I considered leaving this post blank, or having nothing more than a post which read “This page left blank intentionally.” but I couldn’t do it with a straight face.
The Good
The ITP Community
I may have bailed on Facebook and Twitter, but I can’t quit you. Not that I need to tell you ITP-Readers but I have an amazingly supportive group of friends.
A special heart-felt shout out goes to:
- ITP-Reader Martha, who not only picked me up from the hospital, but drove me around to get painkillers, delivered me home, provided food and medical supplies during my recovery, and drove me to get my police report.
- ITP-Reader Betsy, who came over to my house with dinner on many nights and kept me company — not only during the early recovery, but during the remainder of the year watching Top Chef.
- ITP-Reader Terri, who lent me crutches without which I could not have possibly moved during the first week of recovery — trust me on this, as that first day I was forced to drag myself along the floor in pain or in my office chair in order to get around.
- ITP-Reader John, who drove me to a doctor appointment, and made every effort — no matter how many times I resisted — to get me to use my camera more often (2012 my friend, I promise).
My apologies to those of you whose lent items are still at my house. Seriously, I don’t know where the time has gone.
I stopped checking the logs for this blog a long time ago, but I know from the amount of comments both online and in person that there are people paying attention.
Thank you all.
I really mean it.
Tripping The Light Fantastic
2011 may have not been the travel-filled year that I desired, but I did manage to make a few excursions. The most frequent trip this year was to Raleigh, with a few stops up there for work, and a few stops up there to visit ITP-Readers Lisa and Randy and their boys. I had a very relaxing weekend in Waynesville, NC back in August, and another fun time at LEAF this Fall.
The InterAmericas Hash in Savannah was a fun, if not costly because of the way I decided to stay, trip.
Looking forward to 2012 I see myself spending a lot more time OTP, way OTP. Could this be the defining trend for 2012? Come back to this space in 365 days to find out. 😉
It’s Showtime!
I saw some great shows in 2011.
In the theatre I saw “A Christmas Carol”, “Avenue-Q”, “Carapace”, “Broke”, and “The Green Book” all of which were fantastically performed.
In the musical-realm I saw Chatham County Line (twice!), Bob Mould, Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks, The Hold Steady, and Alejandro Escovedo. I’m having difficulty recalling which other shows I saw this year which thrilled me but I know there were more.
My iOS Development Skills Are Budding
It took many hours, as learning most any skill does, but I am finally starting to wrap my head around iOS development. I say this victoriously, but cautiously, as I know that I have much to still learn and perfect.
It Was A Bad Year For Steve Jobs, And Not Quite As Bad For Me
I sold two lots of Apple (AAPL) stock this year, both for a tidy profit (Dear IRS: You’ll be getting your unfair share soon.). The first lot was sold at the beginning of the year, and the second was a knee-jerk reaction upon hearing of Steve Jobs’ death. I still have money invested in stock, and I’m taking a wait-and-see attitude before making any future financial moves.
I also finally refinanced my mortgage this year. The money I’ll be saving will be reinvested in the house via repairs.
I’ve yet to tally the amount of money I donated this year (and probably won’t mention the amount in public) but I have managed to keep a least a portion of my promise to donate some of my good fortune to organizations that I respect.
While I Didn’t Shoot Much, I Did Shoot
I wanted to highlight a shot I took this year that really pleased me.
I hope to have many more candidates for this honor next year.
PhD For Me
My Taco Mac accomplishment may have been overshadowed by my recent blow-up, the cost of my habit, and its affects on my waistline, but by gawd I wanted to achieve PhD status (325 different beers) this year, and I did! I finished the year with 353 beers to my Taco Mac credit. Though my plans for 2012 will require scaling back of my beer drinking I do plan to make an occasional Taco Mac trip next year.
Black Sheep #100
I finally made it to one hundred Black Sheep hashes! At the beginning of the year there was no doubt in my mind that 2011 would see me reach the milestone — hell I had about ninety-seven Black Sheeps at that time. However, that minor blip in my life which occurred on February 27th — a Black Sheep Sunday no less — put a near end to my hashing this year. I attended my one hundredth Black Sheep at the Lake Hartwell weekend, and #101 at InterAmericas Hash.
Welcome The BlackJack
2011 may have marked the literal end of the road for the Red Rocket, but I have been blessed with a new ride, the Black Jack. I really look forward to spend a lot more time tooling around on the Black Jack in 2012.
I’m Still Here
Literally.
Figuratively.
The car may have damaged me and the Red Rocket, but I’m still here. I also managed to keep my job, and not quit my job. Money is good — especially when you have the financial needs that I possess.
Well, that’s a wrap for 2011! I tinkered with the idea of posting a sneaky “2011: The Great” post tomorrow, but I unfortunately couldn’t come up with anything great which happened to me this year.
