Year in Review

 

End of the year review, mostly for my benefit. It helps me keep track of my progress and plan a few things for the upcoming year. I always have big plans for the projects, but rarely do I get anywhere near done what my plan calls for.

My health is good presently. I'm still having trouble with my chest. Apparently, I should have nursed my recovery a bit longer before trying to do some "sissy" pushups. I'm about at the point I'll just need to reconcile myself to having an issue that's going to be with me to the end and work around it. I hadn't planned on the eye problem, but no one ever does plan for these things. Looking forward to the surgery, which should correct most of the problem but will set my progress back for a few weeks. Nothing new there, though.

One of the big accomplishments of the year was getting my ham radio license - something I've wanted to do for years. I'm planning on moving up to the next level this coming year. Now that I'm unemployed again I'll get started on that while on light duty and hopefully take my test at the February club meeting.

I did a ton of projects this year but didn't finish any of the motorcycle jobs. The vintage trials bike is really close to being done. I was ready to weld the last piece on the shift linkage when I got distracted with some boat work for a customer and then making pieces for Coach Jen and her Jen-nasium. Having the trials bike and the Sportster running for next year are at the top of the list. Time to finish up several other bike and car jobs as well. 2025 needs to be the year of motor vehicles. The Missus broken wrist was another of the unforeseen setbacks that seem to come along on a fairly regular basis. 

The shop clean-up and organization, while not completely finished, should help pick up the pace of completing projects. I'm still contemplating getting a couple new machine tools. Like the clean-up/ fix-up work, they would probably improve thru-put on the to-do list. Plus, I figure it wouldn't hurt to reward myself for all the years of working both full time and a side hustle. Since I'm never going to get that Jag XKE that I've been wanting since about 1968, a new drill press would be a lot cheaper and much more practical. And before leaving the clean-up topic, big thank you goes out to Surly for being the driving force behind it.

Not much travel this past year. Cuzzin Ricky and I did manage to get to a couple of open wheel races but nothing like we were doing before Covid hit. I did make it to a few boxing matches and some sparring events. Now that Coach Jen will have a training facility for boxers, I'll be able to tag along to work a corner or coach a bit at sparring sessions. I'm hoping Cuzzin Ricky and I will finally make it to Hawaii this coming year.

My book reading is still below par. I managed to read 19 books and the weekly newspaper, but I had trouble keeping up with my magazine subscriptions. Too much time on the computer feeding my paranoia with other people's blogs, especially those giving a different slant on the political and financial state of current affairs and how it affects those of us in the proletariat. It'll be interesting to see what the future brings with the change of leadership in Washington. Of course, Slow Joe still has time to start WWIII before Trump takes office again. 

What's to come? I still can't yodel or tap dance but those aren't very realistic goals with all the other items on the list ahead of them. I am going to try and tighten up the diet and get back on a regular training schedule. I need to update the to-do list and also the bucket list. Other than the Hawaiian trip, I think I've done most everything I've ever wanted to do on the bucket list. It might merit a little thought, however - hate to go to my grave having overlooked something I'd regret in the afterlife. 

Hope all of you have a happy and productive New Year!