Happy New Year!

Holy cow, the Duke/A&M game was amazing! Best comeback ever. Crazy, exciting plays. Just wow. First half, our defense looked like they did at the beginning of the season, rather than the ever-improving group they've been in the second half of the season. Second half, those guys got down to business. YES! Incredible win. So proud of the entire team. Superfun New Year's Eve!


2013 in Review Meme

1. What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before?
a Burlesque class (including pole dancing in front of my boss)

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make New Year's resolutions.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Melissa had her baby girl in March.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank goodness.

5. What countries did you visit?
I stayed in the US this year.

6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
A fabulous vacation.

7. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory?
Wednesday, August 28, 2013, when the A&M Football Season Ticket Sales Powers that Be skee-rewed us and many other football multi-season ticket holders out of seats for 2015, in a stadium that will hold 20,000 more people. Next time the entire stadium is reseated, perhaps it will be done fairly. #NotBitterAtAll

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting my old job back after twenty years out of the industry.

9. What was your biggest failure?
My Halloween costume. It was a pun (a "ceiling fan" - GO CEILING!- with a cool tshirt and baseball cap and face paint and matching pom poms) and the only person who got it without hints was our office punster. Next year, I'm gonna be a zombie.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope! I don't think I even got a cold this year. Well... I feel under the weather this week, but not a full-on cold.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
this MacBook Air to replace my teensy netbook

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Melissa. She is the zen master at work. I always tell her I want to be like her when I grow up.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Politicians. Nothing new.

14. Where did most of your money go?
into my 401k

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Train, The Script and Gavin DeGraw at the Austin 360 Amphitheater this summer. One of the best concerts I've ever been to! I haven't danced that much in ages.

16. What song/album will always remind you of 2013?
"Blurred Lines." And not in a good way.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? Slightly happier.
Thinner or fatter? Fatter. Working a desk job has reduced my daily activity level.
Richer or poorer? Richer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Zumba

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
procrastinating house projects

20. How will you be spending/did you spend Christmas?
At the in-laws in Dallas. While we were there, we went to a Christmas Eve music program at their church, had a tequila tasting, watched Pitch Perfect and checked out the hotel where Jeff and Steven will be hosting their parents' 50th Anniversary party in May.

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Cathy, Laura and conference calls on my WFH days.

22. Did you fall in love in 2013?
No

23. How many one night stands in this last year?
I've never had a one night stand.

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
If I'm really honest... The Bachelor/Bachelorette. We still have such fun watching it as a family, which is great.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No.

26. What was the best book(s) you read?
I read no books this year. :)

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Imagine Dragons

28. What did you want and get?
a return to my career... and a promotion!

29. What did you want and not get?
Aggie win over Alabama

30. What were your favourite films of this year?
Hunger Games: Catching Fire, This is the End, World War Z, Star Trek: Into Darkness

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 46 and we probably went out to dinner.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
a shorter commute

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
Simple. Black slacks or nice jeans with a button-down blouse and a great necklace.

34. What kept you sane?
Fun weekend escapes with Scott 'n Julie!

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Adam Levine

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The government shutdown- both the reasons behind it and the fact that the most "visible" items are eliminated or reduced just to get the public riled up, rather than items that actually NEED to be eliminated or reduced.

37. Who did you miss?
Kimberly. We've been talking a lot via email this year. Wish she lived closer.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Crystal. She is freakin' hilarious.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.
I can only think of sarcastic responses to this question. I haven't learned anything Earth-shattering.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
Hold on to me as we go
As we roll down this unfamiliar road
And although this wave is stringing us along
Just know you're not alone...
Phillip Phillips "Home"