2012 has come and gone; and like others, I was certain that I was going to post more. Yeah. Last post was June 7, a month after Wildflower. Sure... enough has happened since then, but I guess I just never got around to posting about it. No matter... To the four of you who actually read this, I either told you about it, or you were there.
But a certain part of me feels obligated to post some kind of a recap... so here goes...
Really, there is nothing that I can complain about in 2012.
After a quiet New Year's of cheeseburgers, a mediocre movie and good wine, the year started quietly. The first couple of months of the year were pretty well tied up with Team in Training as I made good on my threat to finally complete the Long Course at Wildflower.
I made it through despite acquiring a staph infection that could have cost me my left leg. And then we spent a week and a half in Hawaii.
Perhaps the highlight of the year actually came a few days before Wildflower... we closed escrow on our new house. We're back in Ptown, and that's where we want to be for the long haul. We got a great 3/2 in a nice quiet neighborhood. Sure - we've got things we want to do to it; but nothing that we NEED to do right away. I think we're nicely settled in, comfortable and happy. Sure, part of me misses our old house - we had a lot of sweat equity in to it; and really took pride in making it "ours." But at the same time, there was just a huge amount of uncertainty. With what real estate values had done over the last several years, we didn't know how we were ever going to be able to move. We had this incredible weight taken off of our shoulders - the uncertainty of "how could our family grow in a house that can't grow with us?" was gone. In the end, it all worked out... The banks got out whole. We got our new house, and we're here for the long haul.
My parents turned 60 this year, and celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. We threw a pretty epic surprise party for them at our new home. Thanks to my sister and my wife - without whom, we couldn't have pulled this off.
In August, I was incredibly shocked by the death of Tony Sly, the singer/songwriter of No Use for a Name. Sly died suddenly on July 31. He was an incredible songwriter - incredibly underappreciated - and the type of performer that really appreciated seeing the fans. This was someone that I had never personally met; yet that had been part of my life for the better part of the last 20 years. I remember reading the article and just staring at the computer screen. Mouth open, eyes glazing over. I grew up listening to No Use. They were local. They wrote good, catchy songs, and whenever I needed to mentally put myself in a better place, I threw on a No Use CD. I felt heartbroken for his family - his young kids. And I felt this pit in my stomach - all that music that I loved, that's it. What's out there is out there, and there isn't going to be any more. RIP, Tony. Gone too soon, never to be forgotten.
By August, Ricky was 85% potty trained.
By September, 95%.
By his 3rd birthday in October, 99%.
October brought our annual SoCal trip, and a week at the fabulous Lawrence Welk Resort in Escondido. And a lesson learned - if you can avoid ever going to Disneyland on a weekend, avoid it.
November brought us our first Thanksgiving in our new home, and the return of the fried turkey. Again... my wife is the best with the entertaining...
And after a nice quiet New Year's eve, we find ourselves in 2013. Back to work tomorrow.
Personally and professionally 2012 was a great year, and I'm looking forward to what 2013 has to offer.
As for resolutions... I resolve to change not a goddamn thing. I am who I am... what you see is what you get. Bring it on 2013 - Happy New Year to all!
