T-minus 1 day

...and counting for my son's birthday. As I look back on this past year I can say it's been crazy. And crazy good at that. We moved from the Twin Cities to Milwaukee, went through three jobs, moved again, and put out a refrigerator fire. I had a three month sabbatical with my son over the summer when we moved to Milwaukee. All I thought about was popsicles, beaches, kites, pizza, Dr. Seuss, Peep and the Big Wide World (the theme song by Taj Mahal is the best), and fireworks. Awesome. Then I had to get a job, which gave me a panic attack and forced me to seriously think about what I really like to do and how I should spend my working hours dedicated to improving the human condition on some level.

Whatever, I have been busy trying to dig shortbread cookies out of the console shifter on my car and trying not to cuss out the person who leaves their shoes 3 inches from the bedroom door in the pitch dark of night. Anyway, the year spent with my 3 year old has been the best.

Best moment: Three way tie: naked cowboy, his moving van "Victory Dance," and floating aimlessly down the pond in an inflatable raft, only to come face-to-face with a snapping turtle.

Most memorable: My son locking himself in the bathroom, with no key, and me drawing diagrams on paper showing which knob to turn and which way to turn it–then shoving it underneath the door so he could read it. He about lost it, and I almost had to climb a ladder and break the window to get in. Good start to the day.