Gratitude

Today is my 32nd birthday, and the primary emotion that I feel is gratitude. I appreciate all of the well-wishes, and I especially appreciate the opportunity to spend time with my family today. I live in a good place, I have a great career, and I've had many wonderful opportunities in life. Looking back on 32 years, I have had a great many adventures in my life already! There are only greater adventures to come, with the birth of my son in a few weeks and the completion of our house.

Inspired by Steve Kamb at Nerd Fitness, here are all the epic quests I have completed so far:

America

• Hiked the Grand Canyon three times
• Toured the headquaters of Valve Software
• Rode the tram to the top of Pike's Peak on New Years Eve [brr]
• Visited the Saturn V
• Danced at the Crystal Palace in Bakersfield
• Posed like a neon cowboy on Fremont Street
• Visited the Statue of Liberty
• Saw Phantom of the Opera on Broadway
• Observed New York from the Empire State building
• Toured Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories

Europe

• Viewed the Book of Kells and the Crown Jewels
• Driven on the left side of the road
• Ordered a pint of Guinness in an Irish pub [but the cider is better]
• Walked the catacombs beneath St. Paul's Cathedral in London
• Paid homage at the tomb of the Emperors in Vienna
• Attended Mass sung by the Vienna Boy's Choir

Japan

• Toured the old Imperial Palace in Kyoto
• Sat in a hot spring bath
• Attended a summer festival
• Performed ritual ablutions in a Japanese temple
• Eaten conveyor sushi
• Rode a bullet train
• Stayed in a ryokan in Gion

Fitness

• Clean 62 kg
• Clean and jerk 45 kg
• Snatch 42 kg
• Deadlift 120 kg
• Back squat 90 kg
• Front squat 70 kg
• Run 5k in 30:25

Business

• Been to Europe on business
• Drank in a disco with famous physicians
• Responsible for a capital expenditure of $1M in one year
• Remediated asbestos as a student job
• Self-employed as computer technician

SHTF

• Received a grade of Marksman in the Gunsite Academy 250 Defensive Pistol class
• Earned a red belt in taekwondo

Personal Development

• Got married!
• Learned how to two-step
• Ad-libbed a speech in front of thousands of people [High school graduation 1998]
• Served as president of a Catholic school board
• Met with a state representative to discuss tax credits for religious schools
• Served at the altar for Latin Mass