Rate this Year Compared to all others in Your Life

[82CardsGrad]

Bought a new place this year...fifteen acres of bliss...have a nice little stocked pond out in the back,...nice shop with it's own private full bath and electric outlets everywhere.. The Red Birds are playing at historical levels, and a SB appearance is a legit possibility this season...

2015 has been a great year

Nice! Congrats Chuck! Hope 2016 is equally gratifying!!

 

[82CardsGrad]

I'll be 52 in May... and I've come to embrace the perspective that things don't happen "to" us, they happen "for" us.
I typically shy away from grading the goodness or suckyness of a year because again, I accept whatever it is that comes my way. If it's good, I try to share it... If it's not so good, I try to learn from it and be better.
I lost a very close friend early in the year to cancer. But he taught me so much about living (and dying) thru the process.

I am far more blessed than I probably have a right to be... Work is good. My family is in good health. My wife, who battles bi-polar depression has been in a solid mental condition for a few years now...
But at the same time, I know that this can all change (and likely will to some extent at some point down the road) in a blink of an eye. So I give thanks and praise to God for each day he spares me and showers me with His mercy and grace.

I spend a good deal of time engaged with those who are in desperate need. The Phoenix Rescue Mission is an amazing place. Each time I am there, the people I help - who literally don't have a penny to their name, somehow give me more than I can ever give them...

I pray that for all of you, 2016 brings great peace, comfort, joy and health... And of course, an historic Championship run for our beloved Cardinals!!!

 

[Iceman]

Strictly football related:

This year I give an 8 out of 10. This year of football has been an absolute joy. I'd never say we're going to win the whole thing, but I personally go in to every game with not a worry in my heart, to be honest. I know we can win any game, regardless of who we play. I've never had that feeling being a fan of this team. It's not simply the players, the play on the field, or the coach. It's the way Keim has built this team and the trust I now have in Michael Bidwill. We now have a consistent competitive product. As an aside, I've been telling my wife for years that nice guys finish last, that bringing in or drafting character guys doesn't work in competitive sports, not if you want to win. It brings me so much pride in our team and upper management to be wrong.

I give a 9 out of 10 to the '08 team. It's only higher than this year because for me it was an absolute shock. When they brought Warner in in '05, I swear to you, I laughed. Boomer Esiason and Dave Krieg all over again. His last year for the Giants was a turnover fiesta. He looked old and confused. To take this team to the SB in '08 was a total shock for me, so I rate it higher than this year until we actually make noise in the playoffs.

I give a straight up 10 out of 10 to the '88 season, when we finally got a professional football team. I've never been that happy about any sporting event. It really was a dream come true. The Cardinals were already one of my favorite teams, and to get them, I just cheered and cheered and beamed with pride for what seems like years, perhaps to this day. I adopted them in my heart, gave up all other teams, and every game I went to at SDS was a sense of pride. Stadium 3/4 empty, horrible teams, warm beer, hot seats, I didn't even care, I thought we were the ****. To see what we've become is extraordinary.

Personally:

I'm extremely thankful for my wife, 10 out 10 easily. It really struck me this year on my 46th birthday in November and continues into the holidays. 18 years now she's stuck with me through thick and thin. I started thinking where I'd be without her. Probably in a gutter, in jail, or dead. I'm a historic screw up. She minimizes the damage I do to myself and others. I'm not a card guy, but the card she gave me for Christmas this year was so minimal, had no writing at all, but she wrote a very long letter in it that literally brought me to tears. I have it hanging in my home office. Sometimes people come along in our lives who effect us forever, and too often we don't recognize them when they're around. She's the best. There's nothing like a good woman (or partner, if that's how you roll) to make a man(imal) reflect upon himself and realize how good he has it. I'm very grateful to have her in my life.

Great words DS! You are right, people are put in front of you (at certain times) for a reason. I am a HUGE believer in that. Happy for you and your wife. I love to read stuff like this about relationships and how something so small (a card with meaningful words) means so much than anything else. Congrats on your 18 years together and wish you the best for another 18+

 

[Iceman]

Sportswise great, Warriors won it all, Cardinals have a chance to do so as well.

