I’ve written plenty of times that I am not much into resolutions. I haven’t moved from that. As 2009 wraps up, I feel pleased with my progress this year. Life has been good.
Work is going well. Lesson planning is not dragging me down as it has been known to do. That is directly related to the change in the classroom. D is keeping me on top of my game. Thanks!
Spiritually, I am in a good place too. There’s always room for improvement, but we are strong in our faith. We see the results in the behavior of our children. It’s nice when a child demonstrates Christian living. I’ve even come around to like our “new” priest this year.
As for the family, this has been the best year yet! Seriously. Gert and I are in a loving marriage. We are blessed with two spectacular children. We have a lovely home (with a new furnace and AC). We have lots of family and friends. We have a new niece too.
This year I finally found my comfort zone with geocaching. I enjoy the game again. Well, I have always enjoyed the game; I finally got over my snits. I found some shutterspots too this year.
Food has been delicious. Lots of new risottos. Lots of grilling. Lots of smoking. Yummmmmm . . . chuck roast.
I’ve never quite got the New Year’s Eve thing. I gave it a whirl a few times. Once in Philly. I was bored silly. Never have been a social butterfly (No, he says.). Once in Boston. I worked and then went out for a romantic evening. There was the NYE with Solar Circus. Now that was a wild evening. Gert and I went out twice to the Centerton Inn on NYE. We both nearly fell asleep at the table. I think one of those times we actually left prior to midnight.
Most NYEs, however, have been quiet nights at home. When I was a boy, we used to listen to the WiFi 92 countdown, then MMR or YSP. In college I recall listening and recording the Dead’s NYE performances.
Lots of folks are recounting where they were 10 years ago tonight.For us, it was a quiet evening. I had a bottle of bubbly. Gert took a sip, kissed me good night, and fell asleep. This evening is shaping up to be the same kind of night.
Tonight we saw O My Stars, Beetle’s Christmas performance. This was held at the Frank Guaracini Jr, Fine & Performing Arts Center at Cumberland County College. Beetle was an angel as Mary and Joseph learn Mary is pregnant “great with child” (Best Christmas Pageant Ever reference).
O My Stars presents the Christmas story from a different perspective. Andro, a star, is ousted from the celestrial choir because he cannot sing. His self esteem takes a hit and wonders what his worth is. He feels he has nothing to offer God. But things change for young Andro as he is selected to be the Star of Bethlehem. He shines brightly directing the Three Wise Men (played by girls) to the manger where Jesus is born.
I have extremely fond memories of The Dead opening the Rochester show with Box of Rain –> Cold Rain & Snow. Despite it being June, it was cold and rainy. Today demands this song . . . Governor Corzine is such a great financial wizard. He agreed to have New Jersey taxpayers pay approximately $22,000 per day to get out of series of bonds former governors Florio and McGreevey negotiated. How’s that for efficiency? Oh, and his former employer, Goldman Sachs has a cushy $1 million monthly draw from Jersey taxpayers from the Transportation Trust Fund. Good riddance, Corzine . . . If that isn’t bad enough news for you, here comes the report showing that New Jersey is over $33 billion in debt. The report accurately points to the “independent” agencies ability to indebt taxpayers without voter approval . . . Locally, Lou Magazzu is pushing for creating another agency to issue bonds. He just took over the Improvement Authority that already has that ability. Meanwhile, taxpayers are screwed . . . I stumbled across The Best Christmas Pageant Ever the other day. This is a wonderful read aloud book. Treat yourself to this wonderful tale of the Herdmans . . . Here’s a different take on the White House party crashers . . .
He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.
“He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.
He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward, and he who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”
I’ve written plenty of times that I am not much into resolutions. I haven’t moved from that. As 2009 wraps up, I feel pleased with my progress this year. Life has been good.
