Year In Review 2013: To The Point

Another year gone.

2013 was another big year with several milestone, including:

1. I designed and created iPhone and iPad docks, laser-cut through Ponoko.
2. I purchased an old film SLR and shot with black-and-white film.
3. I sold my product on eBay, my little-used Zune HD. (I don't know why I bought that thing...)
4. I worked a 56 hours in a week once (including two physically intensive 15 hour days in a row). I did not go home one of those nights.
5. I started in investing in the stock market and I've netted approximately 27% in my portfolios this year, averaged across all my investment accounts.
6. I attended way too many NBA games, including the Semi-Finals between SA and MEM, at FedEx Forum in May.
7. I quit my old job at Liberty (Washington, DC), putting in my notice the day before Thanksgiving.
8. I started a new job at Gannett Fleming (Baltimore, MD), literally doubling the size of the mechanical engineering department in this regional office.
9. I bought a car, a 2014 Mazda3 hatchback.

This year, there weren't any "big" trips, but there were a few mini-vacations, adding MEM to my list of traveled airports. Both were flown on Delta. Naturally. Other places I visited and re-visited this year include York, PA, and Annapolis, MD, and Chick-fil-A.

1. Seattle, WA in February.
2. Memphis, TN in May.

Words I wouldn't mind never hearing again:

1. Dunbar.
2. ANC.
3. In-processing.
4. CCs and FTPs.
5. Liberty Engineering.

New Year goals for 2014:

1. Snap fewer random shots, and live in the moment.
2. Go home to New York more often.
3. Never pay bills off earlier than necessary.
4. Find some ducks, and put them in a row.

This is What We Look Like

Today is Day 12 of the US government shutdown.

October 11, 2013. By Drew Sheneman for the Star-Ledger.

Link - Go Comics

End of 2012

This year went by particularly quickly. It is hard to believe that tomorrow begins the still-futuristic-sounding "2013". God...

This year, 2012, I moved to Washington, DC (technically Maryland) to start my first job out of school. On the professional front, I've been learning tons and am still doing my best to catch up on all there is to know. So far, they've been appreciating my work and how I do my work. And after about 11 days of vacation in New York this holiday season, I'm certain 2013 will be ever more exciting and ever more challenging when I return.

On the personal side, I can definitively say that I've continued to develop my world-view. I've strengthened the organization of my thoughts and personal belief system privately and quietly, like any good introvert should. With all the news that 2012 delivered us, whether good or bad, and with all the inane politics that comes from the goings-on of Washington, DC and elsewhere, I've come to realize that there are far more irrational, selfish, and idiotic people out there than I had hoped. Ask me directly if you care to know what I think about other things. Suffice it to say that: (1) people ought to have the freedom to privately do as he/she chooses so long as that does not disrupt or adversely affect the lives of others, and (2) people ought to know how and when to be a good person with a sincere understanding of personal integrity and moral obligation.

While I've always appreciate others' perspectives, this year, I learned not to entertain their bullshit. Back in April of this year, I tweeted, "If people spend as much time thanking and embracing their friends and family as they spend on God, the world would be a better place."

Anyway...

This year, I subscribed to paper delivery of the Washington Post. I created my first (and only) Photo of the Day photobook for the "POTD 2010" project. I visited both the Washington and New York auto shows. I visited countless DC museums, memorials, and landmarks too many times. I purchased a new bike and broke my single-day distance record, which now stands at 48.6 miles. I walked with the goal of 10,000 steps per day, a goal which I met most days this year. I've taken numerous free Amtrak trips to/from Washington and New York at the expense of my credit card award points. I visited Baltimore's Inner Harbor once, never to return again (Baltimore was a particularly bad experience).

I visited Europe for the first time ever, staying at two cities in France--Paris and Bordeaux. (Bordeaux was better.) Sadly, this was also my first (and only) non-Taiwan, international country; I intend to change that soon. I flew on the A380 for the first time and enjoyed a phenomenal economy-class meal on Air France. I twice went up to Ithaca from Washington for my sister's two Cornell graduation ceremonies, with the unofficial one in May and the real one in December. I visited Taylor in Pennsylvania and saw some real-life alpaca! I voted in the 2012 presidential election and in every single local election or ballot issue that was available for me to vote on in Maryland. I began a tutoring job more for the fun than for the supplemental income. I saw the Brooklyn Nets lose in a hilarious defeat against the Boston Celtics at the new Barclays Center in downtown Brooklyn on Christmas Day. Etc.

Looking forward, I've got many things lined up for 2013. I'm going to rekindle my hobby of photography. I'm going to take my home-cooking to a whole new level. I'm going to read, and read, and read.

And while I'm not particularly fond of making New Years resolutions, I did come up with one relatively simple one. Don't eat easy, pre-packaged, store-bought foods. Obviously, this will eliminate a lot of junk foods that I cannot recreate on my own, including sodas, all sorts of sweet drinks, candies, macaroni-and-cheese in-a-box, and canned soups. I intend to eat from fresh, raw ingredients as best that's available. Of course, I can already see there'll be exceptions to this rule, including pasta, noodles, bread, and mineral water. But I'll come to it when I come to it.

For 2013, plan for the future, and live in the moment, and not through your cell phone. Happy New Year. I can't wait until 2012 is over. Oh man!