What I Learned, What I’m Thankful For, and What I’d Like to Forget About 2022

 Hark, what's that I hear? Could that possibly be the opening notes of Dreamline, the first track of Different Stages Live? I believe it could be. And as I look at the calendar, I notice that it's the beginning of January. Putting those two things together, I do believe that it's got to be time for me to be writing... What I Learned, What I'm Thankful For, and What I'd Like to Forget about 2022. So sit back, grab your favorite beverage, and allow me to do my best to entertain you for a little while. 

As has been the case every year since he died, I'd like to forget that Neil Peart is dead, and there is never to be any more Rush albums. 

However, I'm also really thankful that they had a career spanning over 40 years, and produced a whole lot of epic music. 

I'm thankful for the Pokerrrr2 app, which is allowing me to play poker right now, while also typing out this blog. I'm probably going to do a half-assed job with both poker and the blog, but at least I'm able to get them both done. 

I learned that Georges Seurat founded the art technique of pointillism, which is where you use a series of small dots of paint to form a larger picture. 

And if that isn't obscure enough for you, I learned that for about 10 years, the capital of Assyria was Dur-Sharrukin. Built up in the decade leading up to 706 BC, it was abandoned when they moved the capital about 20km south. 

I'm still very thankful for my job, which allows me the opportunity to not only do something I enjoy, but also allows me the opportunity to read a LOT of books. New personal record for a calendar year, 192. 

I am thankful to have had another good year in poker, both live and online. I won the year end tournament in the live game, and took third in the final tournament online. 

I'd like to forget that as of this writing, I still have one player who hasn't settled up his $365 debt, so I'm out that money until he does. 

I'd like to forget that I finally got Covid this year, back in July. But I'm also really thankful to not only have had multiple vaccinations, but also that the newer variants haven't been nearly as rough as the previous ones had been. Honestly, I wouldn't even have known I was sick if I hadn't tested. 

I'd like to forget that I DID test, and kept testing, and kept testing positive, and ended up missing a week and a half of work because of it. 

I learned that in 1851 in London, a man named Albert Hobbs went to an exhibition there, and picked what were at the time considered the two hardest locks in the world to pick. He came back to the US, founded a lock company, but eventually made his fortune in firearms and ammunition. 

I learned that one of the other great lock creators of the time, Joseph Bramah of the Bramah lock company, was a polymath who in addition to creating locks, improved the flush toilet, and was one of the founders of the hydraulic press. 

And might as well wrap up your knowledge of locks... I learned that Yale University was NOT (as I had assumed) named after Linus Yale, the inventor of the pin-tumbler lock. Rather, it was named after Elihu Yale, a Scottish merchant who donated money, books, and art to the founding of the school. 

I learned that Matthew McConaughey's parents married each other not once, not twice, but three times. Third time seems to have been a charm. 

Being a foodie, and having heard the term throughout my life, I didn't ever know what chateaubriand was. But I learned this year that it is when you cook a filet mignon between two lesser pieces of meat that you then discard after cooking. Now I know, and now you do too. 

I learned a little bit about Brutalist Architecture, which is the style which emerged in the 1950s originally in the UK, but spreading elsewhere also. It is characterized by minimalist construction that showcase bare building materials over decorative designs. 

I'd like to forget that my Christmas Card list is stuck on my dead computer, so I was only able to send out the Dreaded Christmas Letter to a handful of people. Please send me your address if you didn't get it, and would like to get it next year. 

I am extremely thankful that I live in a time where polyamory has emerged as an acceptable relationship style. There's a reason that I pretty much failed miserably in most of my relationships earlier in my life. I have made plenty of mistakes, and undoubtedly will in the future also. But I no longer feel that I have to be all things to one person, nor do I expect that in return. 

And because most of you didn't get the Christmas letter, you won't know that the reason for the previous entry is that I'm extremely thankful for a new big love in my life, Rachel. We have known each other for a really long time, which is why my running joke over the last year that this was all part of my 13-year plan to become a part of her life. In reality, it came a little bit out of nowhere for both of us, and now is something that I can't imagine my life without. 

I'm also thankful that Sara is perfectly okay with this and happy for me. She's also happy to have the house to herself a couple of nights a week, able to smoke pot in the living room, rather than being stuck doing that in her bedroom when I'm home. 

I learned that during the Permian Extintion, over 95 percent of all marine species and 70 percent of all terrestrial species were wiped out. We aren't the first species to deal with global warming, the cause of that extinction. 

