95) 2012 Year In Review

Another year down, another year in review to be completed.  Don't need to get too fancy with this, as I am pretty sure all of these things also appear in pics on facebook.  However, I like to do this every year so I am going to continue...

* Of course, Stephen and Erin getting engaged!  The only negative about this was the number of times I had to hear people in our family fawn over how beautiful and awesome Erin is, and how lucky Stephen is, and how lucky the family is!!!  What about me?  Aren't I beautiful, awesome and lucky?

* Having a turban tied around my head by an Indian on a cell phone.  The man showed up late and had less than 3 minutes to tie 5 turbans before the Indian wedding began.  He made it, but mine was so tight that I got dizzy.

* Recording good music in the spare bedroom.  My recording process and skill took steps forward this year, and L. sang to one of the songs.  Sounded so good.

* Seeing Justin get married in California.  I always knew he would marry someone special, and I was right.

* Seeing the Taj Mahal in person.  It was amazing!  And really crowded.  And the bathrooms weren't all that nice.  But the thing was so awe-inspiring it was difficult to look away.

* Meeting the drummer for Better Than Ezra.  I wouldn't stop talking about how he was the best musician on the stage, and then when we got to meet him I was ecstatic.

* Hanging out with Haddiebug.  She is a cutie with the biggest cheeks ever.

* Winning an Ipad at the Christmas party.

* Seeing Eddie Vedder with Stephen.  I wanted to buy a poster, but they cost $70 and I did not want to pay that much.  So I didn't.  But they were really cool... The next day after the concert I had the worst hangover of the year.  Or at least the worst hangover that I had to deal with at work.

* Riding on an elephant and camel within the same week.  I asked the guy our camel's name but cannot remember it.  All I know is it looked a little like L.

* Going to India for Lindsy and Abhijit's wedding.  An amazing experience that was definitely once in a lifetime.

* Buying more than 70 vinyl's at a garage sale at 7a in the morning when I didn't even have a record player.

* Midnight swimming after a wedding in San Antonio.

* Officially adopting my first English Premier League team.  With Stephen's help, I am now an Arsenal fan.  It's official because I bought a poster.

* Joining the Dallas Area Writer's Group and at my first meeting realizing that I was the youngest member by 25 years, at least.  I still plan to finish my novel this year, which ought to be a fun challenge.

* Surfing off the coast of Costa Rica with 3 of my favorite people, 2 of which got hurt by their surf boards.

* Rappelling down a Costa Rican waterfall.  Once I got to the bottom L. ran over to me and asked if there were waterfalls in Texas.

* White water rafting and L. losing her oar on the first set of rapids we encountered.  Later that day I ate the tastiest piece of pineapple the planet had ever seen.

* The previous 3 reminded me of Begotes!  Must include Begotes, even though he did not smell very good.

* Spent a week trying to paint, stain and distress a baker's cart to make it look cool.  I was mildly successful.

* Watching MIB3 on the plane and L. laughing so loudly that the woman next to her jumped and spilled her drink all over herself.

* On the same flight L. told me she could not sleep because of the constant mumbling of the man two seats over.  She did an impersonation.  A couple of hours later while waiting in line for the bathroom I heard the guy mumbling.  L. was so right on with her impersonation, it was scary.  Makes me worried that her impersonation of me is that spot on.  If so, I sound like a freakin' idiot.

* Playing music with Mike, Nathan and Deseree.  We played in a mosquito garage, but the music was good!

* Mowing over the outdoor faucet and causing water to gush all over the front yard like a geyser.

* Stephen joining our soccer team, and on one of the last games of the season he attacked the goal and threw it to the ground.  Everyone on the team thought he was mad at them.  I had to assure them he was mad at himself.  Later that night he texted me, "Remember when I threw the goal upside down?"  Also, together we scored the most beautiful goal.  It was a set piece where Stephen chipped the ball in front of the goal.  The ball met me in stride as I attacked the back post where I headed it into the back of the net.  Truly a beautiful play that must be remembered.

94) 2013 New Year's Resolutions

The following includes how I hope to be a better husband, son, brother, friend, employee, musician, writer, and father for 2013!

* I will limit the number of boring movies I make my wife watch.  This includes music/sports documentaries, even though they are NOT boring at all.

* I will NOT limit the number of sporting events I watch with my puppy.  She loves sports and I vow to make sure she gets to watch more games on the big screen this year.

* I hope to get the mail more often this year and not misplace it where my wife cannot find it.

* I will not lose my sunglasses!  

* I will take Polly to the dog park twice as much this year.  So, I guess that means we will have to go at least 4 times.  But I'd like to go more than that.

* I will not occupy as many photo booths in 2013.  Not sure what the wife will think of this.

* I will try and not play Chess With Friends while we are watching girly movies or driving somewhere in the car.

* I will not spend more than $70 this year on Vinyls that I do not need and probably will not listen to.

* I will pick up each cat at least once per week.  For some reason they love when I pick them up.  

* I hope to lessen the number of times I try and unsuccessfully sneak a fart while in the living room.  Not sure if this means I am only lessening the number of unsuccessful times, or if I am lessening the number of times I try, but either way I will do my best.

* I will not ignore the calls I receive from Tomoko Komori, even though we do not speak the same language and the calls last longer than 20 minutes of her repeating Japanese and me repeatedly saying, "Sorry, I don't know what you are saying to me..."

* I will try and not purposefully annoy my wife.  That is so hard because I enjoy annoying her so much...

* I will not hurt my foot playing soccer.  I just won't this year!

* I'm going to take Cody to at least 1 movie this year.

* When I cook dinner I will try and not resort to the 1 of 3 things I know how to make comfortably.

* I will try and only have 1 night in 2013 dedicated to showing my wife how great the band Rush is!  I repeat, I will TRY.

* I will try and limit the number of chocolates I eat from the candy bowl in our lobby.  It is hard because Ruthie buys the good candy.  

* I will limit the number of raunchy bathroom posts I write on my blog.  

* I will not throw a hissy fit when one of my sprinkler heads breaks.  I will simply dig up the broken sprinkler and replace it.