Year end thoughts
Marisa and I had a nice Christmas and I am gradually getting back to work.
I am wary of the events of the coming year, but so far there is hope.
2017 was not so good.
It started with my truck acting up just as it started snowing. It was an unfortunate conjunction of weather and mechanical failure that put us back financially. Good news, though, the insurance paid for the tow!
Then, just as I started to make headway on our front yard with the removal of the heating oil tank and finish of the dry well, Marisa's car conks out on Interstate-5 south of San Jose, California. It was her car's gas pump. To make matters worse, she did not have a credit card so could not rent a car while waiting for fix...yet she had to get to Lancaster, California. So: emergency vacation for me! Good news: the fix was good, and no one was injured and Marisa got to go to her gathering.
In July, just as I get ready to celebrate the holiday, Cirrus gets sick and dies. Besides the financial implications it was and still is an emotional blow.
Then, an operation for Marisa! So we hit our deductible, then the insurance took over. I would like us to get through a year without doing that. However, once again, everything went well, Marisa is fine now. Our insurance did what it is supposed to do and our savings did what they are supposed to do.
All in all we lurched from financial hits and trying times meanwhile observing the terrible things happening to our planet as our supposed leaders do their best to make things worse.
I never really got a true vacation and feel the impact of not having one. Even ended the year with four unspent vacation days, which I have never done before. I need to spend them to retain somewhat unaffected by the stress at work.
So, I would simply like to put 2017 behind us and look toward a better to-morrow. There are signs at a local level and in other countries that people are succeeding in changing energy use to lessen the impact on global warming, protecting wildlife and reducing pollution. Growing historic preservation efforts locally may help stave off the predatory practices of investment groups and developers eating away at the real estate of Portland. We may even see the rise of smart politics return national government to progressive policies. Let the pendulum swing back to help those most in need.
For us, maybe we have a chance to actually get some time off while being financially stable. Our cars should be over their worst mechanical failures. Our health should be good with at least less catastrophic issues.
As to projects, I may yet finish what I started on the north side. Not so sure about the help I thought I would get with System Pavers. I hope to conclude that arrangement soon one way or the other. Besides that, everything is in place for fairly low cost changes that will dramatically change our yard and allow me to turn my attention to the back yard fence, deck and walkway...and to back room and front room work with basement cleaning.
In short, 2017 was a trying year for us yet created a good foundation for 2018. We shall see.
I am wary of the events of the coming year, but so far there is hope.
2017 was not so good.
It started with my truck acting up just as it started snowing. It was an unfortunate conjunction of weather and mechanical failure that put us back financially. Good news, though, the insurance paid for the tow!
Then, just as I started to make headway on our front yard with the removal of the heating oil tank and finish of the dry well, Marisa's car conks out on Interstate-5 south of San Jose, California. It was her car's gas pump. To make matters worse, she did not have a credit card so could not rent a car while waiting for fix...yet she had to get to Lancaster, California. So: emergency vacation for me! Good news: the fix was good, and no one was injured and Marisa got to go to her gathering.
In July, just as I get ready to celebrate the holiday, Cirrus gets sick and dies. Besides the financial implications it was and still is an emotional blow.
Then, an operation for Marisa! So we hit our deductible, then the insurance took over. I would like us to get through a year without doing that. However, once again, everything went well, Marisa is fine now. Our insurance did what it is supposed to do and our savings did what they are supposed to do.
All in all we lurched from financial hits and trying times meanwhile observing the terrible things happening to our planet as our supposed leaders do their best to make things worse.
I never really got a true vacation and feel the impact of not having one. Even ended the year with four unspent vacation days, which I have never done before. I need to spend them to retain somewhat unaffected by the stress at work.
So, I would simply like to put 2017 behind us and look toward a better to-morrow. There are signs at a local level and in other countries that people are succeeding in changing energy use to lessen the impact on global warming, protecting wildlife and reducing pollution. Growing historic preservation efforts locally may help stave off the predatory practices of investment groups and developers eating away at the real estate of Portland. We may even see the rise of smart politics return national government to progressive policies. Let the pendulum swing back to help those most in need.
For us, maybe we have a chance to actually get some time off while being financially stable. Our cars should be over their worst mechanical failures. Our health should be good with at least less catastrophic issues.
As to projects, I may yet finish what I started on the north side. Not so sure about the help I thought I would get with System Pavers. I hope to conclude that arrangement soon one way or the other. Besides that, everything is in place for fairly low cost changes that will dramatically change our yard and allow me to turn my attention to the back yard fence, deck and walkway...and to back room and front room work with basement cleaning.
In short, 2017 was a trying year for us yet created a good foundation for 2018. We shall see.