I'd like to forget the fact that my body has finally reached a point where I can't just eat and drink whatever I'd like and have no consequences. I developed GERD this year, a stomach acid thing, which fortunately is being mostly taken care of by meds. 

I learned that GERD can mimic a heart attack really well. 

I'm thankful for the many years that Diet Dr. Pepper and I shared together. But alas, after cracking my second tooth in as many years, our relationship had to end. 

I'm thankful to have been able to give up all soda consumption this year. 

I am so thankful to have been so wrong in my thinking, for the movie that I didn't even think the world needed, Top Gun: Maverick. I gotta say, I loved it so much. I watched it twice in the theater, and have already watched it twice since it debuted on Paramount+.

Speaking of Paramount+, old guys, and things I didn't think I needed, I'm surprisingly thankful for Tulsa King, the Sylvester Stallone mob television series. Also, bonus points for bringing back a nearly unrecognizable Dana Delany. 

I learned that Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond actually was a spy for the British near the end of WWII. 

I am beyond thankful for the Portland Japanese Garden, which I discovered with Rachel when we spent some time in Portland for her birthday this summer. We loved it so much that I immediately bought us memberships and we went back up just a few weeks later. It is such an incredibly beautiful space, and now has vast personal meaning for me, and for her. 

I'd like to forget that I had nerve pain in my hand for a solid two months in the spring and early summer. Ran all the tests, and came back negative for everything. It wasn't carpal tunnel, it wasn't vascular, it wasn't muscular, it just hurt like hell every day for a couple of months. And then went away. 

I'm thankful for the customer that openly prayed for my pain to go away, and that it literally did, that day. No, I'm not going to start believing in a higher power. Yes, I'm still an agnostic. But I will accept that my customer is a devout believer, and he was pretty proud of himself when I told him that my pain went away shortly after he prayed for it. Whatever the cause, I'm just happy not to be dealing with it still. 

I'd like to forget that I didn't spend nearly as much time restocking the little free libraries around town this year. There was a big part of the year that just sort of blurred past. First the hand pain, then the new relationship energy with Rachel that had me focusing solely on that for a while, then I got Covid, and for a while it just seemed that I was going through the paces for much of the year. But I'd like to start getting more books out to people this year. 

I'd also like to forget that for many of the same reasons above, I didn't bake nearly as much this year. That's something I'd also like to get back to doing more of. 

I'm thankful to have come out on the winning side of one of the wildest final hands ever had here on Tuesday nightpoker. I had 7-7, vs. 5-5 and K-7 on a K-7-5 flop. The K-7 was pretty shocked to be in third place on that flop. 

I learned that I'm not too old to get back to working out regularly, as I got back on the treadmill 4-5 nights a week at the beginning of the year and saw many of my blood and health numbers improve dramatically because of it. 

I'd like to forget that the hand pain killed that, followed by the heat of summer, getting Covid, and then just being mentally wiped out for much of the fall. But, I know I can do it, and plan on getting back into the swing of it soon. 

I'm extremely thankful that once again we didn't lose any animals this year. Max is still the old man of the group, as he's now 17 ½. Moirae is pushing 10, and all the rest are young'uns. We did gain two animals this year, a turtle that was rehomed to us from a friend, and Captain, our porch cat. He was just a stray that started showing up for food in the evenings, and eventually never left. Now he's got a little house on the porch and is happy just patrolling the front yard and driveway for us. 

I'd like to forget that I don't actually own the library from Beauty and the Beast, and therefore continue to run out of space for all the books that I buy. Yes, I have a problem. On the bright side, it's now much, much harder for me to find books that I don't already own, as I've filled out my collection for all but the hardest ones to find. 

I'm thankful for Robert's Bookstore in Lincoln City, that continues to surprise me with their ability to always have one or two books that I don't already own. 

I'm also thankful for Well Read Books in Waldport, which is a tiny, tiny bookstore, and yet they always seem to have one book that I need. I'm shocked that I almost never leave there without filling a hole in my collection. 

Something I already knew, but you all need to learn... READING books, and BUYING books, are two VERY different hobbies. Just because I happen to practice both of them shouldn't confuse you into thinking that they aren't distinct hobbies. 

I am thankful for my new washing machine, as I no longer need to be super careful about how much to put in there, or whether it's balanced, or whatever. It's a beast and I love it. 

