How I Fared with My Goals of 2012...

So, one year ago (give or take) I wrote a list of 21 things I wanted to complete before the end of the year. Then I promptly forgot about this list for most of the year and I have come to realize that to accomplish something...it helps to remember that something(s).

1. Finish Physics with at least a 90. --Finished with an 89 and a 98 on the exam, and that is close enough for me--
2. Speak one complete sentence in German in Germany, and get in on tape.
3. Speak one complete sentence in Spanish in Spain, and get it on tape.
4. Speak one complete sentence in Italian in Italy, and get it on tape.
5. Get my poem published in my District's Journal, or try harder next year.
6. Only submit my essay into the Turning Points competition if I am proud of it. --And got it published--
7. Have a lunch of pizza & gelato in the streets of Italy with my friends. --Solitary moments are my fondest--
8. Dance with a Spanish boy in Spain. --Does dancing next to count?--
9. Get a new ear piercing abroad. FAILED TO DO...
10. Receive high honours on all of my exams. WILL NEVER KNOW...
11. Finish grade eleven with at least a 92% average.
12. Visit Rebecca during the summer./Return to St-Raymond.
13. Travel to Ottawa by train. I GOT SPENCE FIXED AND DE-WORMED INSTEAD
14. Visit Carleton's campus. SAME AS ABOVE...
15. Get a job. --Security job at the theatre counts!--
16. Get my permit, then my license. BUT I DID JUST BUY THE HANDBOOK...
17. Buy a car. WITH WHAT MONEY??
18. Get Spencer fixed.
19. Kick ass in the 2012 swim season. --Mission. Accomplished.--
20. Heal my shoulder 100%. CANNOT ACHIEVE THE IMPOSSIBLE...BUT I'VE HEALED IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE...
21. Actually finish writing a complete novel, not story, admit it, N-O-V-E-L. UHH, NO.

I may not have accomplished all my goals, I am quite proud with how I fared. 13/21...err, right. Maybe I should explain on the goals I failed to do?

Get a new piercing abroad: The only piercing place I could find was on my last night in Barcelona; it was located in someone's apartment on the second floor and looked quite shoddy, so I passed...I kind of regret it now.
Receive high honours on all of my exams: I don't get my exams back, and never got to check the marks.
Travel to Ottawa by train/Visit Carleton's campus: I took the train to Quebec but didn't have enough money to continue to Ottawa, because I had to pay for Spencer to get neutered.
Get my permit, then my license: Again, a money thing, but I did buy the Driver's Handbook and will be taking my permit test before winter vacation is over!
Buy a car: Yeah...I must have thought I was going to win the lottery or something.
Actually finish writing a complete novel: Well, I definitely had large aspirations. I did get a very good dent into the novel I started last year though!

It is Christmas Once More

Today was the last day of classes before Christmas break and the thought of an 18 day break is wonderful; I am so excited not to wake up at 6am for the next couple of weeks. I have curled up in my fuzzy Christmas blanket, taken copious amounts of the Christmas-ness around me, and now I am debating what to do next. There are two Christmas stories that I have been "writing" for the last two years now: every year I always say that I will finish it, but I never seem to. I am not setting the unrealistic goal of finishing these story/novellas with only four days left until Christmas, but I would definitely like to keep working on them. It is always a struggle to remind myself to get the words down and then go from there. You can edit bad writing, but you cannot edit a blank page. In saying that, I guess I will procrastinate for another ten minutes, because I have really been wanting to answer the questions to one of those Christmas tags floating around. I figured it would be a cute way to document my Christmas sentiments this year...

1. What is your favourite holiday movie?
         This is a really hard question, because I love any cheesy, feel-good, Hallmark Christmas movie! However, you cannot beat the classics: I am talking Charlie Brown's Christmas, the cartoon versions of Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Polar Express is a newer movie that I really enjoy as well. 

2. What is your favourite Christmas colour(s)?

         Again, I'm a classics type of girl; I love red, green, and gold!

3. Do you like to stay in your pjs or dress up for Christmas?
         While I open my presents I am still in my pjs, then my mum cooks up a large breakfast once everything has been opened. I usually don't get dressed until it is time to head over to my dad's house around noon. 

4. If you could only buy one person a present this year, who would it be?
            I love giving presents so it is hard to pick only one person out of my family and friends...I think I would have to choose my best friend, because she has had a very rough year and deserves a pick-me-up.

5. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
            When I was younger, I was always allowed to open one present one Christmas Eve, but now that I'm older that tradition has died away, so they all get opened on Christmas morning. 

6. Did you ever believe in Santa Claus as a child?
             Of course!

7. Have you ever built a gingerbread house?
              Not for a few years, but in the past I have.

8. Any Christmas wishes?
              That next year at university will be a good one (and generally a healthy one for all as well) and I will get the job I just applied for!

9. Favourite Christmas smell?
                Christmas to me is a variety of scents; it is a turkey roasting in the oven, the sweet smell of balsam, cinnamon and nutmeg, the warmth of vanilla, the smell of wood burning in the crisp winter air. It is one large combination of scents from my childhood. 

10. Favourite Christmas meal or treat?
                Definitely the chocolates that always seem to pop up, and my memere's cookies. Delicious. 

A Christmas Mood

I haven't been on here much lately, I seem to go through phases, but I thought I would upload some Christmas-y pictures of what my evening has consisted of lately. I love this time of year, even the air feels magical. So, I will be soaking up as much of the atmosphere as possible. 

Much time has been spent staring at Word docs on my computer...this was me trying to get
ahead on a French presentation. Spencer is a wonderful work buddy curled at my feet. 

My colourful Christmas lights have been a constant late-night & early-morning companion. 

The twinkling makes my smile every time I see them out of the corner of my eye.

My two holiday teas are now on heavy rotation:
Celestial Seasonings' Nutcracker Sweet & Stash's Christmas Eve. 

I am taking a night off from homework and trying to decide what to curl up with...

Whichever the book, I have a hot cup of "Christmas Eve" tea to sip on. 

And I am snacking on some dark chocolate I bought today
 whilst Christmas shopping, my one indulgence! 

Well, I suppose it's time for me to curl up with one of the books (I am leaning towards Mrs. Browning Book of Poetry), but I might end up reading snippets of them all.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night. <3 i="i">

The end of an amazing thing.

Sometimes, there is honestly nothing better than finishing a thousand word essay in one morning. I have been procrastinating writing this essay for Political Science for about three weeks now, even though I knew from the get-go it would be an extremely easy essay, but part of me just kept putting it off...and off...and off. Alas, it is finally done and every student knows that moment where the laptop and books are closed and you just sit there for a moment. Revelling in the completed-ness. Even though there is another project or essay to finish, those few moments of satisfaction are pure bliss.

That's pretty much been my last few weeks: school, swim, eat and sleep in between. Being captain this year was one of my greatest accomplishments, but it sure made me busy. Now that I have finished provincials, I am going to miss the frantic rush around the pool and going to Mark's room every morning before class. We didn't get to compete in out very last relay because one of our girls went home...but I took over thirty seconds off my 400 front crawl. It's still unbelievable. The timers told me my time and I just froze, I had given my everything, there wasn't anything left. I had done everything I could out in the water and I had no regrets. It helped me beat my time; no, it helped me slaughter my time. I am more excited than ever to have these moments commemorated in the form of a tattoo. I haven't been writing anything outside of school lately, but hopefully that will change.