December 31st

I am sitting here with a bleach-blonde pixie cut, a full-time employee of a company, in an apartment that I enjoy, This is so very far from where I started this year, and I feel incredibly happy and lucky to be where I am.

2018 brought a lot of wonderful things into my life, some big and some small. I went to some amazing concerts (Dessa, Nightwish), tried all sorts of new cuisines (who knew there was Indian food that I like?), and met a ton of really awesome animals. (One of whom lived with me for two weeks - I miss you Kiwi, even though you gave Cas fleas.)

I went to two weddings this year, which also involved me going home to Minnesota for a few days. The trip was hectic but really wonderful.

I left my jobs with the Mouse and with Wag to pursue full-time employment, and received a promotion within a few months of starting.

After thinking about it for many months, I did go ahead and chop off all my hair again. It feels very good.

I made the big decision to taper of my Klonopin - which I am still doing, but I am down to 1/4 of a tablet per day instead of two full tablets in a day.

I moved from my old apartment into a horrendous sublease, then into a really great apartment that is both close to my job and close to lots of things I like doing.

And with regards to this blog, I blogged every single day this year. I'm proud of that.

I think I mentioned this briefly before, but 2019 is going to be my last year of daily blogging. This doesn't mean that I'll never blog again, but I don't feel like it needs to be a daily thing. For one, daily blogging isn't necessary or necessarily a good fit with my lifestyle. A lot of the time, my day consists of going to work, coming home and eating dinner and maybe hanging out with a friend of watching something on YouTube. That's not a bad day, but it's also not necessarily something I feel the need to document. I think after 2019, I will see how I feel about blogging occasionally. Maybe weekly, monthly, or just when something of note happens. But that's to see in another year.

Additionally, after completing one more year of blogging, I will have blogged daily for ten years. That is an absolutely incredible amount of time, and I often can't believe I've done it and I'm still doing it. So really, it's a good place to stop. I started this blog in January of 2010 and I have grown and changed so much since then. This year especially has been incredibly formative and good, so I am leaving 2018 on a positive note.

I know in the past I have set resolutions for both myself and this blog for the coming year. I don't have anything specific for 2019 - honestly, I just want to be healthy and happy. That's my goal. This might involve working out or seeing a therapist. Maybe it will involve other changes too. I want to be open to change, but also appreciative of where I am and what I have. I'd like to go to new places and try new things. I also want to continue to give Cas lots of cuddles, and blog about it all the time.

Thank you to everyone who reads this, or who has ever read my ramblings. Often this blog is a shout into the void of the internet, but at the end of the day, my opinion of this blog and what I do with it is the most important. It's my life, and I like to look back on it. Sometimes I want to kick myself for the short entries or vague posts, but in this day and age, I'd rather undershare than overshare anyway.

A very happy New Year to you, and to myself as well. Let's make 2019 absolutely magical.

December 30th

Only one more work day before my vacation! Hooray!

As per usual, tomorrow is going to be a big old year end post. Who’s pumped for a hella long post? Just me? Okay!

December 29th

I’m at my mom’s house! We just looked at a bunch of old pictures together. And Ellie let me pet her for awhile! It was kind of magical. This is the most she’s let me pet her in like ten years, no joke. So yay!

December 28th

It’s almost the new year! I’m really excited! Training at work has gone pretty well, and I’m very glad it’s the weekend. I went shopping for a dress for our company holiday party but I didn’t have any luck. However, I did go to the Disney Store and get two new Pua plush, so like...it’s all good, truly.

December 27th

Brad is kicking ass at Pokémon Crystal! I got to watch him beat Lance, and Lance has great battle music. So it was a good night.

Cas is currently wearing a cone of shame and smells like cinnamon. This is because we found another flea on him somehow, despite however many flea treatments I’ve given him now. He was licking one particular area so much that his fur was getting sparse so I got him that collar, and then I gave him a flea bath that happened to smell like cinnamon, so he’s a very fragrant boy. About an hour after this bath Brad was a live flea on him though so I don’t even know what’s going on with him anymore. I just want him to be better. I love that guy so much.

December 26th

Happy birthday to my seester!

I think training went well today. Not remarkable, but like, it’s the first day. Things will get better. Training sure is stressful though. I want to be likable and pass on my knowledge and be helpful and I don’t know what I’m doing. But hey, lunch was okay. I like trying new places.

December 25th

Merry Christmas! I spent the day relaxing with Cas. I'll be seeing my mom this weekend, so I figured I'd just have a chill day. Lots of YouTube. Definitely a nap. Then it's back to business tomorrow - but not "as usual" since I'll be doing some training!

I'm in the mood for some Christmas shopping, honestly. But I'm saving money for MAGFest which is coming up super soon! Yay!

December 24th

Merry Christmas Eve! I had a half day at work (it was very slow, but I played Christmas music) and now I’m just relaxing. The weather is nice! It’s sunny!

P.S. Cas is a cutie pie

December 23rd

Happy Christmas Adam! I’m super excited for a short week this week. And training on Wednesday! I think it’ll go well. I’m so excited for MAGFest, it’s really coming up soon. So much is happening! Whoa!

December 22nd

Happy Saturday! I slept all day! I think I had some sleep debt to make up.

Brad and Cas and I are chilling out at my place tonight. We had plans but technology was not in our favor, so now we're just watching YouTube videos. It works.

December 21st

Today was my last full day at the front desk! Monday is a half day, Tuesday is Christmas and on Wednesday I get to train my replacement. I’m so excited!

Why is everything from KFC so dry?

I love cats so much. And also Pokémon.

December 20th

I went to a little happy hour and now I am very sleepy! Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday. I should go see some cats.

