My Top 11 Moments of 2012

Another year has come and gone.  And just like every year, I'm thankful for the opportunities I've had.  New experiences, new friends, old friends, and so many good times.  I saw that Facebook had created a list of the top 20 events from 2012 for each user.  Feeling inspired, I decided to create my own list of my top moments for the year 2012 (in chronological order).

The Colosseum

Park in Zurich, Switzerland

1.  My study abroad trip to Rome, Italy & Zurich Switzerland

I have been so blessed with my many opportunities to travel the world.  My spring break consisted of a 10-day European excursion to Rome & Florence, Italy and Zurich, Switzerland where we learned about the Renaissance and architecture.  I had the opportunity to make new friends, see new sites, and load up on carbs and chocolate.  My trip was made complete when myself and a couple of other students were almost left at the Heathrow airport by our professor.  As mad as I was, not gonna lie, I wouldn't have minded a couple of extra years in London!

Honorable Mention

Our last day in Zurich was a free day in which we got to explore the city.  I decided to take an hour-long train ride into Germany to spend the day with my favorite German friend, Lukas.  The day started rough though, as I got off a stop too early.  Being lost in a foreign country, alone, without the ability to speak their language.  Nothing will ever trump the trauma of that experience.  Fortunately a train on the next track over was going to the same stop.  I don't think I've ever been happier to see Lukas in my life.

2.  Learning that my brother was a theatrical god

I will never forget the text message I received from my dad in the spring.  "Your brother auditioned for the musical."...Whaaaat??? My brother, 18 years-old, never sang a day in his life, auditioned for Whitmer High School's production of Oliver? Alrighty then.  Much to our surprise he was awarded the role of Bill Sykes.  I was so excited the night I got to see him perform and when that boy started singing my eyes filled with tears.  That was my little brother, on stage, absolutely killing it (in the good way)!  Can't lie, the first show I had trouble paying attention because I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that that was Nolan on stage.  But every performance I have seen since then, I have been nothing but proud of my little brother.

3.  Adopting my first kitten

This is one of those time where she drives me absolutely crazy.

Everyone knows I've been the crazy cat lady since I was born.  I've always grown up with at least 2 cats at a time, occasionally 3 or 4.  This spring though, I finally got my very own kitten!  And although she drives me absolutely nuts sometimes and has completely destroyed my Christmas tree, I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions I've ever made.  

4.  Getting an internship at OmegaFi

Seriously, one of the best experiences of my life.  Not only did I get professional experience under my belt working at a financial company, but I learned so much more about myself than I ever thought imaginable.  Moving three states away and living in a new city in which I didn't know anyone was the hardest thing I've ever done.  Not to mention the skeezy military man that lived next door to me and tried to get in my pants on many occasion.  Sorry, bro. After a month though, I made friends with many of the girls in the office and before I knew it, I didn't want to come back.  It amazes me how different life in the south is from the north.  Much more slow paced, family oriented, and everyone is so so SO nice.  Southern hospitality folks, it's a real thing.  Thank you so much to everyone at OmegaFi who reached out to me to make my experience one that I will never forget.

Honorable Mention

One thing I do not miss about the south is the crazy, HUGE insects.  I will never forget the day that I stood up after using the bathroom and saw a huge cockroach in the corner of the ceiling.  I demanded that my roommate kill it but we quickly learned the bug flew, making it near impossible to kill.  It was then that I politely asked the skeezy military man next door if he would be ever so kind as to kill the nasty bug.  In a matter of 15 seconds, he walked up our stairs into the bathroom, smashed the bug (essentially with his bare hand), and left, cockroach in hand.  Hey, thanks!

5.  The Alpha Gamma Delta convention in St. Louis, Missouri

Perks of being president of an organization?  Free travel.  But seriously, convention was so much more than that.  Seeing hundreds of women come together for a purpose: to teach, to learn, to share in sisterhood, was seriously one of the most powerful things I've ever experienced.  I wish all Gams had the chance to go and highly encourage anyone to go, even if you have to pay your own way.  The experience cannot be compared to a dollar amount but can only be explained as priceless.

