My Year
I stole this idea from Caitlin.. it's a compliment! I think it's a really good idea to account for the things (good or bad) that happened month-to-month in the craziness that is one year. So here it is:
JANUARY: I started 2008 off at a jungle-themed rave in a warehouse in North Philly with a would-be love interest (which hardely went anywhere) and some really good friends; none of which were Steve-o, since he was dating another girl. But I felt particularly hopeful. I talked a lot to my mom that month trying to get all the wisdom I could out of her. I had already been rejected from Temple U, grad school. Who wants to go there anyway?!Steve-o broke up with that girl and we started talking more about our relationship.
FEBRUARY: I celebrated my 1 year anniversary of working at GMR. It felt like it should have been longer, but I was happy enough there so... stick with it. I threw a fabulous dress-up wine and cheese party with all my friends in attendance! This will be an annual thing. I almost hook up with someone... why didn't i? Still a little afraid to get involved I guess.
MARCH: Rejected from Villanova. I started to look everywhere I could for more grad schools. I entertained (and still do, on my PhD. level) schools in Chicago, D.C., New York, California, and Connecticut. Little did I think I'd get in to grad school in my very own New Jersey... but that was down the road. Anyway, I remember particularly nice warm days giving hope of a beautiful spring and summer to come. I fostered my first bunny, Dimples. Dimples becomes the light of my life.
APRIL: Steve-o's birthday was great and upon celebrating, I felt as though we were celebrating a new step forward. A baby step, but a good step in our relationship. Adopted Dimples out to Adam; really awesome, cute, hippy guy. Immediately foster another rabbit, MooMoo. Moo becomes the light of my life.
MAY: Spent mostly cleaning up after mouse infestation and not-so-quietly hating on the coffee shop owner who I lived above. He is the cause of this mouse problem. MooMoo tearfully is adopted out to Gina. I decided to wait a month to get over not having Moo in my life.
JUNE: Craigslist searching for a new place is fun!!! I can afford up to $950 per month, not like I wanted to pay that, but still... I could. And that leaves a lot of options open to me. I headed right to West Philly... where there are trees. I foster Clover, and guess what... he becomes the light of my life!
JULY: Clover gets adopted out to Erin and I feel really good! I almost missed the 4th of July fireworks (grrrrrrrrrrrrrr....) and vowed that next year, I'm getting to the Art Museum at like 4pm, and staking out an awesome spot. Never will I miss fire works again! Well, I did get to see most of it actually, but from on top of a concrete partition. I went to Ocracoke with Steve-o for the 3rd year in a row, this time, leaving Snoopy at my parents' house. We missed her immensely but enjoyed the freedom. My birthday was awesome at Ocracoke and I forgot where I worked. I saw beautiful sunsets and relaxed in tide pools in the warm North Carolina barrier island sand and surf. Truly one of the most beautiful beaches on the East Coast. I also had a party upon return, where a possible romantic conquest was a ridiculous let down when I realized, why am I aiming so low? I get an apartment secured in West Philly. I love it! I learned that my long lost crush from high school, Rich, is in New Jersey and wanting to hang out. We hung out and I crushed again; still... we hung out twice, actually and it was amazing both times, but nothing physical happened. July was a big month for me.
AUGUST: It is nearly impossible to pack my apartment so I enlisted Steve-o's help. I struggle with the "what do I do with Steve-o and my love for him" and the "I am so totally still in love with Rich, but he's so far away and do I really know him anymore, but I do know him, really" kinda thing. I officially start representing my sister in her art career: www.theartofsyphelan.com shameless promotion. I start realizing that I must stop helping others before myself. I start seeing my therapist who helps me see that I take care of other people too much. I'm still a little bitter about people who have taken advantage of me, and my caring instincts. People who have put me through emotional hell and had not even said they were sorry or taken any accountability on their ridiculous actions. Not Steve-o... friends. (And I'm still in therapy about it, but getting over it). On the upside, I foster, my fourth bunny, Sasha, who I love so much I can't give up. So, I adopt him. My very own baby bunny boy! Sasha fits in well with me and my life! I learn Steve-o's sister is pregnant! First baby!
SEPTEMBER: I learn that my oldest sister is pregnant again! I'm going to be an aunt x's 2!!!! I love this feeling and I already love the baby! I move into my new place, breaking the banester to get my box spring in. I immediately love it with all my heart! This is my house. I feel good here and I saged everything to keep the air clean. I visit Rutger's U - Newark, where I applied to grad school, and meet the department head. I joke around with her about lawyers and I felt like I made a very good impression. I feel hopeful! The year's looking up!
