I’ve done the end of year post that goes around every year a few times, but the last couple of years I haven’t, since I’ve been away on vacation. But I’m not this year, so. Here goes.

What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?

• Travelled by myself to meet PERFECT STRANGERS from the internet.
• Saw Adam Ant in concert, FINALLY.

Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Ehh, I don’t remember if I had any. For sure I meant to exercise more and lose some weight, but I ended up doing the exact opposite. I’m a stress eater and, well. This year was stressful.

Did anyone close to you give birth?

Just a few of my internet friends. I’m right in the middle, age-wise, of my friends. My internet pals are all 5 – 10 years younger than me, and most of other friends are 5 – 10 years older than me. So most of my friends are past their baby making days, although one friend did become a grandmother (!!)

 Did anyone close to you die?

No, thankfully.

What countries did you visit?

Just the US again. I started the year on Maui, went to Phoenix in February and Las Vegas in September.

What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?

Oh man. Serenity? Peace of mind? REAL financial security? Pants that fit?

What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Probably the week of June 15. I started a new job on the Monday and moved on the Saturday. There was a LOT of beer that week.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?

My promotion was pretty big. I’m proud of myself for taking on the challenge and giving up some job security for a more challenging, rewarding (and stressful) position. 2013 is going to be a BIG year – I’m starting in on a huge (HUGE) project in January. I’m proud that I was chosen to lead my department’s part in the project and knowing people have that confidence in me feels pretty good.

What was your biggest failure?

Not dealing with my stress/anxiety until way late in the year. I ate my way through the year until about October before I really addressed it. I gained a ton of weight, fought a ton with Andrew and generally let myself get really, really miserable. Things are looking up now, but it was a rough ride.

Did you suffer illness or injury?

Bleeeerrrrrrgh, my stupid, stupid, stupid #fuckingfaceholes. I’ve been suffering with my sinuses for years now. Infection after infection. Can NEVER breathe properly. Get winded walking up a flight of stairs. Am a goddamn drooling, snoring MOUTH BREATHER.

The good news is that after being passed around from ENT to allergist to another ENT is that I found someone who can help. I’m having surgery to clean up my nearly 100% blocked sinuses and fix my deviated septum (“it’s from all that cocaine”) in March. I am NOT looking forward to the surgery but am looking forward to being able to BREATHE again, hallelujah.

What was the best thing you bought?

This condo. Tickets to Adam Ant. Flights to Phoenix and Las Vegas.

Whose behavior merited celebration?

My friends. All my friends, online and off. They saved my ass this year, and that is not an exaggeration. I wouldn’t have had the courage to fix what needed fixing in my life without them and that’s the 100% truth.

Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

My own.

Where did most of your money go?

Damn. This condo. My old apartment was great. Fantastic. I loved it and loved the work we did to reno it. But it was in a building that was NOT being adequately maintained and it was stressing me out like whoa. One mention of a major fix in the minutes would have meant a huge drop in the value and I just couldn’t face losing it all AGAIN. The move to this condo was pretty much a lateral move, but after realtor’s fees, moving expenses, lawyer’s fees and whatnot, the savings are GONE. But! But! I feel much better here. Even though there is a lot more money to spend on renos to come, this place is more secure. A better investment. And I have my own LAUNDRY ROOOOOOOOOOOM.

What did you get really excited about?

Oh hell. I get really excited about everything. The Hunger Games. The Twelve. Going to Vegas. The IKEA monkey.

What song will always remind you of 2012?

I’m going to go with this Call Me Maybe – I mean, you could not escape it this year and this video makes me happy. It’s impossible not to laugh at this. Laughing is good. It’s my favourite.

Compared to this time last year, are you:

• Happier or sadder? Happier now, I think. That was not the case for most of the year though.
• Thinner or fatter? Fatter OMG.
• Richer or poorer? Financially more secure (see above, re: condo) but my savings have disappeared, so poorer. BOTH.

What do you wish you’d done more of?

Breathing.

What do you wish you’d done less of?

Eating my damn face off.

How did you spend Christmas?

