GRM 2015 year in review/ all things in your life edition

Spurred by the GRMers 2015 in Review thread thought y'all might share the other happenings in your life in this thread. Y'all know where to go w/ it.

YOU start, gotta go to the wine store now. BBL

Went to Florida, saw the ocean for the first time. Saw the Blackhawks beat the Lightning in Tampa, that was awesome. Had a much better time watching the Cubs than I expected. Got married, had a wonderful honeymoon, learned that we really shouldn't have moved to the city (too small!), but those are the big things.

TL;DR: Typical life changes, no catastrophes, in my early 50s and wondering what the next 10 (and hopefully 20) years are going to bring.

Nothing huge to report in Dukeworld.

We are continuing to transition DD#1 into a self-supporting young adult. She's living with her boyfriend and another couple, paying all her own way except health insurance because we can still cover her for much less than she can. She's changed jobs a couple times, which is OK for a bit, but I think she's at the point she needs to stick with something for a few years even if it's not a "career" per se. Right now she's a kind of paralegal clerk, with a part time job at GameStop which basically supports her gaming habit.

DD#2 is in her second year of college - double major in psychology and neuroscience, double minor in chemistry and biology. Wants to work with the military on PTSD treatment. Not sure if medical school or enlistment is in her future, but I guess we'll all find out. Whatever it is will pretty much be on her dime.

DW works for DuPont, our area's largest employer - for now anyway. It used to be a fantastic cradle-to-grave gig, but unfortunately the company fell victim to a predatory shareholder attack. They've installed a new CEO who promptly merged the company with Dow, and who plans to break the resulting conglomerate up and sell it off. DuPont laid off about 20%-25% of their area workforce. Luckily DW survived that cut but she is really unsure of both the near- and long-term future. She has a job but it remains to be seen whether it is one she actually wants or not. Unfortunately some of her best allies in management are gone or going. This would have been much easier if it had happened about 4 years from now, because she would have let them fire her, taken the severance, and retired.

I'm chugging away at the small architecture firm I've been with since 2007. Business has been steady but our backlog is not a solid as it could be. We specialize in K-12 educational projects, and the state has quit spending money and referenda have been hard to pass because of the economy. I'm not worried, but then again, I haven't had a raise in 4 years, either.

I'm just about to start my 4th year as autocross chair for our local car club, Brandywine Motorsport Club. Autocross attendance has grown steadily and club membership is at a 10-year high, so I guess I'm doing OK. I'm working on getting the Manic Miata into better trim, and running a full season this year. I'd like to get out to some other clubs' events, too.

Overall I can't complain - everybody's health is pretty good, nobody's pregnant, nobody's cold or starving. I'm about to turn 51 and DW is 52. I just wish I had more confidence in the current financial situation in general. Maybe it's because retirement is looming in the foreseeable future, but we see people spend lots of money on vacations, cars, etc. and we're just unwilling to do that. Unfortunately that doesn't stop us from wanting to.

We go on vacation about once every 7 years and buy cars at about the same rate. I need to drop money on substantial bathroom renovations for the house pretty soon or there won't be any point in doing it at all... I want to enjoy what I work for. Unfortunately it's not like I live modestly but am stacking up millions. We put away about 20% but it's not piling up like I'd wish to see it from the perspective of retiring in 10 years or less.

Wow, this went on longer than I expected. Sorry.

Got laid off in January 2015. New job in February. Much less money but much better work/life balance. Wife got a new job in August. Much better pay but many more hours.

Went on a vacation. First time in at least ten years. That was cool.

Other than that nothing happened.

Hate my job. Made more money than I have ever made his year. Still hate my berkeleying job.

Grandfather died.

Went down in flames at my promotion panel interviews.

Planned an amazing road trip with a friend, who bailed out at the last minute

But the wife and I were both healthy, we both have jobs that pay well, and I bought an amazing DD. Here's to hoping 2016 will be better

Hmm, took a family vacation to Cape Cod with my two kids, Tiger Mom and her two, and my brother. Two weeks and enjoyed the trip a lot.

TM lost her sister to cancer. Sucked.

Got my second raise in 8 years, a whopping 24 cents an hour.

Kept everything together for one more trip around the sun. Getting back to being a happy guy again, it's been several years since divorce struck and I spent too long being miserable about that.

Year was crappy and fruitless in the grander scheme of things, like most before it, but this one stood out for a stark lack of progress on the Toyota, and (related) severe financial hardship lasting almost the entire year which also affected much of 2014. Doesn't help that I haven't had any kind of raise since around the start of the Great Recession. Offroad rally season went OK but no major positives to report. 1 star, would not do again.

Had a big blowout battle with the ex-wife at the beginning of the year. As a result all ties have been cut, including with her son from a previous relationship. That was by far the hardest part of the whole divorce process.

On a whim I decided to go to nationals for the first time after being offered a co-drive from a good friend. Got 3rd place in H-street!!!! I thought I would be in the bottom of the trophies at best. Grabbing the final podium spot put me on cloud nine for sure. I also had the pleasure of shooting the breeze with JG for a moment during a course walk there.