OCTOBER: Leslie and Caitlin and Kaitlin have an awesome Halloween party. I was harajiku girl. I had a lot of fun, as usual when I'm there! I finally like the season Fall. I start really enacting on my theories on positivity and I see my life changing in a divine way. I go on a diet through a work-related weight loss contest. I lost 7 lbs!
NOVEMBER: Steve-o and I are both too broke to celebrate our anniversary in a huge way. But I'm happy that we're doing a little better. I reflect a lot about where I was at this point last year and I am filled with emotion. On 11-11, Steve-o adn I's anniversary, and my alltime best day of the year every year, I learn that I have been accepted to Rutgers!!! I bust out of work during lunch and call everyone I know would be proud of me! I learn Steve-o's sister is having a girl! I also am asked to be the godmother of my own sister's baby... I am asked at Thanksgiving dinner. I am so proud and excited! I have many fun nights out with the girls! Steve-o moves into a ridiculously awesome apartment with my co-worker/friend Matt. New location for my wine and cheese party?! I get approval for being the director of the Vagina Monologues in Philadelphia!!! I'm excited, but nervous, but excited! I take time off of therapy, as everything is going good. I gain 2 lbs back.
DECEMBER: I am a happy worker knowing that I'm going to be fulfilling my dreams. I get my sister into a group show; her first in Philly. My aunt's 70th surprise birthday party was beautiful, it snowed, and I got closer with my family. My little cousins are getting older and I'm glad that I can jab a little feminism and positive body image ideals into the conversation. Also, my niece Gina is almost 3 and she is such a loving, smart, and beautiful child! She loves her Auntie! I'm going to find out what my godchild's sex is next month! The firm Christmas party is fun and I get drunk with my attorneys and co-workers. I also have a little revelation (today). I realized that just because I'm trying to put my own feelings before others to make sure I'm not being taken advantage of, I have to make sure that I'm not being a total bitch to the people I love. I have to find a balance between the two. I hurt Steve-o's feelings and was being a rude person. I felt ugly. Then I felt like I looked ugly. Instead of beating myself up over it, I sucked it up, apologized, and am going to make sure that I don't take my frustrations out on those who I love. It's not fair, and I feel horrible for doing so.
I'm looking forward to 2009!
JANUARY: I started 2008 off at a jungle-themed rave in a warehouse in North Philly with a would-be love interest (which hardely went anywhere) and some really good friends; none of which were Steve-o, since he was dating another girl. But I felt particularly hopeful. I talked a lot to my mom that month trying to get all the wisdom I could out of her. I had already been rejected from Temple U, grad school. Who wants to go there anyway?!Steve-o broke up with that girl and we started talking more about our relationship.
FEBRUARY: I celebrated my 1 year anniversary of working at GMR. It felt like it should have been longer, but I was happy enough there so... stick with it. I threw a fabulous dress-up wine and cheese party with all my friends in attendance! This will be an annual thing. I almost hook up with someone... why didn't i? Still a little afraid to get involved I guess.
MARCH: Rejected from Villanova. I started to look everywhere I could for more grad schools. I entertained (and still do, on my PhD. level) schools in Chicago, D.C., New York, California, and Connecticut. Little did I think I'd get in to grad school in my very own New Jersey... but that was down the road. Anyway, I remember particularly nice warm days giving hope of a beautiful spring and summer to come. I fostered my first bunny, Dimples. Dimples becomes the light of my life.
APRIL: Steve-o's birthday was great and upon celebrating, I felt as though we were celebrating a new step forward. A baby step, but a good step in our relationship. Adopted Dimples out to Adam; really awesome, cute, hippy guy. Immediately foster another rabbit, MooMoo. Moo becomes the light of my life.
MAY: Spent mostly cleaning up after mouse infestation and not-so-quietly hating on the coffee shop owner who I lived above. He is the cause of this mouse problem. MooMoo tearfully is adopted out to Gina. I decided to wait a month to get over not having Moo in my life.
JUNE: Craigslist searching for a new place is fun!!! I can afford up to $950 per month, not like I wanted to pay that, but still... I could. And that leaves a lot of options open to me. I headed right to West Philly... where there are trees. I foster Clover, and guess what... he becomes the light of my life!
