2023 a year in review

Well, we got a couple of wars going on, protests in the streets all over the world, upcoming divisive elections and seemingly a lot of anger going around. But other than that I had a pretty good year personally.

Set a new personal record for steps/milage wiith over 1.5 million steps good for 4863 miles (average 13.3 miles per day!) This helped me lose 50+ pounds. I'm in my best shape in years.

Had a real good year in the market. Had a solid year betting baseball. Even made money with my nickel and dime approach to betting football which I almost always lose at. Was also pretty positive with my poker results even though I only get to play a couple of times a year.

Not likely to do much partying or drinking tonight. I haven't seen midnight on New Years Eve in decades. Typically I watch a couple of classic movies and reflect on what was and ponder on what will be.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

past performance is no guarantee of future results
and objects in mirror are closer than they appear

Happy NEW YEAR

The delightful thing is, it can't get any worse.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Phat Mack, i’ll miss you!

Good Bye John Cole. I liked you more than you’ll ever realize. I would write you a poem but I’m afraid of how offended you would be by my poor word choices. I don’t have many words left. But I still have hope. That’s really all you need.

I like the way MrBaseball closes his year in review. I guess as we get old we do have the desire to look back and look ahead. That's the Janus thing.

Today would have been my 36th anniversary, so I spend more time looking back than looking ahead. I'm grateful for the 18 years we did have together, but I miss the intimacy of living with someone every day of the year. I miss the small stuff, the things you do to build a life together. So I try to remember those small moments rather than the hardships of which there were many. I can in quiet moments hear the sound of her voice. I remember her courage.

But enough about that. I turned 70 this year, and it didn't bother me. At 60 you realize subconsciously you don't have much time left. At 70 you know it, so I decided to embrace it. I traveled this year: Hilton Head for a week to play golf, Rome and Athens with my daughter, granddaughter, and son-in-law (a few weeks after we returned, my daughter told me there was not one minute she wished she were somewhere else), NYC with two girl friends, NYC alone.

I was able to see friends throughout the year because we live much closer now. I see both sides of my family frequently. I was able to drive all year unlike last year when a seizure grounded me for six months. I quit smoking. I still enjoy teaching and learning. I even played poker a few times.

I fight off bouts of loneliness, mostly by watching movies, but I'm mostly content. I have come to realize how fortunate I have been and continue to be.

I still see the good in others and hope never to turn into some cantankerous old bastard.

Happy New Year, my friends here. And thank you for tolerating me.





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I would never be offended. Hang in there. You're worth it.

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mrb, congratulations on the weight loss. I walk a lot, but I'm not even close to being in your league.

John, congratulations on stopping smoking.

Both of you, nice, introspective write-ups. Best of wishes going forward to both of you, as well as everyone else ITT.

As for me, 2023 a pretty nice year. Had a nice trip up to New England and SE Canada in June/July. Connected with some college friends I hadn't seen in too long on the way, and was fortunate enough to meet John and suitedjustice while wandering around NE.

Good year financially, don't recall any particular health concerns, so overall a nice time.

Looking forward, going to Brazil two weeks from Friday (assuming visa approval happens). Considering a trip in April to try to see the total solar eclipse. Maybe some summer camping or something.

Take care all, and be well!

Walked down to the beach in Newport to watch the polar plunge. Most of the participants ran in up to their knees and ran back. That's hardly a "plunge." Good day for it, though, at 42 degrees.

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tried dming you a hello bryce but your inbox is full, hang in there mang, you're one of the best posters here

There’s been a misinterpretation here, sorry. I am not saying goodbye because i’m offing myself! That seems like quite a conclusion to jump to from that post. I just meant i’m non committedly leaving the forum. In truth i’ll probably be back during the 2024 wsop. My life is great! I’m saddened not everyone’s life is going so great on these forums though and by out of words i meant out of advice. see ya!

I thought you were just going to stop posting. But, still, hang in there.

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Rio was my all-time favorite liberty spot in the Navy. Really beautiful place. That was a long time ago though? Are you going to Rio or elsewhere. We also stopped in Salvador Brazil and it was a really depressing 3rd world type of place.

countless places in the states aren't much different from 'third world'
after repeated application of the economic lever formula

Mrb, it goes like this:

1/19, Overnight in Miami. Next evening, down to Manaus, arrive late. Have a day on land, then get on a boat, chug around the Amazon for a few days.

Down to Iguazu Falls for a couple days, then over to Rio for a couple. Back through Houston on the night of 30th-31st.

If anyone's interested, I have a blog over in Travel that I scribble in during my adventures.

Sounds awesome! Just make sure you watch the movie Anaconda beforehand so you know exactly what you are in for

Well, at least I'm not flying over the Andes.

There is a training video about what to do in case of a plane crash.

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die?

Cannibalism if crashing in the Andes.

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A while back, some of us were discussing Breaking Bad. I pointed out that most people see it as great TV drama, but I see it as an instructional video.

Probably should consider moving to ABQ...

I lived in ABQ for many years during the 1990’s. It was fun and interesting. And the variety of food was great.

Question: What's worse? Plagiarism by a college president or people texting during a film?

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Both quite bad in different contexts, and should be punished severely.