So, another trip around the sun is complete. It should look good on a resume someday, right? Well, maybe not. The last 12 months of my existence have been full of life’s usual “sine wave roller coaster” in terms of ups and downs, and I won’t bore anyone with any details; suffice to say that family and friends came through it (mostly) unscathed. Another one down…? many more to go.

If the last 68 rings around the ol’ Sol have taught me anything, it is that this day (the “O-oneth of January”) is perennially full of competing ideas for personal promises and declarations. For the record, I have NEVER been a fan of dragging my ass outta bed at noon on this day, swearing off the act of imbibing in alcohol and staying up all night howling at the moon, and then spending the next version of consciousness (read wakeful sobriety) telling myself (and the universe) that the world will now be witnessing a “new and improved” version of a human being by rattling off a laundry list of “New Year’s Resolutions.”

It’s a fool’s errand, period.

On that front, nothing has changed as this day dawned. However, IF…and it’s a big IF…. I was ever to complete said list of things that I was swearing would happen (or not happen) during the next 364 days to mold myself into a more “perfect” human being; it might look something like this:

My (fantasy) list of 2025 New Year’s Resolutions.

I resolve to:

1). Sleep 8 hours a day and internally consume only from the Rober F. Kennedy, Jr. daily menu (side note #1: this DOES NOT include the Donald J. Trump “Mickey D’s” presidential menu recommendations as served on all “Trumpforce One” flights).

2). Drag my ass onto the treadmill (and weight bench) every third (or fourth) day of each week to keep this “Earth suit” from atrophying at a rate not considered “normal.”

3). Keep my sanity in terms of my hobby regarding “flying” within the computer world. I promise to refrain from the required rants following each software update of Digital Combat Simulations (that inevitably breaks more in the simulation than it “fixes”). This includes refraining from my usual response of ordering 157 Pizza Hut pepperoni pizzas to be delivered to the residence of the Senior Producer for said flight simulation (the infamous Watt Magner).

4). During online flights of said flight simulation, I will vehemently aspire to accomplish the unrealistic goal of ensuring that all my landings equal all my take-offs. This to include heeding Commander bitboy’s sage advice to “be wary” when attempting to comprehend his information-filled pre-mission briefings.

5). I will refrain from “taking a piss” (what my bro’s from “Ol’ Blighty” say when they are giving someone a massive amount of crap) out of my online flying partners, Commanders TBob and FALKAN, and endeavor to spend the flight complimenting their obvious prowess as simulation pilots and overall excellent human beings.

6). Finally completing the delivery process for the 15-mission AH-64 campaign (“Apache Dawn”) that began two years prior and has proven to be a very long and painful gestation period (see comment above concerning DCS software updates and the resulting rants).

7). Complete writing the novel I began last Spring (but have been “writing in my head” for the last several decades). Currently sitting at 29 Chapters, 79+ thousand words and 205 pages.

8). Become a “kinder, gentler” version of a grumpy old curmudgeon (this includes refraining from the standard refrain of “GET OFF MY LAWN” at the neighborhood urchins).

9). And finally, to treat everyone with respect and love (to include all infants and puppies). This may include providing hugs and/or balloons to all who are suffering from a case of “the sads.”

So that’s about it. My resolutions for the coming year.(Side note #2. After revealing the above list to the bookmakers haunting the halls of the Las Vegas casinos…the highly-respected team of oddsmakers from the brains of “Bushkin and Bushkin Speculators, Inc.” they’ve concluded that there exists a:

• “0 %” chance of completing resolutions #’s: 1, 2, 3 and 5.
• “50%” chance of completing resolution # 4.
• “23%” chance of completing resolution # 6.
• “66.9” chance of completing resolution # 7.
• “0%” chance of completing resolution #8.
• LESS THAN “0%” chance of EVER completing resolution #9.

Have a Happy New Year. Oh…and stay off my lawn.

’till next time,

BBall