On This Winter's Night

This is the song that got me in the Christmas spirit this season. I wish I'd found it sooner.

Happy Christmas, everyone!

How 2012 Went

Here's an update on my 2012 New Year's Resolutions. In 2011 I was fantastic at updating them. Life picked up for me this year, so I was much less diligent. However, some great things happened.

1. I went dancing at least twice a week. I count that as exercise.

2. I crocheted something for myself. The afghan is still in progress. It got set aside for dancing/social life.

3. I didn't quite get a 3.55, but I think I'll be really close to that. Grades for Fall haven't been posted yet.

4. The dress didn't get touched. Go figure. Parents are moving, etc.

5. I got all of my great works events done. Now I just have to write papers.

6. I got my Honors thesis proposal submitted. I should hear back in a couple of weeks as to whether it got accepted or not.

7. I got two editing jobs and an internship. I have also applied for another one and a bunch of internships.

8. I got at least two great works papers written. I can't remember how many I've started, but I should be finished with them by mid next year.

9. I didn't learn to cook a new thing each month, but I did manage to do a lot of cooking over the summer where I learned to cook new things. I still consider this goal a success.

10. Things didn't get repacked, but they will have to be by the end of this break because my parents are moving soon after.**

11. I wish I could say I spent less time on the internet. Maybe I did overall, since I have been out dancing a lot, but a lot of my interactions for work and school happen over the internet, so that just isn't as feasible as I'd like it to be.

12. I couldn't manage to keep headphones out of my ears twice a week. I did really well until about September . . .

13. Like I said, all great works events finished. It feels good.

14. I think I can say with assurance that I've been nice to my family.

15. I managed to budget well enough that I am using that money to go to a fusion convention in Vegas in a couple of weeks.

16. I competed in DanceSport. Took 6th in Samba, and was in the top 12 couples in Quickstep.

17. Didn't manage to get the scrapbook pages done, and my mom packed up her scrapbook, so this'll have to wait until next year.

18. I was doing really well at going to the temple each week until about May, and then I just went about once or twice a month. I could do better, I know.

19. I completely failed at reading General Conference talks. I did try and read daily thoughts/scriptures, though. Semi-successful at that.

20. I couldn't find a name of a Cherokee ancestor. The records are pretty well lost. It's really sad to think about, so I don't much.

21. I don't think I managed 24 books for fun, but I'm certain I read a lot.

So, total tally: 11/21***

That's alright, I think. I definitely didn't completely fail all of the goals, and I really feel like I grew a lot this year. Next year I intend to set goals again, because I feel like even accomplishing half of what I write down is good and important. And if I look at what I actually got accomplished, that stuff was really important. Especially the Honors thesis.

** I actually got this goal accomplished before the end of the year.
***12/21 is the final total tally.