“Ninety-five percent of all jobs suck, Jones. That’s why people get paid to do them.”
– Max Barry, Company
“LABOR, n. One of the processes by which A acquires property for B.”
– Ambrose Bierce, The Cynic’s Word Book
As 2025 nears its’ end, I have one thought: Good riddance. No sugar-coating it, this has been a crappy year.
To begin with, some friends had some big health challenges this year. Other friends are facing some big personal challenges. Not all of them made it this far. As we get older I expect that this will be true more often than not. A dark reminder to take what joy we can out of life while we are still able.
I began the year in my dream job as far as software development goes. As I mentioned in my 2023 wrap-up it was at a startup, so I knew it was risky. Late last year we soft-launched our product. Early this year the owner decided to cut staffing, and that risk manifested itself. I found myself unemployed for the first time in 32 years. My luck had finally run out, and I got to experience the idiocy that is Florida’s unemployment system for a few months.
Taking all of that into account, it’s been a quiet year. No vacations. Only a handful of shows. Not much flying.
There were some highlights to the year. With the exception of 2020’s pandemic year, I probably went to fewer concerts than any year since my teens. I also spent more on concerts than any other year, but that’s a rant for another time. Fortunately, the shows that I did see were all excellent. The complete list is: Ani Difranco, Poppy, Ghost, Nine Inch Nails, Bridge City Sinners, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. We got to see Josh Johnson at the Tampa Theatre. Weather was great at the St. Pete Grand Prix and the Lightning won all of the games we went to. Fewer events than usual this year, but they were all great.
Next year is shaping up to be about the same. Hopefully without the whole “unemployment plus people getting sick or dying” part. Only one small vacation planned around an event. We do have plans to see one band play five different shows, so that will be different.
That brings me to you, whoever you are that is reading this. I hope your year was better than ours. I hope next year is better for all of us. Let’s get together, enjoy life while we can, share a meal and raise a toast in the hope that we’re all still here a year from now.
Take care of yourselves, and take care of one another.
Some year-end graphics…
BGStats top nine boardgames played:
Spotify top 5 Artists:
Spotify top 5 albums:
