The (In)sanity of DarthGummiDucky: 2012, The Year That Was

Ok so I haven't posted in quite some time, coming up to two months and the last was a review so really it has been a bit longer. Well the end of the year is here and that means time for self reflection and where one can improve. After the lull that 2011 turned out to be, 2012 was a lot about self awareness and growth. I don't think I did much but I did enough. (Be sure to catch my favorite tracks of 2012 at the end of this post)

In the past year I have paid $17,000 in loans with only about $22,400 to go, it has made times a bit challenging include this month and the next couple to follow. This is acceptable because it'll make 2014 that much better.

In 2012, I saw friends come and go, people fade in and out of your life and it is just something you have to accept. This past 12 months was also a year I felt more alone then ever, a great loss can do that. However it has made me look inward and will make me stronger going forward and give me something to work and improve upon.

So long 1997 Infiniti, Buzz will miss yo

Howdy 2009 Mercury Milan, stay a while

Also this year meant I threw my first car away, farewell Penny Slots, and hello Janet, nothing makes you feel like you are moving up in the world like classy wheels, especially when it listens to your commands.

In January, I moved from 15ish miles south of Ann Arbor in Milan to just east in Ypsilanti. The commute for sure is not nice. It means braking much too often, getting chili on the floor, and basically getting stuck in traffic every day. However with the move I am closer to friends and to restaurants and parks in AA and Ypsi as well as a short drive to IKEA. No longer do I have to shop at Kroger, but instead I get the awesome benefit of Meijer and not too far from Trader Joe's. Being close to the movie theater isn't too shabby as well. I may have lost the space of a house but at least I have a gas stove.

About February I made a goal to do different things each month, obviously I failed at this but maybe I will give it another swing or just try out of the few things again.

One dumb idea that I know I will never try again, being vegan, worst month ever. It was completely stupid and pointless, waste of a life. Meat is too delicious as are eggs, milk, cheese, etc. Not for me and I see no purpose in it. Being vegetarian is one thing but veganism is too far. Since I hate cooking with meat, it is a low part of my diet unless I go out to eat. It did not help that when I started eating meat and dairy again my tongue when through a wave of pain and numbness and lost the sense of taste for about two weeks. Very frightening.

Now to wrap this year up I will do it in music, well I made a mix of some of my favorite songs of 2012. Limiting a year into under 80 minutes is not easy at all. This list is in no particular order, it is just how I placed them on the CD. You will notice a few tracks like "Wagon Wheel" (thanks Denver) and "In Step" are a bit older, but I was introduced to them in 2012 and they had huge impacts. Also by far my favorite albums of 2012 we Babel by Mumford & Sons as well as Some Nights by fun. Linkin Park seems consistent as past albums, some don't like their different sound since Minutes til Midnight, I'm happy to have both. It was amazing to have a new No Doubt album after an 11 year no show, still as great as ever. Special thanks to Chad, Lana is too uberly addictive to not list a couple of times. With that, bring it on 2013!

1. Some Nights - fun.