You did it for the stories you could tell

Having painstakingly emerged from my finals coma, I've discovered that I already have an outstanding warrant on my annual blog-tacular New Years predictions game. Based on my immediate reactions to my previous, year-old list, another entry is likely to follow that features me obnoxiously marveling over how darn eventful 2011 was for me. But for now...:

Predictions of Varying Certainty for 2011:*
- By April, I will be working for a different company than the one I do now.
- I will visit a state that I have previously never been to.
- My parents, sister, and GR will patiently help me make a series of agonizing decisions over the course of the year.
- My student loans will finally be consolidated successfully.
- By the end of the year, I will become a better cook and expand my culinary skills beyond the rudimentary meals I make now, perhaps even learning to wield spices.
- I will attend at least two (2) weddings.

* While I don't believe in karma or jinxes, I don't not believe in them, either, so I'm making the executive decision to abstain from any predictions about the results of my grad school applications.

How Prescient I Actually Was*:
- I did indeed switch jobs, with minimal incident, and wound up at a place that let me continue to work part-time and remotely when I moved to Boston. I call this a double-win.
- I don't actually think I visited any new states. I moved to a new state, though, for the first time in my life, so I'd like to think that makes up for it.
- This was clearly a not-too-subtle reference to the fact that I thought I might be choosing a grad school in 2011, and it came true accordingly. My listed confidants wound up "helping" by being supportive in my decision-making, but my choice of grad school was, to be fair, probably not the one they internally hoped for.
- My student loans were not only consolidated, but also deferred for a laughably long time thanks to me re-becoming a full-time student.
- Fail. I still make the same five or six meals every day, happily.
- I was invited to two weddings, but only attended one. 40% fail.

* What a wuss. This list would have been more interesting if I had made grad school acceptance predictions. Then again, perhaps it was my deft avoidance of such a damning jinx that got me into grad school this year, so maybe I shouldn't complain.

Predictions of Varying Certainty for 2012:
- I'll agonize over whether or not to move apartments or renew my lease in my current one, but will ultimately decide to stick with my current pad.
- I will schedule, take, and successfully get through my minor field exam.
- At least two of my friends (not including GR) will come visit me in Boston.
- I'll keep my current part-time/remote job for the duration of the year.
- I will be surprised by at least one person I know announcing that she is pregnant.
- I will go see a movie in theaters less than two times over the course of the entire year.