As we move into these closing hours of 2010, and I move farther into my supply of Warsteiner Premium Dunkel, let’s take a look at how 2010 unfolded.

I traveled a lot this year.  Hawaii, Germany, South Africa, Canada, and late in the year, New Jersey.  New-Friggin’-Jersey.  Kind of an anticlimax to Animal’s Travels for 2010.

I’ll start 2011 with a trip to New Jersey, in fact.  The prospect of that journey inspires an unenthusiastic “meh.”  But such is the life of a consultant; we go not where the fun is, but where the work is.  At least airport security may be getting a little more sensible in 2011.

Business-wise, the year started off pretty slow.  It ended up a little better.  We came just a tad short of our goal for the year, but not by much.  Given that we came off of two really outstanding years, I’ll take that.

Best part of 2010 was the arrival of our grandson, Mario Loren, who joins his two big sisters amongst our growing family in the next generation.  An odd juxtaposition of names, you say?  Such is an American family; little Mario’s dad’s family comes from Mexico very recently (1980s), while his Mom’s family – ours – is an old, old American family of mostly Scots-Irish descent.  The boy’s first name is his Dad’s, his middle name is his great-grandfather’s – my Dad, the Old Man.  Needless to say, the Old Man was proud as punch.  So am I – this is the first boy in my branch of the family since… well, me.

I have big plans for this boy.  His parents have strict instructions to build up his upper body strength, so he can pack moose and elk quarters for Grandpa when I’m all old and decrepified.

It was a good year.  I didn’t get as much hunting and fishing done as I would have preferred, but Rat and I did manage to drop a fine pair of fat eating deer in the sage country south of Parshall, so the freezer was stocked.  There’s always next year…

All in all, 2010 was  pretty damn good year.  Let’s hope 2011 will be at least as good.  To all of you True Believers out there on Planet Animal, our best wishes go out to you; may your 2011 be safe, sane, prosperous, profitable, and fun.