Wait, seriously?

On New Year's Eve 2011, I got charged $350 dollars for a cab ride home.

Apparently I was having far too much fun that night to notice until the next morning.

My heart sunk into my grumbling stomach. How could I have possibly gotten charged that much for a freaking cab ride?! I could have stayed at the Marriott around the corner for half that price. I probably could have chartered my own plane to pick me up from the bar and fly me home for that much money.

I figured it had to be a mistake. I called the cab company and explained the situation. The decimal point is just in the wrong spot, right? You can't seriously be charging me $350 for a cab ride.

Oh, but they were. I had been notified that there was going to be a "surcharge" due to the high demand for cabs that evening. Unfortunately I was supposed to interpret "surcharge" as "we're going to gouge the bejeezus out of you, cool?"

No, sir. Not cool.

After a long interaction with the cab company when I may have thrown around words like "rat fink", they decided to reimburse me for half of the cab fare. Something's better than nothing right?

I would like to use this story as a metaphor for how I would sum up my 2012.

2012 wasn't my best year. I was paying out the nose, stressing myself out, and only getting a lousy cab ride that smelled like bad cologne in return.

Then I took matters into my own hands, and 2012 gave me a 50% reimbursement with a job in a place where I feel at home.

I saw my grandma back in August at the beach and again over Christmas break. I wasn't doing too hot in August, having just gone through a breakup and really not knowing where to turn next. And no, I wasn't hiding it very well. But then I saw her just a couple weeks ago after having been in Florida for a couple months and she said, "Kate, you seem like a different person."

I couldn't agree more. I feel like a different person.

Sad outcome to this game, but still a very happy day.

I also realize that my new lifestyle hasn't been too conducive to blogging. Mainly because I'm not lonely anymore. Something that I like to call a high-quality problem. I spent so much of last year alone in a hotel room, alone on a plane or alone in my apartment that it was a no brainer to sit down and write something. Blogging made me feel less lonely.

Now I'll meet up with friends after work on a Wednesday for drinks, eat lunch with a coworker instead of alone at my desk in the basement, or go to the beach on a Sunday and take a nap in the sun.

January 13, indeed.

Yesterday I went to the beach at Fort De Soto Park, read a book in the sun and attempted to throw a frisbee. Still trying to master the wrist snap, but still. What a Sunday.

Despite how much I may have wanted to, I can't write off 2012 completely. I figured out what makes me happy (catchy rap tunes), I figured out what drives me bonkers (finding parking in busy places). I learned how to be an efficient business traveler and I learned that I prefer having a short commute and sleeping in the same bed every night.

Right around the time I was packing up and moving to Florida I realized that  I didn't manage to achieve most of the goals I set for myself for 2012, and that I likely wasn't going to. But looking back at them I think I nailed the most important one - Take life as it comes, when it comes.

Oh, and that headstand. What up!

This post isn't an apology or an explanation. It's basically just a way for me to wipe the slate clean. 2012 kicked my butt. However, I didn't pay a dime to get home this New Year's, so I think the odds are in my favor for 2013.