We changed things up a bit this year and did Christmas Eve at my mom’s instead of trying to run around to her place, my dad’s and Andrew’s family all on one day. We had breakfast with my dad and dinner with Andrew’s mom. It was lovely. I even had time for a nap on Christmas Day.

Did you fall in love in 2012?

Nope.

What was your favorite TV program?

Sons of Anarchy. This is all Jennie’s fault. I had heard other people talking about it over the past few years, but wasn’t really interested in it. And then I mentioned maybe starting to watch it and Jennie was like “OMG DO IT JAX JAX WHOOOO JAX TARA EMAIIILLLL MEEEEEEE” (She won’t mind me saying that. Love you Jennie!) I started marathoning it – ohhhh, around January? I think? And then had many many ALL CAPS emails with Jennie about it. FUCKING CLAY.

I’ve also just recently started marathoning the Wire and LOVE. Love love love. Who wants some ALL CAPS emails about a ten year old show? Anyone? Anyone?

Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

CLAY. No, I’m just kidding. No. No. I don’t hate anyone, period. Really.

What was the best book you read?

Oh man. Well. I loved the Forgotten Garden. Loved loved loved it. I read it in Hawaii in just a few days. It was just perfect. I also really liked Gone Girl – that’s one you just can’t put down. And this was the year of smut too. So. *coughBackstagePassBaredtoYoucoughcough*

What was your greatest musical discovery?

Ehhhh. Maybe just rediscovering my Adam Ant collection?

What did you want and get?

My new job. This apartment.

What did you want and not get?

New floors. A new bathroom. I knew none of that would happen this year but man. I HATE THIS CARPET.

What was your favorite film of this year?

I went to see all the Oscar movies in the early part of the year, so I’m having trouble remembering them all. Oh! Wait. This year was the year of the Hunger Games. I loved that movie.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

43. Forty-fucking-three. How did this happen? NO REALLY. HOW.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Peace of mind.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?

What fits?

What kept you sane?

My friends. Period.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Idris Elba. Call me. Call me. CALL ME.

What political issue stirred you the most?

Fuck man. I get SO UPSET about a couple of issues: marriage equality and abortion. These aren’t really issues to me, here in Canada. But in a way, they are. Because they’re basic human rights and I know and love people affected by both issues in the States and here is my basic stance on both: MIND YOUR OWN FUCKING BUSINESS. I mean, really. Really. Shut the fuck up and mind yer. No one is going to force you to get married to someone you don’t want to marry and no one is going to force you to have an abortion. So shut up.

Who did you miss?

My grandpa. My Gummy, as I called him. I can still hear his laugh and I miss him.

Who was the best new person you met?

I met a lot of great people this year. When I decided to go to Phoenix it was because I wanted to meet Kelly and Diane and Noemi and I met them and they are fantastic and I wish I lived closer to any or all of them. But what I didn’t know was how much I wanted to meet some of the other ladies too.

Because what’s even weirder to me than going somewhere by myself to meet complete strangers is that this time last year I hadn’t even HEARD of some of these ladies. I started following a bunch of them when I knew they were going to PJs at TJ’s but they were mostly just twitter names at that point. And now they are Brooke and Elise and Erin and Jess and Jess and Kammah and Laura and Linnea and Megan and Stephanie and I cannot WAIT to see most them in February and am SUPER sad Erin won’t be there, ERIN.

And! And and and. I think the person who I met this year who I’m not going to call “the best” as this question asks, but is definitely the person I’m now fast friends with and spent the most time with and love love love is Rachael. She came up here in March and we hung out a bit after really not *knowing* each other on twitter too much at that point (she didn’t come up here to see me, she’s not like crazy weird or anything) and we just hit it off. And then we went to Vegas to see Adam Ant (I’m going to write a post on that eventually) and I think that pretty much solidified our friendship and shared infatuation with a 57 year old man and well. I love her. I’m so glad we’re friends.

(also, I didn’t link to you R, because I’m not sure if you’d want me to? Secret identity and all.)

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.

It’s OK to not be OK and people who love you will help you.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

I hate this question.