2015: 100 Things That Happened This Year (part 2)

No joke, I actually tried to do myself a favor and started this list in January! But everything seems so slow-going in the beginning, and I often don't pay attention to what's going on because I take it for granted. So then I got bored and stopped, and I'm grasping for memories now. Of course things are always happening, changing, both within us and around us. But so much of what happens are small moments that don't seem worth mentioning, of course until you're sitting down at the end of December trying to come up with a list such as this. It's like waiting until the end of the semester to take notes, talk to the professor, study for the final. But I digress. Picking up where we left off, again in no particular order:

51) Had my 39th and final Session with Sue 

52) Moved back in with my mom after graduating

53) Went on a girls' trip to Atlanta with my cousins for a week in June. Never again.  

54) 168 Asian Mart!!!! In addition to H-Mart, Blossom Cafe & Bakery, Pastry House Hippo, Ajishin, and One World Market. So much fantastic Asian food in Michigan and I haven't even gotten started!

55) After following each of them for years on YouTube and Instagram, I was able to witness the powerful ministry of the Poets In Autumn live! 

56) Two of my younger cousins became Zetas
57) Overcame being intimidated by the MSU Music Building and held rehearsals with Hilena there
58) Kept track of my outings for a while because I'm a corny homebody who doesn't get out much. Tried to recreate a habit I developed in Paris of going out and doing something whenever I had free time, but pickings are decidedly slimmer in Michigan and my boldness tends to wear off when I'm not abroad
59) After 3 years, gave up my crush on YouTuber/comedian/writer David So. Still a  fan, tho! Congrats on the girlfriend!
60) Long Island Ice Tea became my drink of choice
61) Took up throwing my time and hard work into a dark hole of waiting, no answers, and "no calls please"─a.k.a. applying for jobs 
62) Happened upon the Québécois film Incendies while up late fighting sleep one night. It left a profound impression on me, but I was not emotionally prepared. That film stuck with me for days.
63) Went shopping and bought an array of clothes by myself for the first time because Ma kept nagging me about being professional, looking raggedy, wearing the same clothes all the time, blahdeblah. But then I ended up spending over $100, so I came to my senses and haven't bought clothes since. Cheapskates unite.
64) Visited the Civil and Human Rights Museum in Atlanta with my cousins on the day that the Supreme Court upheld marriage equality. Leaving the museum my cousins and I waded through an LGBT celebration and rally that'd formed around the building, and it was the most beautiful moment.
65) Gave McAlister's Deli a try. I can only vouch for the orange cranberry club and the broccoli cheddar soup, but it's pretty good
66) Sang in a circle with a group of my sisters in Congo Square, a sacred space of expression for our ancestors
67) Learned how to eat crawfish! ...and have since forgotten, haha
68) Didn't read a single book that I hated
69) Hopped on the 'Blackish' train late due to skepticism. Binge-watched the first season just in time to watch the second season as it aired and now I'm a fan
70) Participated in all the commencement hullabaloo even though I hadn't wanted to originally
71) Speaking of which, was invited to a righteous senior send-off and meeting of the Black minds in JMC, hosted at the home of one of the tallest and most accomplished academics in the nation. And she's Black too!
72) Bought Madison clothes for the first time since puppyhood. She wasn't a fan.
73) 'Being Mary Jane' aired an episode about depression and suicide among black women ("Sparrow") and I felt like it spoke light to my darkness.
74) Dealt with my post-grad feelings of fear and inadequacy by becoming a hermit. Still working on this one too.
75) Words and phrases I learned from my Louisville cousins: "fahr" (fire, adjective describing something that's delicious or otherwise really good), and "be on yo' neck" (to be turnt or wasted; inebriated beyond help)
76) Rode a streetcar for the first time, in New Orleans. Super slow. Only tourists. Wouldn't recommend.
77) Stromae put his entire Racine Carée concert on YouTube for free and I just about lost my mind.  
78) Thought my podcast diet was full until I happened upon 2 Guys and A Girl during that floaty do-nothing week between Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. Their production most resembles a real radio broadcast and they are hilarious.The "Gucci Mane Appreciation Show" had my head hurting from laughing so hard.
79) Big Eyes. Amy. Inside Out. Twinsters. Straight Outta Compton. Creed. (all reviews here)
80) Resisted joining any more social networking sites for yet another year. Been on the same four sites for the past three years, and that's enough. Trying not to let social media swallow me up.
81) Thanks to my new hand-me-down digital piano, was able to tinker around and put rudimentary chords to 7 of my songs. 183 more to go! 

