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Good-bye 28. You were an adventure

I turn 29 tomorrow, and I want to tell the story of 28 through photos. I also want to stop for a moment, and just say that I genuinely understand how lucky I am. I don’t have many friends, but the ones I have are incredible. I don’t have many passions, but the ones I do are incredibly rewarding. And I don’t have my heart in own hands, but the family that I’ve entrusted it to has done nothing but reward me for that faith. I learned all of that this past year in such unique and amazing ways. Good-bye 28. You were quite an adventure.

November 2012

Birthday cake celebrating my 28th birthday in Churt, Surrey, UK
Birthday cake celebrating my 28th birthday in Churt, Surrey, UK
Visiting my Uncle and his beautiful wife in Paris
Visiting my Uncle and his beautiful wife in Paris
Uncle James left the US for the first time to join us in the UK and Portugal
Uncle James left the US for the first time to join us in the UK and Portugal

December 2012

The family visited my maternal grandmother in Ankara
The family visited my maternal grandmother in Ankara
Then we hopped over to Izmir to visit my paternal grandmother, aunt, and her family
Then we hopped over to Izmir to visit my paternal grandmother, aunt, and her family
Went to see Stonehenge. It was massively underwhelming, but now it's done
Went to see Stonehenge. It was massively underwhelming, but now it’s done
This was my first Fairbank party. Lisa turned 40, and we school house rocked the night away
This was my first Fairbank party. Lisa turned 40, and we school house rocked the night away
Doruk and I went to the West Brom/Norwich game. My first EPL game! West Brom won 2-1
Doruk and I went to the West Brom/Norwich game. My first EPL game! West Brom won 2-1

January 2013

Aydin on his annual visit to Las Vegas and San Francisco. This is one of my favorite family traditions.
Aydin on his annual visit to Las Vegas and San Francisco. This is one of my favorite family traditions.

April 2013

Mommy went out of town, and we went strawberry picking!
Mommy went out of town, and we went strawberry picking!

May 2013

We went to the Grand Canyon in a 31 foot camper. Dede came, and so did Uncle James
We went to the Grand Canyon in a 31 foot camper. Dede came, and so did Uncle James
Me and my boy Luka
Me and my boy Luka

 

June 2013

Micky made Amelia an amazing "Curious George" cake for her 2nd birthday
Micky made Amelia an amazing “Curious George” cake for her 2nd birthday

 

When Micky needed a documentary film maker, who else to turn to but her sister!
When Micky needed a documentary film maker, who else to turn to but her sister!
We went to the Castro, and celebrated the Supreme Court reversing DoMA. What a historical moment!
We went to the Castro, and celebrated the Supreme Court reversing DoMA. What a historical moment!
We saw Uncle James when we went back to NC for Alan & Hannah's wedding
We saw Uncle James when we went back to NC for Alan & Hannah’s wedding
It was a beautiful and fun weekend
It was a beautiful and fun weekend at Alan & Hannah’s wedding

July 2013

Luka gets a kiss from his big sister!
Luka gets a kiss from his big sister!
Luka's first birthday celebrated with Turks and friends from North Carolina
Luka’s first birthday celebrated with Turks and friends from North Carolina

 

4th of July in Sonoma is a family tradition!
4th of July in Sonoma is a family tradition!
These two snoozers slept the whole flight back to SF
These two snoozers slept the whole flight back to SF

August 2013

She's such a fashion forward gal!
She’s such a fashion forward gal!
Amelia's digital piano in its fully wired up form
Amelia’s digital piano in its fully wired up form

September 2013

The girls chilling in the pool in the house we rented in Carmel Valley
The girls chilling in the pool at the house we rented in Carmel Valley
Our Labor Day trip with the Green family took us to Carmel Valley
Our Labor Day trip with the Green family took us to Carmel Valley
There go those handsome boys again!
There go those handsome boys again!
It wouldn't be a good year without a Vegas trip. Don't worry, 28 didn't disappoint.
It wouldn’t be a good year without a Vegas trip. Don’t worry, 28 didn’t disappoint.
Nothing better than a Skype call with Doruk upside down
Nothing better than a Skype call with Doruk upside down

October 2013

Painting on daddy is fun!
Painting on daddy is fun!
What a game! 4-0 Real over Copenhagen. First La Liga game
What a game! 4-0 Real over Copenhagen. First La Liga game
Luka the painter needs no easel for he is his own canvas
Luka the painter needs no easel for he is his own canvas
First championship I've won in years... and it felt so good.
First championship I’ve won in years… and it felt so good.
Old McDonald's farm made it to the Rainbow Family Daycare Halloween Parade
Old McDonald’s farm made it to the Rainbow Family Daycare Halloween Parade
And then the company costumes were killer as well
And then the company costumes were killer as well

November 2013

 

Amelia's first smore!
Amelia’s first smore!

Final thoughts

  • A big focus for me this year was losing weight. I’ve given up soda as my New Year’s resolution, and I’ve done a pretty good job. I think this graph would concur:

Weight loss 2013

  • The first product that I built as part of Big Fish, Big Pond was amplifize. I really love it, and while it’s closed off to registration, the group of us who use it are pretty rabid users. Check out this graph here (November is only a partial month):

Monthly comments

  • The last hurdle left really is career. I didn’t get to the place where I wanted to in my career, and so the big question for me now is how do I get to that next level. It’s something that’s definitely on my mind, and a big part of what I’m going to solve in 29 going into 30.

Thanks everyone for being part of 28. Onward to 29!