I think 2012 could end up a horrible, fire-and-brimstone, world-ending, apocalyptic chaos of death and destruction…and it would STILL be better than 2011.

Mother of GOD this year sucked. Most of the things on the “bad” list are way more bad than the things on the “good” list are good. If that makes sense.

The GOOD:

1. The Master’s. I honestly did not think this would happen. Getting a super high grade on it and being told it was PhD level work made it that much more of a big deal to me.
2. Skydiving. Probably the most peaceful thing I’ve ever experienced, believe it or not. I mean, after you’re airborne out of the plane, at least. Getting up there was loud and bumpy.
3. 10K. I never thought I’d run for pleasure, let alone voluntarily sign up for a 10k. I totally would have finished in under an hour, too, if I didn’t have to stop and use the bathrooms.
4. Getting into UWO. Disregard my leaving prematurely (see “bad” list item #8), UWO was fantastic. It was a super-needed ego boost, too, to know I’d gotten accepted into one of the highest rated philosophy of science grad programs in the world (according to The Philosophical Gourmet Report).
5. Being with my mom. Crappy circumstances brought us together, but our togetherness is keeping us sane through the crappiness. Love you, mom!
6. Conquering Vancouver via walking. I spent many, many hours walking the streets of Vancouver. I could probably draw an accurate map of the city, still.
7. Mount Rushmore. DUDE, presidents! This was a fantastic and last-minute road trip on our road trip to London, ON this summer and it was totally worth it. Everyone should see it, it’s spectacular.

The BAD:

1. The Master’s. March, April, May, June: the four worst months of my life. I am not exaggerating one little bit. Looking back, I cannot understand how I kept getting out of bed every morning and doing the stuff I needed to do (except for that one atypical day where I said “screw this noise” and played Fallout all day). Seriously. Bad. Times.
2. UBC/grad school/Vancouver. Vancouver and I, we did not get along. Ever. From the second I stepped into that city, things began to suck. Ask my mom, man, she’s a witness.
3. Loneliness. I’m a solitary person by nature, but I do enjoy the occasional Rock Band orgy with my friends. Never happened up here.
4. The potpourri of “issues.” The less said about these, the better. Related are “bad” items #1, #5, #6, #7, and #8. Party in the USA.
5. Panic attacks. To say I’m an anxious person is probably the understatement of the century, but as stressed out as I’ve always gotten over EVERYTHING, I’ve never had a panic attack issue. Until this year. Merry Christmas.
6. Hospitalization #1. At least Vancouver General has good muffins.
7. Hospitalization #2. Claudia’s conscious brain:  “okay, let’s settle down and concentrate. Thesis is due in less than 24 hours!” Claudia’s unconscious brain: “you’d best locate your ctrl + alt + delete keys, as your brain’s about to do a hard reset. Happy thesis writing!”
8. Having to leave UWO. Related to #4. I really, really, really, really, REALLY wanted to stay there. Circumstances did not allow for this (quite literally—there was no way I could remain in Canada due to what’s been going on). Sometimes things suck, but the universe knows what it’s doing.

Okay, I HOPE the universe knows what it’s doing. Hey universe, if you’re listening, I’d like a job as a statistical analyst somewhere, please. And I’d like my mom to be happy. And I’d like my friends to be happy.

(And I’d like Leibniz. Just for, like, five minutes. …Please?)

Bring it on, 2012. Bring it on.