82) Got spooked out of performing again; it's been over 3 months now. Takes so much courage to get up in front of people and do something that you really care about. Just don't feel like I have it in me right now.  

83) Spent December 24-26th hanging out with my cousins, we even had a sleepover. Have no idea how they hashed things out, but all the girls were getting along as if the Atlanta debacle had never happened. 'Twas nice. 

84) Played with the idea of getting a collarbone and/or behind-the-ear tattoo. Basically copying my friend Nyasha 'cause she's fly

85) Let my yoga practice fizzle out. Maybe I'll reignite it in 2016 

86) One of my French professors gave me his copy of Hiroshima mon amour as a parting good luck gift 

87) Was so annoyed with a customer coming at me like I was her personal DJ that I went home and wrote this multi-point piece (part 1, part 2) about why she was wrong 

88) Discovered Bigflo & Oli. When I was in Paris last summer, my fellow interns would tell me how lame they thought most French music was, but this duo of rapping brothers is dope! 

89) Other phenomenal artists I became aware of this year: Cécile McLorin Salvant, Eryn Allen Kane, Andra Day, NAO 

90) Was super into 'Unpretty Rapstar Vol. 2' (Korean reality show competition for female rappers) for a good little minute! I stopped after 5 episodes because it started to feel silly, but a lot of those women impressed me. Yezi, Yubin, Hyorin, and Truedy especially got bars! 

91) Subscribed to Chonunmigooksaram on YouTube! She works hard and lives freely in Korea, and she introduced me to animal-shaped tea strainers! Might switch to loose-leaf tea just to have a little plastic platypus or manatee sticking out of my cup every morning! 

92) In "I'm a big girl now!" fashion, started keeping spreadsheets of every dime I earned, spent, and had in the bank. Happy to confirm that though I may be monetarily poor, I mainly spend money on the essentials: Books, food, and transportation. 

93) Spent my first month back at home decluttering my life, organizing all the books I own and clearing my room of 20+ years of junk. Brought back so many memories. 

94) Started eating avocado. I understand what the hype is about now! 

95) Did a few open mics/Jazz Nights at New Way Bar in Ferndale. Small place but the food is bomb and the atmosphere is laid-back.

96) Started watching 'The Facts of Life' reruns. Show's corny but quite good. 

97) Detroit jazz legend Marcus Belgrave passed away, may he rest in peace. He taught so many of us, including me during my alto sax days.

98) Transitioned to watching Japanese dramas without English subtitles! 

99) Danced in a random restaurant/bar in Royal Oak until 2am with two of my dear friends. And this was AFTER losing control of ourselves at the Stromae concert. 

100) Found a large community of Black women and Black creatives living in Japan via Facebook. Now whenever I get over there, I'll have more folks to reach out to.

And there you have it. Again, to read my lists for 2013 and 2014, click here.

I hope this year has been at least a little kind to you, and that it brought you many experiences and stories to tell. I hope 2016 brings you even more. Be Happy and God Bless. Happy New Year.

2015: 100 Things that Happened This Year (part 1)

Putting this list together was really difficult this time around, painful even. Because I can't shake the feeling that I've wasted this year. That I didn't do or accomplish enough. But I wrote the list anyway, because I figured I might as well. So this year's list will probably be the realest one yet, but might also be the least entertaining. Take it as you will. In no particular order:

1) My personal YouTube music playlist for the year: Quinze 

2) Ma turned 53
3) Was gifted with my first new pair of winter boots since 2011
4) Bubble Island in EL was renovated!  The colors are more coordinated and it's much brighter in there now, but it's a little too clean. Kinda miss the bit of grunge that had made the place feel so chill and home-y before
5) My estranged best friend finally talked to me again!

