Another Year Older...

I know I know, we all hate to get older but really...what's the alternative?

 

 

My birthday is inextricably tied to The Wearing of the Green, Erin Go Braugh, The Luck of the Irish, Kiss Me I'm Irish pins, green cupcakes, green beer...etc.

 

 

                                                                               

 

 

Yep, here I am sporting my frilly green dress standing next to yep, you guessed it...a green car:) I loved that car...and that dress!

 

                                                                                

I'm reminded of family celebrations; green cupcakes in elementary school; pizza parties with school friends; a raucous happy hour in college when unbeknownst to me, my roommates hired a male stripper; partying in various DC-area Irish bars; standing in the 9:30 Club for a Great Big Sea show sporting three broken ribs that kept me from exercising my 'vertical movement' to its fullest; many trips to see other bands play; toasts with friends; and a long walk around a lake this past weekend.

 

                                                                                 

                                                                 ShamrockFest

 

 

                                                                                    

                                                        GBS show in Windsor, Ontario

  

 

Yep, this past weekend I turned the page on another year...all in all, not too shabby a 365-day journey. I am grateful that my dad's emergency surgery went without a hitch and I am also grateful for the companionship of my sweet Blarney -- 14 years with me (15 years pawing the earth). I traveled to Colorado, NC, Louisiana and up and down the mid-Atlantic and New England to visit family, friends, sightsee and hear some great music. I closed out my year with a vacation aboard The Rock Boat...sweet!

 

But I want more...I want better...and this year, I'm going to shake things up!

 

Sure, I'm going to continue my attempt to tone and sculpt, so maybe my body can look like a 35-yr old again..ha ha (yes, the bar has been lowered). I'm going to look for opportunities that challenge me professionally and emotionally; and I'm not going to neglect my well-being. Maybe...just maybe, I'll get that half-marathon under my belt, take a stab at Ulysses and go visit friends I've missed for too many years.

 

But I feel like somewhere along the way I suffered a crisis of confidence. I'm not sure if one thing precipitated it or whether it's been lurking beneath the surface for awhile...

...but things are going to change. Time is fleeting and I don't want to wake up next March 18th wondering why I let stupid things get to me or get me down.

 

The new and improved me is on its way! That's my wish for my 2012/2013!