Left my job of 11 years as a GM for Advance Auto Parts to go to work for a large Japanese company that builds drive components for conveyor belts and assemble lines. It was the best decision I've made in a loooooong time and I couldn't be happier.

I guess since I started the other thread, I have to post in this one.

Spent the entire year in a job with an expiration date (but with a severance). Was supposed to be done in December but have been extended through March 2016.
Flew back and forth to Texas for said job a lot.
Dogs, cat, and GF are all doing great. GF got a promotion/department change at work that I think is the start of some good things.
Spent more time with friends and family than I used to. Realized I want more vacation time.

In reply to ¯_(ツ)_/¯:

Was gonna start this thread over a week ago but put it off.

Thanks for reminding me!

went to disney for the first time. not impressed, and my wife was not impressed that as soon as we boarded the monorail i hit the simpsons monorail song on my phone for everyone in the car to sing along to. i was the only one singing

got a new nephew in august. he has a stupid name. i refuse to call him by name it's so stupid.

went to mecca - or was it holly hill - to the GRM HQ after the challenge

burned up hotel points and stayed on the beach for free in a 2 room suite post challenge.

worked and worked and worked

got a concussion

finally broke the chains and dropped AT&T, had them as a carrier for close to 20 years.

kids did some funny stuff and stayed healthy.

bought a couple ill advised vehicles.

family made it through without losing anyone.

got my sister back from her a-hole ex, she kicked him out and everyone's life got less stressful

Moved across the country to a more expensive town 5 hour flight from family and friends. Started a chill new job getting paid more. Wife got a chill new job, getting paid more. Win/win. Both of us are happy. Adventure in every direction.

Bought two vehicles: 1980 Honda Cub and 1990 Acura Integra. Two Hondas for a person who was previously totally ambivalent about Hondas!

Sold two vehicles: My home-built camping trailer and my '05 Scion xB.

I lost my father in February. It still hurts.

I'm in the same job I got in 2008. That's a record for me. The show is scheduled to close in 2018, and I'm hoping to semi-retire.

Chased amy. Got a divorce. Moved to florida.

Started the year loving my job, went through a phase of hating it, now I'm back somewhere in the middle. Pays great though, so can't complain too much there. Kiddo #1 started kindergarten, can't believe where the time went. Kiddo #2 is now 2, with all the shenanigans that entails. SWMBO decided she is kind of done with being a stay-at-home mom, so the goal for the coming year will be to ease her back into the workforce and find her something she likes to do.

2015 was pretty crazy for me. I gained a bunch of knowledge and skill working on the 850 Coupe project, which saw quite a bit of progress in the first half of the year. I bought and built the 128 into a pretty cool and fairly well sorted ride. Got hitched in June to an absolutely awesome and smokin' hot gal. Started the paperwork on our house in December, too.

Work wise, I finished my apprenticeship hours and submitted my affidavits, so I'm only 40 classroom hours and a couple big tests away from being a really-real electrician. That should bring a lot of extra cash into the fold in 2016; maybe even enough to turn the single car garage into a 2+ car shop.

So, yeah. 2015 rocked. Arguably the best year of my life so far. 2016 is shaping up to be at least 1 better.

Here is my recap from a GRM perspective. This story is the year as seen in term of The Challenge , late October 2014 to late October 2015.

In $2014, for the first time, I fielded my own car in The Challenge (previous to that I crewed for Aussie Steve a couple of years.)

Finished 11th overall in a car I flew into Florida to buy (and planned to drive 1,000 miles home.)
Developed more than a tick but less than a knock in the Drags so I sold the whole car at a loss to another competitor and returned home via Hertz.

One week after returning home from The Challenge, everything in my life changed. Out of the blue, and after nearly two years of trying, my wife and I got THE CALL, and became adoptive parents.
This photo taken within 30 minutes of her coming HOME for the first time!

For $2015, I bought a completely different Q45 and not a single shared part was used between the two.
Finished 10th overall. This time drove the Q45 the 1,000 miles to The Challenge.

This photo taken within minutes of successfully driving the Q45 back home the 1,000 miles from The Challenge

Pretty much, I left the $2014 Challenge and just days later, everything in my life changed but in an interesting irony or unexpected twist, my $2015 entry was nearly identical.

Going to pretty much copy what I said in the other thread. 2015 had its ups and downs, but it ended up being a very good year for me after it was all said and done.

I started writing for Bangshift (!!!) after many years of trying to break into the business. This was a HUGE step for me. I love writing, and I had wanted to write about cars for a long time now. Through various connections and random occurrences, I became friends with a couple guys at Bangshift, and when they were looking for another contributor, I asked if I could submit something. And the rest is history!

I autocrossed for the very first time and loved it! Seriously, I get it now. I totally understand why people love it. I want to do it more in 2016.

