It's Friday afternoon. I sit in a place colloquially known as AEW. This stands for Ass End of Washington. More specifically, a town called Mead which is somewhere near Spokane.
You know that place, "There?" That place they talk about when they say "Don't take me there" or "Don't go there?" That's where I am. Bob lives There. He was nice enough to let me see his place over the New Year's weekend. Unfortunately, this means that I spend time away from my beloved during a potentially critical time of year. But I cleared it with her some time ago, and it should turn out okay. Besides, I have my cell phone, if nothing else.
But enough about AEW. Let's recap what 2004 was like.
I decided to shrink my gut. I went to my local Weight Watchers meeting. I set modest goals for myself. I even wrote little bits of software and whatever to help me track my progress. Ultimately, it was something that would change my life. Hopefully, it is a permanent change.
I start slowly buying ice hockey gear. I also start skating regularly.
I asked my beloved why we lived so far apart. We agreed that it would be a good idea to remedy this grievous oversight, given that we had been dating for nearly three years. I warned my roommate that some time later in the year, I might be living somewhere else, and N0rp as we knew it would cease to be. I got serious about saving up money for this purpose, and I asked my parents for help, which they said they would grant.
I failed to adequately plan my own birthday party. No big deal, as I'm saving up for a one-billion-second party.
I felt no remorse in claiming as large a refund as possible on my taxes.
I cheered on the San Jose Sharks as they took the Pacific Division championship and rolled into the playoffs on two spectacular come-from-behind games and a #2 seed in the Western Conference.
I breathe a sigh of relief as the last of my unemployment debts are paid off.
I realize how much professional ice hockey means to me as a sport when the Sharks lose a grueling series to the Calgary Flames. I am genuinely sad to see my team lose, but I hold no ill will towards a team that just played better.
I choose to root for the Flames in the Stanley Cup finals. Alas, my habit of rooting for the underdog would once again leave me disappointed as the Tampa Bay Lightning would win the grueling series in 7 games. The threat of a lost 2004-2005 NHL season looms large after the finals conclude, and the entry draft a couple weeks later.
My beloved and I began looking for a house in earnest. It was to be a long and frustrating process, but ultimately a good decision.
After much consultation with my subconscious (which was unashamedly prodding me in that direction anyway) I decide to take the plunge on ice hockey lessons. I nearly collapse during the first lesson. Subsequent lessons would turn out to be easier as I continued to lose weight and my body became accustomed to anaerobic physical activity while wearing full pads. I figure that if there is not going to be any hockey on television next season, I could at least play it and understand it.
Something with fireworks.
I survive two weeks of my co-worker on vacation. As a bonus, I get to help one of our customers with their giant 4-years-delayed multiple-partner IT project, early on a Sunday morning. Things go well, and I am rewarded with two comp days. I believe I can fly solo at work when the situation warrants it.
I had reached my weight goal. I had lost 80 pounds. Because there was a house to buy, I decided not to buy clothes yet, as most of my shirts did not fit awkwardly, and I had a perfectly functional belt to keep my pants up.
The house was bought. I painted over the horrendous yellow in the spare bedroom. I moved all my stuff in.
I celebrate one year of continuous employment.
I install a garage door opener in the new house, thus deluding myself into thinking that I have some degree of mechanical aptitude. Nothing has yet relieved me of that delusion.
I graduate from hockey class. In our last scrimmage, our team loses, but I score the only goal that my team would see that game. Our class becomes the newest team in the league.
I reach lifetime membership status with Weight Watchers. Now there is a financial incentive for me to maintain my weight, as if I slip too much, I have to start paying for meetings again.
I dressed up as an unemployed professional hockey player for Halloween. Nobody got the joke, except my beloved. Alas, there is no photographic evidence.
I lament the inevitable and still questionable victory of George W. Bush in the presidential election. Truth be told, I would have been just as drunk if John F. Kerry had won.
My beloved finally moves her stuff into the house. My parents, brother, and grandparents visit the house, and they approve.
I start down the long, dark road of massively multi-player online role-playing games. My beloved does not begrudge me using her desktop peecee for playing.
Hanukkah comes and goes in the new house. My beloved forces a brand spanking new laptop on to me (she got an employee discount) so she can keep in touch with me when I am away. Or so she claims. I do not bitch and moan about how the laptop can't handle the MMORPG referenced above without crashing after 3 minutes (or less) because the video chipset is horribly generic. It is a very thoughtful and useful (if expensive) gift, and for that I am grateful.
I book airline travel for Christmas and New Year's at the last minute and at great expense. I discover that some airlines actually have rational fare structures.
I am thankful that I have people who love me. I am thankful that I am better off -- both financially and physically -- now than I was one year ago, and much better off than I was two years ago. I am thankful that I am not a soldier on the front lines, though I still have great respect for those who are. (We will not discuss those who sent them there.) I am thankful that other people like my cooking, and that they have not tried to poison me with theirs. I am thankful that I am not persecuted for what I am or what I think. I am thankful that I can afford what I need, and that I have a little left over for some fun.
Mostly, I am thankful to my parents, for believing that I would actually turn out okay. I do not know how I can repay them, other than attempting to do for my children (should it be in my future) what my parents did for me. The last few years have been quite interesting, and not a little bit trying. And I am not dead yet.
I hate to paraphrase Conan the Barbarian, but I believe it is true: what has not killed me has made me stronger.
Best wishes for a 2005 that doesn't suck. I have some alcohol to consume now. :-)