6) Bought a domain name for this blog! deelasees.blogspot.com → deelasees.com

7) Got my first job, working at a bookstore part-time
8) Did my time contributing my services for 6 months and then let my first job go
9) Participated in MDJW and started singing jazz
10) Found an instructor through referral and started taking vocal lessons for the first time ever
11) Grandpa got sick, but thankfully it wasn't his time to go. Thinner, a little less mobile, a little more dependent, but still kicking!
12) Went back to therapy with a new therapist
13) Received my first ever keyboard (digital piano)! A dusty hand-me-down in excellent condition, courtesy of Ms. Yvette's basement!
14) Experienced Stromae and Jidenna live in concert in September!
15) Experienced Lianne La Havas live in concert in October!
16) DeelaSees turned two years old
17) I graduated from Michigan State University with two degrees, one minor, three languages, two study abroad experiences, and no debt. Glory be.
18) My dad crashed my graduation

19) My friends and I demonstrated for black victims of police brutality during said graduation ceremony
20) Went to New Orleans for spring break with Ma
21) Got really really depressed about seemingly being unpretty/a failure/without a future; still working on this one
22) Turned 23 and was sad about it, but not as sad as last year
23) Wrote daily entries in a self-care calendar for a time, thanks to Alex Elle
24) Got into podcasts, especially The Read! Listening is so much fun!

25) My faith took a beating, hard
26) Learned to make kale chips, two-ingredient pancakes, omurice, and cream stew!
27) Madison turned 12, the maximum in the average life expectancy for bassets; now however longer she decides to stay with us is a bonus
28) Ate Japanese food in Novi with my best friend and Ma! So good! Soooo good!
29) Visited my friend Irene in Canton!
30) Held a hedgehog for the first time (Irene's little bro's pet, Casper)
31) Discovered some extremely dope Black French natural hair/beauty/lifestyle Instagrammers! Well, it was rather a mixture of us finding each other, but still I'm thrilled!
32) Charleston 9.
33) Unresponsive little Black girl.
34) Got hooked on matcha frappuccinos/blended cremes at work (50% employee discount on cafe food ftw!)

35) Came across a girl walking around practicing her singing in the cold while I was walking back to my dorm late one winter night. Our friendship didn't turn into much in the long run, but it was quite a moment and she turned out to be a cool person. 

36) Started singing at open mic nights at the Union during my last semester at MSU.

37) One of my grown cousins discovered he had a son (and now two more grandchildren!) that he hadn't known about for the past 20-odd years. And then I had this dream. 

38) Coming to the end of my college career and realizing that meritocracy is a fantasy

39) I got invited to Phi Beta Kappa!

40) I met Tiffany Toriumi, my hero and whom I wish to be when I grow up. We talked for a long time in one sitting and she gave me such great advice and encouragement!

41) Left the church I'd been going to with Ma since around 2002. During a sermon the pastor said "All lives matter" and implied that there were more important things at stake than our people fighting for their lives, rights, and dignity. That was the long overdue push I needed to seek Jesus at a different house

42) Started listening to France Culture and France Inter; French public radio is really helping me keep in touch with my francophone self 

43) After promising in August 2014 that she'd get it, Ma finally got her passport! Took her long enough!

44) Realized that "Blue Christmas" is actually a really good song! 

45) Read 30 books! 

46) One-year anniversary of cessation of communication with my dad; would be nice if he'd get the memo 

47) Challenged myself to collect notes of gratitude in a vase every time something good happened to me or around me for the whole year; made it to around July or August 

48) Received a huge bouquet of flowers from Ms. Yvette for graduation 

49) Got out of the habit of going to church for three months, and then a friend from ACIV ran into me at the laundromat and invited me to go with her to her church on Saturdays. Three weeks of relief, healing, and not feeling completely alone just before graduation.
50) Didn't ask anyone for anything for Christmas. Instead, created this "Written Treasures" wishlist of books that I'll refer people to in the future.

