A Year Gone by 2013

It is amazing how humans try to find patterns in their lives however random events might be. Everything has to make sense right? That's the reason why we freaks  celebrate New Year!

This years was mostly non-descriptive for me. Really speaking nothing happened, nothing moved.

Health: Realizing that I am getting older and would not like to die of gluttony, starting of the year we decided that we would join L.A. fitness. To my amazement (however discrete)  we continued going to gym. Now I can see my feet with only some obstruction!

Besides health, watching "healthy" women workout is truly inspirational. Now I can pull-up my body 20 times at a stretch, which was never possible in my LIFE...... AND THERE WAS NO GYMINTIMIDATION!

Travel: This year was also the year of National Parks and my love for nature: We visited Joshua Tree National park, Yosemite National Park, Kings Canyon and Sequoia Tree National park and  most striking Alaskan National Parks : Denali and Kenai Fjord

Highlight of the year was the “Alaskan adventure”  : It was a trip of a lifetime. It was the time of many firsts: Helicopter ride, near mid-night sun, glaciers, whales and most beautiful nature. I will surely go back there again....if time and money permits...

Yosemite visit was most abrupt. Wildfires had filled the valley with dense smoke and made it unbearable. Hope my luck with Yosemite changes soon.

This is the age to travel and travel I will.

Materialism: This year, I crossed many heights of my own materialism. Brought things that I did not need, but I do not regret ( or do I ?)

Leica: Did I need to buy a $2000 “point and shoot” camera? -- NO, frankly speaking with so limited features, even $200 camera offers better value....

BMW 528i: I already had a working car but spending almost half of my annual salary was it worth it? -- NO. Frankly speaking, this car throws error even if you fart!

Professionally: Professionally almost everything changed and nothing changed but I am definitely in a better state than I was at the start of the year. The thing that jerked me awake on May 21 will remain on my mind forever.
But I am sure things are going to change for good :)

Personal: 

A new member was added to our family: Neev, my nephew. He was there with me for 2 days in December and I already miss him :(

My In-laws' visit to Los Angeles was other highlight of the year. The visit was filled with uncertainties right from the time they were about to leave India to the time they reached back home.

Epilogue:

This song from America was playing in my head throughout the year....It speaks of the area where I live...and reminds me of that SoCal spirit!  :)

 New Years Eve....

So here I stand in downtown LA, totally sober (unlike last year, marital life has made me sober). I stood in the line of 500 people to get Indian food from a food truck. By the time it was our turn it was 11:49pm  and we were one of the last people! Bit of a luck here!
Placed order for Saag Paneer in 2013, got our food in 2014....so all in all was a good year!