Wow. Another year has come and gone. I have high hopes for this one, even though the world could quite possibly end next December.
photo by Anneliese Fish
But then, maybe that’s why I feel so optimistic about the next 12 months. Of course, this is also the year of my Saturn Return (no, I’m not entirely sure what that means either but all my super astrological centered friends refer to the 27th year with raised eyebrows and caution in their voice. Let’s hope the “upheaval” is all good change).
But before I get too invested with 2012 I’d like to remind myself about some of the highlights, musical moments, and all together glitter-tastic events of 2011.
1. New Hope Weekend
A week after returning to DC from an extended Christmas vacation in San Francisco, a group of crazy queers filled 1 Honda Civic, ate some sketchy food, and drove to some weird little hippy town in Pennsylvania. We saw llamas, goats, Caitlin collected chicken poop covered eggs, Stacey-Deb-Bobby & I swung on vines in a pitch black snow covered forest and it was 1 of several going away parties for Rachel.
2. “Home” ~ Edward Sharp & The Magnetic Zeros
This song sums up the quality bonding time with Michelle, Alexander, and Oliver. It includes dancing in 1 studio apartment, drinking fancy cocktails at Kramers, computer generated photo booths, Drag Race watching, and all around silliness. Was only a year or several behind to fall in love with this song.
3. Travels
2011 took me to Manhattan where I toured the Whitney, the MoMa, and several small art galleries, queer dance parties, and a rendezvous with Adrienne and Zane. I went to the Bahamas and literally swam with dolphins, and went down the scariest water-slide of my life. And Miami in a 5 star hotel, redone by Jay-Z. San Francisco Pride was glitter-tastic and filled with the most amazing people. 
Another adventure to New York to catch up with Kirya, Deb, Rachel, and Liz. A day trip to Baltimore came next, and wrapped it all up with an amazing weekend of self-induced isolation and cookies in Snowshoe, West Virginia.
4. “Dancing on My Own” ~ Robyn.
I’m not entirely sure when this song became “our” song (our= Alexander, Caitlin, Michelle, Stine, and myself) but I’m gonna attribute it to June.
Specifically DC and San Francisco Pride (where I was literally surrounded by 90% of my most favorite people in the world). This then bled into summer dance parties, staying out too late, camping in hotel rooms, breaking into swimming pools, 2 friends moving away, and my best friend/sister/wife moving across the country and much closer to me. Hel-LO New York!
5. Where the Girls Go, Clitfest -Writing for Social Change Panel, Meets Obsession.
My writing career really started to take off in 2011. 
Ok so I’ve yet to get paid (really) for my writing, but over the year I joined Where the Girls Go, helped create several print magazines, became editor-in-chief and relaunched the site with a fantabulous group of writers, shit starters, and pretty queers. I also started writing regularly for the online magazine, Meets Obsession. And my personal blog got upgraded.
6. Phase 1, August 19
There was a girl. Wearing a pirate eye patch. Holding a PBR. It only took 30 minutes of eyeing her from across the room before she got the hint, came over and “danced” with me.
Photo by Miss Maro
7. Hurricane Irene
A natural disaster that was supposed to destroy DC. The night after house-sitting for Mike and Ben and loads of laundry, and butterflies in my stomach, and nose kisses. Imminent danger. I spent the night learning a card game, watching Stine and Maria take shots and cooking brownies that refused to cook. More butterflies. But the only sign of a hurricane we found was a flicker light bulb here and there.
8. Baltimore
I loved the city and I love what happened there.
9. Christmas
Columbia, Maryland. Symphony of Lights. A Year Without a Santa. Dogs. Stockings. Christmas Carol Sing-a-longs. A Betsy Johnson Dress. Waking up grinning. Cardinals. I think I was 15 the last time I enjoyed Christmas that much.
10. New Years Eve
The best one yet. I blame 4 couples, Katy Perry, and the girl who wore a pirate eye patch. The stupid homophobic cab driver couldn’t have destroyed that night no matter how hard he tried. 
Honorable Mention: Tayisha Busay and my 27th Birthday & Brunch.
