Farewell, 2012

You guys, a lot of stuff happened for me in 2012.  I remember so well what I was doing last New Year's Eve.  I was sitting around in my apartment in Cleveland--by myself--all day, hoping that the guy I was dating would call and want to spend time with me.  At the end of 2011 I was unhappy for a lot of reasons.  I wasn't in a great relationship, I didn't know what I would be doing for a PhD program the coming autumn, I knew I had to move but I didn't know where, and I was feeling generally burnt out from my worst semester to date.  But in 2012, big things changed and some fun things happened.

I got up obscenely early in February to go to the Jason Wu for Target release with my best friend.  We both scored big, and I love that memory.

I spent as much time as possible at my parents' lake house.  This picture was taken at my grandma's 89th birthday party.  I can't wait for her 90th.

I graduated with my MA.

 

My mom threw us a graduation party during which we all wore fake mustaches and drank margaritas.

I met Ben.  I knew the first time I laid eyes on him that we had something special.  And I was right.  Maybe it was because his pick-up line was, "you had me at Major League."

I watched sunsets over Lake Erie.

I ate popsicles, played in the sun, and swam in Apple Valley Lake.

I celebrated both of my parents' birthdays with them in June (I didn't notice until now that we all wore blue!).

I visited the Christmas Story house with friends.  Here I am using the decoder on the toilet.  I don't know why, but after that I wanted some Ovaltine real bad.

I moved to New York to start my PhD.  I am reluctantly getting used to it.

I cried in front of countless works of art I thought I'd never see in real life.

Ben asked me to marry him.  I said yes.

We went apple picking.

I discovered the joy of sock puppets when my best friend's mom sent me one to cheer me up.  She also sends cookies and other pick-me-ups!

During the month of December I finished my first semester of a doctoral program, avoided catching the stomach flu, had Christmas Eve with my family, my first Christmas with Ben, spent Christmas Day with my grandma, and went wedding dress shopping with my best friend from high school, Aimee, in Columbus while Ben is here for work.  Oh, and PS, I FOUND MY WEDDING DRESS.  Or at least I'm 95% sure.  I can tell it's most likely my dress because I didn't want Ben to see it.  And as soon as my consultant had it on me and was lacing it up I got all flustered and kept saying, "I love it!"  I came out in it and my friend was speechless.  I can't wait for my mom to see it next weekend!  

Tonight Ben and I will either usher in the New Year with Aimee and her boyfriend, Mike, or we'll stay at our hotel and drink champagne in our pajamas.  Either way, I'm looking forward to it.  And you know what, 2013?  Bring it.  If I can handle a move to Manhattan alone, Hurricane Sandy, and passing out on 5th Avenue, then I'm pretty sure I can handle anything (but I never said I'd do it gracefully).

Happy New Year, everyone!  Thanks for reading this blog in 2012 and for all of your constant support and encouragement.