1: Gas $3.499. Weight 218.
2: Christmas lights come down.
2: Trim on the Hole in the Wall complete.
3: Gas $3.499.
3: Gas $3.539.
6: Gas $3.579.
18: REI Mt. Whitney presentation.
20: Badly needed rain arrives for the first time since October 2011.
21: IL's 56th anniversary.
23: Enter the Dragon.
23: Gas $3.599.
23: REI Mt. Whitney presentation.
25: I finally "beat my wife" in ping pong, 21-19.
27: Scorpion kill #1 on the dining room floor.
29: New Balance MT479s. My first pair of New Balance. So long, Nike.
31: Scorpion kill #2 on the guest room floor.
February
1: REI Mt. Whitney presentation.
5: That Game 46. Uncle T, Er, TheOs, Tre, Steve, wagga, brett.
6: Gas $3.639.
7: Scorpion kill #3 on our bedroom floor.
8: Gas $3.659.
10: Gas $3.699.
15: Gas $3.799. A 10 cent spike!
15: FIL in hospital.
16: Gas $3.819.
16: Haircut.
17: Gas $3.89. An eight cent spike!
19: Scorpion kill #4 on the dining room ceiling.
20: Gas $3.939.
21: Gas $3.959.
21: Wife gets a physical.
22: FIL diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
22: Gas $3.999.
23: Gas $4.059.
24: Gas $4.139.
24: Scorpion kill #5 on front patio.
25: Walk-thru of the mountain cabin.
25: Signed paperwork for the mountain cabin.
26: Gas $4.159.
27: Gas $4.219.
27: The oncologist confirms that my FIL may have pancreatic cancer.
28: My second ping pong victory, 21-10.
29: Acupuncture.
March
1: Gas $4.199. Down a whopping 2 cents since the spike!
5: REI Mt. Whitney presentation.
9: Holistic doctor consultation.
10: Dad -- 5 years.
12: Gas $4.219.
12: EKG.
13: Dad laid to rest -- 5 years.
13: Ping pong victory #3, 21-17.
13: EKG results: abnormal.
15: Gas $4.199.
16: W"hit"ney.
17: Rain, but snow in the mountains.
17: Spa cleaned and water changed.
18: One inch of snow on the ground during the late afternoon hours.
20: Wife has basal cell carcinoma in the middle of her forehead. Outpatient surgery. Stitches.
22: My wife gets a mammogram.
23: REI dividend arrives.
26: July 25 confirmation for Whitney.
26: Physical.
26: Scorpion kill #6 on our bathroom floor.
27: Stitches removed.
28: FIL passes away.
30: Purchased a blood pressure cuff.
April
2: Memorial services for my FIL in Oakhurst.
3: FIL cremated.
3: Wife to dermatologist.
3: Lewis Creek hike.
4: Gas $4.159.
6: Cardiologist.
7: 4-Mile Hike. 5.21 miles. 3:19:00.
8: Easter: The beginning of many "firsts" for all of us without Penthero.
9: Scorpion kill #7 on our bedroom floor.
10: Dropped of paperwork for the colonoscopy.
10: Wife has skin surgery to remove small growth on left thigh.
12: Gas $4.139.
13: Holter monitor on at 3:00 p.m. for 24 hours.
14: Holter monitor off.
15: Ping pong victory #4, 20-13.
16: Gas $4.099.
16: Colonscopy prep for wife.
17: Treadmill for me. All okay except for the high blood pressure reading.
17: Colonoscopy for wife.
19: Gas $4.059.
19: Hair appointment for both of us.
19: Mom drops off Trouble, the male family cat. Doesn't want to get him newtered.
20: Opened up PGE account for new place.
21: BroIL and AllA announce a possible move to Portland, Oregon.
21: Inspection of the mountain cabin. Asbestos found underneath the floor tile. No deal.
22: Mowed and weeded.
23: Colonoscopy prep for me.
24: Colonscopy for me.
24: Wife has stitches removed from left thigh.
25: We drive to MIL house fearing she had fallen. All is okay.
26: Dermatologist visit.
27: Gas $4.039.
28: House hunting.
29: Mowed MIL's yard.
30: Scorpion kill #8 on dining room floor.
30: First skin biopsy (punch biopsy) on left side of neck performed by the dermatologist.
30: What a month...
May
2: Signed paperwork on the P38549.
4: Gas $4.079.
5: Butterfly Festival in Mariposa. Me, wife, MIL, and Toby the dog.
6: 40th day memorial service for FIL at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Fresno.
7: Roofing bid.
7: Gas $4.099.
8: Scorpion kill #9 on guest room ceiling.
