Monday, December 31, 2012

Top Twelve of Twenty-Twelve

(I started this blog two weeks ago and somehow still did not finish it before 2013, so just for a little while pretend it's still 2012 and that you still care.)

To be frank, 2012 was just not my year and I'm not sad to see it go, but there were still good times. In fact, there were really fantastic times, so I have followed Mayte's lead and complied a list of twelve things that were fantastic about this year. I won't focus on the bad times when I look back on this year, so there's no need to think about them now–or ever again, for that matter. When 2012 makes its exit, its taking its baggage with it.


01. New York, New York
You all know my immense love for New York City as I literally talk about it all the time. Just ask Melany–she receives an "I JUST WANT TO MOVE TO NEW YORK" text at least once a week. I still can't believe that I went to New York this year. It feels like it was ages and ages ago. That week with Keren was one of the best of my life, and I cannot even begin to describe it to you. I just can't wait to go back.


02. Mumford & Sons and Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
Year before last, when I was still in Cisco and Melany at UTSA, the above mentioned and Old Crow Medicine Show went on their Railroad Revival Tour, which stopped in Austin. Melany and I desperately wanted to go, but money and time did not permit. We were devastated, to say the least.

BUT THEN last Spring Break, Melany and I heard that there was to be a free screening of the tour's documentary, Big Easy Express, with a short concert from Mumford & Sons and Edward Sharpe after during SXSW. So I drove to Austin, and then we experienced the best concert ever. Mumford & Sons is literally flawless, and Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros is roughly five million times better live than on record–and that's saying something.

It seems that the best things in life really are free.


03. Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
Aside from being literally laugh-out-loud hilarious, this book is uplifting and hopeful in the best way. I happened upon it during a time that I was really, really down about school, myself, and life in general, and it was just what I needed. I would call it a godsend, but I'm probably going to hell for reading it. It's so worth it though.


04. Weekend of Buddies, or The Last Hurrah
Regardless of how everything has played out since then, I will always look back on this weekend fondly. We went out with a bang, that's for sure.


05. Regina Spektor's What We Saw From the Cheap Seats

I have always liked Regina Spektor, but I really fell in love with her music this year. (This probably had a lot to do with the fact that I had "Summer in the City" stuck in my head my entire stay in New York (because even though it's about summer, it feels like a winter song).) There is something about her music that is heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time, and her new album was no exception to this. It is absolutely gorgeous, which is why it's made this list.


06. Apocalyptour
The fact that I have seen and met Team StarKid twice blows my mind a little bit. Apocalyptour was somehow better than S.P.A.C.E. Tour and they somehow managed to get even more attractive–feats that I did not believe to be possible. The fact that Melany, Britny, and I decided to drive to Austin, see the concert, and drive back in one day only made it better.


07. Ben Howard's Every Kingdom

The reason I even found Ben Howard was because my aunt wanted to show everyone this video of a beached whale being eaten by sharks and his song "The Fear" was playing over it. I don't know why that song was put with that video, but I'm glad it was because his music is amazing. I listened to this and Of Monsters and Men's My Head Is An Animal all summer long. It's really great music to run to.

I have a very specific and vivid memory of listening to "Old Pine" during one of my runs, and even though it wasn't a very happy time, this song means all the more because of it. It's my favorite from the album.


08. Seattle Trip of Dreams and Wonder, Part I: Cousins
For a very long time, Julia talked about Seattle. She said she didn't really know what it was (though it probably had something to do with her love of Grey's Anatomy), but she had always wanted to go. I knew I couldn't see Seattle for the first time without Julia, so the two of us planned to go a few days before the Blogger meet-up. I adore my cousin, and it was so fun to take this big trip with her. I hope that we get to take many more together.


09. Seattle Trip of Dreams and Wonder, Part II: Blogger Family
Those few days we spent together are difficult to put into words. Roaming the airport in search of lost bloggers, sharing food at every meal, buying flowers for Dillon's mom, wandering all over the city, witnessing Nicola's first s'more, meeting Sam and giving Shelby a group hug after he left–this list could go on forever. It was so much more than anyone was expecting. Life is cruel to place us miles away from each other. The good news is planning for the next meet-up is well underway.


