Posts Tagged "year in review"
The Best of 2011
As 2011 is winding down; seriously, how did it get this far this quickly? When did we all step into that time machine and is there a way to slow that sucker down? Wasn’t it just January? Or at least Halloween?
I started writing this out in my typical format, but then I changed my mind. See, I have developed this weird complex where I’m worried that my writing isn’t awesomely witty or even long enough to be considered a good post, which is silly because it’s not like I’m trying to meet any requirements. A post is a post, whether it’s a long 1000 word missive or a simple picture. This isn’t a school assignment! Besides, a lot of the stuff I realized are continuances of last year and I don’t really want to rehash last year’s post. So, instead, I’m calling an audible: here’s my “Best of 2011″ in pictures.
Trip with the bf to one of my favorite places in the world: the Monterey Bay Aquarium
Ran my first 5k trail run. And felt like dying. But didn’t, so point for me!
Celebrated six wonderful years with the bf. Our relationship is officially a first grader now.
I graduated with my long-awaited MBA from St. Mary’s
Went indoor skydiving with the bf
Watched Lindsey walk the line and collect her degree from UCLA
Flew to Seattle to stand in Amalia’s wedding…and recklessly risked not fitting into my bridesmaid dress by eating a ton of delicious food. You know how I roll.
Rode the white water rapids of the South Fork of the American River and lived to blog about it
I turned 30 in August and had a tremendous time celebrating
Had lunch at Facebook HQ with a former coworker and raided their micro-kitchen for snacks for the ride home
Joined Firelady on a shift with the San Francisco Fire Department and cruised along the Embarcadero on the Fire boat
Ran my first 10k without feeling like I wanted to die!
Finally faced facts and agreed to have Schmidty, the fibroadenoma, forcefully evicted from my breast. We don’t like your kind around these parts!
Met my college roomie, Julie, in SF for a trip to Alcatraz and to catch up on her first leg of her 2 week road trip through California.
Looking back and looking forward
2011 was a bit of a refreshing year for me. This was the first full year following my dad’s passing and an introduction to life without him. This is how things will be from here on out, without the constant check ups from others or needing to give updates on how we’re grieving, but this is now our life. This is our new normal. Sometimes it feels a little weird but overall, it feels so good to finally be normal again.
We celebrated birthdays, graduations, weddings and the joy of every day life. This was definitely a good year.
Big things are going to happen in 2012. I just know it. Sure I say this every year, but do you really think (or hope) that bad things will happen? 2012 will be a year of transition and I’m kind of scared by what could possibly transpire. I’m excited but kind of uneasy because, well, I’m not really in control of the situation. It’s kind of exciting. I’ll be back to writing to finish my recap of the Schmidty saga, give you the rundown of my goals for next year and reveal my new life motto.
Yup, 2012 is already looking pretty fantastic.
Read MoreI hardly knew ye, 2010
My goodness, is it already the last week of December? Is 2011 really just a mere 3 days and a wake up away? You mean I get to start all over and forget about this year? THANK THE GOOD LORD.
[source]
But in all seriousness, it wasn’t exactly a terrible, horrible, no good very bad year. But it was definitely one for the ages.
The Fun Stuff:
I did manage to have a blast this year. I started jogging and completed my very first [of hopefully many!] 5k race in June with a pretty good time [a scant 36:10!]. I couldn’t believe I honestly went from running zero inches to jogging a whole 3.1 miles straight! Of course, I did take some time off since then so I’ll have to work myself back up to my previous mileage but I’m still encouraged by my progress. I also had a blast eating my way through St. Helena and oh, how can I forget that amazing cheese puff at Rotisserie & Wine? I can’t and I won’t. I had a lot of good meals this year and I’m looking to repeat that in the coming year. I had a great extra long visit with the bf during the summer, ate frog legs and had a kick butt birthday party filled with lots of friends, laughter and tons and tons of ice cream. I also had a blast helping Amalia shop for her wedding dress and am eagerly anticipating standing in her wedding next summer in beautiful Seattle. I also got to get my picture taken with the World Series and NLCS trophies [story to come when I get the pictures!]. Most importantly, my mom bought a new house after a summer of playing Goldilocks and we have settled in quite nicely. I love my new room and have really gotten in touch with my inner interior designer. I know how to put stuff together and decorate! Oh the wonders of the Internet and television. Thanks for making me look better.
