Year in Review: 2015
(Breaking from chile posts for a quick sec)
Here we are. The end of 2015. It feels like it flew by, but at the same time, stuff that happened in the first half seems like it happened lifetimes ago. Perhaps it did. #meta
All in all, I can't complain about '15. I started a new position, made a bunch of new friends, had a sick AF black eye, ran 3 big races, didn't drink for a full quarter of the year, went on a Washington Post set up blind date, (and even set two friends up on a blind date), and planned an awesome trip to a dream location. The following list has something like 36 points on it - that's 36 weekends (mostly...occasionally I did something on a work night) of something memorable going on. I can't say life will continue like this forever, but it's sure fun while it is. It also detrimental to my health. Every time that I go full steam ahead for several weeks/months, I end up with pneumonia. Every time! Gee, maybe in 2016 I'll learn how to chill out for a bit. (2015 savior: the NeilMed Sinus Rinse, cousin to the Neti Pot. I owe you my life, NeilMed.)
Highest point? There were loads, but I'll settle on my ski trip with Laura and Emily at the beginning of the year. Good, clean, phoneless fun and laughs. So many laughs. That's how I judge my time.
Low point? Maybe, for a split second, believing things this guy was telling me...about me. Don't ever let someone tell you who you are. And especially don't get down about it - they don't know you! Thankfully I snapped out of that pretty quick.
Here goes nothin:
SK ski trip: The sistas came together to stay at Massanutten aka MassaNUTHIN for a few days in the Airbnb of Susan, a mystical, cat loving, pottery making mountain woman. I tried to teach the ladies how to ski (note to self, next time let the professionals handle it.)
Fat Camp ski trip: Laura, Emily and I comprise of Fat Camp, the chair lift singing trio, with fans as far as the eye can see (at Snowshoe, soon to be everywhere). This trip included laughs like never before.
Volleyball: had to include my Sunday morning intramural. I never played volleyball in high school or anything, but something about it clicked inside of me while playing with Katelyn, Kelly, Erin and some others on a USS team. I love it! I'm terrible at it, but it just made sense to me. I miss it - each and every day.
Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy: Every Wednesday for the past two years, I've been teaching STEM to 3 lil girls, who have the most...unique and interesting....yeah that's what I'll say.... perspective on the world. Can't say I always love it or them, but it's a fun way to realize how much I could never be a teacher and also how the Nationals help out the community.
RVA for Annelyse's birthday weekend: our girl Hammy does it up big for her birthday always , and this year was no exception. Laser tag and a drag brunch and chicken donut made for an eventful weekend.
Date Lab!!!!! I participated in Date Lab (read the article online) and people still won't stop bringing it up! Just the other day someone told me they watched the video (pro tip: don't watch it) and made fun of me endlessly for it. That was 10 months ago! Jeez. But anyway, the date was awesome and I'm a total uncool loser for ghosting on the guy.
Moved apartments: Up three floors! On the day of my birthday party!! This apartment is much nicer than the old one, though, so no complaints.
My 25th birthday murder mystery: I invited pretty much everyone Id ever met to my grandparents basement for a fancy and fun (and stressful) Hollywood themed murder mystery party. Spoiler alert: it was Brett!!
Black eye!!!!! Three days after the party, a soccer teammate and I collided heads, giving me a huge shiner and a concussion. Welcome to 25!
Band of the Year: Years & Years
Around my black eye and birthday, Years & Years came into my life. I outlined a bit about the love I have for them in my previous music post.
Nats started: went to opening day with Caroline and Rob. The season started out great, what with Bryce's epic May and everything, and ended catastrophically. My devotion has steadily gone downhill.
Emily weekend: to celebrate Emily being a BAMF and getting into PA school, us high school friends threw her a surprise picnic and visit to the Bullpen at Nats Park. Proud of that girl, she's doing her thing and we could all learn a bit about hard work and preservance from her.
NYC weekend: Emma and I decided to run the Brooklyn Half Marathon in May, and so off we went via Bolt Bus to the Big Apple. Please keep in mind I had my concussion/black eye about a month and a half before this, AND I had just got a second minor concussion the week before this. With a few less brain cells than normal, and only one long run as training, I figured I'd try it anyway - what's the worst that could happen? Well, it was probably my best half marathon time ever, and I had no hip issues like I usually do. Maybe the key to a great race is a concussion. (Just kidding foreal don't get them, they're the worst).
Later I met up with my art/InnovationSpace pals, and my Pokemon trainer friend Jon, for a whirlwind brunch and excursion to the museum of Sex. Really wonderful weekend with all sorts of friends!
PLAY BALL: so, I won a design contest with the Nats and got to get up on the dugout and say "Washington Nationals, let's play ball!" Because I have the voice of an angel, my voice definitely DIDNT croak on the word ball (I'm completely lying. I croaked like I've never croaked before). The picture above is moments before the announcement occurred.
