Auld Lang Syne

Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived at 2012.

I rang in the new year in typical college student fashion: drinking and Rock Band.  I got three kisses at midnight, and jammed to a  lot of Queen songs.  It was an evening of good friends, good cookies, and good fun.  Just right for starting a new year. 

Here's a problem.  I totally fucked this up by making a list about the last year on my birthday.  I forget sometimes that my birthday falls in the midst of the holiday season.  But I feel like a New Year post is appropriate.  What to do...

Ok, how about this: Let's talk about the things I want to accomplish in 2012.  That's a thing people do, right?  I've never particularly cared for resolutions, because I feel like you shouldn't decide to make positive changes to your life just because of the new year.  If I wanted to do better things, I'd have already started them.  But, in the spirit of the holiday, let's just see what I'm gonna forget about trying to do in 2 weeks.

1. Make the Dean's List.  I really want to do this.  I'm hoping to make it spring semester, but I'm taking two 4-credit math classes, so let's just say I'm not overly optimistic.  To be safe, my goal is to do it in 2012.

2.  Continue down my path toward becoming responsible with my finances.  Since I moved in July I've been doing ok.  But as with anything, there is room for improvement.

3.  Learn to parallel park.  This is something that we spent one afternoon on in driver's ed, and I never got the hang of it.  So far in the 8 years I've been on the road it hasn't impeded me much, but I feel like it's something I ought to be able to do.

4.  Adopt a cat.  I'm not looking to replace Honey.  I just feel bad when Naughty has to be home alone, and I hate the thought of cats in the shelters getting put down because nobody wants them.  Plus, kittens.

5.  Go somewhere I've never been.  I'm keeping that vague, in case I don't actually get the chance to go anywhere cool.  As long as it's different, I will allow it to qualify.  But really, I hope I end up someplace awesome.

I think five is enough for now.  Overall, I'd say 2011 was pretty good to me.  Yes, it certainly had its shitty moments (most notably losing Grandma Knetter and Honey), but without sorrow we cannot truly appreciate happiness, right? 

I'm excited for this year.  I feel like it's gonna be a good one.