Should auld acquaintance be forgot, 2015 edition....

So, with 2016 now upon us, it's time for my to reflect over the past 12 months and give my Top Ten List Of Important Events In Polt's 2015! (or something like that...)

10. The Marvel Cinematic Universe

Everything that Marvel touch seems to turn to gold.  The Avengers 2, Ant-Man, Agents of SHIELD, Agent Carter, Daredevil, even the depressing but amazingly good Jessica Jones, all of it was unbelievably entertaining, fun, interesting and coherent.  In short, everything that DC's attempts at this are not going to be.

9. Sebastian

He's a 2008 vehicle that I've had since 2010.  He's been a good little car.  This year, however, I had to spend over $700 to get something fixed with the gas tank over the summer and then over $200 in November to get the rotors fixed.  That's $1000 (or so).  But, when you consider, other than normal maintenance and upkeep, I've not really put any money into him prior to this year, that's not too bad.  I really can't afford a car payment each month again, so I hope he keeps chugging away all through the new year.  And with only 88000 miles on him, he should.

8. Investing

So this year, I finally broke down and went to a retirement planner/investment specialist.  After two meetings with him, I gave him some money, set it up so they'd automatically take a certain amount out each week, and set myself up in a mutual fund.  I think I used all those terms correctly, I know as much about investing as I do about quantum physics.  But Ryan knew what he what he was talking about and when it explained it all to me, all the options made sense (at that time).  So I chose what was best for me.  And so, I guess I'm now an adult....

7. Gay Marriage

Even though I doubt it's ever gonna be in the cards for me personally, I'm glad I could finally get married to someone I love anywhere in the USA we'd choose to live.  It happened much MUCH faster than I expected (I can still remember gay marriage being used as a wedge issue by Bushie in the 2004 election).  My how things changed, in society and in politics.  But I'm glad it happened in my lifetime, as I thought it never would.  Eventually, yes, but not so I'd be around to see it.  Now we just have to make sure we get to keep it!

6. Rutter's Coffee

I don't generally like coffee, never have.  I always had a little cup of it at work, though it wake me up.  Well early in the year, I gave the Rutter's Coffee, with some French Vanilla Delight added, a try and fell in love!  I have a cup every morning on my way to work and drink the 24 ounces there.  I've even had it some morning when I don't go to work.  I actually enjoy the taste of it, although I honestly think that's the French Vanilla.  But anyway, as an added plus, since I scan my Rutter's card every time, I get 1 cent off a gallon of gas with each cup.  Over a month's time, that's like 16 cents!  So it's a win-win!

5. Mom's moving

I'm honestly not surprised this isn't higher on the list.  Last year this time, I expected that, with her no longer living at the house, I'd miss it, especially over the holidays, and not being able to just pop over to visit, and not being able to go into the house I grew up in.  But, honestly, I've had very little to no issues with it.  Oh the move itself, and the days leading up to it, were stressful, but that's because ANY move, just by the sheer act of moving, is stressful.   But she's settled in out in her cottage and she's happy there.  And I'm glad she's happy, and in a place where she wont have to mow grass, or shovel snow, or have any reason to climb on the roof!

4. Blu-ray and Netflix Streaming

So, with the blu-ray and Netflix Streaming I got very late last year (thanks again, A Local Celebrity, Mr. David ParisPeking), I have enjoyed SO much stuff on my TV!  There was: The Avengers' Cartoon series; several documentaries (including Ken Burn's baseball, which was AMAZING!); the entire Star Trek: Enterprise series, which was not as bad as I had originally thought (not good, just not as bad); All of the In-Betweeners (hilarious British sitcom); many Doctor Who episodes from before the reboot ten years back, at least one with every previous Doctor!; the aforementioned Daredevil and Jessica Jones, both just fantastically done; Star Trek: The Animated Series, from the early 70s; I rewatched all the NEW Doctor Who series, of the 9th and 10th Doctors; Bob's Burgers, all the seasons, and laughed my ass off throughout; and the incredible House of Cards!  And that doesn't even factor in all the movies I've watched that way!

3. Anxiety in May

Back in May, for most of the month, I was wracked with anxiety again.  Mostly due to stupid decisions on my part, but not all of it.  And certainly, the anxiety was WAY out of proportion to what was causing it.  But that was how it was a few years ago: I was anxious in huge amounts in relation to the small things that was causing it.  And it happened again.  Luckily, as time passed, the anxiety diminished and eventually went away.  On it's own.  Without having to resort to those meds I had taken before.

2. Tooth problems

Back at the end of March, I had an abscess in a tooth in my upper right jaw.  The dentist gave me an anti-biotic, I took it, it went away, all was good with the world.  Until August 15th (coincidentally, the same day mom was moving).  Then, I got a similar pain in a tooth almost directly under the other one.  And from this point, it ALL went crazy.  The abscess grew, I was on three subsequently more powerful anti-biotics, none of which did anything at all.  The dentist had to drill through the crown over the abscess to drain all the pus out, and he left the hole there to help it drain.  And while draining, it tasted just as great as it sounds.  Eventually, I felt the abscess bulge getting smaller and the drainage stopped, and the abscess was gone.  So the dentist plugged the hole with something....which lasted about a week till it fell out leaving the hole open again. I didn't eat on that side because I didn't want to risk getting food down in there.  And eventually, I just figured, let's just get that damn tooth pulled (even though I had just had a crown put on it last September).  And so, on November 13th, he yanked the tooth outta my head.  In just the last few weeks, I've finally been able to begin to eat on the right side of my mouth.....four months after all this crap started.  Man, I HATE tooth pain!

1. Home stress

Starting in the autumn, there's be some stress here around at home.  It's not caused by me, but once again, my anxiety and stress reactions are WAY out of proportion to what the issues are.  But knowing that doesn't help.  I have problems controlling it.  It's affected my sleep, at times.  It's affected my appetite.  It's affected my stomach and bowels, leading to stomach pains and...well, pooping issues.  And just feeling trapped here at home.    I dont really know how to make this stop, although, honestly, I think over time it'll end, like back in May.    I just hope it happens soon.

And so that's been the high (and low) lights of my year.  It's unfortunate that the top three are all negative things, but well, what can ya do?  Other than hope that this year is much better than the last year!

POLT