2014 Year in Review
This is the project I've been working on since NYE. Unlike last year, it took longer because I read, or at least skimmed, nearly all of my entries.
So, what happened in my life last year that is worth remembering?
January:
We survived the polar vortex.
Grandma went on a cruise…a Dancing with the Stars cruise (and missed the cruddy weather).
Dad brought home Big Sheila, AKA my "new" computer. (She's been working just fine.)
My grandfather went in the hospital (the first time).
I judged my first solo contest.
February:
I helped dig out my boss' non-working van (which, by the way, is still there!)
March:
I hurt my arm, which still gives me issues all these months later.
We lost mom's cousin-in-law Shirley. And grandma couldn't make it to the wake because she was in Georgia.
April:
I got locked out of work one morning.
Our Easter nearly didn't include my grandparents. This would be the only holiday my grandfather spent with us this year.
My dad creates an oil spill in the garage…
… on the same day we learn about Jacob.
May:
We started off the month with a texting scandal at the middle school (and with my mom driving through the live shot during the news).
We went to dad's old neighborhood and I met a number of his friends as we said goodbye to Jacob (and, don't forget, got hit on by my father's friend at the funeral while waiting in line for the bathroom).
We got a new mailbox.
It snowed in the middle of the month, no joke.
We then had Saturn-shaped hail.
My mom turned 60.
June:
Mom and I toured the redone Fishermen's Inn.
My grandfather reached 85.
For the first time since I joined, a summer concert was rained out (and my car was nearly flooded too due to the downpour).
My grandfather finally sold his car.
For the second year in a row, my father had a great-niece born on his birthday.
July:
I get trapped in my car by severe weather.
My journal celebrates 10 years.
A second concert gets rained on, but not canceled.
Jacob's death officially is labeled a homicide, and not long after, someone is charged in his murder.
Our linden tree is sentenced to removal, and then removed.
I discovered that an earlier post had disappeared. While that post is lost to the ages, I was gifted a paid account as a consolation prize.
The highlight of my summer, the pet parade, is canceled due to inclement weather.
I may be developing an allergy to fresh pineapple.
Our microwave/toaster oven died and we got a new one (as well as a new tree).
August:
I take a bad tumble before a concert (and, months later, I still have a mark on my foot--hello, scar).
Camp 27 has some issues, but overall goes well.
Kirby died. Then, days later, we lost my Uncle John (and Robin Williams).
The highlight of the month was becoming a full-on band member.
Our neighbors replaced their old fence, meaning we were fenceless temporarily.
September:
I marched--and got drenched by--my first Labor Day parade.
I wrote up the mini-family reunion for my uncle's funeral.
My grandma spent the weekend with us… then proceeded to try and set me up with her dentist.
We learn more about the July 2015 trip to Texas the band is taking.
Our neighbors get a new deck to go along with their fence.
We get a Keurig.
October:
After 23 years, my neighbors finally got a car in their garage.
My paid account pays off in giving me more room for tags.
My car's CD player starts acting up (and has done this a few more times, even).
My grandfather enters the hospital…again. Later, he moves to a care facility (and is still there at this writing). I end up visiting him, but after visiting a couple cemeteries.
Homecoming at my college takes on a different meaning with a family member now attending the school.
My dad's annual business trip took my parents to Vegas this year--where they saw Britney Spears.
My old TV finally died, so I got a new one for Halloween.
It snowed on Halloween, too (and, due to the wind, I inadvertently broke the front screen door, oops).
November:
I have jury duty (and my family has yet to find out).
I get to play piccolo for flute choir.
There was a shooting at my old mall, down the road from where my grandfather is staying.
I finally post the picture of the Jimmy Durante eggplant from the summer.
Cardinal George retires.
I made my piccolo debut during a regular band rehearsal.
We caught a mouse at work.
We spent Thanksgiving without my grandfather.
My dad gets himself a new TV for Black Friday.
December:
I have my concert piccolo debut (for flute choir, at least).
My new TV stops working, thanks to a busted cable box.
Like Thanksgiving, we spend Christmas without my grandfather.