The Professional Stuff:
I marked a full year of unemployment this past October but I am not deterred or discouraged. I know my perfect job is out there and that, in time, I will get it. Like I said before, it doesn’t matter how many nos I get when all I need is just one yes. My God has already provided my job to me and I patiently await its manifestation. That said, yeah, it sucks to be on unemployment but being unemployed has afforded me some great freedoms that I would not have been able to do, like my two-week vacation with the bf, helping my mom get situated, house hunt and focus primarily on school. Do I wish I were working? You bet your pretty face I do but things happen for a reason that are never clear the moment they happen but will be in due time. I am looking forward to earning a paycheck and being a contributing member of society once again but most importantly, it will be in a job function that I am really happy about.
The Relationship Stuff:
The bf and I marked our fifth year this past March and honestly, this year would have completely sucked without him. There were just so many things going on that tested my ability to cope and he stood out as a fantastic support system for me. He fully understood the stress and worry and general confusion I was undergoing and was able to offer solid advice, knew when to let me wander on my own and when I really needed a shoulder to cry on and an arm around me. I couldn’t imaging dealing with this year without him by my side and as I sit and think about it, I see the genius behind God’s plan to bring us together. I can’t help but smile at the commonalities we share, some sad, some happy but all so that we can both be better supports for each other. How else better to know what to expect when you’ve gone through the experience yourself. I know that through it all, in tragedy and in gladness, he will be there for me. He will be there to support me when I’m weak, to reassure me that it’s okay to be weak sometimes, to congratulate me on my successes and help plan a future together. Our relationship is better for what we’ve gone through together. I can wake up each day assured that he will be there. Because he was there before.
The Personal Stuff:
This year has been something else. My dad’s health began to fail this time last year and he spent the first three months of this year in an out of the hospital. We weren’t sure what was going on but eventually his transplant failed for one reason or another and we let him go. It was a tough situation to go through and the wounds have not begun to heal just yet but I know that he’s in Heaven with our Heavenly Father and is much better. I couldn’t imagine losing my dad; even though we didn’t always get along, he was still my father and I loved him. Its been a tough road that I’m still traveling but with the outpouring of support I’ve received from my church family and friends I know I can make it through. My spiritual relationship has taken shape this year as well as I set out to read the entire Bible [I'm a few books away from completing this goal and will be done on Friday!] and I’m actually thinking about doing it again next year so I can actually take notes and study up on it. I should really know the religion I decided to follow and this will definitely help me along. How can I know the promises God has made if I don’t read the word? This has been another year of heavily leaning on the Lord and making it through the valley moments of my life. Knowing him reminds me that these moments are just temporary and that I will survive. But probably the most exciting news [because it's so recent] is that I finished my MBA program! I’m a master! It feels so good to be done with school and to have my nights and weekends back. No more papers, no more exams, no more pretending to have read. Its all good. The day after my last class I updated my resume to include my newly minted degree. That felt real good. I am a little sad to not seeing my friends I’ve made as often though. This last quarter felt so different since there were so many people I knew from previous classes, we felt really close. It was really nice.
Looking Back to Look Forward:
Am I glad 2010 is almost over? Yes and no. Yes because in all, it was such a trying year filled with so many life-changing experiences that were, let’s face it, exhausting to deal with [did I mention that I came down with the flu the day after we moved into the new house? My body finally gave out after running on fumes for the past year] but it also brought some unexpected joy. This year solidified my relationship with the bf, it helped to begin to heal rifts within my own family, it brought everyone together, it help me to focus more on God and to honestly enjoy every possible moment. This year’s moral: the only permanent condition is death; do not get discouraged by moments in time as they are only temporary and things will get better.
