As I look forward and plan for the new year, I can’t help but look back over the past year. What have I accomplished? Last year, I felt pretty good with what I achieved. New job, new relationship, new ways. This year is different. I can’t seem to come up with anything. All I can think about is work and how it was such a challenge. I felt totally consumed by stress and tension. It seemed to color everything. I couldn’t convince myself to go anywhere since I felt I needed to be present at the office. When I did take off around July 4th for a mini vacation, I broke down at a bar and cried in front of Rob. The reason for the tears? My inability to fill my sales pipeline. Yeah, sales is a tough game. I came out alright and ended up kicking major ass but it was not easy.

Things happened, I am sure of it. Well, no one died and that’s a good thing. And I got to see Jersey Boys on Broadway. I also saw Max Raabe again. Experiencing the Philadelphia Orchestra under the stars at the Mann Music Center was fun. Seeing The Iguanas AND Los Straitjackets AND Big Sandy was great. Getting our seats upgraded at the Bryan Adams and George Thorogood concert was the best.

The loss of the farm was sad. Having Lisa move out was worse. The donnavilla is so quiet without her.

I got my picture taken with Creighton and Vlad of Ghoul a Go-Go fame at Blobfest. My old Gastschwester Andrea visited.

I went rafting and met a huge man named Tiny. I survived repeated viewings of silly action movies. I loved seeing Rob perform at the Whitpain Tavern and I especially enjoyed being the musician’s girlfriend. (Heck, regardless of the last year and a half spent with Rob, having a boyfriend is still a novel concept to me. I guess it’s all the years I spent alone and the sheer amount of soul obliterating rejection that was heaped upon me but I still find it hard to believe there’s a man who willingly sticks around. And to be totally honest, I feel so very lucky and extremely grateful to have someone in my life).

And the post from last year I am most proud of? Easy! Commode-tion.