Things I didn't do so well on in 2012

Two of my categories were flops, one of them completely. I wanted to read 12 new books this year and I only managed to read 7. Pretty lame but not compared to the list of 12 movies where the final total was zero. Room for improvement for sure.

On the reading front I did read some good books including the one pictured here, Rules of Civility.

Well, it's a new year with a whole lot of opportunity.

A year ago today...

I began this blog one year ago with a hope that it wasn't an overly ambitious effort. But I created 13 categories where I hoped to do at least 12 things. Here is the list of categories:

• Make 12 new friends 
• Find 12 new places to eat 
• Lose 12 pounds 
• Visit 12 new places 
• Make 12 home improvements 
• Find 12 ways to help others in need 
• Cook 12 new recipes 
• Do 12 things I’ve never done before 
• Go to 12 new films 
• Attend 12 community events 
• Read 12 new books 
• Host 12 events at my house 
• Visit 12 new bars 

My biggest failure was keeping up the posts. When I opened it up this morning I discovered that my last update was Jan 22nd. I got off to a great start keeping track here on the blog but ran out of energy fast. However, I did created lists on my iPhone and kept them quite up to date.

Over the next few days I'm going to post a few of the highlights of the year (successes and failures) along with photos where appropriate. Happy New Year to everyone. Its 2K13! We survived the Mayan end of the world and even the fiscal cliff. How can this not be a great year ahead.

Something New--Walking Across a Frozen Lake

In my quest to do 12 new things in 2012 one of my categories is trying things I've never done before. This week end I spent some time with friends at their cottage up north which is on a very frozen lake this time of year. On Saturday morning I dressed warmly and armed only with my iPhone I walked across the frozen surface from one end to another and then make a couple of ventures on other parts of the lake. It was a beautiful winter morning with clear blue skies and almost no wind. The walk was serene.

Pike Lake Resort--A new bar for 2012

There is a nice little bar on Pike Lake just south of Hatley, WI. Beautiful view of the lake and the ice fishermen today. And it looks like there is pretty decent food there too.

I hope to get back there again in the summertime.

Helping Those in Need--The Women's Community

The first pay period of the new year comes tomorrow and with it will be a regular deduction to help support the work of The Women's Community in Wausau.

The Women’s Community is a non-profit organization serving victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault throughout Marathon County. They welcome victims of all races, religions, genders and sexual orientations. The organization serves everyone, including special populations that may face additional cultural or gender pressures — Hmong, Hispanic, gays/lesbians/transsexuals, the elderly, men, and those with hearing disabilities.

The Women's Community provides the following free services:

Confidential shelter, food and clothing
Making the transition to an abuse-free life
Counseling
Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse Advocacy
Services for children who have been abused or assaulted
Services for teens who have been abused or assaulted
Sexual assault services
Support groups for victims of domestic abuse or sexual assault

This is the link to their website--http://www.womenscommunity.org/

This is a local organization very worthy of support in any way you can. My contribution is not large but it will be regular and I know it will be put to good use.

My Next 12 Things

The first day of 2012 is nearly over and for many, tomorrow is back to school and work. I am enjoying one more day of time away that will likely be spend taking down the Christmas tree and packing away ornaments and decorations for another year. I'm also thinking about my next 12 things.

The photo attached is a recently completed home improvement effort. My house has a lot of great built in storage space that I found useful when I moved in 4 years ago. Some of that great space was really not put to good use in the way it should be so I took some time to sort out things worth keeping and re-sorted everything else according to type--wine glasses, martini glasses, beer glasses...you get the idea. I ended up packing away three small boxes of things I do not use and while I'm not sure what I'll eventually do with these things they are safely stored away until I make up my mind.

One of my next 12 things will happen tomorrow morning when I take my "first" spinning class at the Y with my friend Lisa. I've been told to expect a real work out.