Hello 2012

Man oh man...has this year started off with a bang or what!?! My holiday was very eventful and I enjoyed it to the fullest. Christmas was a lot of fun with the family. The egg nog on xmas eve did a few of us in ;-) I received some very special gifts this year. I got a very cool pair of ray-bans to add to my collection, a very rad army green jacket, a great stash of art supplies and a killer headboard that Aaron made me. Santa was good to us all. We spent a few days relaxing and sitting around in our pjs out at my Mom's then we headed back up to Chattanooga for the new year. In between xmas and NYE, Lindsay came up to visit and we celebrated her 30th bday by taking a jaunt up to Nashville to see ZBB play (man was that a blast from my past(life)). It was great to see everyone and catch up...you forget just how many people a divorce can distance you from. The show has gotten so big and the stage so "big time" that my mouth just fell open when Clay was showing me around. I had no idea how much of a production a tour like this was. It's a lot different from when I was hanging out backstage. I'm so very happy for all those guys...and hope that they are actually happy with their lives. It's not an easy one from what you might think. After the show LC and I went back to Chatt to prepare for the next nights Avett Bros show. The peace de la resistance!!! Aaron and I took her around Chatt, had a great lunch at Blue Plate, gorged on cupcakes, napped and then went over to Track 29 to see the show. It was killer and more than I had expected. It was a real bonded experience for me and LC...we had a moment ;-) The next day was NYE and Aaron and I spent a lovely romantic evening eating the most amazing meal EVA!!!!! I've included some pics :-) After our amazing dinner we met up with the gang at The Honest Pint and rung in the new year. I love the gang in Chatt. They are some really great people. NYE always ends with drinks at Lamar's so this year was no different. We were in bed by 4am and woke up feeling great at 10am!
So currently I am preparing for spring semester which starts on the 9th. I had to drop my 8am class because it was causing me too much anxiety. I know that sounds crazy but I am creature of habit, thus are my dogs, and that 8am class was just throwing the whole thing off. Everything feels much better now that it's gone :-) I am also ramping up for The Weezer Cruise...which I get to go on with part of the Chattanooga gang. Cannot wait for this epic event. On a heavier note, Mom is having her gamma knife surgery right before I leave for the cruise. She has an acoustic neuroma, that's just fancy for brain tumor. I am totally bummed at the timing of everything as I really wanted to be able to spend a few days with her after the surgery. Evidently she should be fine within 24 hours but IT'S MY MOM and I would like to be there and not going on an effing cruise the next day!! I will get to be with her the day of the surgery, which is comforting to us both. So please keep her in your thoughts as she does have some anxiety about it. It's way less invasive than the alternative but scary non the less.
That last thing to mention, and then you're completely up to date, is my flirtation with veganism. I've already caught a lot of flack and I'm just testing the waters. I am conducting an experiment, if you will, to see just how much stuff I consume that contains animal products/dairy and to also see how my body might react to less of these things. Most of you know I am a deep seeded lover of cheese so this might not go so well but I at least want to give it a try and see if I could ever successfully live this way. And most of you should know that I have been a vegetarian, although lazy at times, for the past 4 years and that I am not an activist or pushy with my convictions so please support me in this. BAM!! And...I'm out.