One year blogaversary

Well looky there, I committed to something (other than my marriage) for a whole year…

This time last year, I sat down and wrote my first blog post. It was a hectic day. Six people were killed and 12 wounded including Gabrielle Giffords at a grocery store in Tucson, AZ. A lot of other things happened, but that’s what stands out the most. I’m not sure what influence that event had on my starting this blog, but it did compel me to appreciate this life much more.

Looking back, I had high aspirations in that first blog post. I planned to graduate with my MA last year. That didn’t happen. Mainly because a lot of other things did and illustration is freaking hard. I’m shooting for May of this year. We’ll see how motivated I am.

I said that Ava would turn 5 in 2011, she did and I didn’t get sad. She is such a lovely little person that I just cling to her smile and look forward to getting to know her as she grows. It’s very hard to dwell on things with her because I see so much potential in her beautiful little face.

I said I would turn 35. I turned 36. Math has never been my strong point.

Almost prophetically, I said I would stop working for The Man. I now work for a woman-owned small business and it is perfect for me. I’m still hesitant in my daily decisions and I’m trying to find my footing, but it’s working. I have a huge office with a door so that’s a bonus. And the view from the patio is amazing.

I made a slew of new friends. It was time to move on from the chaos of the past and actually find out if I could be myself and still have people like me. So far so good. I’ve replaced all of the bad apples with bad ass ones and then some. Relationships have been a bit of a challenge. Yeah, that’s a good way to put it. Let’s just say that even when I admit when I’m wrong and profusely apologize, I still get slapped in the face. And hit below the belt. I mean, when someone attacks my marriage and my parenting, I draw the line. Life’s too short to beat myself up over it and, like before, I just move on.

We bought a new house in October. It was a very rushed decision, but one that we are all very happy with. This place is beautiful and the neighbors kick ass. Ava found fast friends with the kids next door and we already had friends here and hope to continue having the best times with all of them.

I had two trips to Vegas: one with CW and one very strange trip with some people I didn’t know well and no longer hang out with. I won’t even get into it.

I got to see the final shuttle launch and cried like a baby, on camera, on Miami network news. Good times. I also met Seth Green and stood thisclose to Anderson Cooper.

I’m sure I’m leaving something amazing (or craptastic) out, but that’s all I will bore you with for one night. As for this year, I hope to finish that MA mainly because I want people to call me Master. I also hope to work more on Whimsy Girls and start writing that novel in my head. That right there is a lofty goal, but it’s very exciting to think about actually getting the thoughts out of my head and into print.

I hope you all have a wonderful 2012. At least until the world ends in December.