2012 Reflections

2012 has been a wonderful year.  We got a little older and a lot wiser.  The year was made what it was by our very wonderful friends and family.  Some highlights:

Family and Friends

E's sister B got married!  The newlyweds look so very happy together!  Barapapa and Barimomi moved to Florida.  Mom and Dad moved to Colorado.  One friend moved back from Canada and another moved away to Argentina.  We met some great new friends and had some tubing and house-break-in adventures with them.

Travel

In January, we visited family and beaches in sunny Fort Lauderdale.  The weather was beautiful and we had lots of leisure time, so we walked to and from the beaches each day (the most walking we've ever done). 
In April S-Chan and we went on a road trip up the West Coast of the US.  It was great to enjoy the company and hospitality of our dear family and friends.  Trip highlights: getting to spend time with mom and dad (and enjoy great food cooked by mom), getting to travel through beautiful places with our great friend S-Chan, scenic Big Sur, a bike ride across Golden Gate Bridge, colorful Portland Rose Garden in torrential downpour, meeting E's aunt and uncle, climbing with LB and CN at Index Mountains, being treated to dinner by PM and AM.  The people all along the coast were very friendly.

Studies
E sat the Colorado bar exam in February, got admitted to a Religious Studies program, took summer Chinese classes and a semester of Buddhism courses in the fall.  He became interested in the transmission of Buddhism along the Silk Road.  My adviser got fired from CU.

Misc. Other Activities

This warm year gave us lots of opportunities for hikes, walks to the creek, and tennis games with Mom and Dad.  Friend LB inspired me to train for a half-marathon, and I made it (without feeling tired!) 5 miles, before smashing my knee (and hopes for the half-marathon) on a hike.  I biked to work for the first time (in six years, yes - I am that lazy) and led my first climb outdoors.  We got to use our new camping tent on a gorgeous night in the Rocky Mountains.  

I started going to Food not Bombs, and met some pretty neat people.  Joined a running group with friends, and kept going to our philosophy group. 

Saw a midnight Pink Floyd laser show at the Planetarium, a summer Marimba Concert at the Boulder Farmer's Market, and the Beach Boys at Red Rocks, a really beautiful venue.