I decided I needed to at least have a year end blog post.  If you haven’t noticed, I slowed down on my random postings, mostly because to be honest, the world doesn’t need or want to know every detail of my life, I really only wanted this blog to let me friends keep in touch, but with the addition of twitter, facebook and various other social media outlets the blog is not really needed.  With that said, its still a good thing to have to look back on later in life, because unlike those social media apps, this is mine and won’t go away unless I allow it too.

What this year has brought me.

My first Christmas in Oregon, we did not travel back to Utah this year, despite still living in an apartment (2 yrs now folks) we thought it best to stay in Oregon since our co-workers let us take it off last year.  It was fun, but really made me want to own a home.

A new home.  Ok this year didnt really provide the new home, however we did purchase it, and have seen it being built, as of today it as the first level walls up!

School.  Yup, I am finally actually taking classes, all paid for and they start Jan 4th, so I guess officialy school starts next year, but like the home the fondation for it all started this year.

Kayaking.  Since my first year in Oregon was spent couch and bed ridden due to a broken foot for 9 months, I was unable to enjoy the outdoors, but this year I have been on the McKenzie, The Willamatte, Fern Ridge, Coyote Creek, Dexter lake and the Delta Ponds on my kayak and boat, and have enjoyed a lot of fishing time with the daughter and my wife.  It has been awesome to say the least.

Weight loss and management.  Ok, I gained a few pounds over the years and when I say few I mean 40lbs to much.  But Star motivated me by joining weight watchers for herself, and making huge changes (she looks fantastic )  and showed me maybe my weight isn’t just stuck on there.  A lot of you know, I work out a lot, I go to the gym at least 3 times a week, but could never lose weight.  What was the big secret?  Simple, learn what to eat and how much of it.  It sounds simple, but it really takes a lot of knowledge and self control to do it.  I can say I am now at 200 lbs, and my ideal weight ( I took a nice body index test at the gym ) is 190lbs, so I dropped a good 30lbs in my first 4 months and have held steady at 200 lbs due to the holidays, but I am sure by next summer I should be at my ideal weight and I feel much better about myself.

New Projects.   I have always enjoyed technology and I use it a lot for my own personal amusment, but I am now investing some time and doing trade work for our builder to allow us to have some nice additions to the new home that we wouldn’t be able to have otherwise.  These projects challenge me and allow me to build my skill set.

OK, this is getting pretty lengthy, so lets just call it good from here shall we?  To all my new and old friends, thank you for all the memories this year, life isn’t much without you in it.  To all of my family, and by this I mean my wife and daughter and my wife’s family, thank you for all your support and for being there for me, putting up with how odd I can be.

Thank you to everyone for making this past year a really good one full of new adventurers and found memories.