What I learned... The 2010 version

Yes, it is time again to reflect upon the year that was. 2010 wasn’t the greatest of years, but as I sit down to write about it, all I can think is that for all it’s faults, it sure beat 2009.

As always, I will start by saying that I am thankful more than anything for the friends that I have. Not a day goes by that I don’t feel truly blessed to have all of you in my life. When I sit down to write something like this, I am almost overwhelmed with emotion simply by thinking of how lucky I am to have the friends that I do. You are all so kind, and if I have absolutely nothing else in my life, I would feel as though I were still the luckiest person I know because of you. Thank you all.

I learned that there truly can be a baseball team bad enough that even Arbo and I can’t coach it into a winner.

I am thankful to have gotten back into coaching this year, but would like to forget the 2010 season. Specifically the things that made my head just want to explode, like Austin referring to his game winning run as “Coach, I made a point!” and Dylan forgetting that he put up his glove to block a line drive coming at his head just in time to drop his glove and get hit in the face. Ugh.

I learned that, “Ugh” is the new “shit”. It can mean 50 different things, and express at least that many kinds of frustration.

I learned that the Eugene public library has a pretty amazing selection of CDs, and that coupled with iTunes, it makes an already impressive CD collection truly mammoth.

I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to discover a TON of new music this year. Between random CDs checked out at the library, Pandora internet radio, and the Shazam app for my iPhone, I’ve found all kinds of stuff that is amazing to listen to.

I’m thankful for my iPhone, which finally catapulted me into the new millennium with the ability to text.

I’d like to forget the fact that I have now been unemployed for 16 months. I’d also like to forget the near misses that I had in the last year, having gone 0-7 in interviews. Especially the one as the assistant equipment manager for the U of O baseball team that would have been a pretty sweet job for a baseball guy like me.

I’d like to thank Emilee for introducing me to the wonderful sandwiches at Jimmy John’s.

I’m thankful for the way things broke for me in poker this year. I cashed in over 50% of my weekly tournaments (an insanely high number), and also cashed three times at AIPCO. I had one streak in my weekly game where I cashed 11 weeks in a row, a record that is on par with DiMaggio’s hitting streak. I still can’t believe it as I look back on it.

I learned again this year that Tony is STILL unbeatable in the year end tournament at “The Rob”. Four years and counting, Sir. Congrats again.

I learned that if you manage it just right, you can have fresh pomegranate year round. They will keep in the fridge for nearly 7 months, and you can then freeze the arils, and they’ll keep for another 6 months. I think I missed my window this year, but starting next year, it’s pomegranate year round for me.

I’m thankful for finally having the opportunity to get my desserts into the restaurant down the street from my house. Hopefully they will sell well enough that I’ll be able to use that as a stepping stone to getting them into many places in town.

I learned that Mafia Wars was too much of a time suck for me to handle, and am thankful to have walked away from it this year. Now I can concentrate on much more important things on facebook, like Scrabble, Wheel of Fortune and CBS Franchise Football.

I learned that my blog is greatly followed in Japan. I don’t exactly know how it happened, but when I look up the statistics for where my readers are logging in from, Japan gives me a large chunk of my readership. I am thankful for this, even as I am confused by it.

Much like last year, I am thankful to have a hot tub.

I learned that growing your own herbs is quite a bit more expensive and time consuming than buying them at the store. But I also learned that they taste pretty amazing, and that it really is more about the process than the product.

I'm thankful for summer BBQ's with Cecelia and friends.

I learned that George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire books are pretty amazing reads. I’m thankful to HBO to making such a big production out of them, which got me to read them in preparation of it.

I’m thankful for all the new friends that I made this year, and the old ones that I reconnected with.

I’m thankful to have had an opportunity to see Kevin for the first time in many years this summer when he was out here on business.

I’d like to forget the excruciating experience of listening to bad karaoke simply to be able to hear Mandi sing a song. You sounded great Mandi. At least what I could hear after jabbing my eardrums out with a steak knife before you got up there.

I am thankful for Bitchin’ Kitchen on Cooking Channel. I didn’t know that I would like it, but that girl is so much fun.

I learned that Robert Harrison should be working for NASA. Punch in “Robert Harrison Icarus Project” in your Google search bar. Who knew $750 could get you better space photos than $450 million could?

I'm thankful to Ruthie for being kind enough to kick in FAR more than her share for the year end party at "The Rob", allowing me to do a 17 course meal for everyone.

I’m thankful for the status updates between Kate and David, which remind me (and everyone else on their friends list) just how amazing love can be.

I learned that the world’s phosphorous reserves are nearing their peak in the next decade or so. I’d like to forget what that means, but unfortunately can’t. Less phosphorous=Less fertilizer=Less food. Well, at least the world population isn’t going up… D’oh!

I’m thankful for AMC putting out some great television this year, as Breaking Bad was amazing, and The Walking Dead looks like a keeper. But I’d like to forget that you cancelled Rubicon after only one season, bastards.

I learned how to make a bunch of new cheesecake flavors this year, and hope for more next year. Let’s hear it for White Chocolate Macadamia Nut, Rosewater, Kalamata Fig, Green Tea, Turkish Apricot and Mandarin Orange cheesecakes. Next year I’ll REALLY experiment.

I’d like to forget about Faroukanstandiadad or whatever his name was from Northern Iowa who sank the bracket of half the country when he single-handedly beat Kansas. Bitter, table for one…
I’d like to forget that Powell’s books no longer holds the allure for me that it once did. I’d like to have it still be something that I went out of my way to do. When I was in college, I’d go up there, and a $25 book could be found for $10-12. Now it’s $18-19. There’s no incentive, other than to find titles that I can look for somewhere else at a better price. I miss the days when I’d go in there with Dave, armed with his sister’s employee discount card, and walk out with two bags of first edition hardcovers for under $100.

I am SOOOO thankful for Archer on FX. If you’re not watching it, you need to be. Netflix season one RIGHT NOW. Then tune in January 27th for the premiere of season 2. Funniest show on television.

I learned that Canada might want to do a test run on the centerpiece of their torch-lighting before having it malfunction in the middle of the opening ceremony. Well, at least no one was watching… D’oh!

I learned that the guy who hired Pat Garrett to track and kill Billy The Kid was the same person who wrote Ben Hur.

I also learned that the person who ended up killing Pat Garrett fled to South America and was killed… by Butch Cassidy.

I learned that greeting cards for no reason whatsoever hold so much more meaning than ones for a specific day or holiday.

I am thankful that Chance made it through another year. You just keep going, kitty.

I learned that the crappy 80’s movie Against All Odds was actually a remake of an INCREDIBLE movie from the 40’s with a very young Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas. Highly recommended.

Finally, I am thankful once again to any of you who actually took the time to read all of this. I know that you can choose to spend your time doing a variety of different things, and that you would spend it reading my ramblings means more to me than you know.