Honorable Mention

Ever since seeing Wedding Crashers, crashing a wedding has been on my bucket list.  Conveniently enough, on the night of our very formal banquet, there just so happened to be a wedding on the outdoor terrace of our hotel.  Scenario:  Meet Jan.  Jan is my mother.  I recently was engaged to be married to Ryan, my fiance whom I met in college.  Ryan and I are graduating in the Spring of 2013.  We were staying at the hotel for a few days for a convention and heard about the wedding.  We were interested in using the venue and figured what better way to decide whether or not it would work than by attending their reception.  Pretty solid, right?  Well, it was all going so well until Jan marched up to a guest and asked to speak with the father of the bride or groom.  ABORT ABORT!

6.  Having a successful recruitment

Convention isn't all fun and games.  There are workshops and guest speakers we are required to attend. But all the hard work (courtesy of Tori Bos) paid off and we increased our chapter size by nearly 50%. I have never been more proud of my girls than recruitment weekend when they all came together.  Everyone did such a fantastic job and kept the complaining to a minimum.  Couldn't have done it without the cooperation of you all!

7.  Northwood's home-opener football game

I absolutely love my job as assistant to the president.  I work in a cushy office area in which I make my own hours, do a few hours of work, and then do my homework for the rest of the day.  Convenient, right?  That doesn't even begin to include the fact that at home football games I get the pleasure of working in the president's box where I essentially stand around, talking to people, and stuffing my face with an assortment of delicious foods.  While that's all fine and dandy, I never have the opportunity to attend tailgates, which should be a big part of anyone's college career (even if this is just rinky dink Northwood).  Fortunately this year's first home game was held on a Friday night at Midland High Stadium, meaning no President's Box, meaning NORTHWOOD TAILGATE!  If I remember correctly, the tailgate was more fun than the game and we left at halftime.  But the party continued!  This was the night in which I found myself at a table of friends, crying tears of joy because I was SOOOO HAPPYYYY to be with all the people I loved.  Excellent.  And to top it all off I woke up the next morning to an empty apartment and had been notified that my roommate spent the night in the ER with her parents because she had tonsillitis.  Well, I won't be winning the roommate of the year award.

8.  Riding a mechanical bull

You don't road trip to Kansas with two of your best friends for a weekend?  What boring lives you all live!  When Dusty & Sam asked me to go with them, I knew I couldn't say no.  I have this goal that I want to make it to all 50 states before I die, and honestly, I didn't see much reason for ever having to go to Kansas.  It was now or never.  I want to apologize to the two for being a useless companion in the truck, I have a terrible fear of driving large vehicles.  Have you seen my pt cruiser?  But I think for the duration of our time in Kansas, I provided some comedic relief.  It was crucial though, that we experience the night life of the Kansas people.  Can you say obsessed?  Lets start with the HUGE dance floor in which people line dance, two-step, and participate in all other crazy sorts of country fun. BUT! Let's not forget about the 15 minute hip-hop breaks in which you get the opportunity to see a bunch of red necks get freakkyyyyy.  Oh, and obviously, the highlight of the night was the mechanical bull ride.

9.  Karaoke nights

Honestly, any night that involves karaoke at Decker's is a good night.  I feel as though I can't explain the awesomeness of such nights.  Videos of the two nights that trump my year will have to sum it up for you.  

1st Place

The winning karaoke event goes to Mitch Waite with his rendition of Vanilla Ice, Ice Baby.  Have you ever seen a redneck carry a hand-held mic around the bar and get jiggy with it?  I have.  And props to Nick Haddad on his back-up singing. "Vanilla Mitch, Mitch baby."

2nd Place

I always love getting people to sing who normally refuse.  This little diddy wasn't even my idea.  Thank you Mel, for submitting mine and Wes' names to sing Summer Lovin'.  I had me a blast.
Watch it here!

Honorable Mention

Honorable mention goes to Kevin Nass with his rendition of GLAMOROUS.

10.  White trash bash 

To be honest, working 40 hours and going to school full-time is a little tolling.  So nothing feels better than to have a little get together in which you can let loose.  And lets be honest, any time there's an opportunity to dress up, you bet your bottom dollar I'll be there.   And if you're going to dress up, you might as well do it right.  Go big or go home I always say.  I must say everyone, bravo on your outfits.  Stay trashy Northwood! 

