Looking back.. Looking Ahead

Well, 2012 is offically over and I did this last year, actually I stole this last year from Miss Bekah and decided to look back at my blog and revisit a highlight of each month. 

I am going to combine Jan/Feb because I was either too unmotivated to write a blog, too busy, or just didn't want to do it.  My posts were boring and I am sorry I made you all read them.  I actually resorted to having commenters suggest posts I got some good ones though and that took up Jan/Feb all of 5 total posts for 2 months I was on a writing roll!

March- Ahh yes March one of my favorite months usually winter is starting to become a memory, and yes the biggest sporting event in all of sports(not the super bowl! haha) March Madness begins.  I ran my Phats Bracket Challenge again and had 17 bloggers/friends participate.  With Emily(Topolk's) main squeeze coming out the victor making them the first couple to have both won my bracket contest.  March also signeled the end of an era and almost made me cry when Robbie Hummel of Purdue celebrated his Senior night.  The guy is the epitome of a Boilermaker and deserved better fates than what he got but he never once complained just kept working harder after 2 ACL tears and actually played four seasons.  He will always be one of my favorite Boilermakers

April- Wow as barren as Jan/Feb were April was the same I didn't blog much last year did I?   In April I found my new favorite author in Harlan Coben.  I have to go to the hospital once a week for a shot and I always take a book with me and this nurse saw I was reading a James Patterson book and recommended I read Harlan Coben.  Gave him a shot and now I am hooked and have almost read every book he is out and waiting for him to write more!

May- Easily the highlight of my year came in May another varsity tennis season concluded and my girls won the 2012 tennis sectional for the 2nd straight year, and third time in four years.  What made this so remarkable the team that won it the year before all graduated with the exception of 1 player and she was not only coming off an ACL tear but was moving to doubles.  I started a Freshman at 1, soph's at 2 & 3 and we won sectionals!  I also offered to let them dump the water jug on me if we won, and after the first tiniest drop of water I moved and they to this day haven't let me hear the end of it. 

June- Celebrated my 35th birthday Holy Cow I am getting old!!  I spent this birthday going to lunch with my family, and then the athletic sports banquet that night do I know how to party or what?!  I am just glad I am still kicking for another year.

July- The olympics pretty much consumed my life in late July I am pretty sure I watched every minute of coverage on every channel.  Highlights definitely the swimming and gymnastics.  I still can't believe the judges didn't give McKayla Maroney a perfect score on her vault in team finals!   I am not as big of a fan of the winter games, but as they get closer I am getting excited.   My summer job concluded in July as well and I had one week where it almost killed me.  I teach tennis all summer, usually I do just parks which is morning then get a break and go back for an hour at night.  However, I am so stupid and scheduled my team summer camp while I was doing parks.  So, one week this was my schedule teach in Kokomo from 9-12 drive to Greentown teach there from 12:30-4:30 drive back to Kokomo and finish from 5-6 all week and guess what week that was?  The week mother nature decided to make it 100 degrees in the shade.  I am pretty sure I sweat off 20 lbs that week.  I might be cheating here as well that might have actually been in June.  Sue me.

August- Took our family trip to Holiday World a great amusement park in Santa Claus, IN.  If you like water parks you need to go there, they have roller coasters too but their water park is the best!  The best thing about this trip made new friends!!  My sister's best friend, and her husband and kids went with and we all hit it off, we're already planning next year's trip

September- College football was back in full swing, and the Boilers had a near miss at now #1 and playing for a National Title Notre Dame.  Yes, I am still pissed off that delay of game was never called but it is what it is. 

October- Boilers losing skid continued competition stepped up and the Boilers sat down, and Ross Ade became as empty as I have seen it since the Colletto Era!  Bad sign for Danny Hope!

November- This was quite an eventful month I lied to everyone and admitted myself into the hospital, well I didn't my doctor did telling only my mother who felt the need to tell my sister who then told the free world in turn I started to tell a few friends so they didn't hear it elsewhere.  Everything ended up OK had my first cat scan!  A count seems to be off kilter.    Another Thanksgiving celebrated not my favorite holiday, but it was at my sister's so the new friends from Holiday World came over it was a great time some Dutch Blitz, Chicken Feet Dominoes, Just Dance on the Wii it was a blast probably one of my better Thanksgivings. OOO and Danny Hope was fired!!! 

December- Celebrated my favorite holiday Christmas, totally went overboard on the whole spending thing so to start 2013 I am in debt!  Got some fancy new clothes, dvd's, books, all that fun stuff.   Now a little somber part of Dec, for the first time in a long time something made me just sit down and sob and that was the school shooting in Connecticut.  I still can't watch coverage and continue to keep those involved in my prayers.

Overall, a decent year some ups some downs things i'd change, things i'd do over.  Now for the future

Things I am looking forward to for 2013
Being a better friend- I think I dropped the ball some this past year on that and I want to work on that. 

Tennis Season- HUGE expectations I am hoping this team can handle it we return 5 starters everyone is going to be picking us to win hoping this team can handle that pressure.

Summer- My favorite time, no snow, swimming, big brother :) vacations just the best time of the year.

Ryan's first game night- This is for Bekah who recently got married her new husband is about to be christened into our game night traditions, it's actually a week from Saturday you might want to wish him luck haha.

March Madness- Doesn't look like my Boilers will be in it unless things turn around but still excited for it, and will still do my contest hopefully you awesome friends will participate again.

So, what are your highlights of 12?  what are you looking forward to in 13?

Alright kids,  that's all I am turning back into a pumpkin soon back to work I go :(  
Phats