Happy 2026!

[Lunkhead]

Another year done and dusted, and another begun. Hope it's a happy one for you all.

Checking in on what I said a year ago:

- improve physical and mental health care (get better sleep, get more exercise, get a primary care physician, and possibly a couple other doctors)
- read more (I got yet more books for Christmas again in 2024)
- keep making stuff
- travel more (we want to go to Greece!)

I finally got a doctor and got checked out and I'm doing ok. I have been having some sinus congestion in the wee morning hours that frequently disrupts my sleep. He had me try Flonase and while it hasn't helped with my sleep, it nearly completely got rid of my lifelong chronic allergies. So that's been pretty cool. I started wearing a fitness tracker to sleep too and it's actually giving my sleep a B grade, so I've stopped feeling as stressed out about my sleep. I also made efforts to get more exercise, mostly just going for regular walks outside. I didn't really read much sadly. I did Jamuary and Inktober though and entered Song Fight a few times including a couple songs as Lunkhead. We wound up not traveling much.

Highlights include:
- going to Palm Springs for the first time, last winter
- celebrating a milestone birthday for Erin
- going to LA by myself for a really fun weekend with some old friends
- going to Portland and the Bay Area a couple times each
- Song Fight Live Seattle
- hosting visitors several times
- going to 18 concerts, 2 music festivals, one play, and seeing a couple comedians
- going on the Crater Lake 5-hour boat tour again, last time before the tours and access to the lake are shut down for at least the next three years for construction

Lowlights:
- our beloved cat JJ passed away in June after being with us all but 7-8 weeks of his 16+ years
- 3rd round of COVID, caught it at Song Fight Live, ugh

For 2026, pretty similar to 2025 I guess, with a couple additions:
- health wise: have another annual with my doctor, see an ENT about nighttime sinus issues, see a dermatologist for a checkup, continue working on exercise and sleep
- read more (for real this time)
- keep making stuff (Jamuary ahoy!)
- travel
- get a new job
- get rid of a bunch of stuff I don't use/need

[fluffy]

2025 was a good year for me where my music career finally started to take off, and I'm already seeing good signs of that trajectory continuing into 2026.

Today I've been in excruciating pain all day long though, but hopefully that's just temporary, like all things are.

I've written a bunch more about my 2026 aspirations over on my blog as usual: https://beesbuzz.biz/blog/7591-2025-%F0%9F%94%9C-2026

[Aciniform Artifice]

I briefly addressed my failed 2025 resolution here--
https://discord.com/channels/1667482073 ... 6024902716

Although my other goal for the year was to exceed my previous high of 174 bird species seen/heard, which I surprised myself by smashing: final tally for 2025 ended up being 210.

So I ended up one for two on year goals. I think I've decided to forego any expectations for 2026

[roymond]

The good:
- 2025 was better than 2024, personally (family-wise). And I started playing open mics again. And I read lots of books, breaking a multi-year block (you can do it, Sam!). Hate to say it but I have to credit my Kindle for having the books always within reach.
- 2025 started on a high when the guy whose org i did immigrant support work for was pardoned by Biden on his last day in office. 2025 then sucked in almost every other conceivable way.
- 2026 will be interesting at least. NYC has a new mayor, a social-democrat! Actually feeling pretty good about my hometown again. I'm retiring from corporate life April 1st. Going to Greece to work in refugee support on Lesvos and in Athens. Then touring around a bit. And, music will be much more in focus this year.

The bad:
- I spent xmas week recuperating from gum surgeries. Nothing super major but skin grafts and 18 sutures in your mouth can feel like the end of the world.
- That "really great bill" that was passed in 2025 will be activated this year. Even just rolling back some of this shit will take years.
- AI...fail fast. Please.