10. The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The book is one of my favorites (honestly, it's everyone's favorite), so when I first heard news that not only was there to be a movie, but Logan Lerman and Emma Watson were to star in it, I was THRILLED. Then, like, two years later, it finally came out. It was well worth the wait though–it is perfection. I have never had a movie affect me the way this one did (like, my friends were kind of worried about me). It's probably the best of all time.


11. The Best Hair Cut Ever
My hair is kind of my thing. It and my handwriting are two things that I have always been very proud of and conceited about. So imagine my horror when the hairdresser somehow cut off six more inches than she was supposed this past summer, leaving my hair this awkward shoulder-length that didn't necessarily look bad, but certainly didn't look good either. I kind of had a breakdown–you may remember.

It's stupid, but I felt terrible about myself after that. It was about six months before I got my haircut again because I was emotionally scarred, but was sick of feeling like I looked gross. Then I got the best haircut of my whole life. I'm not even exaggerating. I have never felt so full of myself.


12. The Weekend of Mary's Wedding
I cannot convey how much I needed this weekend. School has this really bad habit of dragging me down and making me a very angry and sad person, but that weekend was a time that I chose to not be that person. The drive up there with KaCee, the bachelorette party, hanging out with the other bridesmaids, getting ready, crying at literally everything with Michelle, pulling out the sorority girl pose in the photo booth, laughing in Whataburger for four hours after the wedding–everything about that weekend was so fun and so happy. I would not trade it for anything.


-Maggie

10 comments :

Anonymous said...

This was an awesome post. It made your mother happy. Love love love my Lulu. Make 2013 even better.

Liz said...

This post was marvelous. :)

Nicole Linette said...

I'm sorry that 2012 wasn't the best for you, but you had some pretty nice high points-- still haven't seen Perks of Being a Wallflower (the book made me cry, so I can't even imagine what Emma and Ezra and Logan will do!) and Ed Sharpe is quite frankly my favorite band. I've always wanted to visit Austin and Seattle!! Here's to a new year, and may you find more adventure and happiness.

xx, nicole.

Natalie said...

You should come back to New York so we can meet up and frolic together. I'm so glad that you read Let's Pretend This Never Happened so that you could tell us all about it. APOCALYPTOUR. SEATTLE. YOUR HAIR. I love the polka dots of your dress. Happy 2013.

Kendall said...

I feel like I've commented the same thing on everyone's post lately, but I really love reading about people's year in review. Even though it may not have been your year, it looks like there were still a lot of good times! <3 New York and Seattle and Regina Spektor and Ben Howard and the Perks of Being a Wallflower even though I still haven't seen the movie.

And gah, I wish I could have gone to that free concert during SXSW but I was out of town. Someday!

Happy 2013!

Lizzie said...

This was an awesome way to review.

Can't wait to see what 2013 brings. I would LOVE to meet you guys but I need to make some tough financial decisions to guarantee I can go to Austin!

KMJ Liming said...

I Just love you =)

Julia Copeland said...

Our trip made the top 12 of 2012!!! I feel so special!! #holla

Yes I just hashtagged in this comment.

:)

Anonymous said...

Let's Pretend This Never Happened was AMAZING. Just, yes.

Also, I saw Perks alone in a theater full of women in their 40's and 50's, and I broke down pretty hard towards the end of the movie. I don't mean I'm-sad-so-I'm-going-to-cry-a-bit broke down, I mean I BROKE DOWN. Uncontrollable sobs, that I tried to keep quiet, etc. and I'm fairly sure the woman next to me was about to ask me if I needed help or something before I escaped to the bathroom during the credits to finish crying. And that is my Perks story. Best movie ever, so many emotions...

Unknown said...

i was hoping my wedding would make the cut! :) love you bridesmaid forevvvvaaa

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