Happy New Year

Well I made it. Another year gone and here I am. Let me reflect a moment on the year that was 2008. My beloved Penguins made it to the Stanley Cup Final going through the Senators, NY Rangers and Flyers. Once there they were beaten by the Detroit Red Wings in 6 games. I was absolutely disappointed and immediately shaved off my playoff beard. However I am hopeful for the future. Things have been lacking hockey-wise in Pittsburgh for a while but things have been great the last few years, and with the new arena coming the future looks bright. My Nittany Lions came within a last second field goal in Iowa of being undefeated. And they had a fantastic season. It was really in 2009 so I don't know if the Rose Bowl game counts. That was tough to watch. Too many mental errors and too long to get going. Oh well it is only 9 months to go for more PSU football. Speaking of tough to watch how bout' those Bengals. Three straight wins at the end of the season couldn't make up for a 1-11-1 record before that. Who ties in the NFL? What is more pathetic, the Bengals record up to that point or that the Eagles (who are a playoff team) couldn't manage to beat them in 75 minutes of football? I did get to see one of their games live. I went to Pittsburgh courtesy of my friend Christine. I have never been so cold on purpose before. It is a shame the Bengals couldn't win, although they were ahead 7-0 for a little while. I would be remis if I did not mention the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies. Now I don't watch baseball much and even less if it is on TV. However if I had to choose a team that's who I would choose. I just know that as the players were rushing the field after the last out somewhere my Grandpa was smiling. As for NASCAR the third time was the charm for Jimmy Johnson winning his third straight Winston/Nextel/Sprint Cup Title. I think it was inevitable but if I intend to keep watching NASCAR I need another (I will ALWAYS root for Kyle Petty) driver. Hey if NASCAR can have 2 car teams, then so can I. I haven't decided but I am leaning towards Carl Edwards. Attention Carl Edwards if things go as they have in the past with my drivers, you may have just won your last race. As for the movies of 2008, I have seen some great ones; No Country for Old Men, Cloverfield, 88 Minutes, Fool's Gold, Indiana Jones, Iron Man, Righteous Kill, Traitor, Untraceable and Vantage Point. But the winner for best movie of 2008 is by far The Dark Knight, all I can say is WOW!!! Now I have seen some stinkers too; The Love Guru and Speed Racer. There are probably more but I have apparently blocked them out of my memory, thank goodness. Music was pretty good this year too. AC/DC's Black Ice, The Lost Trailers' Holler Back, The New Three Doors Down CD, Montgomery Gentry's Back When I Knew it All and even Sugarland's Love on the Inside. I also am settling in at LCBC. Helping in this process are a great group of people I would call my Life Group but it would be more appropriate to call them my friends. Thanks to Cory, Ang, Konrad, Kim, Linda and Margie you have made this year fun. As far as my immediate family is concerned. My Dad is working at Lancaster Labs, he is on the road but seems to enjoy it judging by the interesting stories he comes back with. He is also the Secretary and Newsletter Editor for the Reading chapter of the Sub Vets and I know he enjoys that. My Mom finished out 2008 by retiring. My Mom has been a Nurse since as far back as I can remember. She worked nights but always was there for us kids and we had dinner together pretty much every night. Thanks for always being there for us Mom, and sorry about all the noise when you were trying to sleep. As for my big brother David, I am not sure where he is. I can only hope he is healthy and doing well. And then there is my sister Susan and my other brother(in-law) Dave. They have taken up residence in the Tampa area of Fl. Dave does work that I don't know if he can tell me about and I'm not sure I would understand if he did. But what he does do is take good care of my little sister. Speaking of Susan she is working for a agency that helps people find temp jobs. That is great considering her VAST knowledge on that subject. They also seem to get a new dog every other month. If I wait long enough they will film the movie 103 Bostons. My sister is also trying to be a meteorologist; as she reminds us that it is 70 down there while the wind chill in Pa keeps it a balmy 0. As for me I continue to work for Protech Mechanical as a plumber. I have had some bad days, but overall I really do enjoy my job most days. I have my own house, some neat toys and good friends. Throw in a good sporting event on TV with a cold beer to wash it down and I am pretty content. There are some things that I would like but don't yet have, like a rocket powered orange ambulance (an old style 70s version) but maybe this year. I usually don't make resolutions but for this year I resolve to eat less onions, watch less Oprah and cut back on the jogging. Three resolutions that I think are locks for me to achieve. Well I can't say it has been all good. This year we lost someone very close to my family and I. My Aunt Linda passed away this year and will be missed a great deal. But I can picture her in heaven knitting a Christmas stockings for her new friends in Heaven.

Well I hope you have enjoyed my take on 2008, if not well I'll try again after 2009.