Yes, ladies and gentleman, it’s that time of year again… bring on the Top 10 lists! I used to get annoyed at all these lists, but I have to admit, it’s pretty cool to look back and remember the cool people, events and what was important to you in year’s past like 2008, 2009 and 2010.

While it may have started out a little rocky (like quitting my job without a new one in sight), 2011 ended as an unbelievable year. And, certainly one of my favorite. As I looked around the last few days of 2011, I read and heard a lot of people say, “Thank goodness this year is over, it [insert depressing/sucky word here].” This year, I disagreed with them all. 2011 is one year I’ll look back on with a HUGE grin on my face.

Without further adieu, here’s the Top 10 of one of my very favorite years:

1. Backpacked across Europe in heels
2. For the first time, I let a guy sleep over at my place
3. Experienced two of my best friends becoming engaged!
4. Got a new job. Again
5. With the new gig, I road tripped back to the East Coast. These days, Columbus, Ohio is “home”
6. I ran my very first half marathon
7. Became an “Aunt” for the very first time
8. Many a great lesson and experiences were had (including Skydiving!)
9. I traveled like a mad woman – 7 countries, 48 cities and 197 days on the road
10. I learned the meaning of true friends

Here’s to the best ride around the sun yet! This year, I was lucky enough to celebrate my birthday in several states with a few very special people. In the end, the actual day was spent in a new city with my Mom. I’m lucky to have a Mom who flies anywhere for birthdays I wouldn’t have wanted to spend 29 any other way.

After this weekend, I’m getting pretty close to the real deal. Now, I just need to get away from all the people that make me unhappy.

But I am. I am lost.

A friend of mine has this theory on dating:

There’s the…
Right time, wrong girl
Wrong girl, right time
Right time, no girl

Maybe he’s right. I’ve certainly had all three of those experiences. But, what if what we think is the right time really isn’t? What if there’s something larger than us that knows when the real right time is? The hopeless romantic in me believes there is someone out there for everyone. And, when the time is right, she or he will come into your life, but they won’t be there until then.

Babe- even though you can’t see it, the time isn’t right quite yet, despite however much you want it to be. But, I promise that one day it will be the right time. If and when I see it before you do, I promise to finally like the person you’re dating

Today you’d be eight years old. Happy Birthday baby boy… time really does heal all wounds, but I still think of you every day. These days, they are only happy thoughts.

Every day, we lie to ourselves. We tell ourselves that we’re in good enough shape, we love our jobs, that we love the person we’re with, that the sex is great or that’s how it’s supposed to feel. In other words, we settle for what’s comfortable. We settle because we fear the unknown, we fear being alone. And most of all, we fear that what we’ve felt for so long is wrong. No one wants to admit that they were wrong about such life altering choices.

But, do living the lies stop us from being truly happy? Or do the lies make us happy? Or do the lies stop us from being our very best selves?

And, while you might think the truth, when you truly say it out loud to yourself, you can never, ever go back to the lie. And sometimes, realizing the truth and that you can’t go back hurts more than living the lie ever did.

I learned some good, hard and silly lessons in 2010. Like I mentioned in my 10 Cool Things of 2010, it’s fun to look back.

So, here’s the top 10 things I learned in 2010:

1. I still love cards and stationary. There’s nothing quite like a handwritten note
2. A great bra is priceless
3. I’m a hopeless romantic at heart
4. The hardest thing to do is get out of bed. If you can do that, you can make it through the day
5. I love hoodies. If I could wear one to work every day, I would
6. The human spirit, if you let it, is indomitable. You can get back up again and again even when it seems impossible
7. You can’t erase the past even when you know it’s wrongly coloring the future
8. Reality is perception no matter how hard you try to get people to see the “truth” or what you see
9. Connecting digitally pales in comparison to face to face time and phone calls vs. text messages. There’s nothing quite like connecting in person or hearing someone’s voice. It truly changes the entire dynamic and feelings
10. Love doesn’t conquer all, but I still believe in it and impossible things

Yes, ladies and gentleman, it’s that time of year again… bring on the Top 10 lists! I used to get annoyed at all these lists, but I have to admit, it’s pretty cool to look back and remember the cool things, events and what was important to you in year’s past like 2008 and 2009.

Here it is, ten cool things of 2010 (in date order):

1. Got a new job
2. Traveled overseas (to Madrid) for the first time
3. Got promoted and headed up marketing and public relations for a Las Vegas Strip hotel; the youngest marketing head in the industry by at least 10 years.
4. Got a cat
5. Fell in love with my best friends even more and made a few, unexpected new ones
6. Got a real mentor
7. Learned more about what I don’t like than what I like
8. Took some big risks and made some changes in the relationship department
9. Experienced the opening of the last hotel on the Las Vegas Strip
10. Joined an online dating site. For realz

I remember little about how we met – iMedia. I threw a business card at him and he said he was done hunting.

His first text to me? “Maybe I’m not wearing pants.”

iMedia again. The first time I had a flight that was delayed. He saw me, twirled me around and that night was the first and only picture we have together. The kiss? I remember it like yesterday. A flurry of white shirt as he swooped in. And after, me disappearing in the night. He said good morning to me the next day. Mojitos by the pool where he said he was amazed how well we “fit” and then an afternoon rendezvous. At the party someone asked if were married. The sparks just flew when we were together.

Las Vegas, DC, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, Ft. Myers, San Diego. All amazing. Maybe because they weren’t real. Maybe it was the thrill of the chase, secret rendezvous never lasting for more then a few stolen moments.

Instant messages, text messages, video chats. It was the honeymoon phase. He would say, “I want you,” and “I hate myself because I think I could love you.” I laughed. It wasn’t real. It was simply a thrilling game. But then, he said it enough and I started to believe. And, I wanted to make it real. I wanted more.

I asked.

Months later I would learn he couldn’t see “the plan.” I could. To me, it was simple.

More months passed. Lives changed. And then, they changed again.

I asked again. I asked wrong. I pushed too hard.

While “the plan” may be different, I still see it. I worry that he can’t, yet he won’t ask. For he is always right. But what happens when you can’t see what is right in front of your face?

And the truth? Well, the truth is I am just a girl. Waiting for a chance. Just a chance- not a promise, or 100% investment. Just one real date where both parties keep an open mind, are willing to see things in a different light. In a light where anything is possible and grand gestures like this mean something.