10: Sutures removed from neck.
10: Second skin biopsy (punch biopsy) on lower left back by the dermatologist.
10: Gas $4.159.
12: Gas $4.199.
12: MIL give me FIL's cowboy boots. 10 1/2 EEE. Fit perfectly. I shall wear them proudly.
13: Mother's Day. Me, wife, BroIL, and SIL at MIL for dinner.
13: Helped MIL remove some of FIL's things.
14: Wife gets the Merced job.
15: I wear my first pair of cowboy boots. EEE makes a big difference.
16: Subie gets a flat on passenger rear. Got it fixed for no charge. Imagine that!
16: Gas $4.219.
17: Dermatologist visit: Atypical nevus. More removal
17: Truck gets new tires.
18: Wife visits Merced office.
18: Follow-up to my physical with my holistic doctor: Blood pressure medication prescribed.
19: Scorpion kill #10 on kitchen counter.
19: Gas $4.199.
19: Merced "tour" to look at places to live.
21: Frisco bound.
23: We find an apartment in Merced.
24: Truck gets a front-end alignment and brakes.
24: Sutures removed from lower left back.
26: The packing begins.
26: MIL gets a new car: Kia Optima.
30: We become "renters."
31: Sutures removed from my neck....again.
31: The last commute.
June
1: Move to Merced.
3: Moving finished.
4: Wife starts new job in Merced. I start my drive from Merced to Fresno.
5: FIL's 79th birthday. In memoriam.
9: My aunt's birthday.
9: Gas $3.959.
11: Escrow closes on P38549.
12: Gym rats we become at Brenda Athletic Club in Merced.
13: Gas $3.899.
14: Haircut.
16: Gar(b)age Sale #1. Man, was it hot!
17: Scorpion kill #11 on the front patio.
17: An "uneventful" Father's Day. Breakfast at MIL's.
17: 107° in Merced!
18: Cable installed in the apartment.
23: Upper Yosemite Falls and Lookout. 9 miles. 6 hours and 15 minutes.
26: Gas $3.599.
28: New kitchen faucet installed at the apartment.
30: Gar(b)age sale #2.
July
4: Sonora (Mi Pueblo) and Modesto (Trader Joe's).
7: Four-Mile Trail and Panorama Trail.
10: House goes on the market.
12: New Vasque Breeze hiking boots. Size 11 wide.
14: Our fifth anniversary. We go to Moss Landing and dine at Phil's Fish Market. Great food and service.
15: Problems with a go-kart and kids. Andrew, 15, Matthew 13, Brian 16. Andrew and Matthew rake the gravel they messed up. Brian is an at-large.
16: First moving load to P38549.
18: Dentist for both of us.
19: Sprinkle in the San Joaquin valley.
25: Whitney. 18 hours and 30 minutes. Seven up! Four first-timers. Start 1:40 a.m. End 7:10 p.m.
28: Sugar Pine Railroad Moonlight Special with my wife, MIL, NikKi, ChrisTina, and JaDen.
August
11: BroIL and SIL move to Portland, Oregon area.
11: Movie: The Campaign. SUKT!
12: We dine at Pinocchio's in Merced.
15: Wife's birthday. We dine at Pocket 8's Sushi Grill.
18: MIL gives away two of the four kittens.
18: We look at travel trailers in Fresno.
22: Our gym set is now in consignment and are removed from our garage.
24: Gas $4.059.
27: Gas $3.999.
31: Purchased a Troy-Bilt XP 2800 gas-powered high pressure washer for P38549.
September
1: Cleaned out the garage and shed at P38549.
2: Pulled carpet and removed the cottage cheese ceiling in the bedrooms at P38549.
2: Cleaned off the front porch with the power washer.
6: Purchased a used Lopi Liberty woodstove for $100.00.
7: Our first night at P38549.
8: Household goods move to P38549.
9: Painted the fascia around P38549.
10: First commute from P38549. 42.8 miles.
12: Haircut.
15: Herb plants, honeysuckle, black walnut, and pomegranate relocated to P38549.
16: Roof and fiberglass removed from P38549. Solar tubes installed in bathroom, laundry,kitchen, and garage.
16: Water shut off at BRW.
17: Power shut down at BRW.
17: A "threat" had been communicated.
17: Cleansing diet start.
19: Cleansing diet end.
19: New roof up on P38549.
22: Greenhouse moved to P38549.
23: Mantel up and garage rearranged at P38549.
24: Car oil change.
26: Gas $3.979 at Costco.
26: Gutters up on P38549.
