Sowrey.org

I just realised — after I’d already posted this year’s review — that this is the 10th one I’ve done. Ten years already! Man… I’ve been doing this longer than I’d thought!

It’s that time of the year again — to look back on the year passed, and reflect on the things I’ve done. Where did I go? What did I do? What have I honestly got to show for myself. It’s been an insanely long year. Sure, it was still 365 (and 1/4) days, but it felt at least three times longer…

Before I dive into the bullets, yes there is one overriding event that outclasses everything else I did in 2007:

I became a father.

Absolutely nothing else tops it. Not the trip around the world, not the CBC adventure, not getting promoted, not moving to a new city, not even seeing old friends (as truly awesome as that is). Being a dad is an experience I never truly experienced until now. And it’s an experience that I get to have each and every day, that changes almost daily, for the rest of my life.

No way could that ever be eclipsed.

Anyway, this is the other stuff I got around to last year:

• Upgraded this blog to run on WordPress, and I’m never looking back
• Also upgraded from storing pictures through the blog to storing pictures on Flickr — a far better solution
• Went to Tamara’s dad’s funeral
• Had some very good discussions about how Calgary Transit needs to improve
• Helped Tamara get another job at Critical Mass
• Saw the Rankin Family perform
• Guided the launch of the new Rolex.com website (a Herculean effort by my team)
• Went to Huntington Beach, CA for a conference
• Went to Ruskin (Maple Ridge), BC twice
• Went to Beaverton, ON for my friend Kathryn’s wedding
• Went to Huntsville, ON
• Went to Oakville, ON for a night
• Went to the Big Island of Hawaii
  • Had my bag lost
  • Went to a sunset luau
  • Swam with the dolphins (sort of)
  • Almost got suckered into a timeshare
  • Saw the Kilauea volcano
• Complained about Air Canada’s continuing dip in service
• Sold our house in Garrison Woods, and bought a house in Westgate. And moved. Again. Ugh.
• Started to renovate the basement:
  • Tore out the old basement in its entirety
  • Build new walls
  • Had a new heating system installed (I didn’t do it, though — I ain’t that crazy)
  • Had a new air circulation (and heating for upstairs) system installed
  • Had plumbing for new appliances and a bathroom installed
  • Had the electrical panel moved, meter put outside, new service installed, and put in electrical sockets around the basement (myself)
  • Laid down flooring (rather poorly, it would now seem — too many damned gaps)
  • Installed insulation and put up drywall in the largest room
  • Did most of the flooring and drywalling in one week while Alex and baby were in Ruskin
• Had too many friends leave the city
• Said farewell to my friend Rich, who passed away in May
• Rode the zipline at Canada Olympic Park twice
• Found out I’m pretty good at laying sod
• Didn’t have nearly enough dim sum
• Chased CP 2816 from Calgary to Canmore
• Nearly injured myself badly pruning a tree (just don’t tell Alex!)
• Got a new camera lens
• Taunted people with fake birth announcement entries on the blog (I’m such a jerk)
• Was a partial recipient (with the rest of my business unit) of a TP’ing
• Really realised just how long I’ve been in this industry, and how much I’ve seen

And I had a great Christmas break, since most people I work with were taking a MUCH needed vacation, and I got to relax with my now-expanded family. I hope you got time to spend with yours!

As for this year, no resolutions (I follow the belief that if you have to wait until 1 January to set resolutions, you’re not really looking to change) — though I do have a big plan in the works. And for now, that’s all you’re going to know about it.

No, it’s not another baby. That’s coming later.