Continue on to Part 2!

And check out my lists for 2013 and 2014 here.

2014: 100 Things That Happened this Year (part 2)

Continuing on from part 1, let's get right into it! Here's more about my year:

51) #BlackLivesMatter
52) Started to appreciate hummus!
53) Joined a group of fellow students to help plan TEDxMSU but had to drop out and felt really bad about it.
54) Briefly considered becoming a tour guide after being the navigator of Ma and I's trip to San Francisco.

55) Briefly considered becoming a professional dogwalker, for obvious reasons.
56) My dad and stepmom started the divorce process.
57) Finally tried this "green juice" that all the hipsters and pretentious healthnuts/trend-followers have been raving about lately. Wasn't half bad.
58) Lost weight then gained weight. Now I'm back at my square one from 10 years ago, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't ashamed. BUT! I've been working on it since I got home for break (why wait 'til New Year's when all you need is today?)
59) Discovered travelnoire.com
60) Went to a slam poetry event for the first time and met bomb poets Natasha Miller (T. Miller) and Ebony Stewart.
61) Saw Chrisette Michele in concert for the first time and it was magical! The second concert I've ever been to in my whole life.
62) Had a stupid argument with my best friend since 2nd grade and now it doesn't seem that she wants to be my friend anymore....
63) Had some pretty curious recurring dreams.
64) Unwittingly became part of a community of basset hound owners/enthusiasts on Insta.
65) Senior. year. mannn. Had the most stressful and miserable semester ever, and closed myself off from the outside world because that's what I do when I feel anxious and under pressure. Senior year is no joke! Didn't have much of a life and lost touch with a lot of good people because of it. But like I said, I'm trying to ease my way back.
66) Reached one year of sessions with Sue
67) Read 23 books.
68) Madison turned 11 years old.
69) This email and this other email from Ms. Yvette
70) Still on my unintentional Kpop/Kdrama hiatus that started last year, but I was watching Superman is Back for a little while there.
71) Discovered the big-voiced, petite wonder that is Agnez Mo.
72) Ma got rid of all the themed magnets and plastic cups that I cherished as a kid.
73) Had my first (and let's hope last) encounter with the heartless, ignorant, shameful, pseudo-activist group the Genocide Awareness Project.
74) Skyped with my grandpa for the first time ever. It was hilarious!
75) Visited my great aunt Gladys for the first time in ages.
76) Was exposed to a bit of 'Attack on Titan' and was intrigued by what I saw. Still haven't sat down to watch it through yet. I thought I'd grown out of anime but this might be the one to bring me back.
77) I decided that I have absolutely NO intention of going to grad school in the near future, and I feel no qualms about said decision.
78) Succeeded as a member of Team #oneplate during Christmas festivities!
79) After years of having to put up with BET as if it were the only black channel on Earth/that black students deserved, MSU finally added all the black channels to their cable programming (Aspire, Centric, TV One, and even the Africa Channel). When I did watch TV, those were virtually all I watched the entire fall semester.
80) Ate Vietnamese food for the first time with a couple of friends.
81) Started drinking hot/warm water with my meals. I'd like to think it helps with digestion, but don't quote me on that.
82) Visited the KFC Yum! Center for the first time and went to my first UofL basketball game! My pride in my family's hometown just keeps growing and growing!
83) Visited UofL's campus for the first time!
84) Despite brief glimpses of light and release, continued yet another year of stifling what I hold most dear and sacred. Being a closet artist is equivalent to killing yourself slowly because artists aren't meant to be kept in closets. Always that gnawing feeling that you've got to let it out and show people...
85) My elementary school demolished all remaining remnants of the original playground that had been the site of much pre-pre-pubescent drama and recess merriment for me when I was a student there. Replaced it with a shiny new one. I guess it was bound to happen eventually.
86) Crystal Kay released her first US single and video!
87) Learned that someone in my family is gay but afraid to come out fully, and that a friend of mine had been the victim of rape. Social issues always seem to happen somewhere else, to someone else. But you'd be amazed to find out how much is happening right where you are, if you stay woke and pay attention long enough.
88) Started following Humans of New York/HONY (I know, who isn't by now?)
89) D'Angelo made a comeback! Had the chance to see him perform back when I was in Paris, for cheap! But I didn't go because I figured he was washed up. So. wrong. Dang.
90) In mid-November in Lansing, we went from fall to winter to fall within a span of one week. Snowed for three days straight, then rained for three days straight so all the snow melted away, then it warmed up and the weather was back where it started as if nothing had ever happened.
91) Term paper topics for spring and fall semesters included Black immigrant populations in England and France, reflection journals on my time in Paris (one in French, the other in English), Japanese victimhood in post-WW2 anime films, and Tibetan people as represented through HONY portraits.
92) My crush on YouTube entertainer David So continued. Going two and a half years strong now! Haha. But don't call me a fangirl!
93) Started and ended the year with J-dramas staring Ishihara Satomi, one of my favorite Japanese actresses. In January it was 'Shitsuren Chocolatier', and in December I it was 'Dear Sister'.
94) Sooo many people decided (and felt the need to declare) that they're introverts now, co-opting a hitherto uncool group's behaviors and personalities as accessories that now give you cool points. Like, really? What does that give you? Ultra hipster too-cool-for-life-and-all-people-in-it status?  What?
95) Continued my life-long streak of being single, and at this point in time I can't really be convinced that I'm missing out on anything!
96) Maintained contact with the first Japanese professor I ever had. It's been three years since I was her student and she's retired and moved back to Japan in that time, but we still exchange emails every so often.

