Cup of Coffee

December 31, 2012: Closing the Book

65 Comments

As 2012 ends, I look forward to repeatedly messing up the year on the CoC like I did in January '12. So, how was 2012, dudes? Mine was personally fulfilling but creatively slow, though new opportunities that I'm required to keep quiet about could be changing that soon (I'm done getting excited, but there's a certain...hushed excitement).

My elder daughter is going through a quicker aging period than she has in any single year, which is simultaneously exciting, saddening and frightening. The younger one is becoming more and more open at home, and more and more frozen and withdrawn in public - a trend we're working hard to reverse.

This was a year that the Milkmaid and I really tightened our belts and spent very little, and as a result we saw almost a full third of our credit card debt (we haven't actually used the cards in three years) disappear. Meanwhile, I did spend too much money and too many brain cells on drinking, and while I'm not the type to make resolutions based on a calendar's endpoints, I have every intention of taking it much easier in 2013.

A decade ago - although it rarely seems that long - I was exiting a deep depression that I wallowed in for about eight to ten years. It came from a lot of things, but the more I learn about concussions, the more certain I become that a concussion from a major accident I was in at age twelve was largely to blame for the depths to which I sunk. In those days, I never planned on making it as far as 2013. I don't get emotional and thankful all that often - at least not anywhere but in my own head - but the WGOM remains a large reason that I feel like I'm part of something meaningful and a reason I can feel at "home" - something I don't feel just anywhere.

Thanks to everyone who makes this place feel like home with their contributions large and small, and as always, to SBG for creating something that had the potential to turn into such a tightly-knit community. Cheers, Citizens.

65 thoughts on “December 31, 2012: Closing the Book”

  1. 2012 was a pretty good year for me both professionally and personally.

    Professionally, I got ordained in June. The Gettysburg church took a substantial jump in attendance after Labor Day, a jump that looks like it's going to sustain itself. I feel like the churches in both Gettysburg and Onida have made substantial strides in becoming thought of as community churches, although it's going to take longer in Onida, partly because I don't live there. The Agar church continues to sustain itself in a town of about 80 people. The only professional downside is that I did more funerals than I would like, although that's a satisfying part of the job, too.

    Personally, Mrs. A and I got through another year with no significant health problems. We became substantially closer to the people here and had a lot of fun. Our parents all remain alive and about as well as can be expected at their ages. Our siblings all remain alive and well also. While we never know what the future may hold, right now we feel like we are where we're supposed to be and doing what we're supposed to do. And, of course, I have all my wonderful friends here. There's not really a whole lot more I can reasonably ask for out of life.

    On to a grand and glorious 2013!

  2. 2012 was my 30th year on this planet, and it has been a pretty eventful year for me. Not always in good ways, but I think the things that were not so good are now under control. I am back in school, and I am happy with the direction that is heading. I am pretty comfortable at my employer. J & I have an excellent relationship, and the people closest to me in life are good. Next year I plan on continuing to improve my health and hopefully finalize moving plans with J. I hope it goes well.

  3. I'm not really a "public resolutions" guy either, but I think I could use more sleep, consume less alcohol, reduce my caloric intake, exercise more, be nicer to my wife, go to church, clean the basement, pay off my credit cards, start saving more for retirement...uhm, floss more regularly?

      1. really? I used those things for a month or so last year(?? the year before?) after I had thumb surgery, and hated them. They were better than not flossing at all, but...not much.

                1. I expected a funnier punchline.

                  "Yo Mama's teef so tight..."

                  httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn2JyrNKK4Y

          2. I have no choice but to use the regular stuff around my permanent retainer, so I just use that because I don't want to use more than one thing. In other words, put me in the traditional column.

            1. Not sure if you have a problem, but I have had an impossible time with floss threaders. What actually works worked for me flossing the front six was going front to back between both sets of canines and second incisors (imagine the floss making the Under-armour logo with the teeth). Then I would pull down a bit so that the floss would pop under the retainer. Then, I would close myu mouth and suck a bit to pull it through a bit more. Then I use used a little screwdriver to pull one of the ends through for regular style flossing. A knitting needle or crochet hook would probably look less out of place in your medicine cabinet though.

