The Year In Review. 2024.

 So much has happened this past year that I am struggling with where or how to begin.   I used to simply post a bunch of pictures about stuff  and just added captions on the important pics.  Our lives used to be summed up with only a couple things:   Stockings and Racing.    

But things have changed for me, now that it is only me.    ( And a BUNCH of other people.)  Who do I include?   What do I focus on?   And just how many tangents do I really want to go down so as not to miss anything?    

I guess we should just start from the beginning....   January.  

I was celebrating a Year with Zebra.    And Zebra was a fun job.  With lots of fun people to work with.   

John and Francisco were the first guys I have ever known to introduce me to the Pub and actually got me to enjoy it.   Don't get me wrong, I have been invited to bars and pubs before, but found them rather noisy and not really my scene.   

But the folks at Zebra showed me that it can be more than simply drinking or watching sports.  I had not experienced a since of family and friendship like that since the Army.  

Don't get me wrong,   Pearson and ACT were family in some cases.   Mostly because the same types of people followed the jobs from ACT, SAT, and Pearson.   After several years with those folks,  a select few of us were pretty close.    ( In fact, I just got an email from a couple wishing me a Merry Christmas!)  But the scoring gig was a revolving door.  It can be difficult to make gigs work as a full time job.   And many of the people who score do it only as a temporary thing.   

But Zebra was different somehow.   And I am still chatting with many of them.   Even meeting up at the Clubhouse to catch up since I left.  

I kind of liked the "Big Fish" in a small pond feeling too.   I mentioned several times that I had done pretty much everything in the warehouse that could be done.   From receiving, packing, loading, unloading, and picking.    My last great mountain to climb was VAS, and I created badges every time I accomplished another training level.  

I was even able to fold several dragons while I was employed there.   Some of the shipping material made for great folding media.  

Speaking of paper making...  I created several fish before I called it quits at Zebra.   I finished the Sunfish and am still working on the Walleye.   Ever since the Shoreland chapter, I have found my time dedicated to mostly students and studying.   This first year of teaching has become all consuming!  

In July,  I started Shoreland Lutheran as a Teacher of Physical Science and Earth Science.   It has been a humbling and rewarding experience!   Possibly the greatest adventure of my life!  

Adventure is a fitting term, because I feel every day has been an adventure for me.    A feeling of the unknown and a touch of fear and excitement that accompanies it.  What will happen next?  Somedays I feel like I hit a home run and can't wait for more! Other days,   I can't wait for the day to finish so I can go home and attempt to recover.  

But the good times should be remembered!   I'm the head of the Natural Science club and was able to take several students out to hunt for mushrooms!   We did manage to find a few, but unfortunately,  many of the edible ones were too far gone to salvage.   It was fun walking around in the forest though, and ID-ing various mushrooms in the process.   The first half of the semester was so busy with me trying to figure things out and the homecoming events.  

I tended to gravitate towards the "lesser known" sports events.   Like Tennis,  Cross country, and Soccer.    The funny thing is that Soccer placed second in the state!  
And Cross Country had a great year as well,   sending two of the runners to the state finals!    Several High school Records were broken along the way.  And I just happen to be there to witness it.  

I also went to one of the Robotics Events.    Our kids did not do so well there, but it was fun cheering them on and watching them overcome the challenges that the robotics program throws at them.  

It was also a year of Farewells!   I had to say farewell to the Silver Bullet Subaru.    I failed in being able to get him over the 400,000 mile mark.   (only 7000 miles short!)   But I could not risk having my first year of teaching being plagued with Car Repairs and uncertain start ups each morning.   

John,  The guy who got me into the Clubhouse,   Retired and went to Texas in October.   He still leaves comments on my Facebook posts, so it appears he is doing well there in the lone star state.  He was one of those people whose company I truly enjoyed.  

But...   As with all things in life,  you find new ones that help fill the void.   I purchased a new Subaru Forester and have been slowly getting to know it over the last 6 months.   He is a manual and fun to drive.  Last weekend,  I took him on his longest trip yet, to Michigan!   To see my brother and former in-laws.   He made the trip without incident and it was a fun and enjoyable ride.  

Speaking of my brother,   I have not seen him in many years and he had been bugging me to come to the property to to see what he had been working on over the last several months.   I finally have the time to go and thought it would be a great time.  In the process,  I was able to visit with Ed Arnold, my other "brother" from all those years ago growing up.   He was there to help Eric with several projects.   Those two have done amazing things with the place since I last saw it.    Unfortunately,   Eric can not get around like he once used to and Ed can only get up there on Weekends... So the improvements are slow going.   They did manage to fix the Sewer system while I was there... with only a few hiccups.  Perhaps I will plan a trip up there in the Summer and see if I can help out.   That seems like an Eternity away at the moment.   And I am now stuck with a week to week vision of the future.   We shall see how things pan out. 

I ran several half marathons this year!   The Lincoln,  The Glass City, and The Lakefront Half Marathon.   I'm not sure if I will be able to find the time now that I no longer work for Zebra.  AND most Marathons and Half Marathons tend to be in the Spring or Fall.  But, again, we shall see how things turn out  this year.  

I should also mention that Cheryl came up to visit several times.   She ran the Lincoln and Glass City Half Marathon with me as well (She ran the FULL Version of the Glass City.)   But when she came to Kenosha,  Most of the time we spent it on the beach, looking for rocks and bits of glass.   Walking along the lake shore is very calming, and I would recommend it to everyone who lives here.  Having the goal of trying to find some treasure along the way is merely a bonus.   

We also got to visit several beer gardens while exploring the coast.  Turns out,   Sampling beer after a hot day of beach combing can be rather fun!  

There were also times when the weather was not as hospitable as we would have liked,   but that is part of the "practice being miserable" process.
Next year she has suggested that we run the Half Marathon in Kenosha.   I'm no sure if I will be properly trained or will have the time to do it.   But I will keep an open mind. 

Cheryl was not the only one I did things with this year.   Christina was dragged along for several events of my suggestion.   One Comedian,  One Nutcracker Ballet,  And One Christmas Dinner...   There was also that Battleship Tournament in the Petrified Springs.   She is one of those folks who is dangerously exciting... as long as you don't get the police involved....

And Finally I should mention the "Pretty Big Deal" that was the Solar Eclipse I was able to witness.   It was truely a once in a lifetime experience!   And I was very fortunate that I got to see it first hand.    The partial events can not compare to the full Solar Eclipse!   It was absolutely breathtaking!   I know the next one is nine years from now, ( In the arctic, I think)  But if you ever have the opportunity to see one.  And to be on the path of Totality...  YOU MUST DO IT!  

This year has been an absolute Roller Coaster for me.   With LOTS of ups and downs along the way.    It was terrifying at times,  Awe-inspiring, Fun and Exhilarating at others. And, just like the last roller coaster I was on,   I could not wait to get on again!   Hopefully the upcoming year will have less fear and more fun and excitement in store for me.    And the Teaching part of all of this is the key factor.   God has been Gracious.   Gracious to me and everyone else in the world by sending his Son to die for us.   But to allow me to be a part of the spreading of His Word is an honor.  An honor I hope I can rise up to.  Because the year is almost over...   And every second counts. 

Happy New Year Everyone!