Read MoreMy virtual time capsule
This year has definitely been a year and a half. Seriously, was it really only 365 days? It seems like it was much longer. Much, much longer.
The Fun Stuff:
I did accomplish a lot of fun things this year, even after some of the stressful moments. This year was spent hanging out with family and friends most of the time. I did get to go surfing a few times and actually stood up on the board like a real deal surfer the last time out. I was able to attend a beautiful wedding of a friend and I’m looking forward to the upcoming weddings I have for next year. Spanish Club was firing on all cylinders this year. Who knew I’d perfect the ultimate chocolate fondue recipe?
I had a few fun trips planned, spending a nice weekend with JCCAM at our retreat at Fort Cronkhite, visiting Amalia and JoAl in Seattle and eating a good chunk of it in one day. Seeing the Mariners play and taste testing cupcakes all day? What a fantastic thing! And the trip down south to visit Lindsey? Oh, discovering my new favorite L.A. area cupcakes and getting lost with GPS. Good times, man. Even my ten-year class reunion was fun, despite my own preconceived notions. Plus, I was able to see a few of my friends welcome new additions to their families with cute little ones.
Newsworthy to note: I had the pleasure of watching Barack Obama be sworn into the presidency. I hope his term goes well. He’s has n uphill climb to get through but I’m hoping for the best.
But I will say a major highlight of the year was playing softball on the field of AT&T Park. Yeah, that was AWESOME.
The Professional Stuff:
This was a roller coaster year with my job. In January I survived the change in administration and was given a lateral promotion to work with a newly appointed Senior VP. We hit it off [I think we were really, less than 10 years apart in age] and worked well together. I was excited for what was to come since it was a new position and we would be crafting and fine-tuning my duties as time went on.
I really enjoyed what I did and it was really nice working with a different type of boss. Things went swimmingly for a while until October hit and I was unexpectedly laid off. That was extremely devastating and demoralizing. I never for a second thought that would happen to me [as usual] and while the circumstances surrounding my layoff still remain shrouded in a bit of mystery, I know this will work out for the best.
So now I get to recreate myself professionally. How often do we get that chance? Sure I absolutely miss working there and would kill to get back, but I need to do something that is more in line with my current skill set and abilities. Being someone’s assistant wasn’t doing me any favors. But now I get to get into Marketing and one day I’ll be back at my old office but in the Executive suite. Yeah buddy.
The Personal Stuff:
My plans of taking better care of myself kind of fell by the wayside this year. I tried, I really did but hey, I’ll just have to try again. Right? Spiritually speaking, I have a long way to go. I was going well until we hit October [what was it with that month?!]. We had a 50 day fast and I was not looking forward to participating, mainly because I already had my trip scheduled to L.A. and I knew I would be breaking it for the weekend and it was just tough. My spiritual relationship took a dive from there and I’m just now starting to maybe dig my way out of the valley but that’s how it goes. There will be good times and bad but in the end, everything will work out.
My dad’s healthy has improved greatly this year though we’re not fully out of the woods with him yet. I still need to write about that situation but I want to dedicate the full weight and seriousness that topic deserves and quite frankly, I just haven’t been ready to write about it yet.
Aside from that, my master’s program is coming along swimmingly! I got a B in that horrid Accounting class this quarter [yay!] and my cumulative GPA is hanging around a 3.6 though I’m hoping to get it higher. The nerd in me is just dying to make a Dean’s List. The best surprise I got though was the realization that I will be able to finish my program next December instead of March of 2011! That’s three months earlier than planned! I hope the schedule continues to work in my favor because I really cannot wait to be done with this.
