First, let me apologize for letting a whole year go by without an update. I can give you the whole slew of excuses, but I just want to get back into the groove of updating on a more regular basis again.

Moving on…

So the last post was actually the 2011 new year post. Let’s check off my 2011 resolutions list:

• Learn guitar.
• Learn to swim.
• Get a tv for the apartment.
• Finish my portfolio website.
• Launch a startup.
• Put more into my savings account.
• Get a pet!
• Exercise more (well, duh)
• Build a new computer.
• Read more books.
• Go to Harry Potter World!
• Get a tattoo…
• Get a motorcycle license.
• Learn more recipes to try out.
• Have a vacation in a state I’ve never been in before.
• I’d love to visit Japan…
• Learn how to shoot a gun (for the zombies, of course)

Sigh…

Pretty dismal showing. I am ashamed. But now it’s 2012! Let’s keep the same list and see how many more I can knock it this year.

So many things happened, good and bad. Mostly good. Chicago has been really good to me, and I’m so grateful for all the opportunities and fortunes it has given me. The apartment has been slowly but surely becoming my own. The job has actually become even more rewarding with more responsibilities and satisfying activities. The social life also improved as I resolved to be more active in meeting new people, experiencing different things, and making plenty of wonderful memories. I’m actually pretty happy with the goals I was able to accomplish within the past twelve months.

And now it’s time for another new year, full of possibilities. It’s also time to set new goals! I admit, I’ve been setting the same ones the past few years, but I gotta keep setting them. Hopefully I’ll be able to knock some more out this time around:

• Learn guitar.
• Learn to swim.
• Get a tv for the apartment.
• Finish my portfolio website.
• Launch a startup.
• Put more into my savings account.
• Get a pet!
• Exercise more (well, duh)
• Build a new computer.
• Read more books.
• Go to Harry Potter World!
• Get a tattoo…
• Get a motorcycle license.
• Learn more recipes to try out.
• Have a vacation in a state I’ve never been in before.
• I’d love to visit Japan…
• Learn how to shoot a gun (for the zombies, of course)

I’m ready for you, 2011!

So I guess I should probably check in with how life is going! Pretty exciting, I should say for the most part.

First and foremost: I got my own apartment! This was back in the beginning of October actually. Such a momentous occasion should have merited a blog post almost immediately, but again, I was just so damn busy with settling in and work. It’s a one-bedroom apartment in a building that was previously a brewery. The layout of the building is a bit awkward because of the conversion, but the place isn’t too shabby. I don’t have much furniture: a mattress and a chair. The living room is a very barren place. -_- I’m still saving up for a trip to IKEA or something. Maybe I should just check craigslist. That’s actually how I found both my job and apartment… so why not?

Also, a couple days ago, I was finally offered a full time position at work! YESSSssss!!!!! I’m very happy there, and the new position will be giving me more development experience that I’ve been wanting for a while now. AND I’ll be getting a nicer salary! AND BENEFITS! Oh, how I missed you, health, dental, and vision coverage… So yeah, looks like things are starting to take off!

I’m quite proud of myself for getting this far on my own. Independence is awesome. Also knowing that I accomplished this on my own merits and abilities makes it all the sweeter. But again, a HUGE BIG GIGANTIC thank you to my cousin and her boyfriend for letting me stay at their place while I looked for a job and my own apartment. I seriously wouldn’t have had this awesome opportunity without their generosity and support. I took a risk leaving my last job and coming here to Chicago, but I’m very glad I made it. There were many reasons for wanting to leave, and perhaps I’ll share them here one day, but let’s not dwell on the past, hm?

And just because I got a sweet job and my own apartment doesn’t mean I can slack off! My New Year’s resolution: Go to the gym and get back in shape! Yeah, that’s such a typical resolution, but now I actually do have time and money go, so no more excuses! And I also saw a friend over the holiday break who’s been hitting the gym like crazy—and she is looking GREAT. I’m quite motivated by that actually, so I have a LOT of catching up to do. So come next week, I’ll stop by the gym around my neighborhood and check it out. I got one more resolution, but I’ll post about that later…

Have a safe and happy new year! Hope you had a great 2009, and that the next year will bring you more happiness than the last!