It is that time of year when various media outlets are counting down the top events of 2004, ranging from current events to worst costume malfunctions. Every year I watch these shows and feel a little nostalgic for days gone by. Yes, I even miss Janet Jackson’s ring-encrusted boob… on second thought… maybe not so much the boob. Anyway, I was wondering why the media outlets get to have all the fun when I realized… I am a media outlet!! So I give to you, my faithful readers …
THE TOP 9 BIGGEST EVENTS FOR ME IN 2004

note: click the images for full-size versions
NUMBER 9: I caught my first fish fly fishing
I had been fly fishing a few years ago, but truly embraced it this summer thanks to my friend Andy, who took me to the Holy Waters of the Au Sable during a particularly good early-summer hatch. I managed to snag my very first brook trout while fly fishing the South branch of the Au Sable on Father’s Day weekend with my dad and brother.

NUMBER 8: Bunger Greeting Cards were born
After being highly annoyed with a complete inability to find cool cards, I decided to create my own. Armed with a digital camera and slightly off-centered sense of humor, I fired away and out came Bunger Greeting Cards!

NUMBER 7: We remodeled our basement… and are still married
After Jess and I decided it was finally time to remodel our basement, we did the only thing we knew to do: we called her dad! Roger and I worked nearly every weekend through April ripping out old ceilings, building new framing, drywalling, painting, and only-the-construction-gods-know what else. We finally finished up and it looks fantastic. AND… we are still talking to each other.

NUMBER 6: I began rocking out
A group of friends and I began getting together for some very impromptu jam sessions a few months ago. Armed with chips, beer, our weapons of rock, and enough enthusiasm to make David Lee Roth blush, we proceeded to rock the planet… or at least the basement we were jamming in.

NUMBER 5: I caught my second fish, thus validating me as a fly fisherman
Okay, so a person could say that any lucky sap with a rig and a fly could snag a fish. But when that lucky sap catches a second fish in the same season… the naysayers be silenced for the fly fisherman stands beforeth you.

NUMBER 4: My web hosting company got busted for hosting terrorist websites
The email I received from my previous provider says it all…

NUMBER 3: I wrote a children’s book
I thought of the story driving back from Petoskey one weekend in October, so I sat down at my computer and an hour later, Perkner sprang to life. My mom did the illustrations and we gave copies to my nieces and nephew for Halloween. With a lot of luck, maybe getting it published will be on the 2005 list!

NUMBER 2: We have a new nephew – Solomon Thomas France
My sister Emily and brother-in-law Brandon expanded their family by 1 as Solomon Thomas was born on November 1. The “Soul Man” has already expressed a keen interest in rocking out and fly fishing, so I am sure we’ll get along famously!

NUMBER 1: I’m gonna be a dad
Still feels a bit surreal typing the word “dad” and attaching its meaning to myself, but I am very excited for Nemo to liven up our lives. Stay tuned as the big arrival date approaches on Feb 15, 2005.