2016 was an interesting year in that ancient Chinese curse sort of way.
Here are my high and lowlights of the year.
The Good
- work is fine, if busy and a bit stressful; I assumed a temporary leadership role for a month with zero preparation and came out intact
- started and finished the year without any running-related injuries
- recovered nicely from an injury in the late spring and ran all through summer and into fall
- also did not let falling almost literally on my face keep me from running when I tripped big-time on a run in August
- an entire year without Stephen Harper as PM, yay!
- Star Trek Beyond was better than the trailers suggested–not great, but a pleasant surprise
- kept writing regularly on this blog with minimal gaps
- took part in my eighth consecutive National Novel Writing Month contest
- did not fall while out in the snow
- all medical tests came out fine, including the dreaded poo-on-a-stick
The Bad
- I started the year around 170 pounds and vowed to get down to 150 by year’s end. As of October 13th, I was 153.7 pounds–within reach! As of today, I am 165.9 pounds. I am now only within reach if someone suddenly bursts through the door and performs liposuction on me. This is very disappointing and I resolve to do better in 2017. The main culprits were a) lack of running b) lack of walking (I typically walk about an hour each day) and c) no change in diet. Apparently I ingest more calories than I burn off most days. I’ll be eating more sensibly and exercising more in the year ahead.
- four significant snowfalls in December. This is weird and unnatural for the lower mainland. Stop, snow!
- ended the year with a sore back (since recovered) and a cold (still ongoing)
- running routine fell apart in mid-October due to lack of light after work and a bad cold; still working on putting together a new routine, which is complicated by the above-mentioned snow
- 60 million Americans voted for Donald Trump, possibly the least qualified person to ever be nominated by a major party; thanks to the inane electoral college system, he won, despite getting 2.8 million fewer votes than Clinton–now the world gets to experience what a narcissistic, bullying, ignorant, sexist, venal, racist manchild is like as president. Thanks, America!
- floundered in NaNoWriMo 2016 at about 10,000 words in. My vow if I do it again is to outline and plan like never before (because I usually never plan or outline)
- fiction writing limped along and sputtered out by year’s end–I have taken some steps to address this for 2017
The Ugly
- I now know that tens of millions of Americans will literally vote for anyone (or possibly anything) as long as the desired tribal affiliation is attached (either an R or a D)
- it really seemed like a lot of celebrities died this year; some probably felt they had targets on their backs by year’s end
- terrorism became the favorite means of nihilism–a discouraging and depressing trend that benefits no one and nothing
- racism and nationalism are surging everywhere. It really feels like we are entering one of the darker phases of humanity.
- polar ice caps continuing to melt; climate change is happening regardless of the feelings of deniers
I’d say 2017 couldn’t possibly be worse but in fact, it can! Here’s hoping it won’t be.
And good riddance to 2016.
