For the last week or more, you and I both have been bombarded with lists of the best and worst people places and things of 2011. Apparently this is what statisticians live for- the last week of the year. Seriously? We all know what happened in 2011 both good and bad. But it is good to be reminded now and then. So, with that in mind, because I loved stats so much (I had to take 2 stats classes in college- regular and psychological stats) I have come up with a top 10 list of my own things from 2011.
(and in no real importance) we start with
10. Helping with the 14 or more baby calves we had this year. We lost a couple which was heartbreaking and always will be. Surprisingly, my dad takes it hard when an animal doesn't make it- he loves them all and has such a good heart.
9. Going skiing in April at Jay Peak with some skiing friends. Incredible conditions and I felt like a pretty good skier (finally!)
7. Starting my blog. It's a good outlet and I suggest it to anyone. I'm not as faithful at blogging as my cousin who lived in the Republic of Georgia was, but I do what I can when I can. Sometimes I have nothing to say (or nothing new or interesting to say) and I don't want to blog just for the sake of "ooh look at me". I would like to say I have more integrity than that.
6. Picking spruce tips for Harpoon Brewery 100 Barrel Series brew aptly named Spruce Tip Ale. I volunteered to pick as much as I could in a 5-6 hour time frame and picked over 7 pounds. For every pound we picked, Harpoon gave $10 to the Vermont Foodbank on our behalf. It was an honor to be part of the donation to the Foodbank and part of this awesome beer (if I do say so myself...)
5. Being crowned "pie princess" at my friend Becky Griffen and Suzi Lepkowski's family reunion this summer. You're saying, "what????" Let me explain....
My mom and I both are friends with Becky and Suzi and family (I went to college with Becky and worked with her mom Rose in the kitchen at college). Every year, they have a pie eating contest. Rose makes 8 or 10 cream pies (no, no apple or anything like that) and I've been told that Becky, my friend, is the reigning Pie Princess (no other females dare try to enter other than Becky and Suzi). Alas, I was forced (yeah right) to enter. Both guys and girls are timed together and luckily we get to choose our flavor. I'm not a big custard fan, but Rose made strawberry cream pie that I had to have. Alright, to make a long story longer, We all get our pieces (most of which had melted because it was like 98 degrees that day...) and away we went. I was watching Becky and someone said "Becky, Moriah's almost done" and she made a squeal and I looked down and ate my last bite, hesitated, and said, "Moriah, done!" Becky let out a shriek, but in a good natured way. I had overturned the pie princess! I don't make many public appearances with my crown, but here is proof of my winnings:
4. Taking part in the Gift of Life Marathon in Rutland in December. A few years ago, Rutland had a blood drive and set a national (maybe world?) record for most pints of blood taken at a blood drive. This year, the Red Cross collected 1855 pints in Rutland missing the record by only 113 pints. I waited almost 4 hours to give, but it's worth it when you know you may be saving a life!
3. After not working all summer (for pay), literally praying for a job and getting Hurricane Irene and a job for 2 months with great pay. Not only did I work outside for 10-12 hours a day, I worked with some great people (not all of them...) and I got to see first hand at the destruction and the reconstruction that we Vermonters (and the Maine and West Virginia and other Guard troops) can do when we need to. Every day on my way to work, I drive along route 4 in Mendon, VT. Google or Bing it and look at pictures. I look at the sides of the hills and how trees are barely hanging on and how this will effect us for many many years to come.
2. Getting a full time/seasonal job for the winter! For the past 4 weeks or so, I have worked hard to get my area of ski school at Pico ready and going. This week has been crazy- coaches calling in sick, me trying not to go over on my hours but trying to make everyone happy, running around to get food, wiggling internet cords for my connection to work, (thank you Andy Myers for all your help!) picking up spilled hot chocolate, yelling at kids not to punch, kick, or bite each other, wanting to tell coaches and parents the same, but happy that I have a job and can still make kids laugh and ski (sort of).
and my number one for the year 2011 is...
1. My trip to California with my mom. I had wanted to do it in 2010 since that was the year she turned 60, but I didn't have the funds. I planned it all out (mostly- I do like some spontaneousity... like spontaneously making up words like spontaneouslity) We flew from Burlington to San Francisco and took a shuttle to our very nice hotel. We spent a few days in San Francisco and toured Muir Woods which holds a forest of Coastal Redwoods just north of the city. My mom's dream was to see the Redwoods "just like I saw in the National Geographic when I was a kid". We later took a train south to Sequoia National Park to see the Sequoias that are the Redwoods of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. My mom was ecstatic and in awe of the trees. Even though I lost her camera, I got to give her a present she and I both will never forget. How great is that???
All in all, 2011 was a pretty good year for me. I don't have a full time teaching job, but I have a job!
I know that people make New Year's Resolutions- promises that no one ever seems to keep. Instead of resolving something (isn't that a cleaning product?), why don't we set REALISTIC goals? such as:
1. save money to take a class
2. go somewhere new
3. cook one new item a week
4. grow something
5. have fun!
To me these are realistic and even things I have to do (take the class). Yes we all need to eat healthy and exercise more and loose some holiday pounds. That's a given. But instead of focusing on the seemingly negative, lets focus on something we WANT to do!
Try it! And have a Happy and Healthy 2012!
fun facts about 2012
fact #1- some weirdos think the world is going to end this year because the Mayan's ran out of calendar space.
fact #2- this year is a year of 3's. 2012 is leap year (has 366 days- read about the Julian Calendar), Presidential election (ugh- more political commercials), AND the Summer Olympics.
fact #3 August has a blue moon (2 full moons in one month)
fact #4 I have run out of fun facts- enjoy 2012!
Thanks for the post, Moriah! I am going to adopt your goals as my own -- I have #5 down pretty well, but I like the rest of them! Happy New Year to you, Bus, and Peg!! Much love!
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