What a difference a year makes.

So as it turns out, not only did we finally move into our dream apartment, but we managed to sell our not-so-dream apartment for a handsome profit in record time for this time of year--less than 3 weeks. After meeting our real estate agent to sign the sales paperwork we went over to the French In-laws for a quick mid-week celebratory dinner. OK, since the real estate agent’s office is near their house, I invited myself over for dinner and champagne because A.) David’s mom is an amazing cook, B.) I am too lazy to cook, and C.) I will use any excuse to drink their champagne and they always let me.

Anyway, so this nice surprising end to 2007 got me thinking. Maybe instead of feeling bullied by my “to-do” list I should look back over the year and make a list of my accomplishments. Drumroll please.

Madame K’s Triumphant List

of Achievements 2007.

1. I dissed Gwen Stefani in BUST magazine’s international issue and managed to get a lot of hate mail, but also ended up meeting a new friend out of the deal.

2. I did a better job of getting out and seeing local galleries and exhibitions and ended up finding there were some decent things going on in my area. As it turns out Eastern France isn’t the cultural wasteland that I thought it to be.

3. My little decorative painting business really blossomed into a full blown business complete with a fat client list and repeat buyers. I stopped calling it “my little side gig” and started calling it “the thing I do that pays my student loans”.

4. I chopped off all my dead hair and went au natural. It was probably the biggest and coolest thing I’ve done for myself in quite some time, and it was totally worth it. I’ve never loved my hair so much and just been OK with it even on the days when it misbehaves. Plus I just think having hair that naturally defies gravity is kick-ass.

5. I spent a month at the Vermont Studio Center and had an amazing time working and meeting other working artists. Also, I survived the April snow storms like a champ.

6. FrenchBoy and I took an amazing roadtrip to Montreal, Toronto, Niagara Falls, and then scooted over to Chicago for a few days before ending up in Indianapolis to see my momma graduate from college….for like the 4th or 5th time. It was great fun and we learned a lot. Mostly we learned that we are never taking another road trip in North America because the damn speed limit is to low.

7. One lovely weekend in May we met new friends Bruno and Annick while enjoying dinner at the lovely home of Jean-Jacque and Noelle. This was a real treat because FrenchBoy and I are such trolls and we have a hard time making new friends.

8. Dude---we went to Poland! And not only did we have an really really extremely lovely time seeing Banana Rama live, we witnessed Kelly’s marriage proposal to my good friend Kasia. Magic!

9. We went to Paris again finally and saw Kara Walker’s retrospective at ARC/Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris.

10. My work was in a show at a gallery in Luxembourg and got invited to a fancy 4th of July party at the American Embassy.

11. After 2 years of weekly classes, I finished teaching three lovely ladies English. I miss them dearly of course, but it’s at least some comfort to know that I am responsible for helping 3 people learn to speak a new language. Dude, that’s awesome.

12. We finally moved into the Barbie Dream House. And since then I’ve been out of my mind with glee while walking the streets of Metz.

13. And last but not least, FrenchBoy and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary over sushi.

Hmmm. Not bad 2007. Not bad at all.