I learned, surprsingly given that I was a history major and didn't learn it in college, about the Dawes Act of 1887, which established the process of “checkerboarding” Native American (especially Navajo) lands, so that they didn't own consecutive areas of land, but rather had it laid out like a checkerboard with non-Native peoples owning the plots in between. Done, of course, to speed up the process of assimilation, and not allow for Native culture to survive. 

I don't really do politics in this blog, or at least try to steer away from it as much as possible. But wow, did I learn that George Santos is one of the five greatest Americans to ever live. Just ask him, he'll tell you all about it. I mean, a little embellishment here and there, sure, but everyone does it. 

I learned that the owner of Segway died by accidentally driving a Segway off of a cliff. Now that's some funny shit. 

I am thankful to have found my holy grail of books this year, a first edition of the very first Michael Connelly book, The Black Echo. In absolutely mint condition with the promotional flyer still attached. 

I'd like to forget that I paid more than I've ever paid for a book in my life for it, but I'm still thankful to own it now. 

I'm thankful for Sticks, Stones and Bones in Yachats, the coolest store of fossils, stones and just overall cool stuff around. I've bought so many little fossils, rocks, and tchotchkes to decorate my bookshelves with. 

I'm thankful to have made it almost the entire year without breaking my Wordle streak. 

I'd like to forget that in that first week of playing, I forgot to play one day, so that even though I'm at 100%, my streak isn't the same as my total days played. It is really annoying to look at. 

I am thankful for Ballet Fantastique, which put on a number of amazing shows this year, as they do every year. Getting to see the original Beauty and the Beast story put on last spring was fabulous. 

I'm thankful for the Worthfeed and Wholesome_Motivation feeds on Instagram. They are filled with nothing but cute videos and happy thoughts. So needed in today's world of negativity and constant doom and gloom. 

I learned a whole lot about ocular migraines this year. Realized that I'd had them for much of my life, but never knew exactly what it was. Had a couple of really scary ones where whole portions of my field of vision were just like a blurry grey screen. Had never really even heard of them before, and all of a sudden, hear about them all the time. But more knowledge is usually a good thing, and now I know what they are. 

I'm thankful to have had the opportunity to go to the Eugene Symphony performing the musical score to one of the Harry Potter movies, while the movie played above them. Really cool experience. 

I learned that one of the people I work with in Waste Management, is also a senior member of the Eugene Symphony. Had no idea. 

I learned that if you say “Forgive me father for I have sinned” as “Sorry Daddy, I've been baaaaaadd” it freaks a lot of people out. 

I am so thankful for my membership at the Portland Art Museum. Such well spent money. I loved the Frida Kahlo exhibit this year. 

As I am every year, I'm thankful for Local Ocean, which is the best seafood in Oregon. 

I'm thankful for the experience that is the Sylvia Beach Hotel. It isn't all that luxurious, it's an old building, and has some problems. Our room had a leaky window and a fireplace that couldn't hold a flame. But if you love to read, there's nowhere better. Every room is decorated like a different author, there's a big library upstairs, and there's no TV, internet or phones. You go to read, and to appreciate reading. So lovely. I recommend the Twain room for the high price level, and the Melville room for the midrange level. Shakespeare for sure for the low end rooms. 

I learned, via Rachel, that there's no easy access to Marist High School from the walking path that goes directly behind the school. You've got to walk all the way around through the neighborhood and back through the front of the school, even though the walking path is RIGHT THERE. 

I'd like to forget that I created no new flavors of cookies this year. 

But, I'm thankful that Ben at the year end party did order something new, so I created the lavender blueberry cheesecake. 

I'm thankful for old school pestle and mortar kitchen tools that allowed me to grind fresh lavender into a powder for that. There's something so peaceful about using a pestle and mortar. 

I learned that in September of 1906, the Eugene Public Library had 363 members. And that the librarian was a Mrs. Lilley. 

I'm thankful for the Friends of the Library book sale, where I picked up a first edition of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion for a whopping $2. 

I'm thankful for the quick response of the Marcola Fire Department, which was able to get to my site and put out a fire in one of the trailers relatively quickly this summer. 

I'm thankful for Discount Tire, which has replaced Les Schwab as my go-to place for tires and tire repair. No one could ever compete with the customer service that Schwab provided when the old man was still alive and running the show. But ever since he's been gone, they've gone downhill and I don't even like dealing with them for anything anymore. 

