2012 roundup.

2012. 

I can't believe you are over. You were such an exciting time for me, and how do I count the ways. 

1. January. Nothing much. Very blah New Year celebrations (in Houston), felt like I needed a vacation from that vacation. Finally caved in (after 2 years) and got cable. Cable to a single woman is like a reason to keep her glued to her couch, and I'd been resisting that for years. 

2. February. Went to my first adult event. It was blah! While at the event, heard that Whitney Houston died, so I guess someone was having a shittier day than I was. Booked a trip to Vegas just because I owed myself a vacation from January.

3. March. Joined the Gym at Exhale Spa. I had been wanting to do this for 2 years. I realized that you should give yourself the things you've been wanting because life is way too short. This is the time to live your best life now. Not tomorrow. Now. I joined the gym of my dreams and everyday after work, I got a chance to...Exhale. And it felt good. Money well spent. 

4. April. I went to Vegas. This was also Easter but I was looking more forward to Vegas than anything else. It was my 5th anniversary at my job and of course, my chance to have an adult vacation in the best adult destination of all time, Vegas. My chance to do stuff and not have it come back to Atlanta to bite me. Vegas. It was awesome. I spent my time drinking, and eating and partaking of all the spoils. And believe it or not, I actually squeezed in 2 job interviews while I was there. A gal has to work and play! I spent my lazy mornings walking through the hotel lobby to partake of breakfast buffet food and then lounging at the pool sipping fruity strong drinks that don't quite get you drunk but are just enough to leave you loving the day, the moment, the air and the cheesy sights of Vegas. Was having so much fun that I couldn't make it home in time to start work but no matter, came home and was greeted with a promotion. So that  reinstated a fresh round of celebrations. It was one of those moments that make you think, "Life feels good right about now." 

5. May. I went to New York for Cinco de Mayo. I actually went for a job interview but I squeezed in a mini visit with some shopping at Herald Square while I was there. It was my first time staying at Times Square and it just blew my breath away. I want to do it again (and again). 

6. June. My birthday. Orange County and Hermosa Beach. A chance to eat fish tacos at the beach. It was all that and more. Not quite as crazy as Vegas, more suburban if you ask me, but it felt good. It was relaxing. It was that subdued moment where you get to see what real people experience in your dream vacation city. Shopping at the grocery stores, going to their Sunday Mass, and using their public buses. It's a different outlook. God was trying to tell me this is what living in my dream city would feel like. Not that exciting. I still had a good birthday and I have the (toe)rings to prove it. 

7. July. Love affair and Spiderman and fireworks and yoga. Lots and lots of yoga. That's all I can really remember about July. Plus an impromptu trip to Houston. Only love (and a need for excitement) makes you take impromptu trips. 

8. August. Took a trip to Seattle for a job interview. Surprisingly had to carry around a sweater in August, who carries around a sweater in August?! If you're keeping track, I've travelled every month since April. Not bad, aye!

9. September. My mum came to visit. She got here in August but we kinda settled into it in September. My mum, a suburban woman in the crust of the inner city living in Atlanta, that just writes itself. Plus, it was black gay pride weekend on one of her weekends so it took quite some explaining from my end. 

10. October. A rebirth. I don't remember much about October except it was supposed to be a rebirth, at least it started that way and then, there were no trips planned. I had nowhere to go, and this upset me. So I booked a a Halloween trip to Austin!

11. November. Halloween in Austin, first couple of days in November in Austin at the Domain. Met the warmest employees at the Domain, the Aloft Austin, it was one of the most subdued, intricately exciting trips I've had in a long time. There was an inner warmth to it which I will always carry with me. It gave me time to sit and reflect on the failed attempt at a rebirth from October. Finished up the month with a visit from my brother and a family trip for Thanksgiving. It was good family time. Glad I could keep up with my record of traveling every month.

12. December. Christmas. I was counting down the days until New Year's because I had saved up some vacations days at the end of the year. Every employer should actually give their employees a week off at the end of the year, give them the time to exhale as they usher in the New Year. We all deserve that time. Mine spent with family and kids was not the raucous time I had imagined when I booked the days, but is it ever? Whenever family talks you into vacationing with them, you feel obliged to say yes, but then you hope they'd bring their party hats on when they say yes.  Either way, I'm not vacationing at this time of the year with them again. I love them but this is not the time to be all "child up" in a city where you obviously came to party. 

In summary, after everything, the year, the months just run together. I would say I am happy. I am not like most people who say, "Let's wish 2012 away so 2013 can start." I am not in that big of a hurry. Why, you ask? Because I am not in the mood to get older. Yes, older. But when you have a good run like I had with 2012 you just don't want to loose it. If 2013 will bring a bigger (and better) run than 2012 I'd be happier, but who's to know, one can only hope that it does. 

Now, I just hope for the best and just hope (DECLARE) this as my time. This is my time, it's the single gal's time to get noticed and not shrink into the abyss. It's our time to live more, love more and laugh more and we're not apologizing for it. This is the solo life we've been given to live and we will experience it to the fullest, till the clock stops running on our fun. 

Happy 2013 to my single gals!