I have posted several “a year in review”(s) in written or photographic form. I’m always amazed at what happened over that particular year’s activity.

And I’m the one who lived it, so you’d think I remembered every little throughout the year. Not at all, that’s why I capture copious amounts of photos to conjure memories of those experiences!

---

January

Not gonna lie, but the past 4 – 5 years January has sucked ginormous donkey d!ck. Thankfully, I keep digging, so that I’m richly rewarded by year’s end. 2023 was NO different.

New Year’s Eve was depressing as hell, because it was days after Jami and I had called it quits for the last time. At least I rang in the new year with friends, Joe and Matt, along with WCP.

Scott, Sidney, and Sydelle moved to Arizona by the end of December. However, Scott asked me as a personal favor to drive his Dodge Charger packed with the remains items from the move to Arizona. A solo road trip was exactly what the doctor ordered for my broken heart.

The mileage is 1,462 miles from Lake Stevens, WA to Gilbert, AZ. I started on Monday, January 9, 2023 in the early morning. I drove like a man possessed! I stopped for the night in Salt Lake City, UT after about 13 hours on the road. I heavily documented it with my GoPro 7. I completed 24 hours of driving in 36 hours of time.

I was quite productive there – I visited the area Costco warehouses in attempt to match a name, personality, and face to the application for a transfer.

I visited tourist-y places such as Hole-In-The-Rock, Wicked Rain (joined the Arizona Seahawkers), and NOT-so tourist driven, Mystery Castle (Atlas Obscura)

I geocached with Ron, and Scott. Scott and I learned what “jumping cholla”, (cylindropuntia fulgida) One piece jumped onto his bare leg from wearing shorts en route to the oldest active Arizona cache, GC57. We managed to remove it from Scott, but it did do it’s damage. At least we found the geocache!

On the January 31, 2023, my long time bro, Travail, and I met up to rescue my jacket I forgot down there in Puyallup, and an impromptu intervention beer meeting at the Power House Restaurant and Brewery.

The question that stuck with me was, “Well Los, what do you wanna do?”

In frustration, I slammed my hand down on the table. “I dunno what I wanna do. All I know is that I don’t wanna do ‘this’ anymore.”

“What,” Travail pressed.

“Merely existing in my life, being miserable in every facet of my life, that’s what,” I answered. The next day I was given my transfer paperwork, which I sent on it’s way to Arizona. Four days later (February 4) it was approved, I was headed to 481 Gilbert, AZ as a Night Merch Forklift Driver.

I considered it my early birthday present to myself; a new lease on life.

February

For my birthday, I dragged my little sister, Charrina, out into the cold with my pickup truck, to a trail that should’ve led us to a known B-17 crash site. It ended with no crash site visited. Snow was falling, and the last .5 miles was treacherous to say the least. Cooler, but frustrated heads prevailed, and we managed to travel home safely.

I had a vacation block of time to visit my Godson in Kansas … it was my first in-person meeting for the entire family, the mom, the dad and my Godson. It was heart-warming despite the frigid temperatures. I managed to track down 4 Geocaching digital state souvenirs: Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

March

My last day of work at 747 Woodinville Costco was Wednesday, March 8, 2023. I must say it was bittersweet. The crew honored me very well, more so than Costco Travel did. With my departure date from Washington State close at hand, anyone and everyone that loves (ed) me wanted their time with me.

I attended my first Seattle Kraken game, I acted out my portion of Rich’s movie, 528, and some many fun memories.

Eventually, my sister and I drove the Millennium Subaru to Camp Wilde in Chandler, AZ. On my way through California, I ended up with COVID-19 before I ended up at the Wilde’s house.

April

I spent much of the month trying to settle into a new life, in a new city, in a new state – my 2022 Tabula Rasa Day Declaration. I was still kinda shellshocked that I did that.

Then mid-April I still had the Dance Cruise booked for the Carnival Dream with my brommando, Marc E Marx, and most of the West Coast Country Heat Dance Team. That was an incredible cruise. In fact, of the previous 13 I had completed, that one was the most fun!

I watched a wonderful play, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, with Audrey. Also my first speakeasy, The White Rabbit, was a gas!

May

By May 1, I had made arrangements with a co-worker, Brett, to move into his 3rd bedroom at his house in Tempe.

I had a boating trip on Lake Pleasant that started off great, then … well it end so well. A story for another time.

I made trips out to Carefree, AZ for the sundial, and a hike. Also, I traveled to Tombstone, AZ!! So far, that is my favorite place in Arizona.

June

Even though, Arizona was heating up, I wasn’t slowing down. I started driving for Lyft! I attended Phoenix Fan Fusion. I met up with a group of ladies at a Taco Bell Catina. One was cosplaying as Wednesday Addams, quite frankly hotter than Jenna [think her name was Nicollette]. She was so hot, that my brain switched off at one point.

Mid-June I met up with Ana and her friends for an overnight camping trip near Woods Canyon Lake. I convinced them to hike and geocache around the lake!

Goldfield Ghost Town and Mine were on my list of places to visit in Arizona, so I dragged along Audrey again.

My second speakeasy, The Ostrich, was on the boards. I rocked PopStroke, a Tiger Woods inspired 2-miniature golf course play area.

While Jason was visiting we balled out to Meteor Crater, and Winslow, AZ as made famous by the Eagles song, Take It Easy.

July

The first day of July would start a record breaking run of 110+ F high temperatures for 31-days. It shattered the old record of 18 days in 1974. So most my days were spent inside with air-conditioning or at work.

I spent a week or two over at Scott and Sidney’s apartment; house and cat sitting.

It simply was too hot to do anything but survive.

August

Again, still too hot to do much of anything. I would rock live music with Scott, or Ron. I would meet up in-town visiting friends for brunch, or lunch.

The most notable event was the Barbie Movie, which we dressed up as characters.

September

I had another vacation planned but it was more like a staycation. I kicked it with my friend, Aja, for one-day that I filled with stops at ComicX, and places that Josie wanted to see. Also I visited with my friend, Alison, at the Arizona Biltmore.

I floated the famed Salt River for the first time.

October

Much of my ‘off-time’ was spent watching UW Huskies football games with Scott, or live music with the Wildes or Scott.

I returned to Washington for less than 1 day for Josie’s Celebration of Life.

November

Thanksgiving was more like FRIENDSgiving; split between the Wilde’s and Gruenich’s.

Audrey and I dressed up as Captain Marvel, and Iron Man (respectively) to watch The Marvels movie. Then we crashed a wedding reception to pick up Alison and her friend to go to Ziggy’s Magic Pizza Shop, and Stardust PinBar.

And lastly, my first observable rainfall in Arizona.

December

On December 1, beyond Tabula Rasa Day XV … I treated Scott to a ticket to the Pac-12 Championship Game in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium. The University of Washington Huskies x University of Oregon Ducks. It was a crazy good game, capped with the Huskies WINNING!!

Christmas (today) will be spent with friends, and New Year’s Eve is still in flux.

---

Looking Ahead To 2024

The first weekend in January will be spent with friends as we gather up for the Seattle Seahawks x Arizona Cardinals do battle for the final NFL game of the regular season.

I have plenty of travel plans but none will be confirmed until later in January.