Milestones

In case you are wondering, you start falling apart at 40. I know this, because I am in my 40s and it was when I turned 40 that I started adding in all the extra annual exams. Among those fun new doctors' visits was a colonoscopy, and it got me thinking. Somehow, it seems like we run out of milestones after our 20s. We've taken our first steps, said our first words, had our first day of school, done graduations, left grade school, learned to drive, gone on dates, voted, etc. What else is there?

Well, there are still plenty of milestones in the rest of life, too. They just aren't as exciting. They're things like bills and mortgages and full-time jobs (that offer insurance and retirement, which is a very positive thing but somehow not as exciting as a first birthday. Way more complicated, for sure), and old-people doctors' exams and such. First car? Comes with a side of maintenance costs and possible loan payments. First promotion? Probably also added a lot of work. First retirement? How are your knees doing?

Some of these milestones I have embraced. For example, I am fully leaning into my "get off my lawn" era. No, I don't actually have a lawn, but my version of this is mocking AI. (It's so mockable). I'm also super leaning into being old and not knowing what slang the kids are using these days. I didn't get out of bed every day for decades to NOT be able to stop caring about what people twenty years younger than me think is cool. There have to be some perks.

And there are some good milestones: paying off mortgages, grandkids, more paid vacation to travel, no more homework (and I do NOT undervalue that milestone!!!), being able to buy a thing just for fun without worrying about not being able to eat for two weeks. There are some good things to come. 

It's just a bummer that they come with more doctors exams. That's all.  

The end is definitely nigh

I live in a state that is known for mountains and some good skiing spots. We're hosting the Winter Olympics in 2034 (or so we think). And yet, I have seen ZERO snow this year in my city (and you could barely call it highlights if you count what is in the mountains). 

It snowed in Florida last week. And my coworkers sent photos of snow at Teotihuacán today. Snow. In Teotihuacán. 

WHERE IS MY SNOW?!?!?!?!

I'm pretty sure the apocalypse has arrived and I just missed the memo.

All is not right in the universe

It is January 12th, the world is topsy-turvy, our new tool at work is chaos personified, and the year has gotten off to a rough start. But the very worst part is, THERE IS NO SNOW!

It's finally gotten cold, I've been waiting for a month, and nothing. And we're running out of time--unless, that is, the seasons have just shifted entirely and winter is now January to April. Which, where I live, has always been a real possibility. 

It just seems that I deserve a bit of snow. A few inches at least. NO need for a drought later on in the year, and quite frankly, this rough start needs a silver lining.

New year?

So, I know we are only 4 days into the new year, but is anyone else up for rebooting the whole thing? And not like we reboot TV shows. Reboot, like start the whole thing over but on a different trajectory. Put the "new" in "new year." Let's try something different. 

2026 is feeling a bit too samey for me. Let's cut now, while it's still early.

So long 2025

Year in review:

• Flew approximately 56,288 miles for work trips
• Visited some new countries (Paraguay, St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, plus airports in St. Martin, Colombia, and Tortola) and new cities in previously visited countries (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Hermosillo, Mexico)
• Revisited some countries (Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Dominican Republic, Mexico) and Puerto Rico (yay!!!)
• Did my first solo work trip (although there were co-workers in Mexico when I got there, so I wasn't alone once I got there, just the only US person there)
• Threw up a lot 
• Got COVID again (24 hours, so can't complain) and got pretty sick with the crud going around in February
• Lost my dad
• Sort of played pickleball for the first time (hitting it around with my sister on the side of a court)
• Had basically every single work tool implode at some point or another
• Moved to a new cataloging tool at work (barely!) and somehow survived the drama
• Way too many weird encounters with men making inappropriate moves on me (2. Two encounters. But it was two too many)
• Read the Thursday Murder Club series and reread some old favorites.
• Learned a few new games (Abandon All Artichokes, Point City, Doomlings, Cartographers, Canvas, Ito, Mantis--I think that was this year--and probably some others that I can't recall right now)
• Bought 3 new camera lenses (I was planning on one, but then a different lens broke, and replacing one turned into 2. Things happen)
• Went to the tulip festival and visited some other local places again
• Enjoyed some new movies, but don't ask me what they are
• Lost some weight (barfing your guts out in San Juan will do that for you)
• Got a great-nephew and got to play with both him and his sister, which was a highlight
• Went to graduations (niece's high school, niece's college)
• Made people laugh, probably made people cry (I'm sorry), watched the world fall apart, and tried to keep it together. It's been that kind of a year. 

