Goodbye, 2012. Onward, 2013.

I’m not going to lie, the last few years have been tumultuous.  2012 did not want to let me down and it was definitely a barnburner.  I always like to take a little time at the end close of each year to try to reflect on what I’ve done and how things went down.

Here’s some of the highlights, lowlights, bright lights and dark nights…

♣ The Atari’s at Exit In in Nashville, Tennessee.

♣ Corsair Artisan Distillery tour for Brad’s birthday.

♣ Dropkick Murphy’s show the week before St. Patrick’s at Marathon Music Works in Nashville, Tennessee!

♣ Continued our tradition of beering down with the boys at the Franklin Brew Fest.

♣ Witnessed the Lewis’ dream of adopting from Africa come true and was able to greet them at the airport when they came home with dear Feruza.

♣ Shared my wife’s joy in finally landing a job at a school in her hometown.

♣ Got a serious respiratory infection along with drugs I was allergic to that made me break out from head to toe in hives. Fun!

♣ Went to visit my Grandfather who was gravely ill and he passed away while I was there.  After going by “Bill” for most of my adult life, I switched back to “Billy” in his honor. I wrote a post about that here. Was blessed, however, to reconnect with many cousins and family members I had not seen for many years at the Memorial.

♣ Rented out our house in Nashville and moved back to New Jersey.  This was the 16th time I have moved in my adult life and 24th overall.  It was also the 2nd time I went back to a state where I had already previously lived. I told my wife this is my last (I think I said “I will die in this house” – ha). Since I said it out loud, that’s almost a guarantee I will move again. I never learn.

♣ Spent months painting and otherwise fixing up our apartment in Ronee’s family home.  Piano move from 1st to 2nd floor.  New stove.  Hung kitchen cabinets. Built a china cabinet. It was a lot of work.

♣ Fulfilled a goal / dream of riding my bike in the NY Century bike ride.  Ended up riding over 40 miles, by far the most I had ever ridden. Even got to ride both ways over the Brooklyn Bridge.

♣ Enjoyed visits from Canadian friends (Martins & Nolans) and New Hampshire (Wibles) friends.

♣ Made failed attempts (all canceled by weather!) to see Refused, OFF!, Descendents, Hot Water Music and Further Seems Forever. Resolved not to buy any more concert tickets.

♣ Traveled into The City numerous times for business and pleasure.

♣ Tried many new NY/NJ food spots including Good Enough To Eat, Elephant & Castle, Shake Shack (my new favorite), Elevation Burger, La Mela, Becco, Smorgasburg, La Mezza, etc.

♣ Started attending Church at Redeemer.

♣ Went to the Philly Bike Expo and rode my bike all over the city of Philadelphia at night.

♣ Started volunteering at charity: water, which I still am.  Amazing group of people doing great work.

♣ Had my eyes opened and heart poured out at the memorial for Melissa Buglino Killeen, a childhood friend of my wife’s and young mother who lost her battle with cancer.

♣ Started taking a fitness kickboxing class at Sunrise Taekwondo.  Completed over 50 classes this year!

♣ Went fall Apple picking at Masker’s in Warwick, New York.

♣ Spent a lot of Sunday evenings riding my bike along the Hudson river and watching Carrie, Ronee and Dan play softball.

♣ Launched a new website and online store for my company, Ride Above. Also got a custom RDE ABV license plate for my car. Keeping the dream alive!

♣ Survived Hurricane Sandy unscathed. Many others did not fare so well. If you want to help support those affected, check out this post.

♣ Celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years home in New Jersey without having to travel for the first time in many years.  Of course, I got sick on Christmas Day and have been sick since.

♣ Finished out the year by losing my job at Moontoast.  Christmas came early and I got an extended vacation!

♣ Defeated the Mayans and took a big fat high dive off the fiscal cliff!

2013 is here.  All hands on deck!