2021.

Though it wasn't always the easiest year, it definitely had some great highlights. Here's a list of some of the things that brought me joy this year.

5: Breville Cafe Roma Espresso Machine

Happiness is a latte with perfect micro foam. Admittedly, this one might owe its spot on the list to a bit of recency bias given that we just got it the week of Black Friday. Both myself and my wife are ex-baristas, and we've always talked about having an espresso machine one day. This one was a great deal at Canadian Tire and we had a bunch of Canadian Tire money, so we treated ourselves.

It also unexpectedly saved me a bunch of money. It became too difficult to justify $7 for a latte at Starbucks when I know that I can make a better one for a third of the cost at home. A final bonus: Starbucks discontinued their eggnog latte this year, so I was able to make my own and enjoy them daily if I want.

4: Magic: The Gathering Arena on Mobile

This one is less about the game itself and more about what it was a catalyst for. I had one friend at work who played the game before Arena came out, but a free-to-play digital client for the game made it much easier and faster for others to learn. I now have a small community of friends who all play and discuss the game in person and in our Discord server. We have even begun organizing some in-person booster drafts when it is safe to do so. I look forward to how our small group grows and evolves.

The mobile launch of the game made it that much easier to play a quick game or get advice on a deck. It increased the frequency of conversations, which usually lead to conversations about things other than magic. In this way I've developed a handful of friendships I otherwise might not have.

3: My Tattoo

I've wanted a tattoo since I was fourteen. Due to the permanence of the consequences, I never wanted to rush the decision. Whenever I thought of something that I thought might make a good tattoo, I thought about whether I'd be okay with seeing it on my body at 80 years old. If I thought yes, then I'd sit on the idea for a year or so before revisiting it. If I still thought it would be okay at that point then I would consider it.

I had many ideas for tattoos over the years. This was the first one that, when I revisited it, I still thought it was a pretty good one. Since it was the first time that had happened, I sat on it for another year or so just to be sure. When it came back around, I was sure.

The lyric is from "Tragedy + Time" by Rise Against. It came out on their 2014 album "The Black Market", and every time I've heard it since then this lyric gives me chills. I suffer from Anxiety and Depression, and I find that the words are a reminder that no matter what happens or how bad anything gets, life goes on.

So it took quite a while (16 years), but I figure it made a pretty awesome 30th birthday present.

2: COVID-19 Vaccines

Okay, okay, the vaccine itself didn't bring me any joy. It actually brought me uncontrollable shivers all night after my second dose to the point that I didn't go to work the next day because my entire body was aching.

What it did bring me was the opportunity to see my friends and family again in person. Being able to go hang out with friends and have a couple beers in the pool did wonders for my mental health. I was able to go to my sister's wedding (not what they dreamed of, but at least they were able to have some people in attendance). We were finally able to have people over at our new house for dinner and to meet...

1: My daughter Riley

This kid is the single greatest achievement in my life, bar none. Her smile is my favourite thing in the world. It isn't always easy (it's usually hard), but somehow her smiles and laughter make everything worth it. I love watching her explore and learn. She loves watching everything and everyone. She hasn't started crawling yet, but I know once she gets moving we will have to keep a very close eye on her, since her curiosity knows no bounds. I can't wait to see what the next year brings for her!