January
� Got an iPod! Whee! Inaugurated it by adding every single 80s song I could think of and dancing around apartment.
� Saw The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee with old friends from NMU.
� Was in the first audience who got to preview Cloverfield. God bless my school and the connections that school has.
February
� Rode a mechanical bull for the very first time. Discovered after a brief fear paralysis that I am much bolder than evn I thought, though I only lasted on the mechanical beast for ten seconds at the most.
� Saw Will Ferrell live and in person during the Funny or Die comedy tour. I can die and go to heaven after seeing him dressed as Ron Burgendy, mentioning NMU during an interview with Izzo--all this a mere ten feet from me! Eeee!
� Presented at the Graduate Research Colloquium, my first (semi) professional presentation!
� Began the tradition of Cohort Nights at The Whiskey Barrel where my friends and I decided you weren�t cool unless you line-danced and/or rode the mechanical bull.
March
� Traveled via train to Chicago to reunite with Joe during Spring Break where I discovered the wonder and charm of Boystown and Girl Scout Cookie Martinis.
� Celebrated St. Patty�s Day with fabulous friends and lots of gay men.
� Embarked on a wine tour in Southern Michigan with Wifey and Brett.
� Reunited with Wifey to sing the greatest rendition of �Holding Out for a Hero� ever heard.
� Headed to Atlanta for my first professional conference ever: ACPA. There I attended great workshops, met some fabulous people, saw part of a fantastic city and lived it up in an amazing suite. I think I like professional development�
April
� Reunited with The Ry!
� Saw Avenue Q with The Ry!
� Tried a hookah for the first time and got a very heady buzz from delicious coconut and strawberry-flavored tobacco. God bless multicultural experiences.
� Completed the GAP project�aka a semester-long exercise in endurance, futility, patience, surveying and assessment that was capped off by an evening that did not end until 3:30 when we printed off the final pages and almost cried from sheer relief of being done done DONE.
� Celebrated the end of GAP by drinking many glasses of wine with cohort friends.
� Experienced my first SAGA Ball, which was filled with much love and laughter and many nostalgia-filled memories.
� Attended Game Night at Dan�s house where we kicked butt in Disney trivia and ticked off some other grouchy gay men. Go Team Ariel!
May
� Achieved my first 4.0 semester EVER (!!) and finished the first year of my Master�s Program.
� Bid good-bye to my friends who graduated from the program.
� Celebrated Lisa�s last single days with lots of pink things, squealing and rocking out to hair band music.
� Traveled to England for two blissful and fabulous weeks where I learned about British higher education systems, the woes of being high maintenance (aka I don�t travel light) and the wonders of gorgeous UK cities.
� Saw Spamalot with Becky, where we were upgraded to 8th row seats and laughed our asses off.
� Navigated London all by myself when I took myself on a date. Yay me!
� Enjoyed Hairspray on London�s West End and left inspired and happy at the end of my me-date.
� Found out that centuries old pub steps are not my friends when I sprained my ankle four days into UK tour. My foot swelled up like a melon and I had to hobble around most places. Not exactly the proudest moment for moi�but I found out how strong I am, which is the silver lining.
� Began a practicum at LCC�s Women�s Resource Center that turned out to be life-changing and empowering in so many ways.
June
� Reunited with Christy, Nate and Laurie in North Carolina. The reunion was filled with laughter, lots of fun and a fun little drink called Blue Zombie that makes girls dance like idiots to High School Musical 2.
� Visited Myrtle Beach with Christy, Nate and Laurie where we wreaked havoc in the tourist trap South of the Border, drank from plastic pineapples and harassed the blue knight at Medieval Times. I also discovered just how important the application of sunscreen to a back is during the noon-hour when I, uh, didn�t apply it and ended up peeling for a week afterwards. Also important to note: lazy rivers in hotels are the greatest inventions EVER.
� Began work on two training committees within the Res-Life Department.
July
� Broke up with my boyfriend of a year and a half because I saw a side of him that scared me and every nerve in my body told me I needed to get out.
� Gut instinct proved to be correct. Two days after the break-up, the ex-boyfriend shattered my world when he hit me in the face, pinned me down and tried to poke my eye out, then bit my wrist leaving a bump that has yet to go away. It�s true that a single moment can change a life forever. It�s unfortunate that this is a defining moment that is so bleak.
� Pulled myself together enough to report the attack and press charges. There was no way I was going to let him get away with that. Thus began the journey that has had more ups, downs and dark moments than I could ever have imagined before the attack.
� Began therapy to help cope with the break-up and attack.
� Found out just how loved and supported I was by all of my friends. The outpouring of support I got from mid-July through the end of the year was both astonishing and unexpected. I knew I was loved, but I didn�t think I was that loved.
� Completed my independent study project triumphantly by writing a 25-page beast of a paper about higher education in the United Kingdom and what student affairs professionals can learn from my experiences abroad.
� Started a new creative endeavor with jewelry-making in an effort to calm my nerves and channel my ideas in a new and challenging way.
