Any accomplishments in twenty-twelve?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
21

In some ways, this year was very hard. It might have been the hardest I’ve ever had. The trials might have been good for me, though. On the other hand:

I went from working for a company that had no idea how to pay its bills to a company that is interested in investing and building their business, without having to move jobs.

After more than two decades of being drafted as a guitarist; I finally get a gig as a bass player, with a band that plays shows, playing music I love to write and play, and is pretty popular! I’ve even been complimented on my playing by a player that made me think “Wow, she makes me look lazy.” when I was watching her play. Really, as a musician, its been a fulfilling year.

I visited Chicago for the first time this year. For the first time, I think I found a place I would like to move to someday. I’ve still got to make it through a winter visit, though. I’m a bit of a weather weenie.

To everyone that’s expecting (or hell, everyone that had kids last year, too): May your children make you proud!

ETA: And dammit, digs, be proud. The art world is hard. Is it an ensemble show, or is it all your own?

22

One of my goals was to read more books, of which I read several. So that was an accomplishment. I’m not going to say how many books I read because those of you who actually read regularly would laugh at me :smiley:

I also strived to be more healthy and exercise regularly, of which I had moderate success. I need to work harder though and eat better in 2013. I’m turning 27 this year and the metabolism is just going to keep slowing down so I need to be ever vigilant.

23

Passed the Principles and Practice of Engineering (P.E.) exam.

24

On the other hand, you probably got some scabs picked.

And you’re right, I should be proud (as an Midwest Lutheran Introvert, it’s tough…). Because, yes, it’s a solo show, and I managed to get fifteen sketchbooks framed. Which was tougher than the drawing part.

C.S.Lewis said “God wants to bring every man (yeah, sexist dork) to the point where he could design the most beautiful cathedral in the world, and he’d know it was the most beautiful. BUT no more and no less than if someone else had done it.”

The point being, I walked into my own opening (tons of people and wine!) and thought, “Hey! Cool sketchbooks!”

25

I made my first short film! Or rather, I wrote and filmed my first short film; I’m still in post production.

26

This part made me go :smiley:

27

This was the year I changed.

I’m doing pretty alright running a Scout Pack, third year in and all the pieces are falling into place and we’ve got enough volunteers that it’s not burning me out.

I’ve resigned myself to the fact that my Senior Level State job, while it doesn’t pay what that position would pay in the private sector, it has successfully kept my lights on and the mortgage paid for the last 15 years, it lets me do things on my off time (like run a Scout Pack), and perhaps I need to be happy with what it DOES give, rather than focus on the stuff it doesn’t.

It’s the year where the seasonal ups and downs have happened so many times, it’s felt like the year of competence. We do a helluva Halloween display each year and this was the year it wasn’t crazy stressful, we just pulled it together and it came off great.

The family has been FANTASTIC…the boys are boys, and have their ups and downs, but my relationship with my wife and kids…I can’t complain.

This completely leaves out my hacker geeking and motorcycle restoration projects, which are aweseome.

2013 is shaping up to be interesting, my roles at work are going to change for the better (whether or not they’re funded, they’re more my skillset)…or I’ll change jobs. I can go either way.

The wife’s big extracurricular job (DAR regent) will be ending in May, we’ll see how that transistion goes, and she’s got a pretty neat trip planned in July. Family travel will be cheaper this year with pop-up camper rentals being the plan.

I guess the big takeaway is: About two years ago I decided to stop giving my all to everyone else and doing some stuff for myself, and realizing that my paycheck was a pretty arbitrary and crappy way of rating my worth. Mix in a little service to others (scouting), and my happiness level has been pretty darned high.

28

Got out of debt and have a financial cushion now.

Unfortunately I’ve had to work long days and seven day weeks, week after week, and which I’ll all to soon be back to.

But its better then having money worries.

29

I finally passed 100 on my lifetime publication list. Not all original and a bit of duplication, but there still at least 90.

30

I came here to say I didn’t kill anybody but you beat me to it.

All y’all make me feel like a damn slacker,
Congrats to all of you on you achievements.

31

Well, I’m certainly glad that SOMEONE else here didn’t kill anyone last year.
:eyes the rest of you suspiciously:

32

I lost about 40 lbs., over half of what I had to lose.

The program I’m coordinating at the city animal shelter for pit bulls is successful and going strong.

I didn’t charge one single item or take on any new debt. In fact, I paid off a fair bit, leaving only part of my home equity loan and my mortgage.

33

Still a major milestone, congrats! Now the hard part begins. :slight_smile:

In 2012 I finally got the job I went to college for. 5 years from graduation to really being able to call myself a professional isn’t bad. And it’s a field with good money and more job openings than qualified applicants, so I have financial security. Now that I have that, my task for 2013 is figuring out if this is what I really want or not. :smack:

I too managed not to kill anyone in 2012. 2013 is uncertain, since my grandmother is dying of leukemia and has no immune system at this point. Everyone in my family is living in terror that they’ll go visit her and then wake up with cold symptoms the next day.

34

Congratulations on the Doper babies!

I co-authored a book with a fellow Doper. I’m about to begin work on my second book this month. I also managed to cope with my mom’s death in June.

35

Yes, but I don’t wish to speak of it yet. I’ll post about it when it achieves fruition in the coming year.

36

I taught myself to knit and to spin yarn. I took a class on the basics of dyeing and have hand-dyed the yarn for several gifts I made.

I taught my co-workers how to crochet. Two of them made multiple Christmas gifts, and one has even been selling some stuff at her husband’s workplace. I know she and her husband have some money issues, so it makes me really happy that I’ve given her the means for a little bit of extra income.

37

My user name gets me lots of comments. I’m not really sure how to feel about that :slight_smile:

You should be doubly proud. You might have to change religions to be proud enough for that accomplishment. Solo shows are hard to come by, and framing is thankless.

This made me :smiley: as well. I’ve only had that sensation with programs that I’ve written. I think, this is a great, well written little tool, who wrote it? I look up at the header, and sometimes, it’s me!

38

I am that Doper :slight_smile: We’ve got some cool stuff coming up with the book.

I also bought a house that is amazing.

39

Cool-- keep us posted. Is the first book on Amazon or anywhere yet?

And my only accomplishment of '13: I made Chimera and scabpicker go :smiley: !
Oh, and huge kudos to everyone who lost weight. It ain’t easy, and I respect your mega-motivation.

40

Lost some weight.

Had three stories come out in SF anthologies (all dead tree versions, as well as ebooks), and another in an online magazine. The latter was chosen for the “Best of” anthology for that magazine, out next month.

Another story in an anthology will also come out in February. For the cover blurb, Michael Bishop mentioned my name, and Piers Anthony praised a story of mine in his blog.