Newsies + Dear Evan Hansen + Book of Mormon: I saw these three glorious musicals over the summer. Newsies, of course, was the theme song to 7th grade. Dear Evan Hansen is starring Ben Platt from Pitch Perfect and was my first trek to Arena Stage - super cool venue, guys. Book of Mormon is hilarious, if not extremely offensive to each and every living person. I love musicals more than I think I even realize, so this summer was a dream come true. *tears*
WMZQ fest: tradition? Jon swung down from NYC and Abby and Katy rolled in from elsewhere in VA. Jon got stung by a bee! Great memz
Grandpas Surprise Party: the big 90
A whole mess load of family and friends came into town to surprise my grandpa for his birthday. Loved having the Cali cousins and the newest Adams - lil Golden - in town.
Wardah's bday: the very next day after the surprise party, it was time to celebrate Wardah's 25th via a bus and a few wineries. Sometimes you go to wineries with your best friend and end up squat jumping all over the ground, so what?!
Firefly: Round 2
Four days of fun in the sun aka blistering heat. We even survived a torrential storm that made everyone evacuate the festival. Big success.
Pokemon Symphony at Wolf Trap: What more can I say other than it was a dream come true.
Beach week: what do you get when you combine us with the NY cousins, the NJ shore, and a pool? The best week ever, that's what.
Improv class/show: I did this kind of on a whim. I've always looked up to Michael Scott and wanted to be just like him, so I signed up for a class. I'm just kidding about the Michael Scott part, kind of. Really I just wanted to see if I was funny and gain a little confidence in front of a crowd. Not sure if I really achieved either but I had a lot of fun trying. (Thanks Brett for the nicest words ever, too)
Mom's Birthday Party: mother turned 35 this year and we celebrated with a big party! We had catered Indian food and had a karaoke kit. Which no one used, because people are too shy! Oh well. It was a great party and I love my mom :)))))
Bubble soccer: it's one of those things you have to try...and then maybe never do again. It hurts!! Also, John and I were bouncing into each other and I ended up falling backwards, turning upside down in the bubble, and not being able to get back up. AND HE DIDN'T HELP ME! I was stranded!!
Years & Years concert #2: had to include this. Just a jolly, fun, beautiful evening.
Landmark Festival: 2 well done days, especially since it was the inaugural event. DC I love you, I hope this continues.
Ragnar: A tough, exhausting, and so fun weekend with coworkers. Definitely a top 5 weekend. Never thought coworkers, fun, and weekend could be in the same sentence!
Austin: 4 days of sunshine, music, gal pals and giggles. Oh and tacos. Lots of tacos.
Camping weekend: Shenadoah weekend meant to be a shakedown for Patagonia. I might've sprained ankle and it might still be kinda ferked two months later but I laughed the whole time so who cares?
Halloween: DCOM costumes + Chainsmokers made for an eventful, long, and sweaty night.
New job: So, I've stayed at my old company, but changed positions. I'm transitioning into a UX designer and so far, so good.
Richmond half: okay friends. Here's a pro tip: DONT run a half marathon a month after you sprained your ankle. You WILL have a bad race.
All the Friendsgivings: One at yuyu's + one at work (workplace proximity associate giving?) + Danes + dancing on a roof in Admo afterwards = a lot of stuffing and fun
Real Thanksgiving: I'm always in charge of our table cards and this year, I decided to turn these into a game. Inside each card was a Truth and a Dare, we went around the table and picked one and had to do it. Julia got dared to unpeel a banana with her foot. My dad had to dance for 30 seconds. Trevor had to speak a Jason DeRulo song, any song! I also gave everyone a little "confidential" card that had a secret word or phrase they had to shimmy into conversation. My grandma inserting "Papa Johns Pizza" into table talk made me laugh so hard. (I think the above photo is my favorite of the year, too)
Xmas on Xmas: I planned 2 white elephant and 1 secret Santa exchange, because I ferking love Christmas! The one at work had 30 people participating...but the whole office stayed to watch...and I DJed. Terrifying. But kinda fun.
Family Christmas was on the 20th due to me going to to Chile, Spencer going to upstate New York and Caroline going to Iceland/Copenhagen. It might've been early but it was just as joyous as ever.
And now here I am in Chile, finishing the year up. It's been a wild one, friends. Stay classy.
You would make a good travel writer, perhaps an 'adventure travel' author.
ReplyDeleteI am vicariously enjoying each day and am so proud of all you do and accomplish. We'll buy you some new pants for your next big 'cold' adventure.
Look forward to hearing about Santiago and the New Year celebration. Jill and Clark went there several years ago where he had $3000. stolen right out of his pocket and chased the perpetrator. Never got him, though.