Whitney Houston, Dick Clark, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Clarke Duncan.  

5. What places did you visit? 

    California (twice), Puerta Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas

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

   More time with loved ones...and more money.  

7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched in your memory, and why?

   February 26th--the day we embarked on the Disney Wonder.  The only other day I can really think of is November 6--the day of the presidential election.  There was so much build-up and serious depression afterward, it was kind-of a big deal.  I'm over it now, and I'm extremely grateful election season is done for a while.  I HATE IT.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

   Getting us into a house.  I don't believe Allen would have done it without a lot of pushing and cajoling on my part, so I'm pretty proud of that.

9. What was your biggest failure?
   Christmas cards. I had every intention of getting real family pictures taken, designing my own cards, getting them printed, personalized with hand-written notes, shipped, addressed, and mailed out in early December. Cards really are a huge project, and it just didn't happen. I did make a little subway art type newsletter, which I thought turned out nicely.  Here is the card I made; it is not the one we sent out, because I ran out of time (surprise!).  The one we sent out was a Costco special; I WILL start earlier this year!

  I really liked it, so don't be surprised if you see something similar next year...I'm just sayin'.  Oh--and here's the newsletter:

10: Did you suffer illness or injury? 

   Nothing big like the shoulder injury last year, but I did have a couple of nasty colds, one combined with a stomach flu. I think I missed about a week of work with that incident.  Definitely moins efficace.

 11. What was the best thing you bought? 

   The "Golden Ticket" to see {and meet!} Train @ the Gallivan Center. I paid a fair amount of money for that spot on the front-row. Totally worth it.

12. Who's behavior merited celebration?

   I can't think of anyone whose behavior has been exemplary; certainly not me. I'll give this award to Benji. His progress is definitely reason to celebrate. He is looking me in the eye much more often, using a couple of complete sentences {with prompting}, using the potty most of the time, and even following some directions. I am so proud of my little man.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
   I'm going to go with every politician in Washington. I don't have faith in any of 'em, especially Monsieur le President.

14. Where did most of your money go?

   Bills, and the gas tank.

15. What did you get really excited about?

   Concerts! Having someone to go with makes it much more fun. Love you, Allison!  Here's a picture from our latest outing {road-trip to Boise with Allison's son Cameron and his friend Dawson, to see Keane @ the Knitting Factory}:

16. What song will always remind you of 2012? 

   "We Are Young" by fun. It's not my favorite song of the year, but it got a lot of air play.  I should do a Mary's Top Ten countdown of the year.  Here you go:

  

  10.  I Will Wait by Mumford and Sons {they were so great on SNL!}  

   9.  50 Ways To Say Goodbye by Train

   8.  Shake It Out by Florence + The Machine 

   7.  We Are Young by fun.

   6.  Skyfall by Adele

   5.  It's Time by Imagine Dragons

   4.  Tongue Tied by Grouplove

   3.  Cough Syrup by Young the Giant {though I think I like the Glee version better.  Heartbreaking.}

   2.  Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye

   1.  Some Nights by fun.

I did not include songs from the Albums of the Year {Strangeland by Keane and Battle Born by The Killers}, because there are so many good songs that it's impossible to narrow it down.  Sorry!

As for the worst song of the year?  "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen.  It may have been one of the most popular songs of the year, but I can't stand it.  I have tried listening to it and haven't made it all the way through.  I feel myself losing brain cells every time I hear it.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
   a. happier or sadder? About the same, but in different ways. I'm happier with where I am, but some days, certain situations get to me.
   b. thinner or fatter? Probably fatter.  I try to avoid the scale whenever possible.
   c. richer or poorer?  I make more money, but there seems to be less of it.  Thank you, homeownership.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
   I always wish I had written more, read more, and saved more money.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
   Mindless internet surfing, especially on Pinterest. I have a real problem with letting hours slip away while I click links that add absolutely nothing to my life.  

20. How did you spend Christmas?

   With my family in Logan.  It was too short, but it was lovely and white.