I relearned just how great the Glenwood Family Dinners are. $19 and you get enough food for like, six meals. It isn't ever going to be top end gourmet fare, but it's not bad, and you get a lot of food for the money. If you're ever in a bind thinking about what to have, they have two options every weekday. 

I learned that the crane fly, which is often called a mosquito hawk or mosquito killer, doesn't actually eat mosquitoes. 

I can file this under “I learned” or “I'd like to forget”... ESPN is either really bad at math, or just has some terrible editors. This summer, as Albert Pujols was nearing 700 home runs, they published an article saying that Pujols ranks fourth on the all-time home run list, behind Bonds, Aaron, Ruth, and Rodriguez. I mean, he did eventually pass Rodriguez, so maybe they were just forecasting where he'd finish. 

I learned that there's a whole genre of lesbian private eye novels that became popular in the late 70s, and has stayed popular through today. 

I learned that there is now voice cloning AI software called paramimic software. 

I learned that there was briefly a minor league hockey team in Macon, Georgia called the Macon Whoopees!

I'm thankful for having had the opportunity to visit Pittock Mansion in Portland this summer with Rachel. 

I'm thankful for the Yaquina Art Association in Nye Beach, where I was able to buy a bunch of great art this year. 

I'd like to forget that I don't really have the space for new art, and have to find creative ways to display it. 

I'm thankful for Beppi and Gianni's restaurant, which is always happy to serve Sara a big plate of nothing but roasted heads of garlic, without the need to order the actual appetizer that they normally come with. 

I am so thankful for the joy that is reading the Becky Chambers Monk and Robot series. It was my number 2 book last year, and my number 1 book this year in my annual Top-20 book blog. They are just pure joy and happiness and show you that books can be wonderful without any real drama or conflict. I cannot recommend them highly enough. 

I both learned a lot, and am really thankful for the documentary Dio: Dreamers Never Die, which was all about Ronnie James Dio. What a truly amazing human being. 

I'd like to forget that once again this year, I didn't really get much Christmas decorating done. If we don't get it out right after Thanksgiving, it seems that my ability to muster up the energy to do it in December, when I've got my birthday and the year end party to plan for, just doesn't exist. 

I'm beyond thankful to Sara for taking the time to put up some small decorations this year, and make the house feel as though it had some Christmas cheer. 

I am thankful to have had the opportunity to go up to my old site in McKenzie Bridge and train someone new to work there. I was able to see a bunch of my old customers, and chat with people I hadn't seen since taking over Marcola four years ago. 

I'd like to forget that the person I trained quit like two weeks later, and I then had to go BACK to McKenzie Bridge a month later to train someone ELSE. 

I'd like to forget that when I had my cracked tooth repaired, my abilty to process anesthesia quickly made it so that I had to have a double dose, which then made it so that I couldn't feel when I bit almost entirely through my lower lip later that day eating lunch. 

I am thankful for Sara getting us tickets, and having the experience of watching the ballet version of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, which followed the book completely. Most people don't realize that things don't actually end well for Ichabod. 

I am thankful for getting to watch, once again, how much Sara loves cleaning out pumpkins. We have to buy extra pumpkins every year just so that she can enjoy scraping all the gunk out of the middle. 

I am thankful for Fred Meyer still selling their candy at half-price the day after Halloween. It allows me to buy enough candy to keep the poker room stocked for the entire year. 

I'd like to forget the fiasco that was trying to replace my car battery, which died in the Costco parking lot, where I had taken it to get the battery replaced. Only to find that they didn't stock the replacement for my car, and I didn't have the tools needed to get the battery out. 

I am thankful for the wonderful people at Batteries Plus that sold me the right battery and the right tool to replace it with. 

I learned that Norman Reedus, Daryl on The Walking Dead, not only was almost a professional tennis player, having played on the junior circuit to some success, but that he also used to sell paintings of cats to make ends meet. What an interesting guy. 

I learned that the British once came up with a bounty program to kill cobras in India. But it backfired when the locals started breeding the snakes to make money on the bounties, and ended up exacerbating the cobra problem. 

I'd like to forget that this was actually a pretty slow year for me actually doing things and getting things done. This is one of the shortest blogs I can remember writing.

But finally, I'm quite thankful for any of you that have read this far. I love you all, and will endeavor to make 2023 a great year with many more entries in NEXT year's blog. Until then, I wish you all much love, health, and happiness.