97) My middle school arts camp buddy and longtime pen-pal released her first single!
98) Matcha became more and more trendy over here. Drank my first matcha latte ever, and was able to enjoy real-deal matcha ice cream for the first time since going to Japan.
99) Celebrated the first anniversary of this very blog, DeelaSees!
100) Never stopped writing. Whether it was songs or journal entries or blog posts; even if I wasn't sharing or singing as much as I would've liked, I never stopped writing.

And those were my 100 things! I hope you enjoyed reading my list of happenings. If you don't have time to come up with your own list for 2014, I encourage you to try for 2015. But jot stuff down as you go; that's what I'm going to try to do. Don't do like I did and wait until December, and then spend two weeks wracking your brain trying to come up with all that happened throughout the year. Haha. Make it easy for yourself.

Happy New Year's Eve to you and yours!

2014: 100 Things That Happened this Year (part 1)

It's that time of year again! I was inspired to do this last year to reflect on 2013 (check out part 1 / part 2), and I've decided to keep it going. For some reason I wasn't as excited to do this as I remember being last year. No lofty mission of trying to be deeply reflective or exceedingly grateful this time around (no energy to be virtuous right now), just trying to remember the most important things that happened. But I was determined to put this list together anyhow, so here it is. Here's a glimpse of what 2014 had in store for me:

1) I started doing Zumba and other dance workouts.
2) I learned how to use Prezi.
3) I found out that I passed the JLPT (N2).
4) My friend and I formed a band! It lasted for two months, haha. But we just might be coming back...
5) As said band, we performed at "the Grammys"
6) Ma and I went to San Francisco for a week.
7) I met Cyril Payen.

