So long 2012

Not much has happened over the last five days, so I didn’t bother to write.  I still don’t have a schematic, so I still can’t do my chip.  As a result, I spent my time doing year-end stock stuff early to get it out of the way, and I’ve studied a little.  Based on the practice tests, I should pass the real test just fine.  I guess I should also get a year’s worth of business expenses in order, since I’ll have no time to do it starting next week.

On Sunday, I played classical guitar throughout the service.  It was a lot of fun, and I got a few compliments on my playing (even though I didn’t think I did great – I’m my own worst critic!).  I also showed up just as service was starting; I somehow didn’t get the memo that church started half an hour earlier this week (oops).  There was a little hustling involved and my friend who was singing with me wasn’t too happy when he first saw me.  He got over it though.

Because the songs were a little low, I had the idea to tune my guitar up a full step.  The guitar sounded crisper, and it was easier to play with the tighter strings.  Alas, the added string pressure turned out to be a bad thing.  The bridge on my classical guitar began to lift off.  I was so concerned that I brought a backup guitar to service just in case the bridge came off during services.  It didn’t, but I glued it when I got home.  Unfortunately, the glue got all over the guitar and now I may have to refinish the whole face of the guitar to make it pretty again (and the 40 year old varnish looked so good on this guitar!).  It looks like I’ll have to do a lot of work sometime next year, and way too much work for a guitar I only use at Christmas!

As I reflect on the year, it’s been a very good year.  I was sad to see the startup close (and in dramatic fashion at that!), and I’m down another pile of cash for the second year in a row because I don’t have a job, but I have a wonderful family that I’ve been able to see more often and we had one heck of a summer vacation this year!   I’m excited about going back to school and I’m excited about the possibility of a teaching job next year. All-in-all, I wouldn’t trade this year for anything!