2019: New and Unknown

2019 was certainly its own flavor, tasting of something new and unknown. 2019 was different.

Perhaps I helped that long? In January I decide to do something new or different (or that I haven't done in years) every month. It was, believe it or not, a lot harder than it sounded, especially since I am not a particularly bold or adventuresome person. But it was worth it.

I would like to share with you my 2019, by month. I will share what "new" thing I did (I will also admit when it was a half-cheating month) along with general highlights/major events that happened that month.

January: I hung out at a coffee shop by myself. I actually enjoyed this a lot, and have continued to do it every now and then. I went to the New Holland Cofee Co.

• I attended my workplace's annual employee banquet for the first time in all the 6 years that I worked there.
• I created my department's first-ever manual.
• I had a surprise meeting on Friday, Jan 18 where I was told that, effective Monday, I would be a manager. 
• My nephew Stephen was born!

February: I did a DIY project. I applied some chalkboard paint to a box I didn't like the design of and tried my hand at some cool writing of part of a verse on the side. It has a slight slant to it, but I think it turned out well!

• I attended my first manager meeting.
• On Valentine's Day I ended up climbing over the stall wall from one bathroom stall to another to help an older woman who had gotten dizzy and fallen. Undoubtedly the strangest thing I ever did at work. 
• Renovations at my workplace began (and were mostly finished, though some happened in March).

March: I started running occasionally (plus doing some push ups at the end of my run). I did get a little better each time, although running has never been my thing and unfortunately, I have not continued to be consistent with it. Perhaps next year?

• Department manuals for everyone were finally finished!
• We had our first Customer Service game night, which seemed to be enjoyed by all.

April: I made artsy little encouragement cards for some coworkers (this was a half-cheating month). My coworkers really enjoyed them, but it wasn't something totally new. Ah, well. I enjoyed it. And I used my new markers...does that count?

 

• I decided I would go to Colombia the next month. When my brother heard, he decided to go too!
• We had fun with little wind-up chicks at work (it's the little things!).
• I was on a bit of a Shakespeare roll and read at least three of his plays that I hadn't yet read. Thus far I have still not found one that compares to Hamlet.
• I found out swimsuits are ridiculously expensive.

May: I took a semi-impromptu trip to a new country - Colombia. With my brother, no less - his first time abroad! Yeah, that was cool. I love visiting new countries! A delightful experience.

• Colombia, of course! We stayed in a local home in Palmira, went to Cali and other nearby areas, went up in the mountains and to a lake and to a zoo, visited people, etc. 
• The day I returned to work after Colombia, I found out our department manager had quit the day before. His computer was re-set with my name, email, etc. within a couple hours. 
• I finally got a new name tag that says Manager. 
• My good friend of 16 years - since first grade - got married! I was honored to be a bridesmaid in her wedding.
• I went to see Avengers Endgame. (I don't know if I'll be able to watch any more Marvel movies ever again...)
• Henry Winkler, aka the Fonz, stopped in at my workplace and I got to meet him and have my picture taken with him. I ended up being interviewed for a short news clip about it the next day, and got a ridiculous amount of comments about it for the next 2-3 months (including from a cashier at Staples and a FB message request from a totally random guy I don't know).

June: I did a photo log of my day. This was a little strange, but interesting. The hardest part was remembering to do it! To see the full photo-journal of June 16, please click here. 

• My niece turned three!
• Had lunch and went thrift shopping with some of my older busser friends.
• Discovered magnetic poetry. A beautiful thing. Do some online here.
• Saw a baby skunk chasing something in the grass by the rail trail - literally adorable.

July: I went to a park by myself - did some pull ups, took pictures, and got my shoes wet. I almost marked this as a half-cheat month, but it wasn't really my fault. I was planning on going hiking by myself - to a well-beaten path where lots of people hiked - but my mom and a couple coworkers kind of freaked out about it so I switched my plans for them. It was still enjoyable. Except for the wet shoes because of the wet grass. 

• First service in my church's new auditorium.
• I finally skyped with my German friend again - for over an hour!
• Fruit runts at work. Enough said.
• Received an issue of Vogue in the mail that I totally did NOT order, and it went in the trash.
• Had a sweet Facebook messenger conversation with my young friend in Guatemala.

