Its was a good year for me.

I started the year pretty sedentary. Mid January I was skiing with coworkers in Tahoe and blew out my knee, making me to hobble around for about a month. The ’22 – ’23 winter was also one of the wettest on record, causing a ton of flooding in Oakland. With all the rain and a lame limb I spent much of the start of year in my apartment, licking my wounds, and ordering door dash. Sadly this wouldn’t be my only injury of the year. In late July I managed to break my foot hiking in Birkenstocks down to the American River. Another month where I was out of pocket. Last year was a bit of a wake up call.

I’m getting older. I’m tired now, all the time. The hangovers last longer. I need to stretch, before and after, any sort of physicality. I’m more focused on exercise than I ever have been; not to be healthy, but just to keep the beer belly at bay. It’s harder to see friends now, we’re all busier and farther away. It’s hard to find the time to do the things we want to do. To do the things we need to do. So many obligations, chores, and side quests in life. But in reflecting on the year I’ve done much.

Friends, love and California.

I traveled all over the state, but also made it to out to Bend and Portland, Vegas (three times, all for work), New York and Philadelphia. I made it three of California’s parks: Death Valley, Pinnacles, and Joshua Tree. I had planned a trip through Yosemite as well, but the snow over Tioga pass did not thaw in time.

Pinnacles is such an underrated park. America’s newest, anointed a park in 2012. I visited the park in early Spring. It’s reservoirs overflowing and flooding the park’s caves. Becca, Colin and I hiked the perimeter of the park. Twelve miles in total. We passed through both talus caves, over half a dozen streams, up over the eroded rock formations and back down through the park’s valleys. Sadly we didn’t see any of the park’s condors.

Colin and Becca were moving to Montana in a few weeks. They were trying to get the most out of California before they left. Exploring the park with them was a great way to celebrate California’s natural splendor, but the real treat was dinning at Chez Panisse before they left. Perhaps my best meal of the year, and to meet Alice Waters — who stills walks the restaurant to checks in on her tables — in person was an absolute delight.

Colin and Becca weren’t the only friends to leave California last year. My dear friend Ryan left for a year abroad in New Zealand. Over our nearly two decades of friendship, Ryan and I have gone on a ton of adventures together. Last year Kelsey, Ryan, Caroline and I spent about a week camping and exploring the Eastern Sierras over the 4th of July holiday.

The evening of the 4th we camped outside of Bishop in the Volcanic Tablelands where we could boulder during the day and at night had a great view of the fireworks out across the Owen’s valley and stars up above.

During the trip we visited old bars, sand dunes, hot springs, and much more. I’m excited for Ryan’s adventure abroad, but will miss having him in the Bay and Tahoe.

I think many of my friends started to settle down during the pandemic. And last year I really felt the love. I was fortunate enough to partake in two beautiful weddings: both at California vineyards.

My freshman year of college at St. Mary’s, the algorithm roomed me in De La Selle Hall with Makana. Makana and I became fast friends — despite being pretty different people. He is a CPA, after all. Makana had a beautiful wedding in Sonoma which served as a mini reunion for many of our college friends.

Later in the year, and further East in Angel’s Camp, I wedded Cooper and Alicia. I was flattered to have been asked, but did not expect to be so moved during the ceremony. I’m glad to have made it through with welcomed tears and laughs from those in attendance, but gladder still to not have yet been asked to officiate again.

Music, music, music

I saw a lot of great shows. And I a had a lot of fun dancing and singing year at them this. Tyler Childers, Death Grips, LCD Soundsystem, Fourtet x Skrillex; Promises Live, and much more. Festivals like Portola and Sequioa Sunrise. Yet somehow something clicked in me this year and made me want to make other people dance. Make my own music, do my own DJing. Perhaps that thing that clicked was just having a little extra disposable income. But I bought a few synths and a few drum machines and have been having a blast making some of the worse, most god awful, music/noise.

I think much of it started late in the year, September, with Sequioa Sunrise. Sequioa is a small festival, maybe 200 attendees, on the Kern River hosted by friends. It’s really just an excuse to party for a weekend with friends.