14 Years

I didnt post much out here this year. Which means I didn't complain much. Even though I had a lot to complain about.

No, I want to end 2013 on this particular blog on a mostly positive note.

For the previous 14 years, my daughter spent every Christmas Eve with my ex-wife and her family. There was no "every other year" schedule like some divorced parents handle things.  I simply wasn't given the option. But this year, my ex-wife decided to make changes in her life, which didn't include my daughter.  And like every single year of her life since the divorce, I was there for my daughter, who I did get to spend not just Christmas Eve with, but a good 4 months living in the same house, until she moved out on her own for the first time in her life.

A major postive change and moving forward.  Yet, making her papa proud and happy.  And elated I was.  A bit emotional on Christmas morning as well, as I was able to wake up with my daughter in the same house in that same 14 years absense.

On this same Christmas Eve night, another event 14 years in the making was the marriage of my step-daughter's father and his partner, thanks to the current legalizing of same-sex marriage in Utah.  It was a joyous moment amongst family and one that I was very happy to share in the good news reveal.

Aside from traveling and turning 50, I didn't feel much positive and progress happened for me in 2013.  But given how Christmas Eve turned out, it ended with greatness and giving me a boost of hope that 2014 will be a much better year.

New Year's Catch Up

To the hundreds of readers I have on this blog, I thought I would post an update since my last post, which was three days before Christmas 2011.

My concerns over Christmas turned out to not be concerns after all.  Amazing what growing a set of balls and standing one's ground on their feeling and emotions will do.  Christmas day was drama free and I had a nice day with my family.

As for 2012 so far, it's going.  I went to CES in Las Vegas and had a great week filled with seeing gadgets and winning gadgets.  My wife even had some of her own winning at the slot machines.

I've been pushing myself to get the gym more often.  It's a basic gym that costs less than $11 a month and it's close to home.  A good feeling that I know is helping me feel better.

Proposition 8 was ruled unconstitutional this week in the state of California.  I posted over on my main blog about what this has done for the state since it passed.  What gets me is the amount of money and time that is put into this by people this does not affect, yet their impact on the lives of others they don't give two shits about is the end result of denying them the right to marry.  Equally puzzling is the Mormon church, who up until 1890, supported a marriage that wasn't "only between a man and a woman."  Now they are against any "non-traditional" form of marriage - except of course after they die and can practice polygamy without that pesky government getting involved with their "godly laws." A bit hypocritical, if you ask me.

Last October, I had a physical where the doctor told me my blood sugar was a bit high.  He put me on these pills called metFormin, which are used to help control the amount of insulin that my body produces. I need to go get my blood checked again soon to see if they made a difference.

After nine years with the same car, I traded it in for a brand new 2012 Nissan Sentra SR Special Edition.  It's my first new car in over 25 years and it feels fucking fantastic (to borrow a line from Lily Allen' "The Fear").  Of course, I enjoyed no car payment (not counting the repair bills I put on my Midas card) for 4 years.

And that's a wrap.  Let's see if I can come back here at least once a month with some more words of wisdom (not related to the religion I no longer believe in).

Holiday Hum Drum

Since last Christmas, I've really been so-so about the whole holiday season.  Not Scrooge like, but more like not really being happy in general.

There are a lot a issues going on in my head, one of which is the dark cloud of unknown that comes between some people in my life.  I try to please others before attending to my own desires and needs.  Granted, I do a lot and have support from others to do it, without guilt or the permission asking steps that normally need to be taken.

But since the events that took place at the end of October 2010, I've been blah about the holiday season.  I'm hoping that the marathon conversation I had the other night with my wife will help to some degree.  Guess we'l see what Santa brings on Christmas Day.