I had one of the best years of my life.  Before I start, I want to say that last Christmas I baked 84 cookies.  At the start of 2009, I was living at Spruce Street Apartments on the west side and made some friends there.  In the fall of 2008, I was driving and spaced out.  I ended up hitting a stop-and-go light pole so my license was canceled and my car was totaled.  I was ok and decided to do a lot of biking beginning in February.  An art group began at J.A.K.’s Place, which I participated in.  On February 25th I was walking down the sidewalk and met a guy who turned out to be a good buddy, Steve Brendt.  

In April I joined Habitat for Humanity again to build two houses on 7th Avenue. 

In May, I went with a group from Community Programs to the Botanical Domes in Milwaukee.  There were three domes, each having plants of it’s own kind:  cactus, tropical, and ordinary flowers.  I took about 98 pictures.  The temperature was very warm in there and the flowers were “rich eye candy.” 

In June was the Steel Bridge Song Fest.  I saw many people from high school.  On the 18th, I biked for 618 miles and was averaging 12 miles per day. 

The next month I made a 49-foot basketball shot in one attempt, but no world record!  A veteran’s dairy breakfast was held at Corpus Christi.  Brian was there.

I made it to the Fair.  The highlight was playing Name That Tune.  I correctly guessed three songs.  Hey, don’t forget the lyrics.  Garage sales kept me busy-I went out on my bike six weekends in a row and found a working 33 1/3 record player.  I had a record but no speakers.  Ha.  One evening I journeyed up to Carlsville for the fun of it.  I also was invited to a picnic at Pot Park.  I also moved back home in August.

Unto the next month.  I met a girl of my age at Habitat, but that was the only time that I saw her.  I started using Facebook, too.  Then, the event Jazz on Jefferson was going on. 

In October, I helped seal my church’s parking lot.  There was a Halloween Costume Party at J.A.K.’s Place.  I went as a wrestler named Triple H and made his sledgehammer out of wood and cardboard.  Another was an angel. 

On Thanksgiving, my family was busy.  My parents were in Florida.  I spent it with some friends.  On Dark Friday, I shopped for gifts.  Fun.  One day my friend Kevin and I took our bikes through the Ahnapee Trail and Pot Park. 

December is here.  I sold one tree to the Maiers.  I had an interview at the Dorchester for a dietary aide but was not chosen.  We watched Deck the Halls on D.V.D.  My nephews and I had a snowball fight at my house.  I just went to a holiday party at Bay View Lutheran where there was singing.  Well, I biked 1,566 miles in ten months. 

Keep Christ  in Christmas.  See c hristmas.com for the story of Jesus and His plan to save you from your sins.
Merry Christmas!  -Nick