Another year has come and gone! Many of you are probably feeling this as well, but for me, 2023 absolutely flew by! The year had plenty of excitement and adventures for me, with lots of travel and new experiences. With 2024 now a month old, I thought I’d look back at some highlights of 2023.
A Busy Year
In January, I got into the swing of my new job at TimeXtender as a Content Marketing Specialist. I got the opportunity to travel to Denmark in March for a company retreat, and while it was a long trip, it was well worth it to see the beautiful country and meet my coworkers!
Also in March, I had the pleasure of being the officiant for the wedding of my friends Jen and Sean. They got married by the beautiful Cache la Poudre River in Northern Colorado, and the reception was at an escape room in Fort Collins! This also meant I had to get ordained as a minster, which I did! (So if anyone needs an officiant, give me a call!)
April brought another Wicked West Comic Expo to Northern Colorado, and I was proud to have a table for the two-day event, selling books and comics! I even got to give a couple of panels both days, and while there weren’t very many people in the audience for either one, it was a lot of fun. Be sure to check out Wicked West 2024 on April 13th and 14th!
May took me to Virginia to see my sister’s family. My sister, my nephew, and I spent a day at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and I rode a rollercoaster for the first time in 21 years! It took quite a bit of convincing on my nephew’s part (that kid has no fear) but after riding a few, I was once again hooked on the adrenaline. We even “tricked” my sister into riding one, and while she was plenty mad at us once the ride started, she did give us a ride home.
June brought another trip to Holdrege, NE for the annual Swedish Days festival in my hometown. It was also my 20th high school reunion, and it was great to see some classmates I hadn’t seen in several years (some since high school). My partner, Jenn, got to go with me and experience Holdrege and all of its small-town charm.
The summer flew by (as did most of the year), and once August arrived, it was time for Fort Collins Comic Con! It was a great show, and while we had to contend with Tour de Fat being moved to the same weekend, there were lots of great comics fans in attendance.
At the end of October/beginning of November, I got to travel to Rome for a work retreat with my department. I’ve always wanted to visit Rome, and it was a fantastic trip. My coworkers and I saw amazing historical sites, ate great food, and had delicious drinks while exploring the ancient city.
Before I knew it, the holidays had arrived. I hosted my family this year, so everyone came to Colorado and spent several days at my house in Loveland. After Christmas, I accompanied my sister’s family to Copper Mountain on a ski adventure. I’d never skied in my life, and I still haven’t! It was fun to be on the mountain and experience all the activity and nightlife. I was going to go snowshoeing, but the trails weren’t yet open.
New Challenges and Adventures
Once the New Year rolled around, I was gearing up for another busy year, when life threw a curveball. I was unexpectedly laid off from my job at TimeXtender, so I find myself currently looking for a new job. I’ve taken the past few weeks to reflect and refocus on what I want to do in life (while also applying for jobs, because the bills have to be paid). It just shows you never know what’s going to happen, but remaining agile and positive go a long way. I believe everything happens for a reason, and while I may not be able to see the reason yet, I’m excited to see what the future holds.
On top of all the highlights and activities in 2023, I was able to spend lots of time with friends, family, and my wonderful partner, Jenn. I played a lot of Magic: The Gathering (the Lord of the Rings set was amazing) and Dungeons & Dragons once again, and participated in rec league co-ed softball for the summer and fall (for the 10th season in a row)! I had lots of firsts in 2023, such as visiting new countries, and I look forward to what 2024 has in store.