It hasn't been a bad year--I've traveled the world, been part of a lot of cool things at work, had good friends, seen beautiful places, and been pretty safe. But it has also been...maybe an exhausting year is the best way to put it. But also, just miserable while being exciting. And it hasn't been a long year but it's also been a century since I went to Brazil in February. Maybe it's just been a Dickensian year, you know, from the "best of times, worst of times" quote in A Tale of Two Cities. I'm glad it's over, but also sad it's gone. 

Mostly, though, I'm ready for a nap.

Not your regular news

Fun or odd headlines from the year: 

Spaniards hurl flour, eggs and fireworks in mock battle (this one popped up today. It's for an annual food fight festival. Why not?)

Brazil's Bolsonaro undergoes medical treatment for hiccups (Also today. I didn't really know that was an option)

 

Hundreds of sheep cross historic German city during annual tradition (talk about traffic!)

From booze to black belts: Virginia's drunk raccoon suspected in karate shop break-in (Speechless)

Documentary shows sport of hobby horse isn’t just playful. It’s powerful.  (Who knew I was such an athlete as a kid?)

Time might not exist – and we're starting to understand why (I have known this for ages. Time is just pretend)

Volcano Erupts after Lying Dormant for 12,000 Years, Sending Scientists Scrambling (Don't underestimate the elderly)

How a 'sweet and shy' tortoise outlived empires and survived two world wars (This tortoise lived through 20 US presidents. If that doesn't qualify you as a saint, I don't know what does)

Cryptology firm cancels elections after losing encryption key (Oopsie)

Lost Bach pieces performed for first time in 320 years (New concerts, even after 320 years. Impressive)

Landmark 113-year-old Swedish church arrives at new home after two day-journey (Talk about reusing!)

Denmark ending letter deliveries is a sign of the digital times (Sad days, friends)

Hongkongers squawk-off in city's first bird call contest (Here's one for the birds)

Man faces jail in US for shipping 850 turtles in socks to Hong Kong (The poor turtles!)

The worst thing about AI? That stupid Samsung ad where the guy adds ‘way too much sugar’ to his pasta sauce (It may not be the worst thing, but I agree. That ad was awful)

Man gets stuck driving car down Rome's Spanish Steps (Was GPS involved?)

Czech fake dentist gave root canals after reading online instructions (Is that covered by insurance?)

Great Basin National Park Reveals Bristlecone Pines Older Than Egyptian Pyramids (Pyramids schmyramids)

Warning after millions of bees escape overturned truck in US (Does this mean we don't have to worry about the bees anymore?)

China braces for strong winds, with lighter people warned they may blow away (I think that is more than a strong wind, folks)

Case quacked: Flying duck caught by Swiss speed camera is repeat offender (how fast are Swiss ducks?!)

Farewell to Skype, the Technology That Changed My Life (RIP, Skype)

Turkey to fine airline passengers who stand up before plane stops (I mean, I get it)

Can you look at these 9 photos and not smile on International Day of Happiness? (😁😄😃)

Check out Japan's giant snowball fight competition (Is this an Olympic sport? Can it be?)

Oregon hospital sued after man’s face caught fire mid-surgery (What the...????)

Can you read cursive? It's a superpower the National Archives is looking for. (I am a superhero)

Re-routing

I have certain routes I take when I go places because there is something I like about them. For example, on my way to the grocery store, I drive past the wedding dress shop on my way. For some reason, I like to see what dresses they've put up in the window (sometimes they are really...interesting). I'm not madly in love with fashion or weddings or anything, it's just a small little highlight when I have to go somewhere.

When I pick up my niece, I always drive on the same route, because it has a nice curvy road that makes you feel like you are a racecar driver. It's just a lot of fun to drive. There are three or 4 different routes I could drive, but I always take that one.

I've lived in my neighborhood for 10 years, and I always take the road with the four-way stops. Google Maps has tried for 10 years to get me to take the busier road with stop lights, and for 10 years I have ignored it every single time. I prefer the 4-way stops. It's more scenic and I hate the traffic lights on the busier road.

Sometimes, there's just a road you've traveled that's worth staying on.