Total 2010 Recap

I haven't blogged in ages, and there is no excuse. But no time like the new year to rectify that, am I right?

I wrote in my planner a few days ago "write reflective blog post on 2010". I've been putting it off naturally, because how does one sum up an entire year? It seemed such a daunting task that I actually completed "do laundry", "clean up house from birthday party" and "renew Disneyland annual pass first" -- which are all incredibly painful chores, I assure you.

2010 was an amazing year for me. I think one is doing a grand job living their life if each year surpasses the last, and so far in my 23 years of life I feel I have managed to accomplish this for myself. I'm going to go through the months and try to remember the highlights and accomplishments from this year.

January: This may not seem like a huge deal, but I got my first smart phone in January. Google sent me the Nexus One as a gift, and since I don't have T-Mobile I traded it for an HTC Hero for Sprint and sad as it sounds, it has kind of changed my life. Being able to check email, tweet, do so many social-networky things from literally anywhere has completely changed what it means to be plugged in, and I think it's only helped to create this self brand I've been building online.

February: I registered for my last quarter of college. I spent a lot of time at home really bonding with roommates. I started to realize I was outgrowing my job at the theatre that I had loved for so long. I spent another Valentine's Day alone, which in actuality means Eia and I spent another Valentine's day with our credit cards at the mall. I did a huge zombie photoshoot with NightZero where we shot about 80 different frames for a vignette in a single day. And Luke came to Mexico with my family and I for a lovely week in the sun.

March: Luke came to Seattle and we filmed the Don't Unplug Me and World of Warcraft music videos. Our album "Bmin/E" came out this month. I think this was a huge turning point in my life, to be honest. I kind of feel like everything changed after Bmin/E came out. ALL CAPS went almost instantly from a fun hobby to my legitimate job, and the opportunities that started pouring in were incredible. We had a big NightZero party at our house, which was another good step in the direction of me making more friends in Seattle. Then that month, I quit my theatre job. It was a hard decision, but in hindsight, it was the right one.

April: I saw one of my favorite bands, Muse, in concert for the second time. I don't think I could ever see this band live too many times. It's just such a breathtaking experience. Then on Easter weekend, I went with my parents to a casino for the first time (which was the first of many, surprisingly). Took my second trip to LA of the year. My roommate Justin and I started the "Back to the Future Game" which essentially just means we turn on the TV and hope Back to the Future is on (which we're still playing actually, though we also started one for Spongebob since then). This month is also the month I think I started becoming friends with Ariana, who I had no idea at the time would become one of my best friends. I auditioned for America's Next Top Model. xD I also met the lovely security guard at my local bank this month, who became a regular character in my blog. Hallows and Horcruxes Ball 3 was this month, and Luke and I performed "Lumos Flies" - technically our first live ALL CAPS performance. Also, unbeknownst to the world, I started playing WoW.

May: I started to get to know Tara, who I had no idea would also become a very good friend of mine. Save the Children invited me to come along to Washington DC for Advocacy Day, which was the first time I took any sort of trip because of YouTube for social activism. Luke came out to visit one more time before heading to Wyoming for the summer, and I spent the better part of this month slaving over my Senior Thesis. I watched the Series finale of Lost, bringing a huge chapter of my life to an end. Went on my family's annual camping trip that I had missed the previous three years because of HP events.

June: Graduated from the University of Washington. It felt surreal - simultaneously like I had been in college forever, and like no time had passed at all since high school. I didn't enjoy college as much as I'd hoped, so finishing was a monumental occasion for me, one I was very proud of. Tara asked me to become a permanent writer for Zaxy.com. I started watching the Shaytards on YouTube. I left for summer tour.

July: Most of this month was tour. I learned so much about myself and my friends on this tour - and for the most part, had a total blast. I went to VidCon, where ALL CAPS got to close the mainstage show the first night. I went to Infinitus, where I got to experience the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and definitely cried the first time I stepped into Hogsmeade. One of my favorite cousins got married and my family was right there at the wedding cheering him on. I started watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

August: I blogged every day in August. I went to the Renaissance Faire with my friends and met a whole bunch of new people there I had no idea would become good friends of mine later on. Again, I spent a lot more time bonding with my Seattle friends, after a crazy summer of being gone. Powered through about 4 seasons of Buffy. Read Mockingjay, a heart-wrenching and powerful book I'd been looking forward to all year. America's Next Top Model called me in for a private audition for Cycle 16, but my flight got cancelled and I didn't get to go. My roommate and friend PJ moved out of our house. I continued to get to know Tara and the other new Zaxy writer, Brittney, and we started our semi-regular Zaxy sleepovers.

September: I went to the Bahamas with my two best friends, Eia and Liz and had such an amazing wonderful relaxing time. I got to attend PAX Prime here in Seattle, experiencing a whole world of video games I didn't even know existed. I went to LA again, my third trip in 2010. Luke and I worked on our acoustic album but mostly played Magic the Gathering all week. I got ready to leave for fall tour.

October: Went to my hometown's annual parade, saw my brother in his marching band for the last time (he's a Senior). Most of this month was spent on fall tour, which was possibly even more incredible than summer tour. Getting to spend that much time on the road with my best friends is an experience that's not even comparable to anything else. Got to know Ariana a lot more and started getting really close with her. Broke my toe, went to ZomBcon and had a hilariously wonderful Halloween party at our place in Seattle.

November: Most of this month was NaNoWriMo. Successfully completed my 5th year of writing 50,000 words in a month. Attended Wrockstock 4. Went to LA for the fourth time in 2010 and spent a lot of time with friends down there. Came home and essentially locked myself in my room and wrote for the remainder of the month. Eia moved out of my house, which was sad, but gave me her huge bedroom which is so much better for making videos and recording music.

December: Went to Guatemala with Save the Children, which was an awe-inspiring, life changing experience. Went down to LA for a fifth time, this time for the Project 4 Awesome livestream that was also a pretty mind-boggling thing to be a part of. Met a ton of YouTubers (including Shay and Katilette, which was awesome) and for the first time, really felt like an important member of this community on a larger scale. Came home, spent time with Seattle friends, spent Christmas with my family, had an amazing birthday with my friends at my house, saw the Harry Potter Exhibition and now I'm getting ready for New Year's Eve, the end of this incredible year, and the start of one I can only hope is going to be even better.


I was going to wax philosophical about the tone and feel and themes of my year, but I think this summary is sufficient to stand alone. I'm going to let this all stew, and go into the new year without any expectations or implications. Thanks for coming along with me on this crazy trainride of my life, and I hope you'll stick around to see what the next chapter brings.


Total chipotle burritos in 2010: Only something like 26, I lost count.
Last google search of 2010: "renew Disney annual pass"

I feel like I should go out with a question here -- for the comments, what was your absolute favorite memory of 2010? Also, did I meet you this year? If so, tell me when!