8) I did an interview that got featured on my school's honors college website.
9) After two years, returned to Tunnel of Oppression as a scriptwriter and sort-of-not-really acting coach.
10) I had a breakdown that lasted two months. Six months later I had another one. But during this month-long winter break I've been easing my way back.
11) "Type of Way", "My Hitta", "No Flex Zone", "About the Money" = songs that I'm embarrassed to admit I love. What can I say? Trap music grew on me, I couldn't fight it!
12) Celebrated my yoga-versary. My yoga practice became on-and-off throughout the year, but I'm on the "on" side of it now. :)
13) I went to Paris for two and a half months.
14) I did homestay for the first time, with a wonderful non-traditional, not-quite-nuclear family of kind and open-minded French people.
15) I went to London for two days with the help of a high school friend.
16) Being in France improved my tolerance for alcohol. I still prefer not to drink it, but when I do I no longer feel like I'm drinking acid.
17) Favorite song of the year: "Rather Be" by Clean Bandit. Watched it blow up in France, then watched it blow up all over again when I came back to the States. Same for "Waves" by Mr. Probz.
18) Interviewed for a job leading a help lab for advanced French classes for high school students. Didn't get the job but the interview went swimmingly!
19) Became the Communications and Events Intern for the Arts Council of Greater Lansing. My job: treasure-hunting for art.
20) Had a falling out with my dad. For the first time in my life I tried to be honest with him and it blew up in my face. We're no longer on speaking terms (read: I've chosen to cease communication for the time being). One of the worst yet best things that could've happened in my life right now.
21) Became an oatmeal addict.
22) Discovered soy/almond/rice milk, in that order.
23) I went to my first career fair.
24) I gave up Instagram for Lent. And I don't even celebrate Lent!
25) Dear White People, The Book of Life, Big Hero 6, and Beyond the Lights! Fall 2014 was a great movie season.
26) I turned 22 and wasn't happy about it. First case of birthday blues ever. But I'm cool with it now.
27) I rode a train by myself for the first time!
28) Did two internships.
29) My uncle had a heart attack, but was on the mend in no time thanks to medical attention, rest, the love of family and friends, and the grace of God.
30) I went to Chuck E. Cheese for the first time since 1st grade.
31) I went to ArtPrize for the first time!
32) Got profiled on ACGL's website for my work as an intern.
33) I applied for the JET program.
34) I had a conversation with my uncle about my dad for the first time ever. My dad's one of the few topics of discussion that can make my uncle angry, and so I'd always avoided mentioning him in his presence.
35) I applied for graduation!
36) Did my first successful twist-out!
37) Discovered the joy that is making YouTube playlists to collect music that I come across during significant periods in my life. Did one for my time in Paris and another for my internship this semester. They're like mixtapes, or musical time capsules, or something.

38) I wrote my 500th blog post!

39) After two years, I re-read La vie devant soi, the first French novel (first full-length French book) that I had ever read. Was amazed by how much easier it was the second time around.

40) I signed up for JLPT N1, then decided not to take it.

41) I found out that I'll be walking away with two bachelor's degrees when I graduate in May!

42) Decided I wasn't going to attend commencement but then learned I was getting two degrees and changed my mind.
43) Celebrated 1 year as a volunteer at the Capital Area Humane Society! Dogwalkers unite!
44) Got acquainted with my uncle's family dog, Cooper!
45) Continued my streak of not going to a single MSU sports game. Absolutely nothing against my school, just not into sports. No one can take my title of "Spartan" away from me, but then again no one will be able to attest for my school spirit, because I have very little. I'll wear apparel, but I'm just not here for the hype and the cult of sports fandom.
46) Avoided joining Twitter (and any other popular or newfangled social media sites) for another year! FB, YT, Insta, and Blogger are more than enough. Cheers to anyone out there trying to be connected but not consumed!
47) Two of my friends from school started their own inspiring, introspective, beautifully-written, truth-telling blogs!
48) Being one of those shining stars who graduate with a 4.0 would've been nice, but maybe that just wasn't supposed to happen for me and I've made peace with it. Hoping I can maintain my solid 3.9 through next semester (the last one!)...
49) Was fortunate to receive enough funds so that my second time studying abroad wasn't a burden. Going to France, we (and by we I mean Ma) didn't have to pay for anything other than the round-trip plane ticket.

50) During my final fall semester, I overloaded myself and went on a really unhealthy sleep schedule of 3-5 hours a night on the weekdays. But I'm happy to say that after 3 1/2 years of college, I still have yet to pull an all-nighter!

