At this point I’m sure that you’re all very sick of these “looking back” on 2012 posts. After surviving the Mayan Apocalypse, I’m very grateful to have seen 2012 through. The more I thought about the disaster that was 2012, the more I needed to remind myself of all the good things that happened in my life during 2012. So come along with me on a journey through 2012, and I promise that 2013 will be yet another adventure.

Looking at 2012: January

I don’t believe in making resolutions. It’s not that I don’t think I could see them through, it’s just that I’ve never made one. I believe that the activities of New Year’s Eve actually signify how the rest of your year is going to go. Since I began believing this, it hasn’t been too far off. But without creating a resolution, I began going to the gym every morning at 5am at the start of 2012 (or shortly after). I stayed true to my goal and managed to drop some excess weight. While I’ve gotten a little off course as of lately, I’m still proud to look back at the progress I made in 2012 when I made time instead of making excuses. At the end of January, I saw Kelly Clarkson for the fifth time in concert in Albany. D bought me tickets for Christmas of 2011 and he enjoyed his very first Kelly Clarkson show.

February 2012

In early February 2012, I saw Phantom of the Opera for the first time on Broadway with my friend J.

Afterwards, we enjoyed a delicious dinner and then saw RENT off Broadway. It was a very exciting day for both of us. Neither of us had seen either show on stage. Although I fell asleep a little bit during Phantom it was still an amazing experience.

In the middle of February, D and I celebrated our second Valentine’s Day together and at the very end of February, D and I moved into our very first apartment together.

March 2012

In March, D and I settled into our new apartment. I grew accustomed to not having to drive anywhere, and enjoyed my seven minute walk to work. I quickly learned that having extra time means much more procrastination. I still managed to get to the gym every morning at 5AM, but I made it into work much later than if I was driving there.

April 2012

On Easter weekend in 2012, D and I drove home to Forestville, NY to finally celebrate Christmas with my parents. I love presents, and I was thrilled to spend some time with my family and close friends. I also got to watch my Mom open her Christmas presents as well as her Mother’s Day gifts. When we returned home I auditioned for my first play since High School, Legally Blonde. About a week later I found out I had been cast in a dream role of Warner Huntington III.

I also took a giant leap and sold a large chunk of my CD collection that I no longer listen to. It felt good to get rid of the clutter and focus more on albums that I truly love and listen to. D and I also saw Titanic in 3D and that is completely worth mentioning.

May 2012

In late May 2012, I began rehearsal for Legally Blonde the Musical and met a ton of new friends. Looking at a review of 2012 on Facebook tells me that I made over 80 new friends in 2012, and many of these were because we shared a stage bringing the story of Elle Woods to life.

June 2012

In June of 2012, I started to fall out of my gym routine. On a normal day I’d be up at 5, in the gym, then home to shower and be to work by 8am. I’d then work until 5, rush home for something to eat to make it to a rehearsal where I’d spend the rest of my night until 11pm or later. On late nights, it made it impossible to make it to the gym at 5AM, so I easily stopped going as regularly always reminding myself that one or two days was better than none. It was also at this time that I began to think that I might have a bleeding ulcer. Stress will do that. I also saw Sugarland for the third time in Albany with a close friend.

July 2012

The first performances of Legally Blonde the Musical happened in July. It felt amazing to be back on stage after ten years. I officially caught the bug and began to get really excited at the possibility of future shows.

August 2012

In August, I took a day off from work to make it into the city to see Ghost the Musical on Broadway. I’d become obsessed with the music after seeing the leads perform on the TONY awards and had to see it before it closed. There were performances of Legally Blonde and at the very end of August, I turned 27, joined by my closest friends at a dinner at my favorite restaurant – Gilded Otter.

September 2012

Taylor Swift sings in “Tim McGraw,” “September saw a month of tears…” and wow September was quite a doozie. On the first of September, D threw a “surprise” party for me where even more of my close friends came to our apartment to celebrate. I had also taken vacation the first week of September and was able to spend the entire week with D. We went into NYC to see Peter & the Starcatcher (another birthday present).

I then saw Wicked for the second time where I sat in the first row.

The next few weeks were fine, and then everything changed. I was fired from my job, D’s car was totaled, and I began having to really budget my money while looking for a new job. I even sold pesto at the garlic festival.

October 2012

On October 11, 2012 (10/11/12), D and I celebrated our two year anniversary.

On the one month anniversary of being fired, Reliably Ryan was launched because good must always conquer evil. My very first post was read by the team at Anderson Cooper 360 and I couldn’t have been more proud in the moment.

Then I was proud to receive my first spam comment:

And then I received my first piece of fan mail:

During October, we continued to have bad luck, but life continued to be pretty great.

November 2012

In November, I auditioned for another dream role – Mechior in Spring Awakening. I didn’t get cast. I felt pretty bad, but I dusted myself off and kept on going. It was just unfortunate that I counted my chickens before they hatched. With Spring Awakening going up in March, I thought I would stay at my job until then, I was wrong. I thought we would have to postpone our lease being up in March because I’d be in rehearsals and performances, I was wrong. And I was certainly wrong to assume that anything would come easily. I wouldn’t want it to. There were still plenty of things to be thankful for in November.

My Instagram photos were featured on Kanvess’ website:

Kate Nash followed me on Twitter:

I saw Wicked for the third time in Schenectedy with my friend J:

I also discovered Gossip Girl which you can blame for my infrequent posts as of lately.

December 2012

In December I found out a job that I was really hoping to land was not going to happen. I was counting my eggs again. Just have to try again. D and I put up our first Christmas tree together.

We celebrated our third Christmas together as well as our third New Years and that alone is more than enough to declare 2012 a success. I also got to celebrate Christmas with my two former roommates who absolutely blew me away with their generosity this year.

Looking Forward to 2013

I already have so much to look forward to in 2013. In January, D and I will take a trip into NYC for his birthday and possibly check out a museum or two that neither of us have been to before. A few days later, I’ll be seeing Laura Osnes on stage for the first time as Cinderella in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. This is a long time coming, but the ticket was paid for back in August as a birthday present from my Mom. And for Christmas 2012, my friend S gifted me with an I.O.U to take me to a Broadway show in 2013. Looks like 2012 has helped out 2013 already.

Right now as far as entertainment goes, I’m looking forward to The Great Gatsby in May, another example of 2012 helping out 2013 as this movie was pushed back from Christmas Day. 2013 will see a few more auditions and fingers crossed, maybe another performance or two. I am looking forward to filing my taxes and paying off a student loan or two. Hopefully in 2013 I will be finding work.

What are you looking forward to in 2013? Did you make any resolutions for the new year?