I attended two Lemons events, they are as insane as you read about! I couldn't make it to Gainesville with the guys last year, so we focused on fielding our 280Z in a couple local Lemons events. It's a different world, that's for sure. I covered both events for the blog, which was cool.

I didn't have time to wrench all year because of my soul-sucking job. I spent all spring, summer, and fall working overtime and sitting in the car 3+hrs a day in mind destroying traffic. I reached and surpassed my breaking point. I was a hollowed out husk of my former self, and I came home ready to kill every day.

I ditched the soul-sucking job for way better job with more pay and closer commute! I started the last day of November, and it's been fantastic so far. My wife made a similar change and got a way better job within her company, so she's a lot happier too.

We did more training with our dog, and through training, we met some cool people. I found a love for hiking through the woods in the early morning with the dog, and especially when we go with a decent sized group. And our dog is now an AKC-Certified Canine Good Citizen thanks to my wife and I sticking with the training!

I have very high hopes for 2016! On New Year's Eve, my friends used to turn to me to "declare" what year it was going to be in a drunken stooper. In the past, there has been The Year of Toughness (2004), The Year of Bad Smells (2006), and the Year of Establishment (2008). I had enough beer this year to declare 2016 as The Year of MEGA AWESOMENESS. Know it, learn it, embrace it!

Blew up the 4Runner (again!) Bought a brand new FR-S. Quit motherberkeleying Sam's Club. Started learning land serveying. Outside, and loving it. Giving serious thought into buying a home. Realize I'm getting older. I'm not a kid any more. But I don't care.

Honestly, I can do without another year like 2015.

My Dad passed away last January. After 85 years and a fight with congestive failure, it wasn't unexpected; but still...

Mom was devastated but resolved to carry on in spite of losing the rock she had leaned on for over sixty years. Unfortunately, it did nothing to improve her "situational awareness" which has always been an abstract concept for her. It took its' toll last June when she fell off a restaurant's sketchy entrance/exit ramp and fractured a hip. After surgery and six weeks' of recovery (in a different state) she was allowed to come - as long as she had constant supervision; the alternative was a nursing home. She had three screws placed in the upper femur and we recently learned the healing has been compromised and she's getting a hip replacement next month. That should actually be a good thing.

Queue up a relocation from a metro area with over 6 million people to a rural burb with a little over 2500. I can't say I've embraced the small-town mentality but at least I understand and accept it. But I still need to move lots of "stuff" from GA to PA and sell a home. And, there are two Honda's whose fates are undetermined. Sell both, sell one and keep one and how to transport one/both hundreds of miles?

On the good side, I'm acclimatizing to cold temps better/quicker than I expected and Mom has come to actually enjoy having a cat in her home, something she once swore against and is still reluctant to admit.

And life goes on...

Decided, after 28 years, that I was finally ready for another dog.

Not much to share. I just hope this year is better.

2015 resolution was to get my life back. Three plus years in and working 3-4 weeks in a row at that E36 M3 hole place had not only affected me physically but now mentally. Any free time was spent catching up on sleep and doing chores. No real time for relaxation, projects, hobbies or social life. E36 M3 gotta stop.

Started turning down overtime, worked only my fair share, I could care less if the shift was covered or not. Quit answering the phone for an obvious OT call-in because some dickhead blew off their shift again. Quit taking E36 M3 from co-workers, Fogger2 got pissed and didn't speak to me for 5 months, no sweat bucko. I yelled in front of bosses and at bosses. No more beating my head against the wall, I didn't give a E36 M3 anymore, I was only there for the money.

There's a lotta stuff my gang didn't know but I was floored when I threw some temps at 'em I shot w/ a IR gun. 278° from a condensate return... anybody? no really wassit mean, ANYBODY? Silence. It was then I realized they didn't even know the berkeleying boilin' point of water. That was my turning point, went straight home to send out resumes.

Interviewed in April but no go. More resumes sent. Dry for a while but a job at a local college campus boiler plant came up, they called, I scheduled. Meantime, outta nowhere the boss from the interview in April called, c'mon back in we wanna talk. They offered, I took the job on the spot. As soon as they gave me a start date I picked my E36 M3 up and walked outta that hell hole.

Great place to work, good gang and bosses, excellent pay and 40 hrs/ week. No GRM rant threads about work in months. Really like this place, this could be that retirement job.

Stagnant for damn near 4 years in a hell hole. Caught up on so much work since. Social life is back. Haven't been this normal in years.

Hell, I have my life back.

I'm not sure if 2015 was good or if it sucked. Older daughter graduated from college and started grad school. Younger daughter graduated from high school and started college. Dad died in May, between the 2 graduations. Mom's mental state is about like oldsaw's mom. Fortunately, she hasn't fallen and broken anything, yet. Wife & I had to shut down the business in late October. Both of us were able to find good jobs within a month. New job pays well, has good benefits, but sucks. Me, wife, and daughters are all healthy. I drive a Miata.

I guess the best I can hope for is that 2016 isn't quite as much of a roller coaster as 2015 was.