December 19th

Man, work was stressful this afternoon. Excel is a complicated program.

Kinda in the mood to eat...kinda in the mood to sleep. Sounds about right.

December 18th

For some reason I wrote the date as November 18th. What is going on? Am I a time traveller?

I don't understand the appeal of drinking alcohol like...90% of the time. It just gives me a stomachache these days anyway. And my stomach has been out of whack since this weekend too.

I wish I could watch Reese play Danganronpa for like two hours a day sometimes.

December 17th

I really, really want to lose weight and get in shape. I just feel a little clueless about it all. Do I have the right gear? Equipment? Cardio? Strength? Endurance? Conditioning? Personal trainer? What do I do?

December 16th

I am living for this short hair. I took a shower and blow dried my hair and my hair was completely dry in like three minutes. This is what I wanted and I am ecstatic.

I went to a Chinese lantern festival today as well, which was pretty rad. A little weirdly laid out, but still fun. There was also a performance that had foot juggling and plate spinning and the like which blew my fucking mind. One of the girls did foot juggling with a table. My mouth was literally hanging open, it was so cool!

December 15th

Hi, I have a pixie cut now. It is bleach blonde. I am OBSESSED.

December 14th

After work happy hour was fun! Although seriously, cheap beer is not that great. Yikes.

Tomorrow: hair cut and color!

December 13th

Agua del Sol by Escada

Notes include sorbet, raspberry, apricot, ice cream, pear, musk and citrus notes

I blind bought a rollerball of this when it came out -- the sorbet note really intrigued me. However, on me this is a sour floral with a fairly strong musk to it. I can't even pinpoint exactly which fruit(s) I'm smelling. Something like an artificial raspberry or grape, but it's hard to discern. Escada summer perfumes have been better than this, so this wouldn't be a top pick for me by any means.

December 12th

Remind me to blog when I’m less sleepy. I’ve fallen back into that habit.

The old “do I wash my hair tonight or in the morning” question is really keeping me up. I’m thinking I may do a morning shower. How unlike me!

December 11th

I was made aware that it’s only two weeks until Christmas. I definitely have not purchased gifts for everyone. I can probably pull something together, but like...I wish I could go all out. But I also need to save for MAGFest. Luckily my plane ticket and hotel are paid for so it’s pretty much just food that’s a necessary expense now.

Brad came over and played Pokémon Yellow tonight. He’s doing pretty well for his first play through. Unless he’s fighting Koga.

December 10th

Happy Monday! The weather is gloomy and I took a long nap. Whoops.

Oatmeal is so good.

December 9th

Happy Sunday! I slept a lot today. It was nice.

Um...not an eventful day. Not much to report I guess. I'm just listening to Brad play Pokémon Yellow for the first time which is pretty rad, to be honest. The nostalgia!

December 8th

My headache is still here...but Brad and I went to see Wreck-It Ralph 2 and it was fun! Now we’re eating Wendy’s, and I have a kid’s meal. My Saturday nights are fun.

December 7th

Well, I have a frustrating headache that just won’t quit...so I’m blogging now so I can sleep soon. I’m not even sure if I’m tired. I just have heard pain. And eye strain. Thanks, Excel spreadsheets.

December 6th

Finally a nap after work! I feel like I’ve been sleepy all week. Now to sleep through the night, right?

Every time I wear Coco I forget just how long it lasts. I put it on at 7:39 this morning...and it’s still on my wrists! That’s super impressive.

December 5th

I’m hungry! But I’m not sure what to eat. Graaapes?

I am freshly showered and I lost all of my sleepiness! And Cas isn’t even in here to cuddle with me!

December 4th

The weather was dreary again today, aside from like three minutes of good fluffy snow. On the plus side, I did a lot of cleaning at home! I have...so much perfume. Anybody want some?

EDIT TO ADD THAT I MET A GOLDEN RETRIEVER NAMED SOPHIE AT WORK TODAY AND SHE IS GREAT

December 3rd

Tonight was productive. I found a new mattress and worked on cleaning my apartment. Then I got awful gas cramps for no apparent reason. Also, the weather is kind of a bummer. Real grey and rainy. Winter is really nice when there’s lots of fresh snow and it’s fluffy and pretty, but overcast dreary days and not ideal. I’m not sure what the weather is supposed to be tomorrow — hopefully nice!

December 2nd

Fan Your Flames by Nishane

Notes include coconut, rum, tobacco, cedar, tonka bean

I thought I was destined to love this. The notes called to me, especially in this chilly weather. And yet I was met with mostly cedar - the sharp, Iso-E kind of cedar. This was at the forefront of this scent for about an hour before anything else really started to peak through, and even then nothing could overtake the cedar entirely. I was hoping for a boozy, coconut-y dream, but I guess my skin just didn't agree with this one. If your skin tends to amp up cedar, try before you buy for sure!

December 1st

Captured by Candlelight by 4160 Tuesdays

Notes include cognac, cinnamon, toffee, fruity notes, beeswax, and oak

"Picture a huge Christmas pudding, trundled into an oak-paneled dining room illuminated by candles, the wax dripping on to the starched-linen tablecloth. Flaming brandy, sozzled fruit, rich pud, rich people, old wood, soft wax... that smell." - A note from Sarah McCartney, the perfumer

I'm not English, so I can't speak to how much this smells like an English Christmas or Christmas pudding. What I can say is that this is wonderfully unique. There's a distinct waxiness to this that I'm not used to smelling. That plus some gently spiced fruits and a rich, woody oak and cognac base make this sumptuous and rich, but never overly sweet. (It's almost bitter as it starts to fade.) It's foody, but still in a refined way.