Welcome 2012!

Last night was New Years eve and today is the first day of 2012! New Years is by far one of my favourite holidays (lately it has been running a very close race with Christmas) for a lot of different reasons. Most importantly to me, though, is just the feeling of renewal. It's a brand new year of all our lives, a new start, a new way of thinking. And at the same time we don't only celebrate what there is to come but we also celebrate everything that happened the year before. All of the good times and the sad times and our mistakes and accomplishments. A night for joy and reflection. I just can't shake the feeling of something perfect every year on New Years and New Years Eve.

This year I have a few resolutions, some specific and some a lot more broad:

Most importantly, and I think it covers all my resolutions this year I need to get off my ass and get my life moving again! Somewhere along the way, a few years ago, my life hit something of a standstill. It's like I'm stuck in pause and I'm not even trying to do anything about it. It's getting old and it needs to end. This year all blocks are going to end no matter how hard it is.

I am going to get an apartment with Michi in Stanwood. It's not where I want to live but it's an important step to get things going in my life again.

I am going to get my GED.

I am going to go to Massage Therepy school in September and gain a skill.

I am going to sing. Somehow. Even if it's just at home.

I am going to read.

I am going to cook.

I am going to eat better, even if it just means not eating fried foods at work or at all if I can. I also need to keep track of what I'm eating and try to balance everything out.

I am going to write and actually finish something.

If I can afford it after everything else up there I am going to start taking yoga again. And at least work out more.

I am not going to let work rule my life and I am going to do a better job at work. (Sounds complicated I know ^ ~ I'll figure it out)

I'm sure there's others I have forgotten but most importantly:

I am not going to let others get me down. This is my life. No one else's.


As for celebrating, for the past two years Michi and I have spent New Years in Seattle at our friend Spencer's now infamous New Years Eve party. Way back when we were trying to find something to do with my best friend Darci and our friend Jack and we searched our way right into Spencer's apartment, three blocks from the Space Needle. We party hard with good friends, good music, and good food until 11:30 when we make our way to the Space Needle to watch the Fireworks go off, and then it's back to the apartment to contemplate the New Year with the Seattle skyline on the roof. This year was just as amazing, but sadly without Darci. ;_; (She was visiting family in Oregon.) We did manage to kidnap our friend/coworker Adolfo to drag along this year. But no one could ever replace her.

Michi Getting ready to head out.

 Me and Michi

I thought we'd broken my camera! XDD

Look at those eyes. O.O

Mrr. Hair. 

Adolfo~ He's gonna eat us!!

Grrrr or... is he smiling? :P

 Michi hand!

Elevator at Uwajimaya~! Can you believe Adolfo has never been there? He didn't even know it existed.

Uwajimaya was beautiful~

It took us a bit of time to get to Seattle due to some... detours. Well, we had to pick up food and drink for the party but after pulling off in Marysville we had a time getting back to the freeway. A time that involved Michi driving us into a scary dark alley behind a whole bunch of stores that could have gotten us all raped and murdered and no one would have known for days! She threatened to drop us off in alleys for the rest of the night. Separate ones so we couldn't help each other survive. ;_; So when we got to the store Michi had to pee. But the food court was closed.

So we went to Oasis! An evil ploy perhaps on Michi's part.

Michi went to the bathroom and Adolfo waited to grab her drink. Apparently the guy was singing to himself while making drinks and scared Adolfo when he yelled out the number really loud. The kid was cute but he was very loud. Haha.

 Yumm, almond milk tea~

Unwajimaya had SO many cute things and Adolfo was so sad he had no money! But he has decided that he's planning a day. We're all going to Uwajimaya. And then the zoo. 

Spencer!

It took us a million years to find the apartment building with much life threatening and crying but we managed! Lots of people got there at eight thirty and then a TON more later. The ittle-bitty apartment building was packed. Everyone brought food and drinks of all different kinds. Spencer introduced us to 'Warp Pipes'. There was lime and Mike's Hard limeaid and melon liqueur and blue curacao. Mellow, but very yummy.

Colour is important apparently. :P

 Fireball shots!

 Poor Spencer. He no like.

It was so cold at the Space Needle but so, so beautiful. It was almost too long to have to wait.

This took us like ten tries.

Ready?

5... 4... 3...

2...

1...

2012.

We made our way back to the apartment where the party only picked up. The three of us headed to the roof, though, to really feel out the new year. You could just feel Seattle awake and excited. The air was crisp and cool and most of the time we just stood and stared out at everything.

You can't see it very well but this is a ferry that comes across the water every year. We always see it. I wonder what it would be like to be on it for the ringing in of the new year.

I couldn't have asked for a better night.

Happy New Year.

♥ Amanda Leigh