Wynwood Arts District.

I started the year as a 3L law student living in a mouse infested apartment building in Whittier.

My weeks were hectic. I spent my time jetting between my last few classes, my internship in the suburbs, tax training, and a public defender clerkship in downtown St. Paul.

Things changed quickly when I [...]]]> What a year.

I started the year as a 3L law student living in a mouse infested apartment building in Whittier.

My weeks were hectic. I spent my time jetting between my last few classes, my internship in the suburbs, tax training, and a public defender clerkship in downtown St. Paul.

Things changed quickly when I secured a permanent position at my company and started working full-time in February. There were also drag shows, long nights at Jetset, and blizzards.

The snow melted and classes ended quietly. Pride came and went, I turned 25, and I finally moved out of my ghettotastic apartment.

Work got busy once I moved.  Drag shows and dancing were exchanged for Netflix marathons. I was promoted at work and got good at making brownies and mojitos.

By the time of my Miami trip I was 20 pounds heavier than I was at the beginning of the year.

I took the love handles to Miami anyway, which was fairly epic.

I started personal training at LA Fitness again upon returning, so I was horribly sore once New Year’s Eve rolled around. I was one of the DDs for New Year’s despite the best attempts of some people in our group.

My goals for this year include working harder, spending more time on creative projects, and losing these 20 pounds. Hopefully my grueling morning workouts help me get there.

Ending the year plump and employed isn’t bad, but 2012 will be better.

The fact that there were 2-4-1 Whiskey-Diets on the plane made the return to winter easier to bear.

underground hipster parties in college, but the Wynwood Arts District was nothing like this.

It was kind of a cool place to go to college.

Renting a car was a little difficult. After haggling at the downtown Miami Avis we found our rental car parked in.

We eventually excised our rental and gave Tader a quick tour of Brickell.

We [...]]]> Tader and I decided to spend Christmas week in warmer climates.

Renting a car was a little difficult. After haggling at the downtown Miami Avis we found our rental car parked in.

We eventually excised our rental and gave Tader a quick tour of Brickell.

We then spent some time on South Beach and happened upon the cutest puppy mill.

They are adorable, but I think I like my dogs better. Plus the entire place stunk of puppy piss.

We returned to South Beach later that evening and went to Twist, which was epic as ever. Twist is the massive gay bar in Miami. Never a cover, always a groove.

The next day we went to a hipster club in Miami’s design district called the Electric Pickle. They played the kind of house music you never hear in Minneapolis. The music was great, but not really danceable. It turned into a weird Sims-like line dance.

Oh, and we may have stolen a sign from Walgreens…

The night ended at Twist again. It’s a bad habit, but so fun. They have a beer-serving Burger King next door that’s open 24 hours, which is super convenient when you’re skipping out of a club at 5 a.m.

This is going to be a hilarious, expensive vacation.

I also bought my tickets for Miami. I return [...]]]> What a lovely two weeks. Fall was extended this year so Minneapolis still has temperatures in the 50’s and 60’s. The colors are amazing and the morning dog walks have become sprawling two-hour events because it is so nice outside.

I also bought my tickets for Miami. I return to the land of Chongas y Reggaeton in six weeks. The problem is that life has been a little too luxurious lately and I’m a whopping 15 pounds above my normal weight.

I knew I was in trouble when I met up with Jack and Adam recently and Jack glared at my stomach. Adam then confirmed my fears by saying “Yeah, you’ve gotten a little portly.” PORTLY?! GAH!These are my first world problems.

Hopefully I can channel my inner Jillian Michaels and get it together before my fabulous vacation. Hopefully they aren’t singing Tuck in Yo Belly or asking me to hit that Ices Brown at the airport…