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I’m using the questions Janet completed which were revised by RA.

1. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 29 this year on my birthday, and I think I spent it at Wolverine’s football practice, which was quite welcomed as the past maybe 5 years were filled with monsoon rain or hurricanes on my birthday. My guys made me awesome homemade cards–can I request this every year?–and besides some great gifts, my favorite essay was accepted by Revolution House. You can read it here.

2. What are your strongest memories from this year, and why?

My strongest memories are the blizzard in February which cancelled our ski trip, going to AWP in Boston, surprising Wolverine all year with trips (to the Red Sox, PawSox, and my favorite of all, a trip to Florida at 3am), getting a panel accepted for the 2014 AWP Conference, Mr. O’s proposal!, and our holiday season.

3. What did you do this year that you’d never done before?

I got my first essay accepted, and then went on to publish a total of five great essays in 2013.

4. What did you want and get?

Well, I wanted Mr. O, Wolverine and I to enjoy our Florida vacation, and we loved it. I also wanted to get published and have my panel chosen to AWP, so those were great additions.

5. What did you want and not get?

A house. I’ve been looking for a great house for two years now, and though there have been some official offers none have panned out.

6. What would you like to have next year that you didn’t have this year?

A wedding! A trip out of the country! I was so fortunate to get engaged to the love of my life in 2013, and in 2014, I’m even more grateful to marry that man and spend some time in a paradise somewhere (no honeymoon planned yet!) Also, I’d like to buy a house, and get pregnant in 2014 (after the wedding pretty please!). Those are four big things I really want.

7. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

For 2013 my goals were: to cross something off my goal list every month. That didn’t happen. I should have set specific guidelines at the beginning of the year, but I’m happy with all the things I did accomplish throughout the year.

My 2014 goals/resolutions are: 1) Be a Better Erin 2) Walk 150 miles 3) Write 150 new super-short things.

8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?

Getting published

9. What was your biggest failure?

Who has time for failure? I don’t think I’ve failed per say at anything. There are lots of situations, especially in the busy job I have that some tasks don’t get completed in a manner as timely as I would have liked, or people were kept waiting longer than they would have liked, but as I said, I have a very busy job, and I do the best I can. Same thing goes for other projects I’m involved in or tasks I could have completed more quickly, etc. There are lots of tiny things I could have improved, but I’m doing the best I can right now.

10. What did you rely on when you were overwhelmed?

Sleep, to-do lists, cuddles from Mr. O. My co-editor Linsey’s consistent Google Chat and Drive assistance.

11. What are your strongest recommendations for entertainment from this year? (books, television, movies, music, etc)

Breaking Bad, Dexter (but the last episode SUCKS), Tosh.0, New Girl, a lot of good movies.

12. What song will remind you of this year?

“All of Me” by John Legend which will be my wedding song!

13. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year (not necessarily from the song that reminds you of the year).

“Because we are
We are shining stars
We are invincible
We are who we are
On our darkest day,
When we’re miles away,
So we will come
We will find our way home

If you’re lost and alone
Or you’re sinking like a stone,
Carry on
May your past be the sound of your feet upon the ground and
Carry on oh on on on oh ohh oh oh oh oh oh
oh ohh oh oh oh oh oh”

14. What was your most enjoyable purchase?

My wedding gown and my wedding band and my iPhone 5s.

15. Did you travel? If so, where?

To Florida for a nice trip with Mr. O and Wolverine to Universal Studios and Disney World (and other fun places like Gatorland and Wonder Works.)

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Exercise! 2013 was the year I brought wellness back into my life in a big way, and while I did begin to really integrate some exercise into my routine, I really want it to become more of a daily habit than what it was this past year.

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?

I wish I spent less time aimlessly browsing social media. I like connecting, but I find myself filling voids of time looking at things or people I’m not even interested in. I hate the drama in social media, so why bother aimlessly searching through it?

18. Compared to this time last year, how are you different?

I’m pretty excited for my year ahead. Not that I wasn’t last year; I was, but I was just more excited to be done with 2012 and more hopeful 2013 would be better. This year I know that so many wonderful and amazing things are going to take place this year. I’m so pumped and ready for it all.

19. Compared to this time last year, how are you the same?

I’m very content with who I am. I think I started to feel comfortable in my own shoes around 2011, with 2012 getting more sure and 2013 being significantly more comfortable with who I am and where I belong. I think 2014 is going to shake up my identity (I’m changing last names and becoming a wife!), but will continue my confidence and happiness with who I am and where I am.

20. What’s a life lesson you learned this year?

Trust in the process. Truly. That used to be my MFA motto, but it really is a life motto. Also, in regard to wedding planning- be true to your vision and your budget. Period. It’s one day. As long as you end up married at the end of the day, who cares if the pale blue really is periwinkle or cloud blue–just get married.