Personal wise by far the worst year of my life, not even close with my mom passing very suddenly in August.

I'm hopeful 2016 is even better sports wise and MUCH better personally.

SO sorry to hear of your loss. I could not imagine the thought of one of my parents passing away. I know it will happen some day, but I sure hope it doesn't happen for a long time.

Hope you are recovering and just know she will always be there with you!

 

[Iceman]

OK, since we're confessing ailments; here's mine. I'm 58, I've always been fit; I eat clean; I worked out 5 days a week and could out-work; outrun; and out...well...whatever, most guys half my age. In October, I developed a pain in my left calf. I had a scan done but nothing was found. Later that month, I had a pain in my back and thought I had pneumonia so I went to the doc. He sent me to the ER to have my cat scanned and they told me I was in the middle of a bi-lateral, pulmonary embolism and was probably less than 8 hours from biting the big one. Long story short, this has been one of my worst years and one of my best, all at the same time.

Here's the reason for me telling this story: It doesn't matter how healthy you are; how old (or young) you are, or how bulletproof you think you are. Blood clots can kill you quickly, if not treated. If you develop pain in your legs or chest, seek medical attention. Many, many people are diagnosed with this problem on the autopsy table. Sorry about the downer post, but this is something I feel strongly about.

Nelson

Oh yeah, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Man, that is scary! You are pretty lucky you went in when you did and great job by your doctor diagnosing it as quickly as he did (well, the 2nd time). Glad to see you are better and hope 16 is better for you!

 

[schutd]

What is the name of the restaurant? I will be retiring to Bluffton SC in 3 months. Charleston is only 2 hours away and we will be planning a trip to Charleston.

I wish I could say! The branding and PR is being very closely guarded currently, and I am not at liberty to discuss. I can say that it is our intent to be in the conversation of best in the country, not solely best in city or even state. We're a handful of carpetbaggers humbly setting up shop in what is already a great food town, and hoping to add to the vibrancy of the city. Its a multi concept space, massive in size, with something for everyone, at any time of the day.

When you get closer to visiting, shoot me a PM. Id be happy to let you know more detailed info. Sorry thats the best I can do!

 

[Iceman]

For me, this year was really good up til a week before Thanksgiving. We got a puppy in June and was such an awesome little guy. We had him for around 4 months and we were at my daughters soccer tournament and we decided to take him with us. We rarely brought him anywhere when we had to drive, but we thought it would great to have him out in the grass for a few hours instead of staying in his kennel. Anyhow, my daughter had 2 games that day and we decided to take him home in between games because he was being a terror on the sidelines. As we were about a mile from our house, we were going through an intersection. The light was green for us and I was going 45 (which was the speed limit) and all of a sudden a kid driving a Ford Explorer turned right in front of us. Not sure what he was thinking because we were halfway through the intersection when he decided to go. We hit him head on and the puppy was in my wife's lap in the front seat. Plus, I had all 3 of my kids in the back seat as well. Puppy hit the dashboard with his back and shattered one of his vertebrae and it was impinging his spinal chord. The next day I had to put him to sleep. It was so hard to do because he was such a cool little dog. Luckily, my kids were all ok but my wife broke her ankle. It was the scariest thing that I have been involved in because it involved my entire family. I look at it as, he (Harley, puppy's name) sacrificed himself for us. This accident could have been way worse.

I know my story is minimal compared to a human loss, but it is still hard to take.

This was the only downfall for me this year because all in all it has been a great one. The Cards have made every week since late August so enjoyable. Looking forward to see what 2016 brings for us all!

HAPPY NEW YEARS!

 

[Catfish]

First, I will address the effect that our Cardinals have had on my life this year. To me, I am witnessing the culmination of what Michael, Steve, and Bruce began three years ago. In my estimation, they have achieved near perfection with their agreed upon plan, and have now developed, not only the skill level desired, but the depth on the roster that they desired in order to be able to compete despite injury. The three of them have combined to reach near perfection with their common plan, and we are seeing the results. I have received tremendous joy from their combined efforts and I thank them.

