2012 Year in Review - Gif Parade

Rather than blather on about my year in a long rambling post, I'll let the magic of Gifs sum it up:

January 2012

New Years in Tasmania

 Self-imposed Fast Food ban over!

February

Wandered through the Outback

March

Living under my friend's stairs

Leaving Australia

 42 hours of flights and layovers

Finally getting off the plane

And Then...  I'm Home!

Job interview with JetLag

April

I got the job!!

May & June

Meh...

July

Birthday - 31

I bought a house!!

and got broken into

August 

September

October

Broken Into Again

And several more weeks of...

then finally...

My1st Halloween giving out candy

November

Thanksgiving at my house

(with a ton of help from my sister!)

The Fridge Stops Working on Thanksgiving

December

Blood is dripping from the walls... this house is possessed!

whew... not actually possessed after all!

And the remainder of the year to come

Christmas with the Family

New Years with Stasia

and ??? (honestly, there's no telling!)

Happy Holidays and Have a Fabulous New Year!!

Show Some Love For Lovena

Things that won't be the same now that my grandma is gone:

• Christmases or any gift giving occasion. Lovena had a knack for finding the most utterly pointless, and ridiculously hilarious presents. Ex: Cool Whip spatula, blush applicator with pump (shot makeup at your face!), pregnant barbie doll (just what every 10 year old wants!... glad mom made me keep that one!)
• Car Dealerships. They loved her. Every year grandma wanted a new car. She always wanted them bigger and faster than the previous one. But not too big. In 2000 she walked into a dealership looking for a new grandma-ish car and walked out with an Oldsmobile Allero, complete with upgraded sports package with rims, spoiler, and sunroof. When I went to see her 3 weeks ago she wanted to trade in her current Toyota Yaris. She thought it made her look fat!!! Seriously, because the car slopes down towards the front, she assumed people would think it was her that was weighing it down! Haha!!
• Infomercials. Let's face it, we've all been up at 4am and thought, "ya know, I could use a new mop that changes light bulbs and can even julienne fries!" But Lovena never thought it, she always bought it!! And if you were lucky and her purchase came with a "buy now and get the 2nd one free!" ... you were definitely getting it for your birthday! ... and I still use the swivel sweeper! (when I'm in the US)
• Cardboard boxes. Not only excellent for sending things, moving your stuff or a toy for toddlers... these useful little contraptions were perfect for blocking out sunlight and keeping those pesky neighbors from seeing in!! Just add clothespin and voila!
• Yardwork. Many hours picking up apples in the backyard and even walking down the street and trimming the neighbors hedges! (in all fairness, they were blocking her view of the intersection!)

She had her own quirky way of doing things.... and it's all those little quirks that will sorely be missed.