Every year, I debate about whether to have a bunch of major resolutions"Love myself! Write a thousand words a day! Meet somebody so I, uh, don't have to, um, love myself quite so much." But the list doesn't change much, and one thing this year's struggles have taught me is how much of my life isn't really up to me to decide. But sometimes we can win if we come together and fight.

I CAN HAZ A PRESENTS.

first off, I am not sure how I got so lucky as to have quester be my SS again, she was my gifted 2 or 3 years ago.

first thing in the box was a magnet with an adorable vintage image of a little girl that says SMILE! love it.

then four gorgeous art nouveau bookmarks with artwork by Mucha. really lovely.

next, four colored glass bottles, red, teal, orangey-yellow and green. all different shapes. mac thinks they are the perfect potion bottles and we should put chemicals in them. hee.

hot pink tape, both duct and masking, as well as animal print duct and floral masking. FUN!

and there is still more. and btw, everything wrapped in shiny paper that glitters and PINK tissue paper.

ahem, apple butter and hot fudge (which may very well be sampled this evening!).

and tucked away carefully wrapped at the bottom, a lovely hot pink and glitter vintage glass ornament!

LOVE it ALL!

oh and I almost forgot (not really) possibly the best glasses ever. picture up on fb.

I'm so glad it arrived safely and that you enjoyed it!

And there is a bit more to come....

SailAweigh! I got the comics, I’ve just been slacking posting about it here. THANK YOU!

I started to write this long post about 2012, but suffice to say that I’m in a better place than where I was a year ago, but nowhere near where I’d like to be, so I’ll have to try much harder in 2013.

I also took some nice pictures in 2012, but there’s plenty of room for improvement there, too.

For all y'all: [link]

I only echo her sentiments.

That's great.

Oh, yay, Tom! To all three things. I love your photography and I think I'd add a lot more pictures to your "best of."

sarameg, that was a lovely post. I think I need to bookmark it so I can go back to it when I need to remind myself that "I can."

In 2012 I laid some ghosts to rest and fell back in love with northern MI (lower peninsula). Job bots have been initiated (with help from Strix's resume mojo). Now that that's done I'm really appreciating my localistas, so no matter what happens I'll be happy.

My current job is pretty good, my neighbors are delightful, and my family seems healthy. I'm calling 2012 a win.

2012 was a good year for me, for the most part. I've had some issues with my anxiety, some of which is chemical, but some of which has been very much situational (see below).

The job is going well, although November kicked into high stress mode and a near nervous collapse thanks to discovering that a co-worker's inaction meant that three months of work had been sitting undone with the rest of us thinking it was being attended to. Still, all went well, and the way that the crisis resolved reaffirmed that I'm working in the right place.

Also, I got the promotion I had been hoping for and passed my securities licensing exams.

I'm still doing a lot of strength training, which I adore. I've never really liked exercise or any sort of sport, but this is something I actively enjoy.

Best of all, I have been getting back into doing my artwork in a big way, which has been a balm to my soul. (Latest project)

Best of all, I have been getting back into doing my artwork in a big way, which has been a balm to my soul. (Latest project)

Excellent work, Anne!