It's getting to be that time, guys.

How was 2012?
Any major life events?
Good changes? Bad changes? Neutral changes?

Any exciting plans for 2013?

Started off well enough.

Two words: Shit sandwich.

Actually, our son Brandon was born this year and he smiles so much at four months old, that it almost makes up for everything else.

My work situation continued to be fantastic with only one minor disagreement earlier this year: otherwise smooth sailing. I even got a couple of performance bonuses, which helped for buying a washer and dryer.

We moved, which was a huge, exhausting pain in the ass, but we got a place we really love for the first time in, well, ever.

I surprised my wife with a new engagement ring on our 10 year engagement anniversary (which she had forgotten about) at her 30th birthday party. But the ring gives her a rash, so I have to get it re-finished. Ugh.

The bad sucked. A lot of health problems. Many medical bills piling up, even after insurance. My in-laws abusing each other. My son being diagnosed with Asperger's. A really bad comic convention experience.

Overall I think I liked 2011 better. 2012 was better than 2010, though, which was horrifying. So I think the trend is positive.

2013 is when I have, I think, six comic books out, possibly more. And planning a cruise to Alaska in late summer. Pretty neat. I predict it'll be a banner year for all of us IMWANkers.

Sorry to ramble on about myself. Next person!

Well, it couldn't be much worse...so I'm optimistic for 2013. I think it'll be a damned good year, and Rose and I plan to move somewhere quieter, so that's a plus.

2012 was better than 2011. 2012 was terrible. Feh.

So heading in the right direction, though, right? Maybe 2013 will be mediocre! Please, God, a lukewarm year!

2012. Sheesh. Where to begin?

Three break ups. Count em. Three.
The big one with Matt back in February, which is still in the process of getting sorted out.
Then briefly (a few months) dated a guy I worked with. Great guy, great friend, but the timing was all wrong and he was honestly a bit too immature for me. I broke things off early, to avoid the mess and complication of getting stuck in a long term relationship with someone I'm not compatible with. Messy, and not fun, but it could have been worse.
And then started kinda sorta seeing a guy who ended up being a bit of a dick, and essentially dumped me a week before Christmas. So, you know, that was all sorts of fun.
Now I'm for realsies single again, and probably for the best. Making arrangements to move into a one bedroom apartment at the end of January, in the same building I live in now, just down the hall. I'm excited for that, but a little nervous - I've never lived alone before, have always had a boyfriend or roommates to keep me company. It will be an adjustment.

The job has been kinda up and down this year - I love my co-workers to death. They are (mostly) a wonderful bunch, and we have lots of fun together. The money is usually pretty good, too, considering the type of job it is. Getting my hours cut was stressful, though hopefully that is all squared away now.

Had my best semester at school so far, the one that ended in the Spring. Tons of reading and research and self improvement. I'm starting to kinda find myself, in the academic sense, and I'm really starting to look forward to grad school (which I will hopefully start in the fall of 2012).

I got to visit Washington D.C. (I went inside the White House!!!), Baltimore, and Atlantic City with my family, which was great fun as well.

So, it was both a great and terrible year. The best of times, the worst of times, and all that jazz.

Hurricane Sandy. Let's not do that ever again.

2012 meant mundo $$$$ for me. I've never worked so many hours in all the years I've been working. My New Years resolution is to get some sleep.

If in 2013 I get hit by a truck, spend six months in a coma and have three limbs amputated, it will still be a better year than 2012.

Pretty rocky job-wise: finished my brief bust of career as a vet tech (turns out I'm a really poor fit: I can't multi-task), spent six months unemployed and dejected.
Car-wise, too: wrecked my little car that I loved.

Finishing the year with good news: I picked up two courses for the Spring semester, so I'm getting back into teaching.
Car-wise, too: just got a new car (after being without one for three months).

Things are looking up.

In May and June of 2012 my wife and I had a long running affair/threesome with one of my best friends (a woman). It was very complicated, but pretty wonderful. She could go on "dates" with this other woman with my blessing. After 10 years of marriage it seemed like my wife had found an outlet for her bisexuality.

In July, three days after the death of her dad, my wife announced that she wanted a divorce and that she was leaving the state with this other woman. I took the kids (two and seven) and left Alaska as well and went to my sister's house in Massachusetts, where we stayed for the rest of the summer.

In August this other woman called me and said that she was still in love with me and asked how she could break it to my wife. I told her she was all alone with that one. Also in August I began proceedings that would result in our home being sold back to our bank at loss after two years of uncorrected foundation problems. I walked away with 4,000 dollars in my pocket, handed half of that, in cash, to my wife when I saw her in August.

In September my wife formally filed for divorce. I took a leave from my job in Alaska and moved to new york so I could share custody of the kids with my wife. But sometime I have to go back to Alaska...what happens next?

And I'm giving the reader's digest version. It's like a movie of the week.

One of the two shittiest years of my life, and yet, I feel okay.

2012 was good. Nothing major up and nothing major down.

I had to unexpectedly go to the hospital twice with leg issues but that's down from the number of times in 2011 so that's a plus. I still have to use a cane from time to time but mostly I'm pain free. Yay prescription meds.

I've been continuing to lose weight. I'm still probably at least 20-25lbs away from where I want to be. If I get there in 2013 that will be great.

My daughter turned 10 this year. I'm not sure if that was a bigger deal for her or for me. She thankfully still is taking after my wife and the only thing she got from me is height and a love of cartoons. My wife would have been so proud to see her now. She's going to do a lot more in this world than I ever have. I'm very good with that.

I'll be turning 40 in 2013 so that will be a big deal. I may even throw a party if I can find enough people I want to be in a room with.

The best part of 2012 was seeing the art come in from Joe and Marcus for Johnny Impossible. I can't express the joy that comes with seeing your ideas brought to life by such talented artists. This was by far the best part of my year. And in 2013, I'll have the actual comic in my hands - it is going to be amazing.

I'm 42 now. Rita and my friends were all working on my birthday so I spent that one alone (celebrated on the weekend, I think...). But this Mike-avatar-worthy bartender bought me a round:

I totally remembered this photo and yes, if she was moving she'd be an avatar of mine one day for sure

I'm honored, Trevor.

This has been a year of upheaval, stress and depression. No deaths, other than dear old gray kitty Dot. I think I have covered most of the shitstorm in the Tuna Throws A Rod thread, so no need to rehash it here.

I have never been so far into the well as this year. My doctor wanted me to take an extra antidepressant and I refused. I needed to know how I was feeling, even if how I was feeling was really bad. My brain is still not working right. Sometimes I forget important things and I still am having trouble concentrating. But I am, I think, getting more balanced.

I hope the new year is better. It sure as hell can't be any worse.

@The Human Top: geez, that's a lot to lose in a short amount of time. Sorry.

let's hope that 2013 doesn't take such drastic measures to make you miserable, dear.

Thanks Tenebrae.

It's weird because despite all the upheaval, and the crazy way it happened, I'm pretty happy this year. Maybe I'm in shock.