27: We purchase a Frigidaire Gallery 30-in 5-Burner Freestanding Convection Gas Range (Stainless Steel) at Lowe's for 20% off for P38549.
29: Mariposa Tomato Festival.
29: Chicken wire up on the hearth.
30: MIL's birthday.
30: Downtown. Clovis Antique Festival.
30: Movie "Trouble with the Curve."
October
1: Our first week at P38549.
1: Rocks on the hearth.
1: Gas stove delivered.
1: Truck oil change.
2: Rocks on the hearth.
3: Rocks on the hearth.
4: Rocks on the hearth.
5: Gas $4.299.
5: Rocks on the hearth done!
5: Chimney for stove installed at P38549.
6: Brought back ironworks from old house.
7: Front porch covered, furniture moved into living room, and curtains hung.
7: Fired up the Lopi Liberty wood stove.
13: Trash (fiberglass, tile, carpet and pads) removed and taken to the dumpsite.
15: Got the coryza.
16: Gas $4.379.
18: Insulation blown into the attic at P38549. Partial.
19: Propane gas tank installed. Gas range up and running! First meal: cabbage and polish sausage.
20: Stung six times by meat bees (yellow jackets) while moving a dead branch.
20: Wood delivered.
22: Insulation project completed.
23: Gas $3.949.
26: Gas $3.899.
27: Blower installed on Lopi Liberty stove.
November
2: Gas $3.859.
3: Spa, dishwasher, water heater, wine cooler, pass-thru cabinet, and clothesline relocated to P38549.
3: Living room and hallway painted at P38549.
6: Gas $3.779.
9: Gas $3.699.
10: An inch of snow falls on P38549.
10: Light fixtures, ceiling fans, door locks, toilets, and blocks relocated. Painting again. Mantel stained.
11: P38549 water heater installed and "new" light fixtures.
12: Hearth rocks given the "wet" look. More painting.
12: New battery for the Subie.
14: Gas $3.599.
14: Our cellphone bill got smaller.
17: IKEA in West Sacramento.
17: Rain and plenty of it.
18: Table and chairs assembled. Bathroom and soffit painted. Windows cleaned. Backyard squared away.
22: Thanksgiving at P38549. Me, my wife, JayMi, KC, NaNa, BIL, SIL, Britt, Uncle T, Aunt C., Tre.
24: Got an orange Light My Fire spork and a metal Camelbak sports bottle.
25: Another day in the life. Breakfast: Uncured bacon, scrambled eggs, toast, brown rice, coffee, toast with honey. Lunch: Turkey sandwich and broc-cauli salad. Dinner: Steak, baked potato, baked aparagus, green beans and garlic basted with olive oil.
25: The last of the move from old house. Pass-thru cabinet, hoses, tomato stands, cinder blocks.
28: Goodbye, old house. End of chapter, turn the page...
28: Purchased a Porter-Cable 8-Amp Belt 3x21 Power Sander.
December
1: Replaced MIL's old toilet with one of ours from BRW.
7: Gas $3.479.
8: My wife's office Christmas party at Strings in Merced.
9: New wipers for the truck.
12: Gas $3.459.
12: Haircut.
16: Got a 8-foot Christmas tree for P38549.
17: The Christmas lights and decorations go up on the tree.
19: Water pipe freezes, but quickly resolved with the propane torch at P38549.
21: Hot water heater and dryer fizzles. Both due to power outages and surges. End of the world? Yeah, right.
21: Planted our old pine tree from the old house along the side of the road to P38549.
22: Over 2 inches of rain fell in Oakhurst.
22: Family Christmas party in Cypress, CA. My first visit to Orange County since July 2007. Went with my wife and MIL and spent the night there with relatives. It was a great time!
25: Christmas. Shirt, work pants, REI travel clock, guardian Buddha, Kobalt vises set and screwdriver set, flashlight (me and my flashlights), USMC wallet, Lowe's gift card, rice crackers, boots. Believe it or not, no REI gift card!
25: Had to drive to Merced in order to be ready for work on December 26. Sucks.
26: Gas $3.259.
27: Coryza again...sniffle, sniffle.
31: Planted Papou's tree in our front yard.
The lowlight of the year was my FIL passing away on March 28. We never got the chance to fish with him after getting him new fishing poles for Christmas 2011. We never got a chance to use our fishing licenses, either.
The highlight was Mt. Whitney and P38549!
Pushups: 95,200 (1,211,900)
Crunches: 124,400 (1,580,200)
Pullups: 5,245 (35,350)
Bardips: 5,280 (34,880)
Vertical knee raises: 5,290 (21,950)
For another year, no fast food.
What happened in 2012.
