Goodbye 2013

2013 has been a pleasant year for my household.  My first born started first grade and continues to do well and enjoys learning.  I can’t believe she knows how to read.  My second born started piano lessons and despite some fits and starts, she is doing remarkably well and started playing with both hands.  They had a chance to try tennis and karate this year in addition to maintaining participation in swim lessons and gymnastics.  We even took them skiing for the first time.  My wife has had another stressful year, but fortunately limited to her new role at work.

We took 5 family trips this year racking up another 45,000 frequent flyer miles.  The highlight of the year was our trip to Hawaii, although the family trips were a lot of fun as well.

We did not have any significant home improvements over the last year.  We installed a backsplash in the kitchen and a “mud” area in our garage entryway.  Both projects turned out well and we have been enjoying them.

Professionally, 2013 was not a year for growth, although I have made improvement in my personal (rather than technical) performance.

I also became more involved in the community.  I am the Treasurer of the MacArthur Park HOA.  I also volunteered to be part of the S.M.A.R.T. committee at Woodrow Wilson Academy.

My hobbies were a mixed bag again.  My race calendar was mostly running events with some swimming events and a bike ride mixed in.  I maintained membership with the Arvada Triathlon Club (treasurer), Colorado Master’s Runners Association (did not do any events) and Jeffco Aquatic Masters swim team.  I was also a 2013 3W Race Ambassador participating and volunteering at several of their events.  I continued to maintain my interest in coins by building a numismatic library and attending the ANA show in New Orleans.  I got out for 6 days of skiing (3 last season and 3 for the 2013-2014 season).  I also renewed my interest in scuba diving. I dove at the Coral Sea in Arvada a few times and had dive excursions in Oahu and Central Florida.  The wife and I also took paddle boarding lessons.  I took a stab at tennis, but was not able to commit to playing with the North Jeffco Tennis Club.

My favorite novel this year was “And the Mountains Echoed” by Hosseini.  I also enjoyed nonfiction with “The Amateurs” by Halberstam and “Beyond the Deep” by Stone.  My favorite biographic work was “A Pirate Looks at Fifty” by Buffett.  “The Five Love Languages” and “Total Frat Move” deserve honorable mentions.

I watched fewer movies this year.  My favorite was “Silver Linings Playbook.”  I enjoyed action films like “Jack Reacher” but they are not in the class of the Bourne films.

My favorite race this year was the Prairie Dog Half Marathon hosted by 3W races.  It was a great course and I managed a terrific time (2:16), running with a fellow athlete from the Arvada Triathlon Club.

My best purchases were Sidi Genius 5 Pro cycling shows, AriatTerrain H2O boots, GoPro Hero 3 camera, and a set of Baux pens (courtesy of Kickstarter).  These products met my expectation and have gotten a lot of use.  I also enjoyed the Outset 15” Leather grill mitts I bought.

Best wishes for 2014.