2012 in Review

I just read a recent post from a favorite blogger.  I'm going to use some of her questions to share my year in review.

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?

We started dog sitting.  What fun!

Bill with Izzy

Fritz

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

My new year's resolutions are usually the same - to learn more, laugh more, enjoy life more, survive financially and maybe even make progress financially, stay healthy, love God - family - country - friends and make a difference in our world.  I believe that I did keep them and will strive to do the same this year.

3. Did anyone close to you die?

I'm always amazed when I read about the people who died during the year.  The person that I will miss and appreciate the most is the actor - Charles Durning.  His personal history from WWII is amazing to me.

From www.imdb.com - Charles Durning was one of a few survivors to the infamous massacre of American POWs by German SS troops at Malmedy, Belgium during World War II.  The surrendering engineering battalion, captured behind enemy lines when the main American forces retreated, were gathered together and brought to a large field.  As the German guards backed away from the prisoners, machine guns that were hidden in trucks opened fire on them.  Approximately 88 US soldiers died.  Only about 20 of the group of approximately 100 managed to escape the massacre and make their way to American lines.  The incident was re-created in Battle of the Bulge (1965).

I loved him in Evening Shade but I loved him most in the NCIS episode - "Call of Silence" (2004).  If you haven't seen this episode, please do.

4. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?

More time with my family.  Here are all of the cousins - my daughters/grandchildren as well as nieces and nephews.  You can read about our time together in 2012 here.

5. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I passed my previous records of number of piano students taught in one school year.  I hit the 40 student mark in 2012.  I didn't think I could do it but I did.  The students were amazing and it was a remarkable Piano Recital ~ 2012.

6. What was your biggest failure?

While being a success with what I do - making a living as a piano instructor/church musician/mystery shopper is not an easy road.  I know we're always a little short each year & therefore more in debt with what I do for our living.  We haven't thought of what we can replace this income with so we keep "keeping on" as we look for more avenues of income.

7.  Did you suffer illness or injury?

I finally gave in and started taking cholesterol medicine in addition to the blood pressure medicine I'm already taking.  So - maybe I actually made an improvement in my health.

8. What was the best thing you bought?

A student guitar for myself.  Everybody's always asking me if I know of a guitar teacher so I decided to learn how to play the guitar - maybe I can add teaching guitar to my repertoire.  I really love my guitar and playing it!

Also - we downgraded our cable to basic cable and bought Rokus for each tv.  Best purchase we ever made! 

9. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My husband, Bill, keeps me grounded and sane.  He's the "chill" to my "over the top".

10. Where did most of your money go?

Besides daily living - music books for students.  I customize lessons and I strive to keep them motivated.  So far it's working.

11. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Every time my students grasped a new concept, pushed themselves further and wanted to see how far they could go.

The release of the new Les Miserables movie - here's the trailer from Fandango.

Series 5 of Doc Martin, Set 21 of Midsomer Murders and anything else British that I was able to find this year.  Thank you Roku and AcornTV!

12. What song will always remind you of 2012?

Anne Hathaway singing "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miserables.

13. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) Happier or sadder? Definitely happier
b) Thinner or fatter? A wee bit thinner.  I lost about 10 pounds in the spring (thank you Weight Watchers previous plan - I still like it better than the new flex plan.)  I gained a few back - going to work on getting it down some more.
c) Richer or poorer? Richer in the things that count but more in debt because of the path I make our money with.

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

Walking - I'm in and out meeting obligations every day.  I need to take a few minutes and just walk the neighborhood.

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

Worrying about how we'd make the ends meet (or not).

16. How did you spend Christmas?

Playing for church services and helping others celebrate the Christ child's birth.  You can see the pictures here.

17. Did you fall in love in 2012?

I fell in love with my family and my students and their families a little bit more each and every day.  I'm surrounded by positive, loving people.  I'm truly blessed by those that surround me - every day.

18. What was your favorite TV program?

Anything British or dealing with genealogy.

19. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

From Simple Gifts...here's a link on YouTube of my favorite version by Yo Yo Ma and Alison Krauss - hope you enjoy it.

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right, 

  'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain'd, 

  To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,

To turn, turn will be our delight, 

  Till by turning, turning we come 'round right.

Thanks for visiting - love to all - Reia