Click HERE for part 2!

100 Things That Happened This Year (part 2)

Y'all, this has proved to be so much harder than I thought it would be. It would've been easier to remember what happened throughout the year if I had been taking notes along the way. Maybe I'll do that next year? Anyway, for now, here's the rest of my list of happenings for 2013:

51) To my surprise, the good friends I've made since coming to college haven't gotten tired of me yet.
52) To my even greater surprise, I still managed to make new friends this year.
53) I received my first Rubik's cube.
54) I got out of Korean dramas (out of habit) and got back into Japanese ones (out of necessity).
55) I started cooking/baking for fun again!

56) Just B Yoga

57) Red Lotus Yoga

58) I got a 3.5 in a class for the first time in my entire college career, and though I was disappointed and it lowered my GPA, it wasn't the end of the world.

59) I had a phone conversation with the professor who gave me said 3.5. She didn't change my grade (I hadn't tried to convince her to), but we had a really nice conversation about me being more vocal, about how much she respected me, and about how intelligent she thought I was.

60) I took a Korean history class through my school's rival. One of the most tedious yet interesting courses I've ever taken.

61) I FINALLY switched from iPhone to Android (Samsung > everybody else).
62) I read the book of Psalms. I read a number of other Old Testament books this year, but Psalms was my favorite.
63) I finally visited the Eli Broad Museum, aka the Spaceship.
64) Ma and I took pictures in a photo booth on my birthday.
65) I got a first-hand look at the foster care system which increased my sympathy for foster kids and my respect for social workers. It also further convinced me that I'd never want to be a social worker.

66) I took a Zumba class for the first time.
67) I was introduced to the wonderful world of "performance studies" and "ethnomusicology".
68) I applied, interviewed, and got to the final round of considerations for a research assistantship translating French-language documents from post-WW2.
69) I tried out for an acapella group on campus.
70) Working at an animal shelter led me to discover that I'm probably allergic to cats.

71) I shopped (thrifted?) at Goodwill on a whim.

72) I accepted the fact that though its arrogant and pompous school will always suck for being arrogant and pompous,  Ann Arbor is a far superior city to EL/the state capital.

73) Fruitvale Station, The Butler, 12 Years a Slave. Each of these films left me emotional.
74) Ma set the table for Thanksgiving and put up a wreath for Christmas, two things that haven't happened since I was a kid.

75) I got my grown-up driver's license and I liked the way I looked in the picture.

76) I saw Balé Folclórico da Bahia perform live (their 25th Anniversary Show "Bahia of All Colors").

77) Two different administrators at my school encouraged me to apply for National/International Fellowships and Scholarships. Never followed up on it because I decided they weren't for me, but I appreciated the gesture.
78) I considered auditioning for 'The Voice'.
79) I decided that if I ever did audition for 'The Voice', I would sing this song.

80) I got off one high horse and started drinking pop again, but only occasionally. 

81) I stayed on another high horse and refused to drink alcohol, even though it's legal for me now.

82) Some selfish fool hit my car and ran, and I was really shocked and frustrated about it at first. But then I figured, You know what, this is what people do, they break things. And now I can look at my dented front bumper and laugh.

83) I used a planner for the first time since high school.
84) I read a children's book for the first time since... well, since I was a child myself.

85) My aunt let me have a family portrait of me and my parents from 1994 as an extra birthday/Christmas present. Sometimes snooping does pay off.
86) I worked an art festival convincing strangers to let me take pictures of them in yoga poses.
87) A really nice young stranger stopped to tell me his life story, and even though I kind of dropped the ball, that experience was a really great lesson in humanity.
88) Ma and I went to the Detroit Jazz Festival for the first time!
89) I won the bidding for a picture of a Senegalese boy atop his camel at a student African photo exhibit.
90) I climbed one mountain, and attempted to climb a second one. Both of which were in Kyoto.
91) I met a very special person named "L".
92) I became friends with another very special person named "Ivy".

