What I did in 2016

Saw the giant redwoods! Life-long dream: check. Now I need to find a new dream . . . As if that will ever be a problem in my life. (my life!)

Felt immensely poor.

Bought 1 (yes, one!) bottle of nail polish. I rock my own socks off.

Started taking piano lessons. Quit taking piano lessons. (Goal for 2017: start taking piano lessons again??)

Lost weight like an out-of-work actress in 1975. For reals.

Purchased new pants and skirts because all the old ones didn’t fit anymore.

Put together a giant bag of clothes to take to DI because I didn’t wear them anymore. Wardrobe curation for the win!

Dumped out the giant bag of clothes meant for DI because my wardrobe needs changed drastically in the matter of a week.

Got a new job! Which requires me to go into the office. Gross, I know. Thus the bag of clothes dumping.

Bought two new pairs of shoes, both of which I wear multiple times a week during the fall, winter, and spring months. Thank you, thank you.

Started running consistently. A 10k or half-marathon might be in my near future.

Read a pathetic number of books.

Sent out some short stories and a couple of queries for one of my novels. Nothing yet, but sending things out puts me a lot closer than I’ve ever been before.

Redid my budget a million and a half times.

Did not study for or take the GRE. 2017 for the win?

Made a list of SLCC classes I would love to take since free classes are part of my perks. I have yet to sign up for one. I’m such a disaster I’m not sure adding a couple of classes to my life is wise.

Joined a boxing gym and loved it.

Quit the boxing gym because of my wrists, finances, inability to be a normal person with a normal schedule, etc.

Missed the boxing gym.

Went to hot yoga fewer times than I did last year. Who knew that was possible?

Learned to put myself to bed when I’m grumpy.

Took a low-dose percocet for my migraine Thanksgiving morning and consequently floated around in the clouds for a few hours, but managed to participate in the whole day despite the inauspicious beginnings.

Found my passport that I couldn’t locate for more than a year.

Did not study French. Or anything else, really.

Grew tired of eclairs after only three months of getting a dozen each month. It’s true. The best things are the best usually because you don’t have them always.

Taught my wee ones to say things like, “How perplexing,” “That’s unfortunate,” “Stupendous!,” and “What a tremendously good idea!”

Started organizing all my things according to some of MariKon’s principles of tidying. She’s adorable. A complete nutter, but adorable. The places in my house that are organized make my happy. The places in my house that aren’t organized make my head hurt.

Completely failed in my efforts to use every coupon B&N sent me.

Did not renew my B&N membership (see “Felt immensely poor”).

Posted on my blog an abysmal number of times.

Filled two and a half journals.

Purchased a treadmill which I use often. Because exercise is important. Or something. (Stinking body that needs to be taken care of instead of abused with cake and endless sleeping. Stinking brain and emotional well-being that depends on the stinking body being taken care of instead of abused with cake and endless sleeping.)

Took the two watches I’ve had since I turned 16 to the watch man who fixed them up in no time at all. Yes, I wear non-smart, wrist watches on a daily basis.

Realized that somehow I managed to put together a career without meaning to.

Made no effort to participate in Nanowrimo.

Learned that because of a few genetic mutations, my brain only produces half the neurotransmitters it ought to produce. This explains everything.

Forced my mother to get surgery after she tore her medial meniscus.

Spent a significant part of the year living at my parents’ house because apparently owning a house isn’t incentive enough to move out.

Lagooned it up during my Pa’s work lagoon day.

The trips:

• California to see the giant redwoods
• California to go to Disneyland
• California to go to Disneyland
• California for the sunshine
• California for the sunshine
• The carwash

Joined a CSA for the first time ever and loved it.

Made my basement buddy use most of the produce from the CSA because I was living at my parents’ house. She did not love it.

Spent several Sundays driving up the canyon to enjoy the break from life.

Purchased a national parks pass that I literally never used. Not once. #mylife

Saw Peter Pan at the Tuacahn on my way to Disneyland and loved it.

Sealed the concrete in my driveway and garage.

Sealed the granite countertops in my kitchen and bathrooms.

Failed to take care of my house in all other ways. See “Basement Buddy”.

Made endless plans that didn’t come to fruition.

Set up Zelda in my office. Did not play it even once. #mylife

Reorganized my closet 18,000 times. Still not where I want it but I’m closer.

Purchased enough clothing that I can run, do yoga, go to work, and sleep for three weeks before I have to do laundry. This is necessary for my winter life.

Put together reusable dryer sheets that use water, vinegar, and essential oils cause apparently I’m one of those now.

Purchased a light therapy lamp. It’s working.

Was told by a financial advisor that I saw for free (thank you SLCC) that my retirement goal was too aggressive because I would never run out of money. My response: exactly.

Successfully put together a sofa table from a random shelf I got on clearance from a furniture outlet / these-are-all-the-things-we-want-to-get-rid-of store.

Raised my night stands that are actually end tables by five inches each by splicing in a brightly-painted wood piece of the right size. They look like they came that way. Also, end tables as night stands is the best idea ever. 2″x 2″ on both sides and I manage to fill them all up with things.

Learned to play the ukulele I’ve owned for several years. He’s green and I love him.

Repeatedly told myself to carry all my things with my everywhere so I had what I needed when I needed it.

Repeatedly did not listen to myself when I told myself to carry all my things everywhere and attempted again and again to cut down on the number of things I regularly use in my life.

Redid two bookshelves I got on ksl for $10 each. They are turquoise and grey and perfect.

Gave up on the idea of ever owning a library filled with only books I had read and started piling on the unread books.

Remembered how much I loved having unread books mixed in with all my favorites so that in my leisurely moments (side-splitting laughter) I can pull off a favorite or something new and plop myself down to read.

Started marking all my books with my very own, custom library stamp that the small sister designed just for me.

Accidentally reinstated the book club that I accidentally dissolved.

Hauled War and Peace around for several months without reading a single word.

Subscribed to four magazines that I never have time to read but smile at every time I see because they remind me of my grandmother that was always subscribed to a dozen or more magazines that she never had time to read.

Kept my rebel streak blonde all year. No purple or orange or teal. Am I growing up?

Started teaching piano. I have two students. I haven’t attempted to garner more because I’m not sure my life can take it. That being said, I love teaching piano.

Calculated how much money I would have to make to be self-employed and have insurance. This number is going to change drastically considering recent changes in the political arena but at least I have something to shoot for.

Wrote assessment items for study.com.

Did editing work for a couple of different education companies.

Found the bag of crochet hooks I knew existed but couldn’t locate. Promptly lost it again.

Started saving for my PhD. I’ve got a LONG way to go.

Did not go to knitting night once. #allthe2017things

Retained my position as favorite aunt. Boom.

Successfully completed 30 blessed years of life.