Tradition Can Wait

The last two years on New Year's Eve I wrote notes on Facebook.  One was incredibly sad, one was incredibly angry.  Well, I am doing things different this time.  First off, I have a blog now to ramble on, second this will not be sad or angry and most importantly, this is written after New Year's Eve because I was off enjoying my New Year's Eve this time around instead of sitting around stewing over what a horrible year it had been.

Because it was a GREAT year.  I wrote a cheesy little list at the beginning of 2011.  Not a resolution really, but a list of all the things I was NOT going to be this year.  I made it a point to stop focusing on all the shit that was thrown around during 2009 and 2010.  I decided I was due to have a great year.  And you know what?  I nailed it.

Nothing amazing happened this year.  Not any one thing anyway.
In January I formulated a plan to pay off our student loan debt and in 12 months I have gotten half way through.  This was no small (or cheap) feat, let me tell you.
I decided I was done with hating my job and found a new one in early February.  It's not a perfect job, but it beats the hell out of the ridiculous place I was working for the 4 years prior.
After a random co-worker inquired about the Miss Sweeties entry on my LinkedIn profile, I decided to revive it.  I am now running a very small chocolate business on the side.  Mostly for my own entertainment.
I got to meet my niece for the first time in April and got to join in celebrating her first birthday in December.
I told Daniel early on that I was tired of saying I wanted to go on more trips and actually wanted to go on some.  So we did.  :)
Daniel and I spent our anniversary weekend at the Hyatt Lost Pines.
I got to go to Missouri to see Daniel's family in April and July.
We had our first Texas Mile at the new track in May.  My first time dealing with animal carcasses blowing past me with 40 MPH winds.  HA!
I got to see one of the only 4th of July firework displays in the Austin area in my car on the side of I-35 on my way back from Missouri.  
I took a trip with Daniel and one of my oldest friends Jay to Vegas in August.  Granted, I was sick as a dog the whole time and ended up with a severe ear infection because of it, but it was worth it.
In September I drove over to MS to hang out with my brother, sister in law and niece.  It was the most ironic trip weather wise I've ever taken.  I had to cancel my plans to visit Natchez because of flooding in MS and LA and that same day I drove through Bastrop on my way home and, as I'm sure many of you remember, got stuck in the traffic of the wildfire evacuees.
Later in September I joined Daniel in Florida while he was there for training and I got to see the Atlantic for the first time from the US.  While there we took an airboat tour through the Everglades looking for gators.
Early in November I took Daniel along to California while I was there for training.  I got to see the Pacific for the first time ever (and successfully visited all three American coasts within 2 months) and we enjoyed the Bay Area so much we are ready to go back again.
Later in November after a mildly hectic mini kitchen remodel we had Daniel's parents over for Thanksgiving weekend and enjoyed the company of more family plus soon to be even more family.
Christmas was a fun and simple day spent with friends that treat me like family.
For New Year's weekend, Daniel and I got a hotel high above Canal Street, over looking the Mississippi River in New Orleans.  We got to enjoy more time with my brother and his wife and then rang in the New Year in Jackson Square.  It was the perfect end to such a great year.


I can honestly say it was the best year I've ever had.  I made a few decisions to change the way I see things and to change the things that I had control over.   Amazing what a little perspective will do for ya.

2012 is already shaping up to be another crazy adventure filled year and I am stoked to see what it brings me.

I know I am a couple days late for my end of year recap, and I am glad I am.  Life's too short to always have time for tradition. ;)

Happy New Year!!!

PS ~ I have for the last 5 or so years joked that I had a new year's resolution to learn the meaning behind the song "Loser" by Beck.  I finally got around to looking it up on Wikipedia this year. ;)