93) My dad sent me books for Christmas (I don't think he's ever done that before).

94) My dad sent me a hand-written letter (he's definitely never done that before).

95) I got my first physical copy of a Tokyo Jihen CD.

96) I shopped for myself at Macy's for the first time.

97) I exchanged cards with a stranger on my birthday.

98) I biked 9 miles for the first time in over four years.

99) It might not seem wise, but my first time walking two dogs at once was with a pair of pit bulls this fall. Other than sore arms from being pulled through the woods, they didn't give me any trouble.
100) I spent a month trying to come up with a "100 Things" list, and it's helped me realize that even though I tend to think of my life as boring and static, I've actually had quite the colorful year.

Thanks for taking the time to read about my year. Best wishes to you all in 2014. Be Happy and God Bless!

100 Things That Happened This Year (part 1)

I saw that someone had done a list like this on Facebook, and I thought it would be a good thing to do to help me reflect on this year and be more grateful. Y'all should give it a try too if you have the time. If today and tomorrow won't give you enough time, there's always next year. Anyway, here goes, in no particular order:

1) I started practicing yoga.
2) I started this blog.
3) I went to Arizona for a week.
4) I went to Japan for two months.
5) My dog turned 10.
6) I turned 21.
7) My mom decided to stop relaxing her hair.
8) I told a few people about this blog, and a few started reading it.
9) I took the JLPT.
10) I moved into a single room in my dorm, just me myself and I.
11) I went to a Christian conference that changed my life.
12) I joined an Asian Christian fellowship/bible study group and became acquainted with some pretty cool people.
13) I told my best friends about my secret, super embarrassing dream of becoming a singer-songwriter.
14) I started writing songs again.
15) Madiba passed away, and I cried.
16) I started seeing a therapist.
17) I participated in a Japanese-English blog project and got paid for it (my first time earning money in college!).
18) I became a volunteer at an animal shelter.
19) I changed churches.
20) I discovered Fela Kuti.
21) I read 3 French-language novels, 2 French-language plays, and 4 French-language short stories
22) I stopped calling my dad on the phone.
23) I decided that I definitely do not want to go to grad school anytime soon.
24) I auditioned for the Black Power Rally.
25) I joined YouTube and Instagram again.
26) I had a pretty spectacular karaoke night with my best friends for my birthday.
27) Ma, me, Madison, Ma's friend, and her daughter had an all-girls Thanksgiving together.
28) I started watching TV regularly again/keeping it on for background noise.
29) I went to a club for the first time, and met Talib Kweli!
30) My president started his second term.
31) I read over 20 books.
32) I developed a crush on a guy friend of mine, but got over it quickly.
33) I came to enjoy eating tomatoes.
34) People remembered my birthday.
35) I started planning out two of my life goals. (Ms. founder/CEO, here I come!)
36) I had a really terrible roommate experience. But it taught me a lot about myself and how to deal with difficult people/people in general.
37) I got a marketing internship but then gave it up because it didn't feel right to me, and I knew I couldn't commit to it like I'd thought.
38) Japanese/Asian-style karaoke!
39) Ma booked us a trip to San Francisco.
40) I was able to spend time with my friends from elementary/middle/high school in between returning from Japan and heading back to school.
41) I didn't have to pull an all-nighter (never have).
42) Milk tea, Japanese curry, green-tea flavored snacks, and takoyaki!
43) I finally got up the courage to go to French conversation tables at my school.
44) The University of Loo-uh-vuhl won the NCAA Championship and I made sure folks knew about it.
45) Summer Skype dates with Ma every Thursday, 7 PM Japan Time.
46) I got a video camera and actually used it for a little while.
47) I developed a strange fondness for public transportation (thanks to JR trains, subways, the Shinkansen).
48)  My family did a collective fast.
49) I got my first parking ticket.
50) I started keeping a daily journal because Sue told me to, and it's turning out to less of a task than I thought it would be.

Check out part 2 to find out what else has happened for me in 2013!