Driving > Disco

As happy as I am to see 2009 FINALLY come to a close, let us reflect on a couple of highlights.

Let me begin by apologizing for the giant wall of text that you are about to endure, or at least begin to endure, then close and move on.

Exercise
First of all, there was what I like to refer to as my running season. While I was slowed with sub-metatarsal bursitis (among other things) in September, I managed to recover from my hobbling and put up a couple of decent months to close the year on a strong note(33.75 miles for November - including a 6.4 mile T-day run - and 28 miles for December). For comparison's sake:

2009 totals
Run: 53h 57m 12s - 347.11 Mi

2008 totals
Run: 26h 45m 18s - 162.41 Mi

As we covered previously, I was able to double my 2008 totals, and then a teensy bit extra on top, for good measure. For 2010, I may shoot low, but increase my goal again. Let's say 365 miles (one for each day) for the time being and see where I end up.

Music
Next up, we have music. I had to make a tough choice a couple of months ago, but, I don't think Ryan Adams was doing anything good for me, so I've turned the page on that part of my musical life. Not saying I'll never listen to the head Cardinal again (I have read about some rumored Whiskeytown reunions), but for now, he's out. Trust me when I say, he has been replaced. I can't tell you about it yet, since that is a whole novel's worth of a #MusicMonday post yet to come, but once you hear his replacement, you'll jump on board the bandwagon with me. I test drove a lot of new music this year (really, too much to list), but in the end, I've found out why I loved the original music so much in the first place: it was damn good music. I've returned to my roots, so to speak, in a musical sense. I won't bore you with the intricate details at the moment, but count on a lot of Widespread Panic and a lot of Bob Dylan in my playlists for the foreseeable future.

Work
In an ironic twist, I'd have to say the stability of my job has been one welcome change from 2009. Never one to jinx anything, I'll stop short of describing the process in great detail, but I'm pretty good at losing jobs. I like this one...alot, so I don't plan on going anywhere, anytime soon. Each day, I feel like I'm a little busier than the day before, so there seems to be plenty of work to do.

Et Al
If you throw my newfound (and soon to be well documented) love of wine into the mix, you're left with one pretty busy, all-over-the-place, type of year.

I have to truly and honestly thank God for all sources of stability in my life: His grace, my beautiful wife Jessica and my little bundle of sweetness Charlotte.