Goodbye 2012: The Year of Music and Travel
Today, on the last day of 2012, I take my yearly stroll back through the year and reflect on ups, downs, highlights and themes. This was a year filled with many ups and downs in the US, and several terrible tragedies, combined with the effects of the faltering economy, give it a melancholy feel for me. But, let's get started...
First of all, as you already know, the world didn't end.
Next, I remember writing this reflection about 2011 and it seems last year's theme was "connection." Thinking about this year, I would say the theme that stands out is "music and entertainment," followed by a close second of "travel."
Music and Entertainment
It mostly started in May when Mary, Annalisse, Nic and I went to see "Wicked" in Raleigh, and was followed by Annalisse's Lady Antebellum concert in June, then Squeeze, then Train/Mat Kearney/Andy Grammer in July and August, "Nice Work if You Can Get It" on Broadway (my first Broadway show) in August, Alec Baldwin at RIT in October, Annalisse's senior trip to Boston (where she also saw "The Blue Man Group"), and finally the Fun concert for Annalisse and Cam in November. Really fun stuff. This year we hope to see Wicked again when it comes to Rochester in the spring, and Annalisse is all set to see Taylor Swift in Ohio in April.
Travel
This year was also characterized by a lot of travel (again!), and in particular to some locations that were new and exciting.
New places: In January I had the chance to go to Puerto Rico for a NAGAP board meeting, and in April I was headed to Austin for the NAGAP conference. In May we went to Raleigh to visit Anthony, and in October it was off to Kansas City for another NAGAP meeting. All new Cities.
Along with the "new" experiences, we also traveled to Washington DC and Roanoke VA in April, and it was back to DC for my girl's weekend in June, followed by a return to Las Vegas in July (while Annalisse was in Germany for three weeks), then off to New York City in August for another NAGAP board meeting, followed by four days in Maine.
Whew! It does sound like a lot, doesn't it?
And let's not forget to mention...
A recap of this year would not be complete without an honorable mention of the college visits that consumed much of our summer. Also very fun as we await the last four decisions before Annalisse decides her academic fate for next fall. May 1 is the official "decision date," but I'm sure we'll know way before then which college she settles on.
Looking Ahead
At midnight tonight it's onto 2013, another milestone year for the Bakers. This year will find Annalisse, Nic and I traveling to Puerto Rico in January, Annalisse traveling to Ireland in February, Cam's 20th birthday in February (WHAT WHAT?) me possibly going to Orlando in April, Annalisse's High School graduation in June, Las Vegas again in July (hopefully with Mary, Nic and Annalisse), Annalisse's graduation celebration in July, a not-to-be-named birthday milestone in October, and hopefully a trip to Vermont this year. In late August we'll be empty nesters, and I'm not sure how I feel about that except that I will miss my little buddy very much when she goes to college.
2013 will also see some home improvement as we start some much-needed repairs and updating on the house. We will be installing a new corner fence in the yard, building a new front porch floor and stairs, and installing a new sewer line from the upstairs to the cellar - a very expensive, destructive project which will including cutting full panels out of the walls on two floors, then repairing them to look exactly the way they did before. Apparently, though, according the plumber, we don't want the alternative, which is sewage leaking into our rooms from the rapidly deteriorating pipes from the second floor to the basement.
Onward, upward to 2013. May it bring you good health, good fortune and much happiness!
First of all, as you already know, the world didn't end.
Next, I remember writing this reflection about 2011 and it seems last year's theme was "connection." Thinking about this year, I would say the theme that stands out is "music and entertainment," followed by a close second of "travel."
Music and Entertainment
Travel
This year was also characterized by a lot of travel (again!), and in particular to some locations that were new and exciting.
New places: In January I had the chance to go to Puerto Rico for a NAGAP board meeting, and in April I was headed to Austin for the NAGAP conference. In May we went to Raleigh to visit Anthony, and in October it was off to Kansas City for another NAGAP meeting. All new Cities.
Along with the "new" experiences, we also traveled to Washington DC and Roanoke VA in April, and it was back to DC for my girl's weekend in June, followed by a return to Las Vegas in July (while Annalisse was in Germany for three weeks), then off to New York City in August for another NAGAP board meeting, followed by four days in Maine.
Whew! It does sound like a lot, doesn't it?
And let's not forget to mention...
A recap of this year would not be complete without an honorable mention of the college visits that consumed much of our summer. Also very fun as we await the last four decisions before Annalisse decides her academic fate for next fall. May 1 is the official "decision date," but I'm sure we'll know way before then which college she settles on.
Looking Ahead
At midnight tonight it's onto 2013, another milestone year for the Bakers. This year will find Annalisse, Nic and I traveling to Puerto Rico in January, Annalisse traveling to Ireland in February, Cam's 20th birthday in February (WHAT WHAT?) me possibly going to Orlando in April, Annalisse's High School graduation in June, Las Vegas again in July (hopefully with Mary, Nic and Annalisse), Annalisse's graduation celebration in July, a not-to-be-named birthday milestone in October, and hopefully a trip to Vermont this year. In late August we'll be empty nesters, and I'm not sure how I feel about that except that I will miss my little buddy very much when she goes to college.2013 will also see some home improvement as we start some much-needed repairs and updating on the house. We will be installing a new corner fence in the yard, building a new front porch floor and stairs, and installing a new sewer line from the upstairs to the cellar - a very expensive, destructive project which will including cutting full panels out of the walls on two floors, then repairing them to look exactly the way they did before. Apparently, though, according the plumber, we don't want the alternative, which is sewage leaking into our rooms from the rapidly deteriorating pipes from the second floor to the basement.
Onward, upward to 2013. May it bring you good health, good fortune and much happiness!
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