And we end the year playing Apples to Apples and spilling coffee all over my father.
So, what happened in my life last year that is worth remembering?
January:
We survived the polar vortex.
Grandma went on a cruise…a Dancing with the Stars cruise (and missed the cruddy weather).
Dad brought home Big Sheila, AKA my "new" computer. (She's been working just fine.)
My grandfather went in the hospital (the first time).
I judged my first solo contest.
February:
I helped dig out my boss' non-working van (which, by the way, is still there!)
March:
I hurt my arm, which still gives me issues all these months later.
We lost mom's cousin-in-law Shirley. And grandma couldn't make it to the wake because she was in Georgia.
April:
I got locked out of work one morning.
Our Easter nearly didn't include my grandparents. This would be the only holiday my grandfather spent with us this year.
My dad creates an oil spill in the garage…
… on the same day we learn about Jacob.
May:
We started off the month with a texting scandal at the middle school (and with my mom driving through the live shot during the news).
We went to dad's old neighborhood and I met a number of his friends as we said goodbye to Jacob (and, don't forget, got hit on by my father's friend at the funeral while waiting in line for the bathroom).
We got a new mailbox.
It snowed in the middle of the month, no joke.
We then had Saturn-shaped hail.
My mom turned 60.
June:
Mom and I toured the redone Fishermen's Inn.
My grandfather reached 85.
For the first time since I joined, a summer concert was rained out (and my car was nearly flooded too due to the downpour).
My grandfather finally sold his car.
For the second year in a row, my father had a great-niece born on his birthday.
July:
I get trapped in my car by severe weather.
My journal celebrates 10 years.
A second concert gets rained on, but not canceled.
Jacob's death officially is labeled a homicide, and not long after, someone is charged in his murder.
Our linden tree is sentenced to removal, and then removed.
I discovered that an earlier post had disappeared. While that post is lost to the ages, I was gifted a paid account as a consolation prize.
The highlight of my summer, the pet parade, is canceled due to inclement weather.
I may be developing an allergy to fresh pineapple.
Our microwave/toaster oven died and we got a new one (as well as a new tree).
August:
I take a bad tumble before a concert (and, months later, I still have a mark on my foot--hello, scar).
Camp 27 has some issues, but overall goes well.
Kirby died. Then, days later, we lost my Uncle John (and Robin Williams).
The highlight of the month was becoming a full-on band member.
Our neighbors replaced their old fence, meaning we were fenceless temporarily.
September:
I marched--and got drenched by--my first Labor Day parade.
I wrote up the mini-family reunion for my uncle's funeral.
My grandma spent the weekend with us… then proceeded to try and set me up with her dentist.
We learn more about the July 2015 trip to Texas the band is taking.
Our neighbors get a new deck to go along with their fence.
We get a Keurig.
October:
After 23 years, my neighbors finally got a car in their garage.
My paid account pays off in giving me more room for tags.
My car's CD player starts acting up (and has done this a few more times, even).
My grandfather enters the hospital…again. Later, he moves to a care facility (and is still there at this writing). I end up visiting him, but after visiting a couple cemeteries.
Homecoming at my college takes on a different meaning with a family member now attending the school.
My dad's annual business trip took my parents to Vegas this year--where they saw Britney Spears.
My old TV finally died, so I got a new one for Halloween.
It snowed on Halloween, too (and, due to the wind, I inadvertently broke the front screen door, oops).
November:
I have jury duty (and my family has yet to find out).
I get to play piccolo for flute choir.
There was a shooting at my old mall, down the road from where my grandfather is staying.
I finally post the picture of the Jimmy Durante eggplant from the summer.
Cardinal George retires.
I made my piccolo debut during a regular band rehearsal.
We caught a mouse at work.
We spent Thanksgiving without my grandfather.
My dad gets himself a new TV for Black Friday.
December:
I have my concert piccolo debut (for flute choir, at least).
My new TV stops working, thanks to a busted cable box.
Like Thanksgiving, we spend Christmas without my grandfather.
And we end the year playing Apples to Apples and spilling coffee all over my father.