Looking Back...

I know they say not to look back but instead to always look forward instead.  I think those people are wrong.  I think it's great to look back on the memories, the laughter, the great and sometimes sad things that happened over the year.  This took a while but was well worth it.  I have found a way to quantify my joy and it's in photos and paragraphs summing up my year.
**Feel free to remind me or send me photos of anything I might have forgotten or missed.  I'd love to add it to the huge posting I have here.

January - I made a pact to be single for one whole year and document it.  Mission accomplished.  I started the year out with Katie Kat my sometimes roomie who came to visit and and start wedding plans.  I was also punched in the eye by an overzealous fist pumping suburbanite cougar at the SuperDiamond concert.  The concerts and the fans did not disappoint. 

February - I met that Military guy who, despite our terrible dates and my allergic reaction, is still my friend.  I also spent time with my younger brother which I had not done in quite some time.  We had a great time and part of that was due to a very memorable Valentines Day dinner hosted by Cheeky Chicago.  My neighbor Dorothy, my friend Andrea, and My Co-worker Mario all joined us for a rich dinner at Naha.  Next my brother and I flew to meet our new and very cute nephews in Ft. Worth Texas!  I was home for a week then I flew to Atlanta to see my very pregnant bestie Sara and act as her surrogate liver so that her husband could enjoy the wine tasting party and not feel guilty.

My Crazy little brother

Gift from Reza 

Gavin & I

March - I managed to put my brave girl pants on and jump into Lake Michigan as a part of the polar plunge.  It was a whopping 30 degrees and my friends Kat, Laura, and Paige went to cheer me on.  On St. Patty's day I spent the frigid day on the Nike boat drinking hot coco with Laura and dancing with our light up kanye glasses. I later met up with Beth, her friend from CT, Tyler, and a sombrero wearing Kat.  Later I hopped a last minute flight and went to Costa Rica with Kris, a guy I hadn't known very well.  We went white water rafting, zip lining, mudding I mean 4Wheeling, surfing, picked up hitchhikers, and swam in the magical tabacon hot springs.  I'm so thankful our trip went well because it could have been terrible to be stuck with a zero fun person for a week.  Now our friendship is one that I value greatly.  At the end of this crazy month I organized a crazy tour with a company called Weird Chicago that took us on a ghost and sex dungeon tour in Chicago.  The dominatrix whose place we saw has now been highlighted on MTV and the History Channel.  It's also 2 blocks away from my office downtown in the loop. 

April - I had my 5th Annual "Welcome Back Jesus" Party also known as Easter.  There were actually more Jewish people at the party than there were Christians!  We hid eggs in Lincoln Park and smashed cascarones on each others heads too.  I also went to a kick ass Atoms for Peace concert with Katz at the Aragon.  Flea was amazing and we were very close to the front of the stage along with a guy who smelled like drugs.  I ended up going to 7 Cubs Games this month with various friends, got a ride home in someone's unused limo, had a Zack attack, and fell so badly that my knee was bruised for 4 weeks.  Later in the month SVENJA came to town and Laura left town.  We had a Debbies Daughter Does Dallas party for Laura and Svenja ended up throwing up all over my apartment like the exorcist!

May-  By this month I thought I was all Cub Gamed out but I went to 3 more games with great groups of people.  I had a blast at a derby party with Kat!  Then I went to Texas for work and spent some time with my mom and the rest of my family.  When I got back I joined Jess in crashing a wedding where I met Seth...I mean Chad.  It was a very fun affair until a little person along with other items came out from under the brides dress during what was supposed to be the garter toss.  Later I flew to New York to see the Ting Tings, hang out with scamp at a police station, and I met Dreamy Derek.  Before the month ended I caught back up with my friend Adam who I had met during a Mid 20's Spring Break the year before.  His family graciously took Kat and I out on their boat for some tan time on lake michigan.  However, he missed the last part of the party because of my Raspberry Lemonaid.  I think there might have been a tad bit of vodka in there.

June- Best Birthday Month Ever!  My friends took me out for a Tacos and Tequila night out.  Ami took me for an amazing dinner, J-dubb took me to sparkler Sushi, I got a secret birthday gift from Kris, and I went down to Nashville for CMA Fest with Meg &Sarah!  Where we got a bit punchy and enjoyed a ton of shows including a private Jack Ingram concert.  When I got home the Blackhawk's won the Stanley Cup which turned Wrigley into the most insane street party ever.  I was able to see guys dressed like they stepped out of J.Crew take shots of a homeless man's liter of coke.  It's crazy what sparklers, people jumping onto scaffolding, and throwing toilet paper will make people do.  Very fun to watch none the less.  I also got to see Gavin Rosdale at the Taste of Chicago and after so many years I finally saw Avenue Q...which was hilarious. 

July - Summer Fun was in full swing with very fun nights out with old and new friends.  I also learned how to BBQ with charcoal.  The key is to make sure your pyramid pile isn't too tight.  My brother and I also flew to see my mom's new home in Denver.  We found out she got married, celebrated, and went to a Rockie's game.  My sister Meri had a beautiful and incredibly long wedding it lasted until 6am the next day. Mexicans know how to keep a party going.  We bon voyaged the happy couple a few times that night.  When I got home I was ready to go see the Kings of Leon with Kat.  We did get rained out but we met some amazing friends on the bus ride out there along with a Tinley Park Police officer who had an affinity for stuffed animals.

