“Knowledge is ancient error reflecting on its youth"

Finals are quickly approaching and my brain is melting.  

Friday is the day when I don't have any classes and I use the time to work on my online class, but also to relax and prepare for the weekend. Today, however, I got up early, filled my backpack with books and pencils, and headed to the library.  I wrote papers, took a quiz, and worked on several projects. I feel incredibly productive today.  Seriously, I'm getting things done and it feels so good.

When I consider where I was last December, I've come a long way.  This past year has been such a tumultuous one, with huge ups and huge downs.  I've said it before, but this year has been my year.

Highlights

• Starbucks.  This place was such a fun job.  When I went home for Thanksgiving, I had lunch with my manager and visited with a couple of my former coworkers.  I forgot how much fun I had at that job.  I made life long friends, met some celebrities, and learned the art of coffee making.  I think steaming milk to perfection will always be a part of my nature now.  

Cleaning the ice bin

• Erik.  This guy is one of my best friends ever.  Having him home, living only two blocks away was what saved me from utter despair for a good part of the year.  I'm lucky to have a fun, reliable, trustworthy friend.  

Erik is a pretty, pretty princess

• Moving to Idaho.  Seriously, this was the best thing I could have done this fall.  I had to choose between staying  at home to save up enough money to move to France and moving to Idaho and spending the France money.  I gave up France for Rexburg, Idaho.  A lot of people would see that as a lame choice, but for me it was the better choice.  I have a great apartment, I have great roommate.  

My apartment

• Grades.  This is my best semester ever.  In fact, this is the best I've ever done in school.  I have straight A's.  I am the bomb.

Midterm grades.  Still going strong

I could go on and on about the awesome things that have happened this year.  True, there were some low points and I could go into those, but instead of viewing those things as negatives, I chose to look at the way they've changed me and helped me become who I am today.  

2011 has been a year to remember.  I look forward to it's close and the beginning of 2012.

"Feeling a little blue in January is normal"

Suddenly I've found myself on January 5, 2011 wondering how on earth I got here.  I feel like time just slipped through my fingers, but I was too busy looking somewhere else to even notice it passing.

Where did Thanksgiving go?  Christmas?  New Year's?  All throughout this holiday season I felt anxious for the actual holiday.  I felt them sneaking up on me, making my mind swirl with how quickly they were approaching.  And then they were gone.  Done.  So much anticipation and preparation for events that stuck around so briefly, I hardly even noticed them.  Don't get me wrong, I had wonderful holidays and I remember them fondly.  I'm just dumbfounded that they're already gone.  That we're already hurdling through 2011 and, before you know it, we'll be preparing for the holidays again.

2011 is going to be my year.  I don't know what is going to happen to make it so, but I can just feel it.  I'm so close to a pivotal moment of my life.  Maybe it's going back to college, maybe it'll moving away from home, maybe it'll be switching jobs.  I've already started the application process so I can be prepared for school in the Fall.  I'm already thinking about cars I might want to buy.

I'm excited for this year.  Kind of sad that last year is already over, but I'm ready for the changes that await me.

2011, show me what you got.