Your Personal Highlights in 2003

[azskyman]

We've seen the top news stories already...and are talking about the "Man of the Year" in another thread.

But how about posting your personal highlights here on these pages. The things that were important, positive, or opened new doors for you in 2003.

I suppose you can also use this space as a place to drop off any excess baggage and pain from the year...a place to set it aside and start the new year with more hope and aspirations.

[azskyman]

I'll start it off by noting that my personal highlight was watching Emma's parent's reconcile and work harder at their marriage, at being good parents, and at building their relationship. A very very very close second to that was watching our granddaughter Emma grow.

Not far behind...a successful year of managing our company, my other son's decision to move to San Diego to further his career, and watching my wife Kathy take on the role of office coordinator in such a neat and wonderful way.

Gotta give a tip of the hat to our Maui trip too. Had a great week on Ka'annapali beach in September.

Finally...watching relationships here on Storm2k grow deeper and stronger. What a great bunch of people!

[azsnowman]

GREAT thread (as always) Steve. Hmmm, first off, my son Chris moving into his very OWN apartment "WOOOHOOO!" "LOL!"

Second, Chris getting reliable transportation after Phil More (his pet name for his 1977 Ford Courier P/U, got 3 quarts of oil to a mile "LOL!" until it threw a rod!)

My health returning to *almost* normal just in time for the new year (yes...I've taken the *hint* from ABOVE and started to slow down)

Living out my life time dream of being a Peace Officer.

Last but NOT least......"ALL" the sucessful *live finds* in our numerous Search & Rescue Missions, which BTW.......we've been on "3" in just the last "3" days!!!

Dennis

[Suzi Q]

Well first for me, obviously, was starting college in June at the ripe old age of 42 to attempt to become a real live meteorologist and ALMOST maintaining my 4.0 (3.87 dang it).
Second, coming to the realization that life goes on after your only child marries and moves away, and even better, that you're actually still happy with the person you married.
Third I guess would be having people on here actually get a kick out of some of the stuff I write. It's nice to know that you're not necessarily crazy, just a little off kilter.
Finally, a great hurricane season learning so much from so many folks on here. And feeling as though I have REALLY cemented some friendships on here, specifically Ticka, Ghostie, Mama, Jacki, Jek, Gale and OHD. You folks are absolutely snarfy in Marva's book.

[chadtm80]

The birth of my PERFECT son

[therock1811]

My junior prom (May 3, 2003), my Sr. Dinner Dance (Nov. 8, 2003), and my 2 vacations to Norfolk and Daytona (Daytona:6-15 to 6-22, Norfolk: Aug. 2-9).

[raine]

dearest skyman..what would we do without you to tantilize our minds, hearts and souls with thought provoking topics?...bless you my friend!

i would have to first say my son's spring illness....brought him and our family to depths of fear.....but the healing power of Jesus and the power of prayer from friends like you all banished that fear and created a miracle

my venture out into the world of aviation....a long time in the making, faith in action, patience is a virtue...all those things are true, thankful am I that God agreed with the desires of my heart and helped make a dream come true

the death of our dear Sinje in the fall of the year....i don't think a better hound ever existed....still miss that fella alot....but with his death came the birth of my nephew Ian..proof that one door does not close without another opening...

it's been a year of heartache, fear, death....it's also been a year of rejoicing, celebrations, miracles....have to have the former in order to fully appreciate the latter...

Blessings, Raine

[David]

The best was having my dad successfully come back from a trip to Japan. He's going again this January. :o

May 8th, 2003: A strong system comes across Kansas... a PDS Tornado watch issued for Eastern Kansas... tornadaic cells go North and South of Topeka.. while at my house I got no rain.

May 9th, 2003: 8th grade formal dance. What a crazy dance! I won't go into details, but if you want the long story.. PM me.

May 23rd, 2003: GRADUATED 8TH GRADE AND GOT OUT OF THE SCHOOL I WILL HATE FOREVER. The teachers were good, though, and I learned alot.

August 19th, 2003: Started High School as a 9th grader at Topeka West High School, home of the Chargers.

September 11th, 2003: You know why. God Bless America.

That's my year in review.

[JCT777]

My wife and I became members of a great church not far from us, and were baptized.

