Although my blogging gets more sporadic, I have to do my end-of-the-year recap. I don't know if many people even follow this anymore (especially since my running days are long gone and my running entries were the exciting ones), but I feel good writing. I've always enjoyed journaling, and have a closet desire to be a writer, so whatever. :-)
All in all, 2011 was a darn good year. In fact, it was probably one of the best ones I've had in a long time. Although I did have the traumatic miscarriage (complete with emotions that I'm still working through... I don't handle death well), the rest of the year was filled with such fantastic-ness that I can't end my year unhappy or displeased.
So what made this year so great?
1) International travel. Finally, after 15 years, I made it back to London. In fact, not only did I go back to London, I went to Paris TWICE (got to witness the cold Paris and later the rainy Paris) and Rome. My passport has plenty of stamps on it, and I'm happy because it's retiring/expiring soon and I would be sad if passport #2 had no stamps on it. My trip to London wasn't as great as I expected (due to lack of time), but I went back to Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's. Paris, on the other hand, was fantastic - both times. I can see myself living in Paris, drinking coffee at a sidewalk cafe, buying fresh bread and nibbling on it while walking through a market, eating crepes in Monmarte. Rome was also beautiful - sunny with the bluest skies I've ever seen, charming cobbled streets and busy alleyways, enough old Catholic churches to fill my eyes with wonderment, and ancient architecture that filled my historian's mind with visions of old Rome. I became quite good at taking photographs in Europe, and hope to expand my photograph-taking abilities for my next European trip.
2) Grad school. I finished all my classes and will be graduating with a 4.0. The only thing stopping me is my thesis. Although I'm not quite where I want to be, I'm completely ok with taking another semester to finish it and will still graduate in 2012.
3) Work. I love my job. I love my school, like the people I work with.
4) Family. I'm a proud aunt to the cutest little boy in the world. I love my nephew to death and spending time with him lights up my day.
5) Theatre. I directed my most challenging play yet - "Macbeth." It was fantastic - professionally choreographed sword fighting (with metal swords), wonderful special effects, a very talented cast. I ended my three year directing history with a bang - now I get to take a break. Plus, I'm currently in my first musical in three years - "Avenue Q" - and am having a blast. This is my first time working with puppets, and it's been a very interesting experience.
6) Last, and certainly not least - Love. I'm in a wonderful relationship with a wonderful man. We started as friends and then gradually became more. We're living together in a cute townhome and have an exciting future ahead of us. The last time I lived with a boyfriend was 8 years ago - and only 5 months passed before I wanted to end it. This time, Billy and I have been living together for 5 months so far and every day it gets better. He is a good man, kind, funny, trusting, smart, creative, and loves me for who I am. I have no worries, no fear, no anxiety, total trust, and I laugh so much. Our theatre backgrounds work well with each other, especially when it comes to Shakespeare (because who doesn't love exchanging Shakespearean insult text messages for hours on end), and we just simply share our lives with one another.
So, with this great year ending, what will happen this upcoming year?
1) International travel. It's on! I'm going to start planning my next big teacher-student trip for 2013 (so everyone can start saving money) - a tour of Greece, complete with a cruise to the Grecian Islands. But for 2012, I'm off to Canada this summer for vacation. I've never been to Canada, and I'm very much looking forward to it.
2) Grad school. I will finish my thesis and graduate by this time next year. With highest honors and a kick-ass thesis.
3) Work. Still will be teaching. :-)
4) Family. Who knows, but let's hope for health and happiness for all of them.
5) Theatre. Don't know yet. Nothing is on the books, and I'm going to play (ha ha) things by ear.
6) Love. By this time next year, I'll be married and pregnant (hopefully). We want to start trying again later this spring/early summer. We're timing it so that if this time is successful, I'll have the baby in April/May 2013.
2012 has a lot to live up to. :-)
Cheers and happy new year to everyone. I hope everyone is as happy as I am, and may your next year be even better than this one.
Ciao!
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