In my personal life, while my Mother did pass this year at the age of 95, her passing was such a beautiful one that the joy of that alone far outweighs the sadness of her passing. To know that she has at last rejoined my Father is very comforting. To also know that she had remained with us until she had accomplished absolutely everything that she needed to do here, and then passed eagerly and peacefully is a blessing beyond anything that I could have hoped for. May she rest in peace forever. My heart is truly glad for her. She, like my Father, became the example of not just how to live, but of how to die. If ever there was a beautiful death, hers was that.

Aside from that, the rest of my family is in good health, and each of them are happy with their station in life. My own children are very successfully leading their own lives, and are making wonderful contributions to the lives of my wife and me. While I am by no means wealthy, I am financially sound, thanks to a well planned and well earned retirement pension, and despite the fact that I suffer from a disability, my abilities far outweigh any detriment from that.

Finally, I have come to see what was once a very combative and divisive Cardinals Board, become a place of much more amenable conversation and genuine appreciation for each other, as one by one we have come to acknowledge and understand the fruits of our franchise's leadership. I have made a number of great friends her and in my own personal life that has made this year so very special to me. I am one very happy man.

 

[seesred]

It was a pretty good year. I sent the 53rd new years with me beautiful wife. My family is doing well. I've been fighting a bad heart for 35 years but I'm still here. THAT FEELS GREAT. My children and their children are well. Then there is my favorite pastime the a Cardinals. I have season tickets since 88 but haven't been able to go so my wife and I yell at TV every game. I hope we can win this year. We have a special team.

GBR
40
Happy new years everyone.

 

[Buckybird]

A special special season! It's a 8 now, but once we win the Super Bowl it's an 11

 

[Buckybird]

First, I will address the effect that our Cardinals have had on my life this year. To me, I am witnessing the culmination of what Michael, Steve, and Bruce began three years ago. In my estimation, they have achieved near perfection with their agreed upon plan, and have now developed, not only the skill level desired, but the depth on the roster that they desired in order to be able to compete despite injury. The three of them have combined to reach near perfection with their common plan, and we are seeing the results. I have received tremendous joy from their combined efforts and I thank them.

In my personal life, while my Mother did pass this year at the age of 95, her passing was such a beautiful one that the joy of that alone far outweighs the sadness of her passing. To know that she has at last rejoined my Father is very comforting. To also know that she had remained with us until she had accomplished absolutely everything that she needed to do here, and then passed eagerly and peacefully is a blessing beyond anything that I could have hoped for. May she rest in peace forever. My heart is truly glad for her. She, like my Father, became the example of not just how to live, but of how to die. If ever there was a beautiful death, hers was that.

Aside from that, the rest of my family is in good health, and each of them are happy with their station in life. My own children are very successfully leading their own lives, and are making wonderful contributions to the lives of my wife and me. While I am by no means wealthy, I am financially sound, thanks to a well planned and well earned retirement pension, and despite the fact that I suffer from a disability, my abilities far outweigh any detriment from that.

Finally, I have come to see what was once a very combative and divisive Cardinals Board, become a place of much more amenable conversation and genuine appreciation for each other, as one by one we have come to acknowledge and understand the fruits of our franchise's leadership. I have made a number of great friends her and in my own personal life that has made this year so very special to me. I am one very happy man.

Awesome stuff & well said Fish

 

[DemsMyBoys]

Finally, I have come to see what was once a very combative and divisive Cardinals Board, become a place of much more amenable conversation and genuine appreciation for each other, as one by one we have come to acknowledge and understand the fruits of our franchise's leadership. I have made a number of great friends her and in my own personal life that has made this year so very special to me. I am one very happy man.

 

[ajcardfan]

I've been through hell the last several years. Really, really tough at times.

But, 2015 was a big bounce back year for me. Got engaged to the all time love of my life, got my health into better shape and the Cardinals season is a bit of icing on that. I can't remember the last time I was so excited for an upcoming year as I am for this one.

 

[NeverSayDieFan]

My life is BLESSED!

As I read each "post", I learn a little more about each of you...who you are...who's in your life...and who/what really matters to you.