JULY: Clover gets adopted out to Erin and I feel really good! I almost missed the 4th of July fireworks (grrrrrrrrrrrrrr....) and vowed that next year, I'm getting to the Art Museum at like 4pm, and staking out an awesome spot. Never will I miss fire works again! Well, I did get to see most of it actually, but from on top of a concrete partition. I went to Ocracoke with Steve-o for the 3rd year in a row, this time, leaving Snoopy at my parents' house. We missed her immensely but enjoyed the freedom. My birthday was awesome at Ocracoke and I forgot where I worked. I saw beautiful sunsets and relaxed in tide pools in the warm North Carolina barrier island sand and surf. Truly one of the most beautiful beaches on the East Coast. I also had a party upon return, where a possible romantic conquest was a ridiculous let down when I realized, why am I aiming so low? I get an apartment secured in West Philly. I love it! I learned that my long lost crush from high school, Rich, is in New Jersey and wanting to hang out. We hung out and I crushed again; still... we hung out twice, actually and it was amazing both times, but nothing physical happened. July was a big month for me.
AUGUST: It is nearly impossible to pack my apartment so I enlisted Steve-o's help. I struggle with the "what do I do with Steve-o and my love for him" and the "I am so totally still in love with Rich, but he's so far away and do I really know him anymore, but I do know him, really" kinda thing. I officially start representing my sister in her art career: www.theartofsyphelan.com shameless promotion. I start realizing that I must stop helping others before myself. I start seeing my therapist who helps me see that I take care of other people too much. I'm still a little bitter about people who have taken advantage of me, and my caring instincts. People who have put me through emotional hell and had not even said they were sorry or taken any accountability on their ridiculous actions. Not Steve-o... friends. (And I'm still in therapy about it, but getting over it). On the upside, I foster, my fourth bunny, Sasha, who I love so much I can't give up. So, I adopt him. My very own baby bunny boy! Sasha fits in well with me and my life! I learn Steve-o's sister is pregnant! First baby!
SEPTEMBER: I learn that my oldest sister is pregnant again! I'm going to be an aunt x's 2!!!! I love this feeling and I already love the baby! I move into my new place, breaking the banester to get my box spring in. I immediately love it with all my heart! This is my house. I feel good here and I saged everything to keep the air clean. I visit Rutger's U - Newark, where I applied to grad school, and meet the department head. I joke around with her about lawyers and I felt like I made a very good impression. I feel hopeful! The year's looking up!
OCTOBER: Leslie and Caitlin and Kaitlin have an awesome Halloween party. I was harajiku girl. I had a lot of fun, as usual when I'm there! I finally like the season Fall. I start really enacting on my theories on positivity and I see my life changing in a divine way. I go on a diet through a work-related weight loss contest. I lost 7 lbs!
NOVEMBER: Steve-o and I are both too broke to celebrate our anniversary in a huge way. But I'm happy that we're doing a little better. I reflect a lot about where I was at this point last year and I am filled with emotion. On 11-11, Steve-o adn I's anniversary, and my alltime best day of the year every year, I learn that I have been accepted to Rutgers!!! I bust out of work during lunch and call everyone I know would be proud of me! I learn Steve-o's sister is having a girl! I also am asked to be the godmother of my own sister's baby... I am asked at Thanksgiving dinner. I am so proud and excited! I have many fun nights out with the girls! Steve-o moves into a ridiculously awesome apartment with my co-worker/friend Matt. New location for my wine and cheese party?! I get approval for being the director of the Vagina Monologues in Philadelphia!!! I'm excited, but nervous, but excited! I take time off of therapy, as everything is going good. I gain 2 lbs back.
DECEMBER: I am a happy worker knowing that I'm going to be fulfilling my dreams. I get my sister into a group show; her first in Philly. My aunt's 70th surprise birthday party was beautiful, it snowed, and I got closer with my family. My little cousins are getting older and I'm glad that I can jab a little feminism and positive body image ideals into the conversation. Also, my niece Gina is almost 3 and she is such a loving, smart, and beautiful child! She loves her Auntie! I'm going to find out what my godchild's sex is next month! The firm Christmas party is fun and I get drunk with my attorneys and co-workers. I also have a little revelation (today). I realized that just because I'm trying to put my own feelings before others to make sure I'm not being taken advantage of, I have to make sure that I'm not being a total bitch to the people I love. I have to find a balance between the two. I hurt Steve-o's feelings and was being a rude person. I felt ugly. Then I felt like I looked ugly. Instead of beating myself up over it, I sucked it up, apologized, and am going to make sure that I don't take my frustrations out on those who I love. It's not fair, and I feel horrible for doing so.
I'm looking forward to 2009!