Folks, I’ve been working on this post on and off during the month because I didn’t realize I did so much this year 🤦🏻‍♀️ I’ve done My Year in Review recaps in the past, but I decided to change up the format this year. I’m sure I’m missing a few things, but thankfully I have a pretty good record already from all of my posts this year. So, enjoy my 2022!

Sports

Josh and I went to two minor league baseball games this season: one in Portland to see the Sea Dogs, and one in Hartford to see the Yard Goats.

Breweries/Wineries/Brewfests

We went to a ton this year! Some were new and some were old favorites.

• Iron Duke (Ludlow, MA)
• Hog River Brewing (Hartford, CT)
• Problem Solved Brewing (East Windsor, CT)
• Red Shed Brewery (Cooperstown, NY)
• Fly Creek Cider Mill (Fly Creek, NY)
• Maine Beer Company (Freeport, ME)
• Worthy Brewfest (Springfield, MA)
• Worthington Vineyard (Somers, CT)
• Thomas Hooker at Colt (Hartford, CT)
• Tree House Brewing (Charlton, MA)
• Homebrew Showcase for All Our Kids 2022 (Springfield, MA)
• Brew at the Zoo (Springfield, MA)
• Connecticut Valley Brewing (East Windsor, CT)
• Great Awakening (Westfield, MA)
• Oktoberfest at the Springfield Museums (Springfield, MA)
• Mike’s Maze Beer Tasting (Sunderland, MA)
• Little House Brewing (Chester, CT)

Day Trips and Adventures

Josh and I took an afternoon trip to Glastonbury and Hartford, CT in February to go to River Bend Bookshop, Hartford Prints, Bushnell Park, Parkville Market, and Hog River Brewing.

We went to the beach twice over the summer, the first time I had been in years. And I’m happy to report that I didn’t get sunburned!

Josh and I celebrated our one-year anniversary with two afternoon trips: one day going to the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum, Thomas Hooker Brewery at Colt, and Captial Ice Cream, and the second day going to Tree House Brewing and Randall’s Farm for ice cream.

On my last summer Friday off, Josh and I went to the Springfield Museums and Great Awakening Brewing for beers and dinner. It was my first time at the museums—there are five within walking distance of each other—and we spent the afternoon there exploring; I really liked the Dr. Seuss museum.

Josh and I went to The Big E and had a lot of pumpkin beers, saw some alpacas, went down the big yellow slide, and watched some fancy horse showing.

We had two Fall Fun adventures: apple picking and drinks and Mike’s Maze Beer tasting.

Vacations

Josh took me to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY for my birthday in May, which was our first big trip away together. I went to the Hall of Fame in middle school with my parents but I always wanted to go again.

In June, Josh and I went to Maine for four days—my first time ever going to Maine. His family has a place in Kennebunk, so that’s where we stayed; we visited Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Gooch’s Beach, Maine Beer Company, L.L. Bean, downtown Portland, a Portland Sea Dogs game, the Marginal Way, and Perkins Cove in Ogunquit. I broke the trip into two posts: part 1 and part 2.

In October, Josh and I went to. a Getaway House in Moodus, CT. It was such a cute tiny cabin, and we really enjoyed our time away together in the woods. We also went to a pizza place and brewery as well as Gillette Castle State Park.

Celebrations

In April, we celebrated Maggie’s tenth birthday, and in May, we celebrated Lucy’s first. I went home with special birthday cookies to celebrate. Stella also turned five over the summer, but they don’t make fun birthday cookies for cats. Instead, my mom made a sign for her to wear; not sure she enjoyed it.

Lowlights

It took 835 days from March 13, 2020, but I got COVID over the summer. Thankfully I was vaccinated and boosted, but it still felt like a really, really nasty cold. I stayed in my condo for ten days until I tested negative, and my parents did a couple of grocery drop-offs for me. I finally tested negative on July 4 and couldn’t wait to voluntarily leave home.

Races I Ran

My goal for the year was to run five 5Ks, but I had to skip a race on the 4th of July because of the whole COVID thing.

• Bradley Road Race
• Cinco K Mayo
• Run for Rice’s
• Thomas J. Sullivan Remembrance Run

Musicals I Saw

I’m still volunteering with the local theater group, and I got to see some really good shows this year. Two from the list were shows by the group while the others were to support friends in other productions.

• Altar Boyz
• Pippin
• The Little Mermaid
• Mamma Mia
• RENT

Condo Chronicles

I made some new additions to my condo over the year, including finally getting rid of the fish lights in the bathroom.

• Favorite thing in my kitchen
• New additions to the living room
• New art prints
• One year in my condo
• Gallery wall
• New bathroom lights

I also had to replace a few things, like the garage door opener, the overhead kitchen light, and the faucet and shut-off valves in my small bathroom. (Homeownership is rough, folks, when stuff has to get fixed.)

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I’m sure I’m missing a few things, but I did a ton this year. And I’ve already got things planned for 2023—shhh, you guys will have to wait a bit to find out! I’m grateful for everything I was able to do this year, as it finally felt a bit normal in a COVID world.

My 2023 bucket list will be out next week as well as the entire list of books I read this year!