2012: A Year In Review

All the cool kids are doing this, so I guess I better do it, too.

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?
Completed an Ironman, got an MRI and a lumbar puncture, went on a cruise, went zip-lining, gave myself a shot, ran a 5K (seriously!).
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I think making it through the Ironman training and race happy and injury-free was the only real goal I had for this year, so yeah. I did it.
Next year I'd like to not travel quite so much, save a little money, and, you know, finally meet someone.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! My sister-in-law and my Aunnee.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, not this year.
5. What places did you visit?
What places didn't I visit? I made trips to Colorado, Idaho, Nebraska(x2), Toronto, Georgia(x2), Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitt's, St. Maarten, and California. I threw in a few quick local trips to Flagstaff and Tucson for good measure.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
A financially stable workplace. Love.
7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
June 24th - Completed Ironman Coeur d'Alene. The best day of my life so far.
June 29th - Diagnosed with MS. The worst.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Ironman was the big one, both training and racing. It was a huge commitment and a huge challenge, but I made it through all of the training and had a fantastic race weekend.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Staying consistently active during the second half of the year. I struggled with a little post-diagnosis depression during the summer/early-fall, and found it hard to get back into a rhythm.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Only of the incurable autoimmune variety. And also I'm seriously allergic to either cruise ships or the Caribbean; purchasing Benadryl from the ship convenience shop was a painful but necessary $20 experience.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Renting that house in Coeur d'Alene was pricey but fantastic. Also that cruise ship Benadryl.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My friends and family who rallied around me during the highs and lows of late June. I'm so very blessed.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The mass shooters that have burst onto the scene this year. Even just having to type shooterS--as in more than one--is appalling.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage, Ironman, travel.
15. What did you get really excited about?
My new niece. Ironman (duh). Finding out that Keffy is going to have twins. My September vacations.
16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
Ho Hey by The Lumineers
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? A little sadder.
b) thinner or fatter? A little fatter.
c) richer or poorer? A little poorer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Biking and running post-IM. Swimming can suck it.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Traveling, actually. I love it, but I think it's become a little bit of an escape from reality for me. That's not so great.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
At home in Nebraska with my amazing family. I look forward to this all year, every single year.
21. Did you fall in love in 2012?
I did not.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Parks and Recreation hands down. I'm also really enjoying Dexter.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No.
24. What was the best book you read?
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
25. What music did you get excited about?
The Lumineers, Ben Howard
26. What did you want and get?
A sub-17hr IM finish.
27. What did you want and not get?
A sub-16hr IM finish.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Movies I saw in the theater: The Avengers, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, The Hunger Games, Madagascar 3, Brave, Ted, ParaNorman, Frankenweenie, For A Good Time, Call..., The Hobbit, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Hotel Transylvania, The Five Year Engagement, Magic Mike, The Dark Knight Rises, Pitch Perfect, The Bourne Legacy, Looper, A Royal Affair, The Silver Linings Playbook, Life of Pi.
The worst: Magic Mike, hands down.
The best: For A Good Time, Call... Also really loved Brave and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I worked, and then went to dinner with two of my favorite ladies. I turned 30 this year.
30. What one thing would have made your year more satisfying?
Probably saving more money. It's lots of fun to travel all the time and do fun things, but I think having a good, solid savings plan again would be satisfying in a different way.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
I don't really have one? It's pretty much influenced by how cold my office is likely to be, and which end of my perpetual 10-pound weight fluctuation I'm at.
32. What kept you sane?
Long talks with htd and Cassie.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Real person: Robert Downey, Jr.
Character: Ben Wyatt on Parks & Rec.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The election. The gun control discussion.
35. Whom did you miss?
My friends and family scattered across the country. I did my best to visit as many of them as possible; hopefully some of them are able to return the favor in 2013.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
I finally got to meet Bree and Thister in real life; they're both fantastic!
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
You can't control or judge how other people deal with your bad news.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I get knocked down, but I get up again. (Aaaaand now you have that song stuck in your head. Mwahaha!)

Here's to only good things in 2013.