the year that was

it is almost 3:00AM. i just got done watching old star trek episodes and discovery channel programs about the planets and moons of our solar system while sewing patches on my hiking backpack. yup, do sat nights get any better than that?


so, how about that 2006?
it was a pretty good year overall. i thought it was going to be the year i went back to OH. but there were 'distractions', and mostly, my indecisiveness.

i looked into going into architecture. but starting a new field at almost 40 didn't really appeal to me. i did get the ball rolling on becoming a substitute teacher.

it was a year of golden leaves and large mutant pine cones.

it was the year i became an 'extreme' hiker. my initiation was my first trip to the window back on feb 19. i ended up going there two more times this year. the first time was possible because i only only had one beer the night of my birthday, a first. this hike led to hikes to the saddle on pima canyon trail on a snowy march sunday, to the top of pusch ridge, to the mt lemmon trail intersection from the romero canyon trail, as far as one can go toward finger rock, and to the top of mt wrightstown. and there was my first hiking / camping trip, which was the only camping excursion of the year.

i went to a record number of concerts for one year. les claypool, disturbed, tool at cricket pavilion (my first time there), the dark star orchestra, robert randolf in scottsdale, ziggy marley, the deftones, kfma day, and another band that played at plush whose name i cannot remember, despite the fact that i took the song set list after the concert was over.

i only went to four baseball games, but two were games part of the brand spanking new world baseball classic. there was my first U of A baseball game in late feb. the other was a spring training game at hi corbett. for the first time since i moved out here, i did not attend a d'backs game. that's ok, watching and listening to tribe games on TV and thru XM radio were more than good enough. the indians had a majorly disappointing year, the browns just sucked worse than usual. i do like XM, another first for 2006. the only other sporting event i attended was going to a cavs basketball game at the Q in cleveland, a present from my friend's parents.

my mom visited here twice (which led to obtaining my first piece of pottery barn furniture), my dad once. as for my trips, i stayed through new years in OH for the first time since i moved out here. a beginning of a tradition, hopefully. there was OH for aunt jean's funeral in june, and the mega family reunion at sunset beach in july.

i saw my first bobcat. i was attacked by a 'wild' stray cat in the parking lot of my apartment complex. there was puffy the puffer fish. and america was alerted to the danger that is manbearpig.

the only movie i saw at a theater was superman returns at the drive in. i was introduced to mitch albom books. there were weekend night walks to starbucks.

work was ok. my work truck had many problems. people came, people left, and one rejoined. i had many large projects, and most went well. we were really busy work order-wise all through the year. and there was a nice raise in the summer to boot.

there were many lessons learned. there was a planet that was downgraded to a 'minor planet'.

it was the year i became a godparent, to my friend's daughter, maddy. just sucks i couldn't have been there.

it was the year i first tried boxer briefs, and the year i was introduced to blogger.com.

ok, i am saving this, in case i think of anything i missed.

it is now sunday. i did make some additions. now i have errands to run. here is to 2007 being as good, if not better, than 2006.