{"id":15590,"date":"2020-01-03T11:16:45","date_gmt":"2020-01-03T16:16:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/?p=15590"},"modified":"2020-01-03T11:27:51","modified_gmt":"2020-01-03T16:27:51","slug":"2019-in-review-part-ii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/?p=15590","title":{"rendered":"2019 In Review&#8211;Part II"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/TorontoPrideblog-300x208.jpg?resize=300%2C208\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"208\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-15252\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/TorontoPrideblog.jpg?resize=300%2C208&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/TorontoPrideblog.jpg?resize=150%2C104&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/TorontoPrideblog.jpg?resize=768%2C533&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/TorontoPrideblog.jpg?resize=432%2C300&amp;ssl=1 432w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/TorontoPrideblog.jpg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Continuing with a look back at my activities and life during the last half of 2019&#8230;<br \/>\n<!--more--><br \/>\n&#8230;the start of July found Spouse and me in Toronto, Canada, enjoying a real vacation.  We loved the warm and friendly Canadian hospitality and the many things to do in the fourth largest city in North America.<\/p>\n<p>Back home, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/?p=15312\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">I got some Harley riding in, solo<\/a>, during a very hot month here in Maryland.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Firethankblog-300x193.jpg?resize=300%2C193\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"193\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-8439\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Firethankblog.jpg?resize=300%2C193&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Firethankblog.jpg?resize=150%2C96&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Firethankblog.jpg?w=400&amp;ssl=1 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>August was eventful.  Four things happened:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/?p=15305\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">I was elected to serve as President<\/a> for a large not-for-profit community organization. This position was vacated when leadership retired and moved away, and the organization needed someone with tact and diplomacy to take over and help during a very stressful time for them.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/?p=15318\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">I witnessed a horrible motorcycle crash<\/a> where a rider to whom I rendered immediate first aid lost his foot. All due to reckless impatience of youth. This still haunts me today.<\/li>\n<li>Took many signals that the job was becoming &#8220;unfun&#8221;. I had always said that I would keep working as long as I enjoyed what I was doing. But the life-force of joy was sucked out of the job in August. In consultation with The Spouse, I began examining what it would take to leave, and when.<\/li>\n<li>Went to Salt Lake City for a work-trip to manage a big meeting that I had organized. It wasn&#8217;t confirmed yet, but I couldn&#8217;t tell them that this would be my last meeting and their &#8220;cat-herder-in-chief&#8221; was not going to do this any more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>During September, I endured <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/?p=15408\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">an awful group motorcycle ride<\/a> that was too fast for me. Got me to thinking hard about if I would join any more group rides again.  <\/p>\n<p>Also, at the end of the month, I completed a point-to-point-to-point trip for work:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Day 1: Maryland to San Francisco via Phoenix; overnight in San Francisco.  Dinner with Larry of Hotboots fame.<\/li>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/KSCaliforniaTravel-300x161.jpg?resize=300%2C161\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"161\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-15595\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/KSCaliforniaTravel.jpg?resize=300%2C161&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/KSCaliforniaTravel.jpg?resize=150%2C80&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/KSCaliforniaTravel.jpg?w=400&amp;ssl=1 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<li>Day 2: San Francisco to Eureka; enjoyed a day with a brother-from-another mother; overnight there.<\/li>\n<li>Day 3: most of the day in Eureka, then flew back to San Francisco; overnight again there (arrived too late to do anything but go to bed.)<\/li>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/WAcoast_02-300x225.jpg?resize=300%2C225\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-15596\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/WAcoast_02.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/WAcoast_02.jpg?resize=150%2C113&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/WAcoast_02.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/WAcoast_02.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/WAcoast_02.jpg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<li>Day 4: San Francisco to Seattle. Rented a car and drove to the outer coast. Met with interesting people. Wrote a report. Overnight in Seattle.<\/li>\n<li>Day 5: Meeting in Seattle, then took a red-eye back home.<\/li>\n<li>Day 6: home!  Arrived in the morning, and went to bed, dead tired.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Reminded myself that while &#8220;back-in-the-day&#8221; when working for another employer that these point-to-point trips were commonplace, how taxing they are, and be grateful that I probably will not have to do this type of travel ever again.