The Relationship Stuff:
Ahh, can you believe that this month five years ago, the bf and I first started talking? And look at us, four years later and still going strong. Sometimes I can’t believe it myself. This has definitely been an interesting year for us. It wasn’t our best year but we endured and made it through. It was tough going for a while but that’s to be expected in relationships. Its all in how you handle those moments. He has been a great support for me, especially when dealing with my dad’s health issues and my unemployment and I can’t imagine anyone else holding my hand during the tough moments.
I haven’t been the best girlfriend but I am working on that. Even after all this time we’re still learning to adjust our expectations for one another and our relationship. We’re constantly evolving and I will always be proud of that growth. This coming year we’ll be marking our fifth year together and I’m looking forward to bridging the gap that is in our lives. I’m looking forward to only having a work day separate us.
Looking back and looking forward:
This year will definitely be hard to top but, as always, I am looking forward to seeing what the new year will bring. I’m hoping to be able to shave some quality personal time this year, making a more concerted effort to take care of myself, improve my Korean AND cook real meals. Yes, I’m planning on reinstating the New Year’s Resolution Cooking project. The bf’s mother became super interested in my cooking skills this year and well, I have to prove that I’ll be able to keep her son well-fed.
Time to get in touch with my inner “Asian mom.” Here, eat.
We never know how much time we have on this world but everyone has an appointed time. So take advantage of the time you have and make sure you live life to the fullest. Do the things you’ve dreamed of doing, take a few minutes to laugh with friends or talk with family. Take the long way once in a while. Stop and look around and take in the sights. But most importantly, remember to live in the moment. Don’t be in such a rush to get to the next milestone that you forget to enjoy the path there.
Happy New Year’s.
Read MoreNow that the new year is firmly in place…
It’s time for my annual belated year in review post. I actually thought of writing it last year and just scheduling the publishing date but, yeah, that obviously didn’t work out according to plan. I should work on that for next year.
THE FUN STUFF
Um, wow, what did I do this year? I know I did stuff. And I also know that for about a month or so I lost my blog to a redesign that never happened. We won’t further elaborate the forced blogging hiatus that quickly spiraled out of control for the poor bf who then had to deal with a blog-deprived raving lunatic. And yet, even after all that he still wants to marry me.
But I did have fun times! It started with a baby shower for one of my surfing buddies who later welcomed the most adorable girl to date and making good on an old promise to Robe to speak to her class for Career Day. Those dainty parties moved towards more debacherous as we counted down the days until Steph and Tim were finally married [and netting me twenty bucks!] with both her bridal shower and fantastically awesome but otherwise never published real story at AsiaSF. I have pictures to prove the good times but I’m not allowed to publicly share. But it was good!
That led to a tamer wedding celebration and the beginning of my obsession with pleats. Random yes, but definitely true. There were many Spanish Club meetings, my first fondue experience and subsequent experiences [including a killer recipe for the most decadent chocolate fondue you’ll ever try], another bachelorette party for my former roomie Jacqui, an epic 27th birthday party and another epic party for my sister Tam, a fabulous birthday visit with the bf and the football/baking party and other random get togethers.
Of course there was also the continued flexing of my baking and crafting muscles. I got quite the workout that year and I’m looking forward to what comes out of the kitchen next. I know I’m missing things and I mean no slight for the oversight.
But the big news of the year was the election of Barack Obama into the presidency. It was exhilarating knowing that I finally voted for a winning candidate and while I know he won’t be perfect [and anyone expecting him to be is seriously flawed] I’m excited about the potential of change for the nation.
Oh! And I just remembered that I went to Vegas! I mean, how do you forget that? That was a fun 24 hours of random wandering around. No really, it was. I had a great time and I’m looking forward to going back, this time with the bf.
THE PROFESSIONAL STUFF
After some personnel moves towards the end of the year, I realized what I didn’t want to be for the rest of my life: someone’s assistant. I won’t go into specifics here because I’ve blacked out that portion of my memory banks for sanity-preserving purposes but it made me determined to keep finding ways to move up in my career. I’m grateful for my job and that I have the chance to make some moves. Not to say that I’m against taking on another assistant type position, I’m completely open to that because I know I can parlay that into something else.
