Year 24: The End.

Well Year 24 ended last week and I didn't accomplish everything on my bucket list but I still had an amazing year.

The List
1 I moved to St. Louis and had an amazing 5 1/2 months there.
2 I did not go on a blind date. But I did fall in love with someone for the first time in my life. I will never be able to truly express how amazing I think this person is. He and I were never really going to have a chance for a future because of circumstance, time, and location. But he will always be one of my dearest friends. Always.
3 For my dear friend Claire's bachelorette party we went to a karaoke bar. I don't even remember what I sang because I had had so much to drink, but I did it. Not really my cup of tea.
4 City Museum in St. Louis, Dollhouse Museum in Danville. Not the weirdest of museums but atypical to say the least.
5 I couldn't give up TV for a week. I just love movies and being entertained at all times!
6 I finally went further west than St. Louis! In January I flew to Los Angeles and saw my friends Brad and Sara and their three kids. I had so much fun with all of them. They are truly one of my favorite families on the planet! While we were there I saw the Dolby Theatre, The Hollywood Sign, Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Santa Monica Pier, and the Pacific Ocean. But the most fun was probably playing Uno with the entire family.
7 I bought 2 CDs this year. But my favorite was "Aim and Ignite" by Fun. Fun is like the hippest band right now, but their first album, I think, is better.
8 I didn't actually join a gym, because in both of the jobs I held while I was working this past year gave me free access to a gym. And I did go, probably not enough to mention, but enough to cross it off the list.
9 Save Money. Well I did and I didn't. That's probably all that needs to be said.
10 My friend in St. Louis, Taylor, and I went to trivia a few times. We weren't very good but we made a decent team. I haven't found any trivia games in danville.
11 My last weekend in St. Louis I finally touched the Mississippi River. Wasn't anything to brag about, but I did it!
12 I did not visit West Virginia, except for driving through it on my way to St. Louis. But the good news is I will be back in West Virginia for part of the summer. I'm very very excited!
13 I was convinced by others that going to the top of the Gateway Arch isn't very exciting, so I passed on the opportunity. But some of my best memories in St. Louis happened at the Arch.
14 I had lobster at Red Lobster. I think I'll stick to crab legs.
15 Still haven't played paintball.
16 Didn't visit grad schools like I wanted to, but I have seen OU and am more excited to be going to grad school in the coming years.
17 Since moving to Danville I have enjoyed cooking so much. Any opportunity I have to cook for someone else, I'm all about it.
18 I got side bangs and heavy layers. It didn't look like much of a change, but I finally got the hair I had been aiming for for years.
19 I am embarrassed that I did not go to a single Cardinals game in St. Louis while I was there. That is probably my biggest regret.
20 I did not give a fake number at the bar, however I did leave my business card and got an email from that gentleman. I never emailed him back, and I still feel a little bad that I didn't. He probably doesn't remember me anymore anyway.
21 By the time Christmas was rolling around I was more interested in going to NYC than on a cruise. But especially after the Carnival Cruise disaster I think this bucket list idea has sailed. (hah!)
22 Yep I was employed for the entire year I was 24. I'm very proud of this accomplishment. I already know it will not happen for me for the year 25 and probably not again for a few years. But it was a very big grown up accomplishment. Go me!
23 I did save my receipts until I forgot what I was saving them for...?
24 My internet has made it harder to skype with friends than I would like, but everytime I get the opportunity I'm very excited.

Having a Bucket List for the year was fun. Don't have one for Year 25, but I still plan on it being just as grand of an adventure.

SETC: Louisville

I'd like to take a moment to thank all the friends, colleagues, past, present and future employers, who I got the chance to speak with at SETC in Louisville this year. I was really excited to see all of you, even more so in the state that I've been calling home for the last 7 months.

SETC is a whirlwind of nerves, excitement, emotions and craziness, but this year takes the cake. A lot of people that I have come to respect and admire went out of their way to help and encourage me this year and I am beyond grateful. We all have our insecurities, and one is never more insecure than at a theatre conference competing with others for work in theatre. I do not need a job offer this year to keep my insecurities about my career in check because the words that were said to me from my peers all across the nation were more than enough to keep me confident (at least for the time being). Thank you.

I hope to see you all again next year in Alabama, or even sooner in a theatre somewhere.

-A