Happy New Year!
Paulie [eatl/ga]
PS – Let’s all have fun next year. What do you say?
Well said, my friend, well said.
This has been a really hard year in some ways and I will be glad to see it over. Here’s hoping that 2012 will be great in many ways for all of us.
-FP
2012 will the year of riding the bike MORE, we plan to do the Wheels of Fire ride in early April, (so I’ll need to start riding wearing some of the cold weather gear I own but never wear) and I guess I ought to pay for BRAG now, since it is a little cheaper if you pay before the end of the year.
Also – you can start the year out right with your camera at Cheddarhead – Beaver really would like some decent shots of the Johnsonville Brats banner – he will tell you want he “needs”…….. and – I supposed I’d like a picture or two of probably the largest party I’ll ever throw in my backyard.
Probably the largest dog in your backyard, too!
I will have my camera with me on Sunday. Spending time taking photos will help me drink less, which should guarantee a bowling victory next Cheddarhead. 🙂
yes Steve – I think Farley is the largest dog I know, so he will be definitely the largest dog ever in my yard.
Allan decided we needed bowling shoes for Christmas – I doubt it will help my game, but over the years they will pay for themselves (at $4 for shoes I hear this year). He got plain black for himself, me, they have hearts all over them. I knew I should do the shopping…….
Hahaha, that’s funny Barb. $4 for shoe rentals? Yikes! Oh well, it’s once a year…
What’s up with today’s nasty weather? I wasn’t expecting anything like this today.
yeah – next he wants to find the bowling balls with the skulls in them……. for our once a year bowling, I just have to roll my eyes……..
I’m hopefully going to have a real sound system for polka music (are you ready for We Can Get Drunker Than Youse!) – could be scary if Mike actually brings the speakers & stuff over later this evening….
I’ve been ready for some polka since the Sunday night in Savannah at the “Packers bar.”
Well Barb at least Allan as plenty of room to store his once-a-year bowling ball. Too funny on the hearts.
Paulie, your photo is stunning and almost makes up for the lack of sun in the sky today.
Here’s to 2012! I couldn’t be happier to see the backside of 2011.
whoo hoo – only 1 hour of OT today- it is 1pm & I’m out of here………. see y’all Sunday!
See you on Sunday, Barb!
Miss Scarlett said it best, “Tomorrow is another day…” What’s done is done.
If you take 100 photographs, not all of them are keepers. (Unless you’re Joe McNally.) Not even close. All Life’s experiences help to make us stronger. There are no real failures. But learn from your mistakes and try not to make the same mistakes twice. Or three times.
And stop whining about them.
I’m older than you. Fatter than you. Dumber than you. Not near as good looking as you. Can’t cook as well as you. And definitely don;t have as many good friend as you. Truth be known, I can’t shoot as good as you. Definitely can’t bike as well as you. But I keep trying, shooting, biking, etc.
BTW: I broke my hip, had to have surgery…nearly 10 x years ago. (“Paulie this is your future!”) Yeah, it hurt. Recovery and PT was a bear. I missed a ton of work. But I ran the PTRR not 6 months later. Well, finished the PTRR. I didn’t want my string to go unbroken.
Make 2012 the year of “Fear less, hope more; Eat less, chew more; Whine less, breathe more; Talk less, say more; Love more, and all good things will be yours†or to whatever you subscribe.
Shooting more photographs is a good start. No camera, no photographs. Shoot, shoot, shoot. At least you’ll have more files of which to make backups. I do admire you for your routine backups.
And attend the monthly RPS meetings. And our premeeting dinners. Heck you work 2-3 miles away for goodness sake! Sure, some of the meetings are not so great. (Craig Tanner in January!) But you deprive those of us that drive all that way of your company, when you don’t show.
Bad Paulie.
In short, “be the owner your dog wants you to be.” (Often seen while driving along Dekalb Ave.)
Shoot, laugh, bike, work, love…for you. Make yourself happy.
I was standing outside the cafeteria of the corporation at which I used to work. It had one of those hotel lobby video monitor scrolling sign deals…..”Chef’s Special, peas, salad bar…” You’ve seen ’em. At the end, instead of “Have a Nice Day…” It said: “Make it a Nice Day…” I’ve never forgotten that.
Make it a great 2012.
73 de JG/HamWithCam
John- what a great post. I think you’ve got it right… Make it a nice day. I like that a whole lot.
(first post here from the iPad, but at least this spell checks, unlike my work computer.
iPad can spell check, but watch out, it can also, auto “correct” you into hilarity. 😉
Hey Paulie- Good post- I can hear you talking as I read it. Your friend John sounds like he can give some good advise, and like best friends “knows everything about you and loves you anyway.”