The year in links

Hello, Internets. Did you miss me? When I said "See you later," I didn't really expect it to be this much later, but so it goes sometimes. I was enjoying offline life. I hope all of you did some of that this holiday season as well.

Christmas seems like a month ago at this point, so I won't bore you with a recap of that, except to say that I am finally the proud owner of a ridiculous gift I campaigned for ages ago... The seeds are spread on my new Chia Elephant, and I expect it to start sprouting a leafy green coat any day now. Jealous, aren't you? Yeah, I know. I also discovered that my friend Carrie and I are apparently more in sync than I realized, because we got each other the same damn gift. It wasn't even anything either of us had ever mentioned or talked about before. Apparently Vinotagz just said "Perfect present for my wino friend" to each of us in two different stores. Frankly, I'm still shaking my head over that one. Spooky.

While Christmas may be long gone, I don't think it's too late for a New Year's post. Making a few public resolutions last year didn't necessarily help me accomplish them, so I think I'll skip that this time around. I know what I need to do and why I need to do it, and I shouldn't need the turn of a calendar year to tell me when to start. Instead, then, how about a year-in-review, month by month, NPW style.


January: Rejoined meMarmony, with less than auspicious results. Went rollerskating for the first time in at least a decade and a half. Despite my advanced age, did not fall once, and did not break a hip. Attended a ridiculous singles party. (Gained blog fodder and a bit of humility, but little else.)

February: Went on the worst date of my life. ("Nonfiction means not true, right?" Sigh.) Won two (two!) Poppy Awards. Realized it is never safe to enter Target with greasy hair. Read my second favorite book of the year.

March: Survived two formidable blizzards (and another run-in with a former meMarmony match). Realized my gym sucks. Celebrated my 33rd birthday and my 2nd blogiversary.

April: In lieu of any photos documenting the event, drew for you an approximation of me in my junior prom dress. Learned how to be a liquorologist. Avoided becoming Stefanie Tanner. Read my favorite book of the year.

May: Napped in a public park, like a common urban hobo. Said goodbye to my friends in Stars Hollow. Wrote a post that a certain someone is still a little pissed about (only semi-rightfully). Saw my favorite movie of the year. Realized I own way too many lip products. Went to Texas all by myself.

June: Discovered the scariest dolls on earth. Learned there is a right way to dice a tomato. Road-tripped to Ohio with three friends. Met the lovely and charming Noelle. Bought and played with a woefully inaccurate breathalyzer.

July: Reveled in everything I love about Minneapolis in the summertime. Ran into a meMarmony match at Target--AGAIN. Realized blueberries taste better when you pick them yourself.

August: Developed an understandable fear of bridges. Did not attend my high school reunion.

September: Walked across the Mississippi River headwaters. Pilgrimaged to a pizza farm. Made my own oat flour. (Four months later, and I'm still beyond impressed with myself for that.) Grew increasingly distrustful of the Saturn service center goblins.

October: Participated in the Great Mofo Delurk. Read something I wrote at the most original wedding ceremony I've ever attended. Dated the same person for over a month. Helped turn all our attention to the environment on Blog Action Day. Realized I should probably be more diligent about taking my calcium supplement. Met Crazy Aunt Purl. Ran my first blog contest.

November: Posted every damn day for a month. (Yes, I know I still have X, Y, and Z to do in my Encyclopedia of Me.) Participated in the first (and hopefully not last) Blog Swap. Overshared with my new doctor. Partied like it was 1899 at an absinthe-centered event.

December: Met one of my favorite imaginary boyfriends in real life. Went to Seattle for a brief getaway. Won the "tackiest holiday flair" prize at a Christmas cocktail party. And of course, rang in the new year with good friends and too much wine.


All in all, it was a fine year, but I'm hoping for even better things in 2008. The psychic I saw last January declared that this coming year is my year romance-wise, and if she's right, maybe things in the rest of my life will follow suit, too. Our friend Liz had her turn in 2007 (Year of Liz! I swear the trophy helped...); I think it's only fair we decree it my turn in 2008. Mark my words: Year of Stef! Please inform the universe on my behalf.

And with that, I'm going to put my hungover self to bed. Year of Stef starts tomorrow, perhaps.

I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas and a safe and fabulous New Year's Eve. Happy new year, friends!