LA and I are ringing in the New Year in Ojo Caliente, New Mexico, which is a super tiny town. LA does yoga in the hotel room while I eat donuts.

This morning it snowed. We finally ventured out of our hotel room around 2. We ate at the only café in town and then went to the resort to check out the hot springs. At the resort, we ran into Ashleigh, who I went to college with. Apparently: she teaches yoga at the resort. What? True Story. I had just recently told LA about her because when we decided to come to NM for New Year’s, I sent Ash a message asking her if she knew anything about Ojo Caliente and what there is to do here. She encouraged me to bring food. I reported back to LA: “We need to bring food. Ashleigh said so. You have a lot in common with her actually. You both went to Boulder High. And you’re both Yoga instructors. You both went to college in New England. You both know me.” That was it. It felt like a lot in common at the time.

After the surprise encounter with Ashleigh, LA and I booked a private pool for tomorrow. We’re going to melt in there, I can just feel it. Plan for day one of 2013: melt.

2012 has been a great year in most respects. The world did not end, for instance. There were some low points, sure. July and August were overall pretty terrible (am I right? AM I RIGHT?!?!). But even then: some great stuff happened. Mostly: 2012 was very, very good. Here are some personal highlights:

10. There was some good music. I am in the process of making my “best of” mix: I will post it here when it’s ready.

9. I learned a lot from my students this year. All 118 of them. More than usual, I feel like, even though there were times I found them absolutely exasperating. “What do you mean you don’t like Balm in Gilead just ‘because’?!?! What do you mean you think Hedda Gabler is boring?!?! What do you mean you aren’t prepared to present today, the day of your presentation?!?!” Those things were said. But mostly it was more like: “You guys are awesome and funny and generous (a lot of the time)!”

8. Isobel and Yoshimi turned 10! Holy crap! I can’t believe I’ve lived with them for 10 years. They are easily one of the best things to happen to me in the history of the world as I know it.

7. I had more fun working on a show than I’ve had in about a decade doing 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche. It was such a blast. Literally.

6. GOBAMA!

5. I learned some lessons again that I needed to learn again. I will learn them again in the future, I’m sure. And again.

4. I started working with a really good therapist. Like: really good. I like her a lot. Even though she keeps trying to make me cry.

3. I made some really great friends this year, friends who I know will stay with me. Like Erin, who kind of saved my life this summer when I thought I was losing my mind. Turns out: I wasn’t. I was just growing. And Bhanu, the brilliant writer and outrageously insightful human who thinks I’m funny. I also got to reconnect with some friends and rediscover how great they are. Like Matt. Matt is such a great guy, y’all. Even Isobel and Yoshimi think so. And Alyssa! Who came all the way from Boston to see 5 Lesbian Eating a Quiche and even ran the box office for me a couple of nights.

2. I got a Ph.D., y’all! I still can’t believe that happened.

Does this Ph.D. make my butt look big?

1. LauraAnnSamuelsonLauraAnnSamuelsonLauraAnnSamuelson. Who surprised me in the most wonderful way possible.

Look out, 2013: I’m coming for you.