No COW this week. Instead: A look back at 2013

Something I did that was challenging and I feel a personal sense of accomplishment for, was getting my motorcycle endorsement. This isn’t something I ever even considered before last summer. Having only been a passenger a couple of times on one I figured it would be best for me to take a class. I was a bit concerned about the clutch, but hoped that since I prefer to drive cars with manual transmission this wouldn’t be too different.
I have to be honest, it wasn’t easy for me.
I had trouble maneuvering the bike in the confined course at very low speeds. When the instructor told me I passed I literally started crying, which startled him a bit since there was another woman in the class crying but that’s because she didn’t pass (her husband had already bought her an expensive bike). So not a huge deal, but something I’m proud of.

The other was a bucket list item.
I finally got to attend Antiques Roadshow! I was super excited! I’ve been watching the show since high school (yes, I’m a bit of a dork). 15,000 people applied for the tickets in this area and I lucked out and was selected as one of the winners from the ticket draw. Unfortunately my items weren’t worth much, but I’ve been assured that I have a good 45-50 years (hopefully) or so to acquire something interesting.

~Angela

I started a diet. That's a bit of a misnomer. Diets don't work. (At least they don't work for me!) It's more of a lifestyle change. Much less beef (WAHH!), much less breads (WAHH!!!), more chicken, pork and fish (whadaya know, I actually DO like sushi!). Smaller portions. More exercise. To tell the truth, I had been a couch potato as of late. Being tech support, all I do all day (on a usual day) is sit in front of my PC, and configure stuff. Well last September when I went to the Outer Banks of North Carolina with a friend (see http://www.poi-factory.com/node/40821), and we each took a bunch of pictures. On of hers was of me from behind in a swim suit. Oh HELL NO! That's gotta go! Spare tires are for cars! That photo was all the incentive I needed to begin to change the rest of my life. From that time, I'm down at least 30 pounds and I'm not stopping anytime soon. New Years Day was too late for me! I'm walking a few times a week anywhere from 4 to 15 miles each. I've turned into a walkaholic. I've done the entire Long Island Greenbelt Trail twice (see http://www.poi-factory.com/node/41667) because I parked the car and had to walk to a destination and then back to the car. So the 33 mile trail turned into 66 over a couple of weeks. I'm now on the lookout for more trails to conquer near me.

That would be great to go to.

I love to dig in the dirt. Have gone to the Creator of Diamonds before but this year we went to North Carolina and dug for sapphires. I found several small light colored ones. They are not great but would love to have some faceted. It cost more than they are worth to have them done by a professional. I am having trouble finding someone that does not want an arm and a leg to facet them so now I want a faceting machine and to learn how to facet gems. My husband said OK if I can find a machine in his price range...having trouble doing that.

This is my goal for the new year. Learn to facet gems and get a faceting machine.

Maybe.....

TG for a devoted wife & family; TG to a very sharp team of medical professionals ... This was the year a host of others helped me beat the reaper.

For now keeping the 1450 charged, the Oregon 450 busy & looking forward to it's squeal next week!

Life is still good, but growing old is not for sissies.

Kept my New Year resolution not to quit smoking.

Kept out of wheelchairs. Can still hobble around, but need a mobility scooter.

I disagree with camerabob, a diet that works for me is the 5:2 Fast Diet.
Fast, not as in quick or rapid. You can eat mostly normal for 3 days (NO 10 trips to the all you can eat buffet) and then on the next day try to stick to 600 calories for males or 500 for females. Then you have 3 days of normal eating to look forward to. Got me to lose 22 pounds in 2 months.

Right now being in Mexico for the winter it is a hell of a lot harder to follow though. The heat makes you imbibe a lot more liquids (BEER).

Looking back over the year it is difficult to distinguish between the really significant events and those that just seem to be in the normal course of life.

Probably the most unusual event for me was surgery in September to remove my gall bladder. Luckily they were able to do it laprscoptically so the recovery time was short. This was followed by a trip to look at possible retirement areas. We think we found one near the Smoky Mountains.

Because old age comes at a really bad time, I've cut back on business travel. Getting so I hate the delays, poking and rudeness from those you encounter at the airports and many of the hotels in the more popular areas. Orlando and Las Vegas really aren't friendly at all. It's as if the overarching theme is open your wallet, we want to suck out every dollar possible. I swear, you get more free amenities at a Red Roof Inn in Toledo than the Bellagio in Vegas. (Oh, the beds are just as comfortable, the TV programs pretty much the same and you don't have to walk through a smoke filled casino to get anywhere.)

I'm also cutting back on my volunteer work on some of the panels and boards where I have been active. I've been recruiting new blood to take my place. It's not necessarily as much a change in direction as it is giving an opportunity to others.

My bride and I will be celebrating our 46th anniversary here in a few weeks and so far have no plans on what, if anything we will do to celebrate (other than go to bed early).

Forgot to mention we are going to celebrate our 50th Anniversary.
We will be going to Prague, Budapest, Vienna, Eagle's Nest and Germany... We will be waiting till the Spring when the weather is a little warmer.
50 fabulous years married to my childhood sweetheart...

Lucky you.

I couldn't do your diet. 600 calories is a hamburger... I would starve, or die eating rabbit food all day. To each, his/her own. Keep it up.

This is the year that Barbara and I have rowdied on down.

I love walking and exploring and found an interest that expands and extends those walks with goals. Geocaching. It added an element of fun and challenges to my walks. And I found that seeing another one just a half mile further down the trail, and when I get there, another one just another half mile further, has had me push myself to longer hikes than I would have done otherwise. I don't care for urban geocaching; I specifically search out forest/nature preserves and get off the paved bike trails and onto footpaths or just plain go cross-country.

I'm in better shape and dropped 15 pounds without dieting. I always take my dog, and she slimmed down a little, too.

Congrats on your endorsement, don't worry about the low speed stuff just keep practicing, lean the bike, let it do the turns for you, it will come to you. By all means be safe and watch out for the crazy 4 wheelers, we like you here and want to keep you around.

In seventh grade, at the tender age of 12, I began smoking. At that time I wasn't aware of a powerful lifelong addiction, that lie ahead for me.

I never dreamt in a million years that I would ever write the following:
I finally broke the cycle of addiction 52 years later (by going cold turkey), on December 1, 2010, two days after my 64th birthday and I'm happy (and proud) to have just passed my three-year anniversary of being smoke-free.

On March 26, 1993 I quit drinking (also cold turkey) and earlier this year I celebrated my 20th anniversary.

Life is good… (and totally addiction free).

I have done a lot of dumb things in my life, but starting to smoke is the only thing I really regret. I don't criticize or look down on anyone that smokes, but support those that try to quit.

Congratulation to you Tailspin, and to any and all that have quit smoking! If anyone wants to make a resolution to quit smoking in 2014 - go for it.

Congrats on two great anniversaries... of sorts.