2008 was another record and milestone year of activity on this blog. This post makes one hundred eighty four for the year, far eclipsing last year's record of 98. Entry No. 500 occurred midway through, and we're closing in on 600. Perhaps more importantly, I seem to have gained many new readers, many of whom have been kind enough to make their presence known in the comments. But enough numbers...there's a lot here to look back through. Let's get after it, shall we?
We start with the Paragraph of Honorable Mention. I kicked things off with a rant about World of Warcraft. In February, I succumbed to the forces of Facebook, to immense personal benefit, as you'll see below. A few weeks later, I implored you not to talk, but to watch, although the link seems to now be dead. The Submersible Death Trap returned to Connecticut, and soon after, to the murky depths. I shared Battletoads with you, and began the introduction of Encyclopædia Dramatica into this. I got a new car. I went to a toga party, and drank from a flower pot. I wrote at length about how we conduct our maintenance. I told you about the last-minute change of mind I had when I voted. There was a fire in my apartment complex, and it didn't bother me in the least. And most recently, I reworked the Post-Navy Roadtrip, and went off on the new Navy Working Uniform.
And now, without further ado, the best of twelve fluid ounces, 2008 (as selected by the author):
- February 5 - Giants win Super Bowl - An epic triumph, not only because it derailed the Patriots' chance at perfection, but because I saw it in New Hampshire, in fifty-two inches of 1080p HD.
- February 9 - Ready In 10 in Nashua - I drove an hour to see this great band from my native Long Island. I was most pleased by their performance, and they were most pleased by my attendance.
- April 7 - so close, but not quite... - I share the tale of going close to ending the "interminable streak," and being blocked by the forces of alcohol, among others.
- April 14 - Pimping OPB, and hard - IvyGate provided a chance introduction to the RazzyBlog, and it didn't take long for me to be hooked - or for her to respond.
- May 2 - Deciding on a path forward - college, take two, that is. And the government has been kind enough to oblige by passing the post-9/11 GI Bill.
- May 20 - returning to the home front - My first time back on Long Island in four months makes me a little wistful, and a little political.
- July 27 - "American Teen" - I kicked off two weeks of leave by seeing this wonderful film about high school; coincidentally, one of my high school classmates was involved in its publicity.
- July 27 - One last game at Shea - I may have missed my best friend, but at least I saw the Mets win, and one of them hit his first major league homer.
- July 31 - an evening at Fenway - the Red Sox may have lost, but it was Mark Teixiera's first game as an Angel, and Manny Ramírez's last with Boston.
- August 2 - a casualty of war - the Minivan o' War passes on. But as J. Raymond rightly points out, she died an honorable death, bearing me to my ancestral home one last time.
- August 4 - the "State of Fail" - I take nearly two thousand words to excoriate the state in which I currently reside.
- August 7 - another on-the-fly reunion - I hooked up with one of my oldest friends, thanks solely to Facebook.
- October 4 - set a course for social democracy... - I'm a libertarian, and as such, I was NOT happy with the bailout, or the manner by which it was shoved down our throats.
- November 7 - Sara Bareilles in Hartford - The personal highlight of the year was seeing the now twice-Grammy-nominated "Piano Woman" perform live.
- November 20 - E-6, here we come... - As I expected all along, I got a promotion. When it'll be official is still anyone's guess.
- December 8 - bonking in Boston - My trip to Beantown reminds me of some of my biggest shortcomings.
- December 24 - old home week in Northport - I make a couple of unexpected reconnections - and end up with some unexpected stains on my clothes.