21. Did you fall in love in 2012?

  With Keane?  Yes.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
   We don't have cable, so I can't keep up with new shows very well.  I did discover the Hulu+, so I can watch Grey's Anatomy and Glee when they come out.  Other shows I have watched {which are available on Netflix}: How I Met Your Mother, Breaking Bad, and Arrested Development.  I can't watch a lot of shows, because once I start I can't stop.  Oh--scratch all of that.  My favorite TV program is Downton Abbey.  Done.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate at this time last year?

   Not anyone I know personally, just politicians in general.

24. What was the best book you read?

   Probably The Hunger Games Trilogy, I believe.  I haven't read a lot this year, unfortunately.

25. What music did you get excited about?

   Do you read my blog?  I write a lot about music.  Keane, especially.  They are just so great.  I have liked the Killers for a while, but I haven't ever owned any of their albums until I went to the concert in November.  I am really crushing on them now, too.  Some Glee songs really stick with me, like Cough Syrup.  "How Will I Know?" in the Whitney Houston episode was incredible.  You get to know these characters, and then songs they sing remind you of them.  

26. What did you want and get? 

  A house!

27. What did you want and not get?

   An iPad.  :o(

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

   There were lots of good ones; I saw the following in the theater: The Hunger Games (very well done), Marvel's The Avengers (excellent), Rock of Ages (fun), The Dark Knight Rises (unbelievably good), Lincoln (beautiful), The Amazing Spider-Man (not too bad), Dark Shadows (meh), John Carter (um, okay?), Pitch Perfect (so flippin' funny!), Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter (awesome), and One For The Money (lame).  Best Picture award goes to The Dark Knight.  Best Actress goes to Jennifer Lawrence for Hunger Games.  Best Actor goes to Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln.  I would say that Les Miserables was my favorite movie, but I saw it on New Year's Day (and again yesterday).  

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

  I turned 33 on January 26h.  I'm pretty sure I worked that day; honestly, I don't remember.

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

   Better time management.  I struggle with it.

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

  I love neutrals.  I have been trying to be more feminine with lace, flowers, jewelry, accessories, etc.  Then it gets cold and I get lazy, and I just end up wearing jeans and long-sleeve shirts.  BO-RING.  I'll tell you the one fashion trend I'm all over: Maxi Skirts.  LOVE THEM.  A good skirt can hide a multitude of flaws.  And I plan on wearing them for a long time, baby.

32. What kept you sane?

   My social agenda.  Without the visits to friends and family, spending time with Sam and Jason, the craft days and the concerts, the dinners and random texts and facebook, I would be a very depressed woman.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

   "Fancy" is an interesting word.  My #1 celebrity crush is still Patrick Wilson, and I was very sad when his show "A Gifted Man" was cancelled.  I'll have to go through the list on the blog someday.  

34. What political issue stirred you the most? 

   The economy.  It sucks, and it's getting suckier.  It's really the only thing that directly affects me.  I do get a little riled up over gay marriage, and how I should be against it but I can't be.  I'll save that discussion for another post; this one is long enough already.

35. Whom did you miss?

   I'll tell you who I'm glad is back in my life: Brittany.  I adore this girl, and she has been MIA for several years.  I finally got her back in my loop when Sam was here from Germany.  She is such a lovely person.  There are other people whom I miss, but I'm pretty sure they don't think about me, so I'm not wasting much time thinking about them.

36. Who was the best new person you met? 

   She's not technically a new person, but I have gotten to know my work friend Lacey a lot better this year.  We've had some good talks, and we got pedicures together once.  We need to do that again!  Love her!

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.

   "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."  Oh, Ferris--you are so wise.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. 

   For the bad times:  

      "Each heart is a paper kite blown around by the breeze

       Love won't rest till it brings you to your knees

       Some find it easy, some will never even know

       You think you've done your journey, 

       Then you stumble and find that there's such a long way to go."

       {from: The Starting Line, by Keane}

   For the good times:

       "Maybe this'll be my year."  {by Train}

And there you have it.  It's probably more than you ever wanted to know about me.  Here's to 2013!