The beginning of a New Year always finds me, as I'm sure it does many of you, in a "reflective-mood." ....And with a healthy curiosity as to what to what lies ahead. To those who cross my path in the up-coming year, I want to celebrate with those that are celebrating and comfort those that need comforting.

As we begin 2016, my wife & I are preparing to "pitch" our movie screenplay to the studios. It's something we've invested the past 5 years of our lives into. Our goal is not to gain a lot of $$ but rather to impact the world with something that helps it to become a better place for all of us to live in.

ALL THE BEST to each and everyone of you!

YOU matter GREATLY!

Mark & Nadia

 

[Bert]

Last spring, because I'm too dang cheap to hire a gardener like everyone else, I used an electric trimmer to trim some bushes. A few days later I woke up and had no feeling on the right side of my body. Then I had nothing but incredible pain on the right side of my body. So I called my doctor who said, "Could be a stroke call 911." So I called 911 and met a lot of REALLY good looking firemen who walked around looking at all the cool stuff I have in my house while one of them said things like, "Squeeze my fingers as hard as you can." So I did and he said, "It's not a stroke but you should see your doctor."

So I saw my doctor who said, "You need to see an orthopedist" so I went to see an orthopedist who sent me to get an MRI. I got the MRI and he said, "You tore your rotator cuff. Your hedge-trimming days are over. Buuuut.... there's also something in your neck I don't like." Back to the MRI place. (Which has, BTW, a locker for your gun because you can't take your gun into the MRI tube. Who knew?)

Then it was back to the orthopedist with the little disk they give you when you get an MRI and the orthopedist said, "Your neck is not good. How long have you had the numbness in your arm?" I got to thinking and said, "About a year. I ignored it." And he said, "Any shooting pain?" "Well yes, come to think of it. It shoots up into my jaw and down into my leg. But I ignored it." "That was stupid. Where is it on a scale of 1 to 10?" And I said, "A 10 but I had a blocked intestine which is about a 20 so my scale is screwy." Then he said, "We need to see what the rest of your back looks like." I said, "Good idea because my back has hurt like hell for 10 years." "No MRIs?" "Nope." So back in the tube for more MRIs.

Those MRIs caused two orthopedists to get real frowny faces and say, "Don't lift anything heavy whatever you do or you could go blind." OK I made that last part up but they were pretty damn impressed at my tolerance for pain. Arthritis is a real MFer. Don't get old.

Other than that...this year was actually pretty good. Which tells you how sucky some years have been. But God is in his Heaven and the Cardinals are going to the playoffs and, even as the orthopedists were looking at my medical records and shaking their heads they were saying, "Wow. Your cholesterol numbers are EXCELLENT!" I was proud.

Happy New Year, everyone!! Whatever doesn't kill us makes us stronger.

I love Dems, she's the best! I hope they get your arthritis under control. It's only a matter of time for me, the RA is strong in my family. . Grandma, mom, dad, sister. Pain is a family tradition. So I feel for ya, hang in there. But you're a tough broad!

This year for me, has been tough. I hesitate to talk about this here but maybe it will help someone else who is struggling. I have been fighting depression for a long time, really my whole life but it has gotten worse since I got divorced and this year my grandmother passed, which was hard. This summer it finally reached a point where I had to do something, I was talking to a friend and she asked me the standard how are you doing? And man, I just lost it lol, it was embarrassing but I was lucky to have a friend who helped me through it. she convinced me to get some help, so I did and while it is helping, therapy is really hard. Depression is a real MFer as Dems would say

The last few months have been better, I have started golfing again and I've lost almost 50lbs. So while it has been a tough year hopefully things are trending upwards. My daughters are healthy and happy and that's really the most important thing to me.

It sounds ridiculous but the Cardinals have been a big lift. Not overstating the importance of sports but like many of you, the Cards are a little more than a football team to me. It's part of my family and part of who I am. When this team does well it always puts a smile on my face, even if it's just for an afternoon.

Sorry for the long post! I have enjoyed reading the posts here and I love our little ASFN family here. I wish you all the best year ever. GO CARDINALS!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cheesebeef]

year started off great, hit a major bump in the road come spring, had a crappy summer, rebounded with a solid fall, but my winter has been super rough physically speaking. Won't lie, the Cards being great helped tremendously the last three months.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I've been through hell the last several years. Really, really tough at times.

