How was your 2009? After a rocky first quarter, the last three got progressively better. After a few visits to sunny Florida to quell my winter blues, some time to clear my head from the ending of 2008, my year picked up drastically.

I do want to thank all of my true friends who stood beside me over the last year. You were a true shoulder to lean on when I needed you.

I spent most of January and February working on the G-RAFFE, replacing a variety of suspension parts, and redoing the upholstery. Also, dealt with frozen pipes, and I managed to pull my head out of my arse in March and realize what was good for me, admitting some things from the past are best to let go, what is vs. what was, and give way to new adventures in the present and the future. I think I’ve managed to keep my foot out of my mouth for the most part thus far in that department, so lets hope that carries into 2010.

May started off the Steam Show season with the first of a few trips to Rollag for a weekend of opening things up for the year, a little camera work, and some time out of the cities.

In June, I once again participated in the MS-150 bike tour, and have already signed up for the 2010 ride, as Captain of our team, the Wheels of Fortune. Feel free to pledge, or join the team! I know people have different views on charities and fund-raisers, however, I’ve been riding this ride for about 15 years now, and it started with me and a friend wanting to ride our bikes for a weekend and go camping, and felt it a worthy cause to contribute to.. Now, I’m captain of a team, and won’t miss the weekend for anything, as while you ride with 3,xxx other riders, you end up seeing the same people year after year, and the riders are all great.

Also, we went camping with our good friends Vicki and Justin, and Bill and Kim our in Wisconsin. We did get a little rain and thunder, but overall it was a great time, and even thought Vic and Justin moved out east for work, i’m certain it will happen again at some point in time! At the end of June was another work weekend at Rollag, where we had some cold beers with good friends at night, and by day, worked hard, got dirty and loved what we were doing.

July brought my Birthday, the 4th of July, and more local steam shows, such as the Log Cabin Pioneer show in Hastings. We caught up with some of our Rollag friends to catch the tractor pull and have some beer.

In August, we trekked north an hour to the Almelund show for an evening with Rollag folks again before we were shooed away by what turned out to be a nasty storm 5 miles south of the show. Lets not forget the annual trek to Rollag for 11 days, where I, along with another volunteer film over 20 hours of footage over 4 days and create the annual DVD.

Carry into September, we rolled out to Wisconsin for an annual gathering of college friends, another weekend of Steam at the Albany show, and finishing up some remodeling in the back of the house.

I started a new job at the end of October after seeing my job at my previous employer change roles, and start heading down a road that would lead to a lay off. Give a company three years of sacrifice, and you get shafted. Great job.. This job has provided a HUGE sense of relief, that I’m at a company that appreciates me, I love getting up and going to work, and I have flexibility, freedom, and plenty of room to grow with the company.

November took me up north to Beaver Island, to try out deer hunting. I didn’t shoot, or gut a deer much to the girlfriends dismay, but I did have an opportunity to shoot old computer parts, drink beer and hang out with.. You guessed it, more rollag friends! Also, we hosted Thanksgiving, which went over great, Jake stopped by on his way thru, and had his squeezebox with him, so he whipped that out and kept us entertained for a spell.

Chris and I also finished the 2009 Rollag DVD. They say the third time is the charm, and this is probably our best production to date!

December starts the Holiday madness, and wrapping up the 2009 year. Santa brought all kinds of neat goodies, but mainly I enjoyed being able to spend time with my family, which is very important to me.

For 2010, I resolve to do the following:

Continue my efforts to workout and eat healthier

Leave the rum in the bar until the weekends

Structure my time better, to not always be working

Those are three items I think I can pretty easily attain. What are your goals and aspirations for 2010? – I know a few other items on my plate are a trip to Florida in February with the better half, and meeting up with a few Rollag friends who will be down there as well. Once the snow melts, the biking, camping, boating and steam shows fire up, so I’ve got to be sure I have all my camera goodies and camera cart in working order.

Enjoy the New Years weekend, be safe, and have a safe and prosperous 2010.