[weatherluvr]

Well, for me first and foremost was seeing my daughter laughing, running and playing like a normal 2 1/2 year old. (She had physical and motor skill problems, and was very late walking and using her hands, but she has been helped tremendously by some very good therapists.) And the way my 1 year old son is already getting around and destroying the house, we know he's not going to have the same problem!

Second would be opening my new store in May. It hasn't been easy, but things are looking pretty good here.

Next would be the infamous Blackout of 2003... 24 hours without power... and on my birthday of all days!!!

And finally, the President's Day blizzard... not so much for the 29", but the fact that I had a nasty stomach virus during it, and since I was the only able-bodied person in the house, I had to alternate shoveling while yakking... NOT fun.

I will also add that I am very happy I found this site, with some of the nicest people I've ever met!

Now on to 2004!

Rich

[streetsoldier]

The singular "high" of 2003 for me was weathering the storm over being evicted, and (with the GENEROUS HELP AND PRAYERS of my friends at Storm2K), being able to secure a BETTER (and slightly cheaper!) apartment in a much safer neighborhood!

Coppertop staying well within Honors range, and scoring in the top 9% of all high-school classmates on the standard TerraNova test has to be second...

And, obtaining a long-sought-after Confederate cavalry saber (McElroy, Fayetteville Arsenal, South Carolina) came in a poor third, but I also learned a valuable lesson in PRIORITIES...and that's the greatest gift of all.

[StormCrazyIowan]

Wow, this topic is moving, I just adore you Poppysky!

Ahhhhhh, let's see, I love to read "Year in Review" stories, why not write one?

January 1, 2003: Another year, another period of growth! This will be the year I turn 21, and am no longer restricted from any of life's boundaries....also the year I will keep my New Year's resolution to become a healthier person and lose weight. (yep! Sure did!! )

February 11, 2003: While plunking around on the computer, I come across an email to a weather site called Storm2k, I check it out and am hooked before I leave the first page!!

May 2003: Not my month! My boyfriend and I have a falling out when he comes home on military leave and things come to an abrupt halt...very hard time because he was my first love. Also, the infamous computer crash that kept me away from here all summer long!

June and July 2003: I become a sad person, always asking the question "Why me?" and "What did I do to deserve this?" Finally, after a while, I get sick of feeling sorry for myself and decide to do something about it!! This is when I started my "diet" so to speak, and learned to live a little, learned I wouldn't get anywhere if I stayed shut up in my house! Also when I moved back to Buffalo to my mom.

August 2003: Yay!! After a sorrowing three months I am back online and back at Storm2K!!!

September 11, 2003: Wow, 2 years since the most horrifying American event of my lifetime...amazing to see how I've grown since that awful day, and very blessed that I lost no one in that awful ordeal. R.I.P.!! On a side note: also have had my beater car for two years- ugh- let's hope it makes it to three or four, I am still paying on her!!

September 30, 2003: I begin my WalMart career!! It has it's ups and downs, but it pays my bills and keeps me busy!!

November 21, 2003: I have my golden birthday!! I drank, I gambled, then I realized ya know, this really wasn't worth obsessing over!!

November 22, 2003: I learn that my night of partying that ended safely for me didn't happen for two people I know.....a family friend died and a close friend of mine ended up hospitalized due to drunk driving!! Horrifying as it was, it gave me a VERY healthy aspect of taking care of myself and not putting myself in the same situation- my life was spared, so I vowed not to go there again! (Even though I gave my self three hours of sobering and fed myself before I drove)

December 23, 2003: As I sit here and look back at the year I have had, and everything that I have lived through, I realize how very BLESSED I am!! Blessed to be healthy and happy, blessed to have a roof over my head, blessed to have clothes on my back, blessed to have food on my table, blessed to have people who care about me. Most of all, blessed to have come across such a Wonderful bunch of people who fill my heart with joy each passing day, and to that, I cannot thank you all enough!! I would give anything for any of you without question, I care that much! *teary eyed*

So, thank you Lord for seeing me through another year, and for not giving me anymore than I can handle!!

I wish you all the most wonderful Christmas and the Happiest of New Year's- another year, another period of growth!!

And feeling as though I have REALLY cemented some friendships on here, specifically Ticka, Ghostie, Mama, Jacki, Jek, Gale and OHD. You folks are absolutely snarfy in Marva's book.

I feel the very same way Miss Marva!! Not only about you and everyone you mentioned, but to all of you who grace my screen on a daily basis- God Bless you all!!