10/29 – So today is my birthday. And on my birthday I always take a step back and see how I did in the last year. This process started when I was 21, and I realized that my last year had been spent partying in Gainesville. I came to the realization that I had my priorities pretty figured out when I was 16 years old. Friends, Surfing, and Music. And during my 21st year, I didn’t have much to do with surfing or music, and didn’t spend too much time with my best friends. So, after that I started holding myself to the standard of how Erik at 16 would feel about what I am doing today. This helped tremendously when I was stuck in a cage at 23 in Gainesville, succeeding impressively at Barr Systems, but absolutely miserable, little E would have kicked my butt. Passing time staring out the window, just thinking of all of the fun things I could be doing outside. So back to today, and my reflections for the past year, I guess I did pretty well.

Here is the count for the year… I have a nina on the way! I live in Costa! I surf better than I ever thought possible (for me anyways) and better wave more often. And I have a great group of friends that includes my family.

Oh, and maybe the biggest thing this year… Back in the states my birthday happens to fall on my least favorite day of the year, so called Black Day, as the clocks are being set ahead. But, here, there is no Black day, and I surf early, early in the morning, so it getting dark early doesn’t affect me at all. I guess in the states, Black Day symbolizes the beginning of winter also, and I vehemently hate winter, but this year, there is no winter. Actually, November through February are the nicest months of the year. So, this year, I have escaped Black Day, and winter, I live in paradise, and have a daughter on the way… I hope this trend continues… I have to say I am bullish on the future.

E.