Last year, I lamented how not much had changed in my life from the previous year. Where, sometimes you get exactly what you ask for because this year has been the exact opposite of that.
Starting at the top things are as good as they could possibly be with the wife. I'm going on year two of marriage and things are as good now as they have ever been. I'm actually going on the 7th year of my relationship and I can honestly say that its as good now as it has ever been. She has been less busy with school this year than in the past but that's because of the two big changes that came this year.
First big change came with the job. This time last year, I was optimistic that things would work out at my previous job. I had actually cancelled a planned vacation because I was supposed to begin work on a project that could fundamentally change my company's business. As it turned out things did change but not necessarily for the better. I don't want to get into details, but that project didn't turn out and a lot of other things just happened which made me reevaluate what I was doing.
In the end, I realized that I only had a limited window to really pursue my dreams of starting my own business. There wasn't much holding me back, more fear than anything else, so I decided to quit my job and do my own startup. It hasn't been an easy road. In fact, it has turned out way harder than I would have thought. Most of the problems I feel I've faced have been due to not having a partner on this with me full time. That will be fixed in another two weeks but its a lesson I hope never to repeat.
We haven't made great progress on the business. This is mostly due to the fact that we threw out our original idea and started over in January. But I'm excited about the idea we are pursuing and even more excited that my partner is coming on full time and we are so close to launch. Cross your fingers that by this post next year, I'll have a lot more good things to say about my business.
The other big change in my life is due to me and my wife getting a dog. I've always wanted a dog but for various reasons never got one. That all changed in the beginning of January. I stopped on one of my long runs at the local Humane Society. Sitting in one of the cages was one of the cutest puppies you have ever seen. I showed the wife and there was no stopping us adopting the little guy. The first month was rough, puppies are a lot of work, but now he is a happy addition to our home.
At first, the dog and the cat didn't get along and I'll be honest and say I was worried about it. The cat is getting up their in age. No major health problems this year but having a hyper-active puppy around is not his idea of fun. He hissed and growled a lot at the beginning but he is slowly starting to accept the dog as his brother. He doesn't want to get near him or have anything to do with him, but then again that was the way it was with my brother too.
I'm still running a lot. No basketball at all this last year but plenty of running. I didn't run in the LA marathon this year and that was due to a host of injuries I just kept having. I switched to more of a barefoot running style and am in the process of building up my mileage again. I hope to run in the SD marathon which is slated to begin in June. I've become somewhat of an evangelist when it comes to the benefits of running and specifically minimalist shoe running. :It really resonated with me after I read Born to Run.
I've become very active on the Social Media front. I started posting regularly on Google+ and then Facebook and have done very well when it comes to generating a following and engagement. I need to explore Twitter more but the short format doesn't really resonate with someone as verbose as I am.
It's pretty much settled that I'm not getting a house anytime soon. Now that I'm totally focused on a startup and all my funds are allocated there, no real chance I'm going to buy a house anytime soon. Same thing about a kid. Getting the puppy, and seeing how much work it is, made me and the wife realize that maybe child care is not for us. I think she is even more sure than I am about the whole thing.
33 was a great year. I think I will look back on it and realize it was a big turning point in my life. I just hope 34 is even better and more fun.
