Out With The Old

What a great year it's been for us... for the most part. In some ways I feel like not a lot got accomplished, and in other ways I can hardly believe how much got done. Looking back on my resolutions for this departing year, I did pretty good, though my "biggie" didn't get started at all. I'd planned on building a new bathroom in the house and renovate the original, but I got started on neither of these projects. I did get a master plan together at least and know what should bet accomplished in the future... of course unless something else gets in the way.

The old barn kinda looks new, and though I first thought that project would carry into the new year, it got completed. We made big progress on cleaning up the place, but I underestimated the amount of work required, partly because I couldn't see much of the property because the weeds were so high, and there is plenty to do still. We met our neighbors, went to the stock car races, attended a couple county fairs, and I didn't start smoking again. My Internet business idea grew quite a bit with very little effort as more and more people visit my web site every month, and only watching local baseball got missed on my resolutions list of other things to do.

Goodies continue to find their way to our door. I've mentioned several times how our neighbors have stopped by with fresh produce, and now with the holiday season we've been blessed with sweet treats. Cookies, fudge, and other goodies have been made their way to our door thanks to the thoughtfulness of our neighbors, and I still have no idea how we'll ever repay the kindness we've been shown here.

I've been busy lately pulling old oak flooring out from the pile that was left in the barn when we bought the place and working it into new moulding around door and windows in the house. I hadn't planned on this project getting so much attention, but once I started taking down the old stuff, I was beyond the point of no return. Right now I hope to have the living room finished with this part of the project by Valentines Day. At least we learned the original source of the wood was the old Minnick Hospital here in Cambridge.

I bought a combination hunting/fishing license, and could just as well sent a donation check to the state as I never pulled out my fishing rod or shotgun. For me, I think most of the enjoyment of fishing and hunting was getting away from the city and now that we live in the country, I seem content to just watch the pheasants run across the back yard instead of me chasing them through a field.

My Denver Broncos disappointed me this year as they have so often since John Elway hung up his cleats, but you can't be the Super Bowl champs every year either I guess. However, the owner of the Broncos decided that one playoff win in the last 10years wasn't good enough either as they fired the old coach, and a new guy will be selected in the new year. Big surprise to me, but then I'm just a fan.

This has been quite a year politically, economically, and internationally. From modern day pirates to a modern day stock market crash, we've been exposed to some pretty horrific news. Living here seems to isolate us from many of negative things going on, and maybe that's part of why we love living here so much.

I'm happy to send old 2008 out the door and welcome 2009 in to replace it. With the new year comes the hope of millions that the world can become a safer place than it is today, that our nation can get back on track to peace and prosperity, and that we can keep our new year resolutions whatever they may be.

Happy New Year Everyone!