          1. Heh, yeah, I know...the whole thing was supposed to be not-so-thinly-veiled snark re: new years resolutions vs. things I need to work on in general and it generated a dental floss discussion! I just never know what's going to live or die on the vine around here.
            I legitimately enjoy laundry as well...it's not weird. It's a project with a nicely defined beginning and ending - pile of dirty laundry transformed into folded and stacked clean clothes!

    2. Flossing's going to get a lot easier for me. My fixed lingual retainer just popped off yesterday.
      Well, half popped-off. And the cement didn't give, the metal did. It's been at least 20 years since I got it.
      I was eating a Sugar Daddy that my daughter gave me for Christmas. Now I'm trying to eat others to replicate the effect on the other side. Then I can wait longer. Otherwise, I may have to a) drive to Mankato b) find a local ortho who doesn't want to charge too much.

  4. good sports day. college football and college basketball
    Turkey Tubby and his squad takes on Michigan State

    1. The Jets are losing their ST coordinator, defensive coordinator, and probably their offensive coordinator. Why wouldn't you just go for the clean sweep of the coaching staff and start over?

      1. They're probably hiring fireman ed for a coordinator position and keeping Ryan so they can continue to be the least likeable team in the NFL. At least, that's what I'm hoping.

  6. I suppose I can't complain too much about 2012. I started a new job that is both more interesting work and pays better, though with crappier insurance. Plus we ended it by finding out we'll be having a second kid in a handful of months. (Due date is one day before the trinket's.) I don't know what I would need to resolve to do this year, but it'd be good to keep up with this running thing and read more. Mostly, i'd just like things to continue going well.

      1. Thanks, it is news, indeed (to everyone other than CoC). We just found out last week. The only bummer is that we won't be able to see the same doctor who delivered our first because health insurance is dumb.

  8. Yeah, so I was living in a new place, cleaning up the old one, finding a renter, getting engaged, finding out I was going to be a father, getting married, my dad having a heart attack. One-year anniversary at my new job and I love it. So many changes, though.

    In good news, my cholesterol test came back and it isn't too bad. I need to exercise more and lose about 20 pounds. Maybe with a kid in my life I'll be more motivated?

  9. so, the Goofers snatching defeat from the jaws of victory was sad. But it could have been much, much worse.

  10. this Sparty/Gopher game has been a track meet and a physical game.
    great game going into half.

    1. Looks like the Gophers clamped down defensively in the second half. That's a big win for the NCAA resume and for the fans to start believing in their No. 9 ranking in the AP poll. They should take care of Northwestern at home on Sunday and then they face a gauntlet of playing at No. 11 Illinois at No. 5 Indiana and at home vs. No. 2 Michigan. They need to win one of those games to start out 3-2. If they can go 4-1 or 5-0, watch out. Thanks to only one game with Michigan and Ohio State, the Gophers could lose to all teams ranked ahead of them currently and finish 14-4 in the B1G.

      1. Also, what a weekend for Minnesota sports. Gophers football played above expectations and forced Texas Tech to kick a last-second field goal to beat them in their bowl game, the Vikings beat the Packers to make the playoffs, the Gophers hockey team beat No. 1 Boston College, which is the defending Nat'l Champs and knocked out the Gophers in last year's Frozen Four, 8-1; and the Gophers basketball team opens B1G play with a win over Michigan St.

        1. and the Wolves won a game to a sellout crowd at Target Center (second straight sellout)

          the Barn was LOUD and Sparty melted down at the end. Quality win for the Gophs.

  11. 2012 was a great year. We went on a terrific family vacation, I have just about cleared up years of patent neglect at work, and my daughter started kindergarten and has exploded intellectually. She is reading at about a second or third grade level and has not only started adding numbers, but she's learning how to multiply. I am thrilled with her progress.

    Oh, and I'm not sure you know this, but I lost some weight.

    1. To you, as well, NBB.

      It really can't be overstated how awesome this place is. I came to the old basement about five years ago looking for a place with more active Twins game logs than 'Pulling a Blyleven', what I found instead was a community and place to call my own.

      I can honestly say that I'd open my doors and offer my guest room couch to any of you. Here's to a great 2013 to everybody.

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