Russell Dicker

2007 by the numbers

Here is how I spent my 2007, strictly by the numbers:

• Number of books I read before getting my Kindle: 1


• Number of books I read after getting my Kindle: 4


• Kindle launch date: October 15


• Weddings attended: 3


• Weddings missed: 3


• Sister-in laws acquired: 1


• Number of times I got engaged: 1


• Bachelor Parties Attended: 1


• Thanksgivings I attended: 2


• Miles flown: 64,515


• Percentage of miles flown with Lia: 20.6%


• Percentage of miles flown on United metal: 88.6%


• Percentage of miles flown for business: 77.3%


• Percentage of miles by class of service:
  
  
  
  • First: 12.2%
  
  
  • Business: 34.8%
  
  
  • Economy: 53%
  
  
  
  
• Countries (other than the US) Visited, Ordered by Frequency:
  
  
  
  • Germany - 2
  
  
  • Romania - 2
  
  
  • Austria - 1
  
  
  • Canada - 1
  
  
  • England - 1
  
  
  • Mexico - 1
  
  
  • Scotland - 1
  
  
  
  


• Countries Visited Where I didn't leave the airport, Ordered by Frequency:
  
  
  
  • Germany - 2
  
  
  • Austria - 1
  
  
  • England - 1
  
  
  
  


• Countries Stamps In My Passport, Ordered by Frequency:
  
  
  
  • Romania - 4
  
  
  • United States - 2
  
  
  • Austria - 1
  
  
  • Germany - 1
  
  
  • United Kingdom - 1
  
  
  
  


• States (other than Washington) Visited, Ordered by Frequency:
  
  
  
  • California - 7
  
  
  • Virginia - 6
  
  
  • Illinois - 4
  
  
  • Colorado - 4
  
  
  • Indiana - 1
  
  
  • Maryland - 1
  
  
  • Massachusetts - 1
  
  
  • Missouri - 1
  
  
  • Oregon - 1
  
  
  • Pennsylvania - 1
  
  
  • Texas - 1
  
  
  
  


• States (other than Washington) Visited Excluding Layovers, Ordered by Frequency:
  
  
  
  • California - 4
  
  
  • Virginia - 2
  
  
  • Indiana - 1
  
  
  • Maryland - 1
  
  
  • Massachusetts - 1
  
  
  • Oregon - 1
  
  
  • Pennsylvania - 1
  
  
  • Texas - 1
  
  
  
  


• Length of boat sailed around the San Juan islands with Lia and her parents: 42'


• Number of blog posts (including this one): 10


• Number of Twitter posts: 195


• Number of New Years Resolutions: 1


• Percentage of light-bulbs replaced with LEDs: 26.7%


• Percentage of New Years Resolutions completed: 0%


• Bales of hay buried: 1


• Tomatoes grown: Hundreds


• Loaves of Bread baked: 5


• Fantasy Football records:
  
  
  
  • FFL: 7-9
  
  
  • Westside League: 7-8
  
  
  
  


• Surprise Endings to Lost Season Finales Predicted: 1


• Private jets bought: 0


• Number of unique songs listened to according to iTunes: 1,163


• Bosses: 2


• Hours Lia and I waited in line to get an iPhone: 8


• Hours we probably needed to wait in line: 0


• Number of Amazon.com orders: 94


• Years old I turned: 32

Happy New Year to Everyone

Little Pearls

Many of my loyal readers know that I am a mentor for a local program called Community for Youth. I am frequently asked what I do as a mentor. As the site says I help my student learn how to identify and achieve their goals and build healthy relationships. I also help them by passing on a few old adages, little pearls of wisdom if you will, that I have learned over the years.

Earlier today I was thinking, hey, why just help one high school student? I could help many more. So I decided to publish my top 10 nuggets of insight. I think their meaning speaks for itself.

1. You can’t get blood from a chicken before it’s hatched
2. If it isn’t broken, put all your eggs in one basket
3. When the going gets tough, ignorance is bliss
4. The proof is in the eye of the beholder
5. Give an inch, get a worm
6. Nothing ventured is a penny saved
7. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make lemonade
8. The apple doesn’t fall far from the polished turd
9. Smooth as a baby’s nose to the grindstone
10. If you can’t beat ‘em, make ‘em drink

I'm doing my part to help the next generation and I hope that you do yours.