11.  Watching my dad get inducted in to the Whitmer High School Hall of Fame

My dad is the greatest man I know.  He has taken care of me from day one.  He has always been my rock.  From him I have learned how to possess two of what I believe, are the greatest characteristics, loyalty and love.  From the time I was three years old I have been riding school busses with my dad to different sporting events, basketball, volleyball, and softball games.  He worked at Whitmer for over 35 years and has been involved with the athletic department for the same amount of time.  If that's not loyalty and love than I don't know what is.  Seeing my dad recognized for possessing these two characteristics was such a heart-warming experience and brought tears to my eyes.  I am so proud to say I am his daughter.  Congratulations, Dad! 

And there you have it folks, my top 11 moments of 2012.  While I've had a lot of great experiences, the people I've been able to share these experiences with are what truly make my life so wonderful.  So thank you all, for making 2012 so awesome.  Now let's bring in the new year! 

Everything is Deemed a Conspiracy

Have you seen this yet?

This absolutely disgusts me.  The whole situation in general is daunting.  Any kind of shooting is wrong, but to kill six and seven year old children?  What disgusts me even more, though, is our reaction as a country.

From day one of the incident, the Sandy Hook shooting has been a political debate.  People think enforcing stricter gun enforcement laws will do the trick.  Others say laws won't make a difference, that if someone wants to kill, they will find a way whether that method involves firearms or not.  You know what I say? Who cares?

The issue at this current point in time is that 26 people are dead.  Six adults lost, working in a position in which so many criticize and look down upon.  These are the people parents and students point their fingers at and blame for their poor grades.  These are the people who are the failures when students perform poorly on standardized tests. I don't think so...These are the people who love what they do so much that they work their asses off for minimal pay, except the pay is only secondary to the opportunity to make a difference in someone's life.  For these six adults, that difference was  standing between their students and a gunman.

The issue at this current point in time is that 20 children ages 6 and 7 were killed.  Defenseless, innocent children were massacred.  Do you have any idea the pain and the suffering these families are going through?  Pain and suffering that will continue to haunt them for the rest of their lives when they're not taking their little boy or girl to the DMV on their 16th birthday to get their driver's license, when they can't buy them their first lottery ticket when they turn 18, or a bottle of wine for their 21st.  The effects of the Sandy Hook shooting are everlasting.

So after looking at the fact that the lives of numerous people have been completely turned upside down, you're going to tell me that this is a conspiracy.  You're going to tell me that some people, somewhere conspired to shoot a group of children?  That's absolutely moronic.  Whoever coined this theory is bored and has way too much time on their hands.  Go do something that involves putting away your movies and video games and actually do something with your day- which brings me to my closing point, what I think should be done to prevent future incidents.  It's simple really- parent your children.

We live in a day and age where adults are too concerned about their careers, often placing the importance of their job over their family life.  After a long day's work they want to come home and relax, I get that.  But parents sit their kids in front of a television or tell them to go play their video games.  Have you seen the video games kids are playing these days?  I work at Family Video and it never ceases to amaze me that parents rent Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, and essentially anything else you can think of for their 7, 8, 12 year old boy.  Wait, what? And we're surprised we live in a more violent society?

The political debate is God vs. guns.  One side says "we need stricter gun enforcement laws," the other says "it's not the enforcement laws we need, but allow us to put God back in our schools."  How about we just put parents in the lives of their children?  How about we sit down as a family at the dinner table and talk about our days, including what's bothering us and learn that it's healthy to be upset but there are also healthy ways to resolve our issues.  Instead of sending your kid off to play a video game, why don't you sit down with them and play a board game?

I don't know how anyone could reach such a low point that they deem it necessary to go out and take the innocent lives of others.  I don't know if stricter gun laws will make a difference.  I don't know if there is any real way to prevent things like this from happening.  What I do know, is that for the time being, we need to put our differences in opinions aside and come together as the united nation we were meant to be.  We need to come together to support those of the Sandy Hook community and we need to lift them up.