August - I went to Star Island with my Dad Art, step-mom, and little sister.  We were able to swim with dolphins, feed them, go snorkeling, jet ski, and we did some relaxing.  When I got back it was Wedding Week for the Katie & Erik extravaganza!  We had so much fun and what an amazing venue the Art Institute Modern Wing!  After the Wedding action I had to head to DC and was able to meet Rev. Jesse Jackson.  Then Dreamy Derek came into town and we had an action packed weekend.  After he left I rested for a bit then went to a David Gray and Ray LaMontange concert in Millennium Park with Kat and The Italian.

September - I went on a crazy sailing lesson with Kat that ended in me getting hit on by a very nice older lesbian woman.  Cherie and I left Chicago for Vastine Wedding in what turned out to be the most exciting international Wedding I have ever been to.  We were escorted to our connecting flight on the tarmac, we went parasailing, played giant chess, had a private butler, Dies y Seis de Septiembre party, and if I remember correctly there was an interaction with a couple from Alabama that I will never forget.  When I got home my dad Art came to visit me for the 2nd time since I've been living in Chicago.  We had very close seats to home plate and had a great time going out with my friends.

October - In this month I said goodbye to my friend and former make-up artist Louis Anthony at first friday at the museum of contemporary art.  Afterwards I spent a weekend in Seattle visiting Dreamy Derek, Katie Kat, Robynn, and Julie.  After that weekend the 22nd Floor at work welcomed Emily to Chicago! My friends also learned that I can't resist a cupcake and they should never be closer than 2ft away from me if they don't want me to swoop in and eat 'em up.  I spent a week in Texas with my former around the corner neighbor and whole foods shopping buddy Adam.  While in Dallas I also got to see my cousin Daniel who took me out for "one drink" where I proceeded to "borrow" a Tiger Woods costume from a fellow patron.  After the weekend in Dallas I had a work conference where my ultra shy friend and co-worker Christien had his annual Conference Birthday party.  From there I spent another weekend with the newly minted Vastine Family.  We had quite an exciting and controversial costume.  Before I left I was glad to spend some time with my Sister in Law!  We had a great day out with the cutest twin boys ever.  And my older brother was able to take a break from giving people tickets so he could give me a hug and chick-fil-a!  He's the best!

November - Or shall I say MOvember where almost every man I know was growing out his mustache for Testicular Cancer.  This month I went to my first Ben Folds Concert with my friend Kerry.  I was also invited to a JUF event to see Sarah Silverman perform by my new friend Ifeanyi.  My former boss Melanie invited me to a fashion show with Austin Scarlet and Santino from Project Runway which was amazing.  The 22nd Floor said goodbye to Vince with a Chicago Gangster themed party at Club Lucky in bucktown.  Everyone got nicknames too bad only Joey Tightpants can't get rid of his.  My friend Ben took me to the SOFA event at Navy Pier and I saw some unique art work and learned what goes into blowing glass.  The night before Turkey Day I spent it how I would have in Texas by going out with friends.  Which went from tame to crazy in 60 seconds after Zus performed a lap dance and the wackiest game of survivor flip cup ensued.  For Thanksgiving I took a trek up to the North Shore and was welcomed in by the Weiner Family.  They were so loving and generous I had an amazing time and came back with sore abs from laughing so hard.  I also learned a bit about a game called Zorch!  Watch out everyone...

December - The month started out really great. I was able to invite a few of my girlfriends to the IHCC Gala and we got all decked out together before we went to the event. I was able to meet Gery Chico who is running for Mayor as well as the current San Antonio Mayor.  Em and I went to my new friend Crystal's birthday which had a Wig Theme.  The same night my friend Kirk was in town with his band The Roots for a concert so we did both!  Kirk is one of the most generous people I have ever randomly met.  I didn't think we would still be in touch after 4+yrs but we are and I'm grateful. Then as I was gearing up for the annual Graber Girls Pot Luck my Grma (not a typo) passed away.  I flew home the next day and went alone to the funeral home to see her before she was finally laid to rest.  That was by far one of the toughest things I've ever had to do.  A very terrible way to end the year but it did bring my family closer and I got the best present from my Grma.  It may look like jewelry but the gift is really the story that we had over the ring she gave me that I remember when I look at my right hand.  After we put my Grma to rest I spent the next few days absorbing my family.  Maybe a little too much.  We had a Christmas Eve Scene It showdown where my sisters and I took home the championship.  On Christmas Day my Aunt and my mom had a fish taco showdown.  I think my Mom won...but my Aunt Sonya's "Slap yo mamma" spice rub was pretty good as well.

Lastly I'm so grateful to all my family, my old friends, and my new friends.  This year is dedicated to a special lady who knew more about aquanet, bling, gold track suits, telling it like it is, laughing, loving, and living life for her family than anyone else I have ever known.  I'm sure there was a great fiesta in heaven the day she got there.

I can't wait to see what 2011 has in store for all of us...