<\/p>\n<p>October found me deep in the throes of retirement planning and getting my financial affairs in order.  Moving some investments, submitting paperwork for one of two pensions for which I qualify, and so forth.  Things at work were difficult with people reacting to my decision to leave in odd ways.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Alaska201801-300x225.jpg?resize=300%2C225\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-14082\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Alaska201801.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Alaska201801.jpg?resize=150%2C113&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Alaska201801.jpg?w=400&amp;ssl=1 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>In mid-October, I also completed another <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/?p=15408\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">work trip to Alaska<\/a> to conduct a final professional activity that I am certified to do (and the guy replacing me is not.)  I enjoyed this visit, although it was very brief. I had a chance to say goodbye to good friends and colleagues with whom I worked closely (almost every day.)<\/p>\n<p>November found me wrapped up in a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/?p=15473\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">dizzying array of &#8220;lasts.&#8221;<\/a> Last briefings for colleagues at work; last reports; last launch of a major program for next year; last organization of a major meeting to be held in late January in which I will not be involved, even though I set it up. Last-this; last-that. My psyche was deeply troubled. I am grateful that The Spouse was right there to hold me, guide me, and most of all, just to listen. He is the best listener in the world.<\/p>\n<p>I had my last day in the office on the day before U.S. Thanksgiving. Then I went on leave. The new guy who is unqualified for my job and who was foisted on my boss by scheming upper management who wanted to &#8220;pass the trash&#8221; and who got my position started the day after Thanksgiving, and I did not want to be there.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/CBTG-300x229.png?resize=300%2C229\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"229\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-8142\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/CBTG.png?resize=300%2C229&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/CBTG.png?resize=150%2C115&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/CBTG.png?resize=393%2C300&amp;ssl=1 393w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/CBTG.png?w=630&amp;ssl=1 630w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>We did have our annual Thanksgiving Feastival at our house. We celebrated with 102 guests throughout the day.  I was honored to be inducted as a &#8220;senior pal&#8221; now that I am retiring. <\/p>\n<p>December found me mostly on leave.  However, as a gift from the boss, I took one last work trip to the Caribbean. Another point-to-point-to-point trip: Day 1 to St. Thomas, USVI; Day 3 to San Juan, PR; drive to the Western side of the island that is more authentic Puerto Rican and I love so much; Day 4: surprise honor; Day 4 (afternoon), drive back to San Juan, have dinner with a close friend, and overnight in a hotel near the airport; Day 5, return home at a decent hour.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/BHDAnascoBeach20191212-300x225.jpg?resize=300%2C225\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-15555\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/BHDAnascoBeach20191212.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/BHDAnascoBeach20191212.jpg?resize=150%2C113&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/BHDAnascoBeach20191212.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/BHDAnascoBeach20191212.jpg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/BHDAnascoBeach20191212.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>I was truly humbled and honored to receive <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/?p=15553\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">a surprise recognition<\/a> by being presented a Mayoral as well as a Governor&#8217;s Proclamation in recognition of over 30 years of professional support to <em>la isla del encanto<\/em> while I was in Western Puerto Rico.  I just love this island and its resilient people.<\/p>\n<p>End-of-December, on the Friday before Christmas, my twin brother and his wife surprised us with a visit. We loved having him with us to celebrate the holiday and enjoy a small retirement party that he organized for me at my best friend&#8217;s house on New Year&#8217;s Eve. He and his wife flew back home to Rome, Italy, on January 2.<\/p>\n<p>Christmas was rather quiet, as we prefer. My brother, his wife, and I visited the little ones in the family and hung out. <\/p>\n<p>Now&#8230; it is &#8220;next year!&#8221;  Let&#8217;s see what this year entails!<\/p>\n<p>Life is short:  no man is a failure who has friends.  Thank you, readers, for your support and friendship!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Continuing with a look back at my activities and life during the last half of 2019&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15590","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blogging"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15590","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15590"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15590\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15590"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15590"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15590"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}