Happy 2013 randomness...

1. Happy New Year! (Okay, I'm a little late with my new year wishes, but at least it's still January...)

2. I was super wild and crazy and did absolutely nothing on New Year's Eve. Just watched some TV, read a couple chapters of a book, and then stood at my window until I saw the reflections of the Navy Pier fireworks on a building down the block -- that's how I knew it was officially 2013, and therefore, I could immediately retire to bed. I always worry about noise on New Year's Eve, because even when we lived in the quiet Austin suburbs, people were always setting off fireworks for hours after midnight. But when midnight hit here in downtown Chicago, I was surprised by how quiet it was. I fell asleep right away, happy that none of our neighbors were hosting noisy parties. And then, around 2:00 in the morning, I woke up and gradually became aware of murmurings and engine noise and an occasional siren outside... so I got up and walked to the balcony windows to see what was going on. Apparently, 2 a.m. is about the time New Year's Eve parties start to break up, and EVERYONE heads home at the same time. The streets were crowded with people attempting to hail cabs (thank you for not driving, drunk people), which proved to be quite the feat, because every cab that passed was already in use. I've also never seen so many limos driving around at the same time -- I guess renting limos is also a New Year's Eve thing?? And because of all the traffic on the streets, emergency vehicles (which usually silently traverse the neighborhood at night, because the streets are pretty empty) were forced to use their sirens. So my nice quiet new year temporarily became a cacophony of party-goers...

3. I have, over the last few weeks, managed to smack my legs right into the corner of my bed on BOTH sides... so I now have matching bruises on both of my shins. Seriously, WHY did my parents not bestow upon me the middle name of "Grace"? Because clearly I am full of a lilting elegance, the likes of which is rarely found outside the realm of ballet dancing or Cirque du Soleil...

4. I'm losing hope that Chicago will get any decent snow this year. We've had a few random snow showers, where flakes will swirl around in the air for a couple hours but absolutely nothing accumulates. And seeing as temperatures are supposed to be in the 50s (and maybe even 60s???) this weekend, I'm guessing snow won't be in the forecast again for a while...

5. I never make new year's resolutions (with the exception of resolving to NOT write the wrong year when I write the date... you get so used to writing the previous year that it becomes habit. So I resolve to only write "2013" this year. I'm so ambitious.), but I suppose I should have some kind of goals for the new year. Like maybe getting the condo into better shape -- I've been meaning to buy some artwork for the walls since we moved in... I really ought to do that eventually. Perhaps I should even resolve to write more blog posts... :)

Hope everyone has had a great first week of 2013!