I also started grad school this year! My MBA program at St. Mary’s is amazing and I love it. I even scored an A- in my stats class. Now that was a blessing indeed. Even though my experiences taking the GMAT left a lot to be desired, I’m glad I ended up at St. Mary’s. It’s definitely the program best suited for my personality. I think I would have been tempted many times to take a pen to someone’s neck had I managed to get into Cal. Sure I’ll be tacking on about $45,000 worth of additional debt but knowing that in a short 2 ½ years I’ll be the proud owner of my very one Masters degree makes it more than worth it.
Read MoreNo better day than today…
I know I’m already three days into the new year but I never did get a chance to do my year-end recap since I was too busy traipsing around Frankenmuth and as cheesy as it is, I love looking back on what happened, so here it is:
The fun stuff
Hmm, a lot of things happened this year. I went snowboarding and broke my butt. Well, I sprained my butt, more realistically but you tell that to me when I was so sore that very night that in order to turn over in bed, I literally had to get out of bed and then back in the position I wanted to be in. Anywho, there were a lot of things going on, parties and more snowboarding [that I accomplished perfectly] and finally a long awaited surfing trip. I kept up with yoga and have noticed a nice progression in my flexibility. I’m still a long ways off and yeah, I still think my spine is fused together but I can almost touch my toes without bending my knees. Almost. I got to make new friends [thanks Jacki!] and reconnected with old ones. I was able to watch my lovely bf graduate from college [yay!], my baby sister graduate from high school [yay!] and move her in to her first year of college [aww!], became more situated with my bf’s family, explored Los Angeles, and watched my best friend get married. Plus it ended fantastically well with winning two airline vouchers [can y’all say Hawaii?] and the chance to spend the holidays with the bf for the first time ever. It was a very busy year indeed. And I know I’m forgetting stuff but hey, feel free to flip back through the blog posts. Shameless plug.
The relationship stuff
We’ll be celebrating three amazing years this March. It’s comforting to know that even as we continue to get more comfortable with each other we’re still growing together. This year we managed to see each other 3 times, including the week I spent last week [and yeah, I do still wish I were on vacation]. We did have our bumps but honestly, I’m okay with that because it shows that we’re working together towards a similar goal. We’re two different people with different perspectives; we’re not totally going to mesh all the time. I’d be really concerned if we NEVER had any arguments. The barriers that are keeping us apart are slowly but surely coming down around us and now have our future together to look forward to…a future that’s even more clearer than last year.
I could go on and on about the bf and our relationship but I think I’m gonna save that for another day. Let’s just say it’s all good.
The personal stuff
My personal walk with God has blossomed tremendously this year. There were many times that I was tested but came through with Him every time. I’m excited to see where my relationship with Him goes this year. I started teaching Sunday School which was terribly frightening in the beginning but now I don’t flinch at all…until I have to figure out a craft for our craft Sunday classes. You mean I can’t make them do the “Armor of God” every week?
Other than that things are good. After waffling for a long while, I finally decided to go for my MBA so I have that going for me this year. Plus, you know, still doing the yoga thing too. Even though I refuse to buy a mat.
The career stuff
Well I finished my first year of being a full-time employee with benefits this year. It’s so exciting to finally be working in the industry I’ve been longing to get into for a long while. Now I’m just figuring out my best move up. Isn’t that always the case?
Looking back, looking ahead
2008 will be a fantastic year. With celebrating 3 years with the bf, hopefully taking a trip to Hawaii and all the other random adventures I’ll probably find myself in, I’m really looking forward to seeing what happens. This year, in addition to my yearly “make this the Best Year Ever” resolution, I’m also hoping to resolve to not let too much time go by between hanging out with the bf and my friends. I’d like to make a more conscious effort to stay in contact with them, phone, emails, text messages, whatever. I’ll let you know how that all turns out.
So here’s to 2008. Bring it. I’m ready.
Read More