August: I went to a hibachi grill for the first time (and also worked a personal new record for most hours worked in a week - 55.5 hours!). Ok, this might be a half-cheating month...to be honest, I was running out of time because work was crazy (obviously) and so when I was hanging out with my brother and cousin and our cousin asked if we wanted to try lunch at a hibachi grill and we went...well...I just counted it. Also may I add that the only good things about working that much is that my paycheck was bigger and I found out I can.

• Found out ferns are nearly impossible to dig out. Never plant ferns. They are trying to take over the world.
• One of my sweetest employees retired before she wanted to due to a cancer diagnosis.
• I had a lovely two days with my favorite cousin (and her parents and my mom and brother). Enjoyed the outdoors and a wonderful two days far removed from work.
• Had a super fun evening with my niece and nephew at the local park.

September: I played laser tag for the first time (and also went on my first managers retreat...where I am 99% sure I was the youngest manager). This was all on the same day, too. And it was fun, even if I certainly wasn't the top scorer of hits. 

• My sister and I tried a yummy new recipe involving pesto.
• As I left work one Saturday, I was given one of my favorite pastries with a sweet note from one of my employees.
• I finally convinced my mom to repaint the bathroom, and it looks so much better now.
• I led our department meetings, where there was food, instruction, and a building-with-Legos contest. (Winning creation is pictured below)

October: I went to Gettysburg for the first time. My mom and I went together, and it was a beautiful, perfect fall day for traipsing around the woods, well-traveled paths, and climbing on top of and inside piles of rocks. We took pictures of cool monuments, ate a picnic lunch, and did a good job of staying ahead of the busloads of older folks.

• I also got my first popped and very flat tire, then went and got all new tires by myself the next day.
• The pranks at work began, officially starting with the retrieval of a sponge bob balloon that had escaped to the ceiling...week-long pranks are seriously the best.
• My niece told me "I love you" for the first time. My heart  melted.
• I discovered - with great disappointment - that all of the food at MacDonald's shrank since the last time I ate there.
• I was sick on my birthday, plus I had to go to work due to a mandatory manager meeting, during which they sang to me. Sigh. Other than that, it was a good day with lots of well-wishes.
• We had a lovely annual October weekend with our family and my aunt and uncle near World's End State Park.
• I received a birthday package from Germany full of yummy and fun things.

November: I ate at a fast-food restaurant by myself. Wendy's definitely has better customer service than MacDonald's, but...let's be honest, MacDonald's just tastes so much better, even if it is so much smaller...

• Another friend asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding next year.
• I successfully pulled one of the best pranks ever (yes, at work).
• Got an unexpected, formal apology for the first time ever, flowers included.
• More pranks amongst us at work. Because why not?
• Customer Service hiking outing was a total success, with fun, laughter, crisp air, and someone sliding down a hill (not on purpose).

December: I bought plane tickets for the first time! I know, that may sound simple, but hey, I've never done it before despite all the places I've traveled. I very excitedly bought round-trip tickets to visit a friend in North Carolina in January - I've been wanting to visit her for at least a year, and it's finally going to happen!

• I spoke at HMS (my old private school) middle school chapel and then enjoyed a chat with the 8th grade class.
• Spent some precious time with my niece and nephew.
• My brother left the job he's had for 15 years and started a new one - the last day working with my brother left me a bit sentimental. (I also had to field annoying rumors that I was also leaving.)

In general over this year...so many people I know got engaged and/or married, I started using bento boxes or other reusable containers for lunches instead of so many plastic bags, I dealt with too many rude and ridiculous customers, I got called "Boss" too many times, and was very stressed and frustrated at work.

This year I only read about 135 books, which yes, is way less than what I used to be able to read. (In my defense, a lot of them were nonfiction and therefore took more time and focus to read.) Oh yes, and I listened to a lot of music (see my favorites from 2019 here).

Most important of all, though, was the fact that God was totally with me and we spent some incredible times together. He is always faithful, and He never stops doing more than we could ever hope for or imagine!

May 2020 be a blessed year!