My first post of the new decade details what I got for Christmas in 2009. I realize such a list might be in questionable taste. After all, who cares what I got for Christmas? I guess this post is as much for me than anyone else. My memory is about as good as a colander these days, so I need all the help I can get.

This Christmas was a great one. We held the big meal blowout in our tiny 800 sqft home. It was a tight fit for ten people but it was a ton of fun. Gifts were exchanged and spirits were high everywhere.

Here’s a list of my favorite gifts this year (with pictures!).

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It’s been two years since my life-threatening heart trouble. There is a date circled on my calendar – one with no notation beside it. December 15. That’s the day I went into the hospital, and every December it haunts me. Had I not gone in at the insistence of my wife you wouldn’t be reading this. I don’t think about that fact every day and that’s a good thing. There’s a time limit on that shit, and one can’t live in those places. But when December charges the ghosts, I think about that day. In the past I’ve been cynical about Christmas, but after ’07, every December day feels like a blessing. The crowds, the shopping madness, the vulgar consumerism, the endless carols. It’s hard to take but it’s all part of December, and I nearly bought it in December. These days I can look out my window and stare at the snow for an hour. I can watch cars go by outside a cafe and say to myself, “I’m glad to be here. I’m glad to be breathing into this mug.” I can look at my family and be glad that I’m still here to take care of them.

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I‘ve long held an admiration for orchestral music, although my knowledge of it is limited. I’ve always wanted to regularly attend performances by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. There has always been an excuse to not do it – too expensive, not enough time, etc. This year my wife Kerry and I decided to take advantage of the two-for-one new subscriber special. This allows just what it says – two people can subscribe for the price of one. In our case, we chose seats in the upper circle, second tier from the top. Fortunately, the seating in the Winspear Center for Music was designed to make any seat a good seat. Twelve concerts over eight months for two people set us back less than $400.00. That’s an incredible deal, if you ask me

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About a year ago I started hitting the gym on a regular basis. In the months before that I’d been battling an annual seasonal depression that seemed to creep in worse and worse with every passing year. Last year it reached a near unbearable state and something had to be done. I grabbed my workout shorts and launched over to the sweathouse. I chose Kinsmen Rec Center for a few reasons – location (close), facilities (broad range of equipment and services) and hours of operation (open early and late). The place now feels like home somehow – there’s a group of regulars and a small assortment of freaks and crazies. The joint is a little rough around the edges and I like it that way. If I don’t hit the weights for a few days, I definitely feel out of sorts.

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