Random Fodder

After a few months of doing "all right" in respect to my dad's death, I just had a bout of missing him tremendously. My dad loved music, and back in the day (late-70s through the mid-80s) he listened to a lot of what we now call "classic rock". It wasn't until until the alternative rock music that he embraced the "music of the time" and as a non-fan of 80s music I had to agree. Dad was always listening to music — in the car on the radio or cassette deck, in the living room on the radio or record player, in the backyard with his speakers blaring out his bedroom windows.

I obtained a playlist of the "Top 500 rock songs". Dozens of these songs bring distinct and vibrant memories of my childhood, riding in the car or sitting in the living room and listening to music with my dad . . . Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Joe Walsh, The Eagles — listening to these songs again, I can hear him in the background, singing gleefully at the top of his lungs, unaware and uncaring of how badly he sang. He tried his best to sing well, but you could just tell that he was more concerned with enjoying the music and having fun.

Who knew that Roadhouse Blues would one day bring me to tears?

Sebastian's hockey team played their first "game" against the neighboring Camillus Cougars. I put the word game in quotes because there weren't referees or even face offs after every goal.

The Midstate teams did well against the Cougars, allowing just a couple goals and scoring plenty. Sebastian scored two goals on his first shift! On his second shift, he played the goaltender position (also a favorite of his) and blocked every shot that came his way.

Great job, Sebastian! We're all so proud of you!

Sebastian continues to go to physical therapy twice a week to build strength in his legs and ankles and also to improve his balance, all of which are good but below where they were before he went to the hospital for 10 days due to transverse myelitis.

On January 10, Sebastian returned to hockey practice, entered the rink, turned around, and gave me the thumbs-up. Mid-way through practice, he was moved from the lower skill level (IP1) to the higher skill level (IP2), so it was clear that he would be able to continue playing hockey without much problem.

The following day, Sebastian practiced with the IP2 kids and they played some scrimmages. In this video, you can see Sebastian making a couple goals (including one with a feigned shot). After the goals is some footage of some good shots and several other defensive plays Sebastian was able to make.

So as you can imagine, we're even more proud of him with his recovery since he has gotten back out there for hockey and is giving it all he can!

2008 has come and gone, and 2009 brings with it a new set of 43 Things to do. How did I do this past year?:

• 7 goals (16%) were completed successfully.
• 8 goals (19%) were abandoned.
• 28 goals (65%) will be carried over for 2008.

What goals have I chosen for 2009? 28 goals have been carried over, 14 new goals have been added, and 1 goal from 2006/07 has returned:

1. attend a local government meeting
2. Be a better blogger
3. be an audience member for a TV show taping
4. Be part of a flash mob
5. build an igloo
6. clean up my house and keep it clean
7. coach hockey*
8. create a photo wall in my house*
9. drink more water
10. eat healthier
11. eat with my hands
12. Find $100 in change*
13. find and schedule appointments with: a doctor, dentist, and optometrist*
14. fly a kite
15. Give blood
16. have a 3 month emergency fund
17. help my son continue his physical therapy until he is 100% rehabilitated*
18. know how to solve a rubik's cube*
19. Learn how to remember peoples' names
20. Learn Spanish
21. leave notes in library books*
22. lose weight
23. make a time capsule
24. make plaster of paris handprints for the family*
25. Not let distractions take away from my attention to the wife*
26. open the yellow pages, pick the seventh restaurant, and eat the seventh entree and dessert on the menu
27. paint my own abstract art‡
28. place a few more geocaches*
29. play hockey*
30. Reduce debt.
31. Send a message in a bottle
32. Send a postcard to Postsecret
33. spend ten minutes holding the door for people
34. stick to a budget
35. stop being late
36. take 43 photos of 43 places within 43 minutes of where I live‡
37. take a family vacation
38. Take the Mensa test.
39. teach my child phonics*
40. turn 33*
41. Volunteer
42. Watch all my VHS tapes and get rid of them.*
43. Write a will

* A new goal for 2008.
‡ A renewed goal from before 2008.

You can always view my current list and past accomplished goals at 43 Things or on my own 43 Things page here.

Here's to the new year. May I accomplish at least some of these important 43 Things. And here's hoping you are able to accomplish your goals, too!