But, 2015 was a big bounce back year for me. Got engaged to the all time love of my life, got my health into better shape and the Cardinals season is a bit of icing on that. I can't remember the last time I was so excited for an upcoming year as I am for this one.

love reading these type of posts.

 

[NJCardFan]

2016 started off with a bang(literally) for me when it comes to work. My first real incident to deal with as a sergeant and it was about 2 inmates having sex. Ugh.

 

[BACH]

Started the year finding out that my wife (now ex) had a competition going with her best friend about who could sleep with the most guys on the side of their marriage.

Turned out that I was basicly collateral damage in a 18 year delayed teenage rebellion against her dominating parents and my ex turning into a 13 year teenage girl making herself into a victim and panicking out of adulthood when I refused the buy a $2M house despite her "always been dreaming of a house like that" and her not having any success in her job. Months of herassments from her side and 15 monetary demands after the estate was legally settled resulted in me finally calling her a crazy bitch, saying that I've had it with her crazy demands and that all communications had to go through a lawyer from now on. That then turned into my ex-father-in-law to threathen me, because nobody should talk to his daughter like that.

On the personal front it has resulted in me not being able to sleep more than 2-3 hours a night for the first half of the year. That in turn have resulted in bad performance on my job and my teams not being satisfied with their boss and me gaining about 20 lbs.

Only sort of apology that I have received is: "I know that I haven't behaved well, but my parents have raised me in a bad way"

 

[Iceman]

Started the year finding out that my wife (now ex) had a competition going with her best friend about who could sleep with the most guys on the side of their marriage.

Turned out that I was basicly collateral damage in a 18 year delayed teenage rebellion against her dominating parents and my ex turning into a 13 year teenage girl making herself into a victim and panicking out of adulthood when I refused the buy a $2M house despite her "always been dreaming of a house like that" and her not having any success in her job. Months of herassments from her side and 15 monetary demands after the estate was legally settled resulted in me finally calling her a crazy bitch, saying that I've had it with her crazy demands and that all communications had to go through a lawyer from now on. That then turned into my ex-father-in-law to threathen me, because nobody should talk to his daughter like that.

On the personal front it has resulted in me not being able to sleep more than 2-3 hours a night for the first half of the year. That in turn have resulted in bad performance on my job and my teams not being satisfied with their boss and me gaining about 20 lbs.

Only sort of apology that I have received is: "I know that I haven't behaved well, but my parents have raised me in a bad way"

Man, that is not good. Sounds to me like the "Alfuenza" dude! Except for the drunk driving incident he had

 

[Shaggy]

Bought a new place this year...fifteen acres of bliss...have a nice little stocked pond out in the back,...nice shop with it's own private full bath and electric outlets everywhere.. The Red Birds are playing at historical levels, and a SB appearance is a legit possibility this season...

2015 has been a great year

Let's see some pics of this 15 acres of bliss.

 

[oaken1]

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...6_10153524123895168_3431662183173833540_o.jpg

that is my pond out back

 

[Darkside]

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...6_10153524123895168_3431662183173833540_o.jpg

that is my pond out back

So jealous, that's awesome. Is it stocked with fish? I'd be fishing every day lol.

(edit: just noticed you already said it's stocked, what kind?)

 

[oaken1]

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=32dcbf915cbd76891f466d09ee291e96&oe=5714F39B
Maximus

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=c20bec2d231eca2676e524aa4dbf018f&oe=571A8EC9

Titan


that is my boys Maximus and Titan with some of my 15 acres of bliss behind them....if you follow the brush line behind Titan all the way to the back,...my pond sits under those trees back there in my woods.

the pond is stocked with Bass, catfish, and brim

 

[oaken1]

So jealous, that's awesome. Is it stocked with fish? I'd be fishing every day lol.

(edit: just noticed you already said it's stocked, what kind?)

I have not fished out there yet....been really busy clearing trees and such...my daughter caught a 2 or 3 pound bass out there last week though...she was so tickled,lol