Happy New Year!

Well, almost.  There’s a few more hours left in 2011, and if you’re like me you’re probably a little tired of all the year-end retrospectives.  Best movies of the year, biggest news stories, celebrities we’ve lost – it’s hard to open up a paper without drowning in year-end stories.

The truth of the matter is that the only reason those stories are popping up everywhere is because they’re easy to write.  Most news organizations are a little short-staffed this week, and what easier way to provide entertaining content than by simply summarizing the events of the past year.

So as the proud writer of a new blog, now’s my time to throw out some year-end thoughts.  Plus I’m a little short-staffed right now too, not to mention it’s the Holidays.  So here’s my filler post.

I resolved some number of years ago to stop making new year’s resolutions.  It is really nothing more than a built-in excuse to put off things during the remaining eleven months a year.

For me the approach of the new year is a time to get organized; to reflect on where I am and where I want to be; to give thanks for what I have, and to remind myself not to take things for granted.

It’s also an opportunity to say good riddance to negative weight that has bogged me down over the past year.  So with no further adieu, a few things that I’d like to say a hearty “don’t let the door hit you in the rear on the way out” to from 2011…

• The 65 inches of rain that has fallen on (and often delayed) our projects this year
• Increases in flagstone pricing, driven by the Marcellus Shale gas boom (more on that in upcoming posts)
• That family of annoying divas (rhymes with gargantuan) with no talent who seem to have dominated every media story this year (I told you it wasn’t going to be all hardscaping info here on the blog)
• Political bickering in Washington.  Republicans, Democrats, whatever.  You’re all behaving like my 4-year-old.  Grow up.
• Prospects who take up my time requesting design ideas and cost estimates and then never even return a phone call after the work is done.  Look, I’m not saying you need to give me anything more than a 30-second courtesy phone call.  It’s not even just good business, it’s just common human decency.
• Crazy dictators who were killed or passed away.  Good Riddance!
• Telemarketers on my cell phone.  My cell phone!

All things considered, though, 2011 has been a pretty good year.  I wish everyone a safe, healthy and happy new year, and I look forward to getting to know you more in 2012!