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
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