� Saw Wicked with some of my closest friends in the East Lansing area and enjoyed it just as much as the first couple of times because of the views they brought to the play.
� Celebrated my 26th birthday with some of my favorite, most amazing friends from the cohort who showed me what real love looks like.
� Began training within the department where I took on three training sessions including one that had everyone in the department�it was a huge professional step for me and a great learning experience.
August
� Continued the birthday celebration with a trip to the Whiskey Barrel that included nearly everyone from my cohort. I have never felt so loved or supported in my entire life as I did that night.
� Decided to only date myself since my trust in men was/is completely shattered.
� Began staff training where I fell in love with my staff and found out just how great being in Res-Life can be.
� Initiated plans for a leadership program in my complex, both to further myself professionally and to take my mind off my personal drama.
� Welcomed a new first-year cohort into the program. The newbies are awesome!
� Began my second year of my Master�s Program and reunited with all my classmates�I missed them!
� Retreated to the UP for rest, relaxation and a couple adventures with Holly. It was necessary to return to Marquette to rediscover who I am and to see those who could remind me of that.
� Discovered that I am still attractive to the male kind when one fell all over himself to talk to me and give me an unexpected and incredible kiss.
September
� Dude Night returned in high fashion with a trip to B-Dubs and new members inducted into the highly exclusive group.
� Saw Second City with Brett and was reminded of why I love sketch and improv comedy.
� Began a second practicum in academic advising where I quickly learned that I rather enjoyed the academic side of student affairs.
� Stayed up late into the night having one of those this-is-why-we-live-and-why-I-love-you conversations with a close friend that means more to me than that person knows.
� Got excited about politics and felt proud to be an American for the first time in my life when Brett and I witnessed Hilary Clinton speak. She was amazing and I officially have a new icon and role model in my life. PS: Hilary is beautiful!
October
� Attended MCPA and made a concentrated effort to connect with professionals in my field�very intimidating but necessary.
� Hall Homecoming float won first place in its division! I was so proud of my residents and hall government!
� Saw Rufus Wainwright in concert with Brett. Amazing seats, amazing singer, amazing time!
� Attended the first pre-trial conference about the attack. Pre-conference I have never felt so helpless and torn as I did in the days leading up to the meeting. I only got through because of my friends who came to support me and those who were there throughout the ordeal.
� Rocked two Halloween costumes: Suri Cruise and Tracey Turnblad.
November
� Attended my first ever Big Ten football game. While it was very, very cold, it was a great experience filled with lots of chanting and singing of the Fight Song (over and over and over�). And we won, so that was happiness!
� Went on a date only to find out that I am definitely not ready to put myself out there when I nearly had a panic attack in public. I don�t recommend this move to anyone. I learned the importance of listening to my heart and gut that day.
� Obama was elected president!
� Sang karaoke with half my staff at an election night party where they caught their first real glimpse of non-professional Krissy when I got REALLY excited about �Don�t Stop Believing�.
� Attended the final pre-trial conference where he refused to plead and instead requested a trial. This marks the first time I have ever wanted to simultaneously cry, scream and murder someone. Never before had I felt so hopeless or defeated.
� Closed a chapter on my life when I testified after the ex finally pled guilty. I felt it was important to speak my part and have my voice heard; not just for the record and to have him hear me, but mostly for myself and for closure. Hearing him sentenced to probation lifted a boulder from my shoulders that I didn�t realize was there until it was gone.
� Celebrated the sentencing by chopping my hair into a choppy bob�he may have liked long hair, but short hair is much more me. I realized that I made so many concessions for him and it scared me, so I decided never to loose myself like that ever again. Thus a new chapter in my life can begin.
� Also celebrated my new-found independence by facing my fear and dancing on a bar. It was the greatest, most exhilarating twenty minutes of my life. I have never felt so free or beautiful.
� Presented at the Women�s Leadership Conference. I thought only five people would show up to my presentation, but ended up with a packed room and people sitting along the floor. It was amazing to present to so many great women from the school and community and to feel like I was making a difference by empowering them in a small way.
� Won tickets to see John Legend and enjoyed an amazing concert with my good friend Claire. I am a huge fan after seeing him live.
� Finished a massive history project�it should have been a semester-long endeavor, but thanks to my procrastinating ways it was more of a month-long chaos-fest that ended in a very good grade.
December
� Started the rabies vaccination after a bat made an unexpected visit in my bedroom during Thanksgiving weekend. The series of five shots was not fun, but very necessary.
� Celebrated the end of the semester by heading to Ann Arbor with Dan for an impromptu party at an awesome club. Later morphed into a five-year-old girl when he told me we needed to leave and I squealed and ran away to fetch my sixth beer in an effort to stay longer.
� Achieved a 4.0, my trophy after a semester from hell (personally, not scholastically�though the events that transpired made studying a hell of a lot harder).
� Reunited with my mother, sister and best friend for the holidays in the UP where I relaxed, visited many people, ate lots of delicious food and reconnected with family, friends and myself.
� Rang in the new year in style with a couple of old friends from NMU and my sister. It was a fabulous way to bid the year farewell and welcome in 2009.