Last day of the year

I slept so hard and deep that when I woke up, I had no idea when it was or where I was! I would call that some great, much needed rest. As an end of the year post, I am sure this should be full of deep and profound realizations, some sundry list of lessons learned, a compilation of resolutions and other types of serious twatfodder, but...it is not going to be. Sorry kiddos!

This morning has already been a whirl wind of activity. I was a bit under the weather yesterday and generally laid around the house, getting nothing much accomplished except sipping soup and reading a fantastic book. Those days are needed occasionally and I certainly enjoyed it after the craziness of all the holidays. As my brain booted up and the coffee brewed, I worked through all the mundane tasks of showering, shaving and generally making myself look presentable to greet the public, not that anyone is coming over, but I do like to look sharp when I am out and about.

Once the coffee started flowing through my system, I started working on my To Do list to close out this year in good fashion. First up was a complete house cleaning and squaring away of all the odds and ends that tend to find themselves in places they don't belong. I put new sheets and my down comforter on the bed and scrubbed my bathroom until all the chrome, glass and stainless was gleaming. That felt really good! I know, I get a kick out of cleaning. Sue me. I have to say, all the hard wood floors look fantastic! Everything smells fresh and clean. A great way to start a new year. :)

So here we go. I am going to try to beat this snow storm that is insisting on coming through today. I need to pop some letters and my property tax check in the mail. (I still have yet to understand how they can charge me a tax for the things I own, but such is life in America) Then it is to the library to drop off some books and movies and pay my late fee. Yes, I know I should be more cognizant of things like that, but I tend to read and watch things at my own leisure. I figure a few bucks here and there helps contribute to the organization and I cannot beat what they offer. Then I need to track down Jack to pick up the cheese he brought me from Wisconsin, hit the coffee shop to regroup and run my errands. It seems like all the little details can pile up all at once, but I want to get it all in so this next week of work will run smoothly. I will be working seven days in a row, so better get it all in now.

As far as this last years goes, it was sure an interesting one. I have had my own ups and downs. Dealt with personal loss, shared and wasted time with an wide variety of people and got a lot accomplished in my own right. Career is going well. Bills are paid. Money was saved for retirement. Caught up a lot with friends and family and made priorities of so many things that tend to get overlooked. I really can't say I have any type of resolutions except to keep doing what I am doing now. Work hard, play hard, take care of my responsibilities, look after and love my friends and family, make time for myself, do the things that I enjoy when there is time and continue being me, each and every single day. I don't have any huge and exciting plans for this next year, though I am kicking around the idea of a month long road trip this summer to see this country from coast to coast again. We will see what comes of that. All in all, it was a great year! Good things don't happen by accident. We have to work at them and that makes them all the more worth while.

If I had to pick a word that best described this year if would be "Refinement". Through out this year I have worked over each area of my life and kept the most valuable and beneficial parts and discarded in turn, the people, ideas, concepts, desires, activities and material things that did not contribute in positive ways to my flourishing, continued growth and positive existence. I will leave you with one thought that might help you with your New Year. It has served me well over the years and it is this.

Proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance.

If you don't like who you are, what you are doing or your life in general, do something about it. You are the only one who can.

Happy New Year!

daemon

PS: I didn't beat the snow storm. I looked up from writing this post and the entire neighborhood is blanketed in huge flakes of fluffy snow. Beautiful!