2023 Year in Review

Wishing a joyful new year to every subscriber of my newsletter! In this week's edition, I will reflect on the highlights of 2023 through a visual journey.

In February, I took a brief trip to the Grand Canyon. Unfortunately, the icy conditions prevented me from reaching the bottom, making this visit quite unusual. We ended up stranded for approximately 24 hours in Williams, Arizona, as a snowstorm closed the I-40. Nonetheless, we made the most of our situation, and it turned into quite a memorable experience.

As always, I undertook numerous day hikes and rappelling adventures, too many to list. Here’s a snapshot from Motorcycle Canyon, symbolizing the many photos I've captured. It has become a tradition to snap a picture beside the motorcycle after rappelling into the canyon.

The pinnacle of my mountaineering experiences in 2023 was conquering Mount Olympus in Washington. This was a five-day expedition, highlighted by an intense class 4 summit day. There's a possibility I will return to Washington in 2024 to tackle more summits.

My visit to Burning Man in August and September of 2023 was my most memorable experience yet. Here’s a photo of me after the mud had mostly dried, as I paid my respects to the Temple.

In September, Mrs. Wizard, along with two friends, revisited Europe, where we spent a considerable amount of time cruising through the beautiful western Mediterranean. One of the standout moments was winning the blackjack tournament aboard the ship, which was surprisingly easy to achieve.

I could share numerous photos from my travels through Spain, France, Monaco, and Italy, but I'll let this one represent many captivating yet popular spots I explored in southern Europe.

November marked my return to Catalina Island to hike the Trans Catalina Trail for the second time. Here I am, with Black Jack Mountain in the background, which I, of course, successfully summited.

In December, the third and most comprehensive edition of my book, Gambling 102, was finally released. This version includes enhanced content on strategies for defeating specific slot machines, video poker, and keno.

In December, I officiated my first wedding ceremony. Did you know that I am an ordained minister in the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster?

Overall, 2023 was a satisfactory year for me. While nothing particularly remarkable or negative occurred, maintaining the status quo has its own merits. I'm looking forward to a more adventurous 2024.

To conclude, I extend my warmest wishes for a happy new year to all my newsletter subscribers! Don't overlook the total solar eclipse passing through Mexico and the United States on April 8. In your casino adventures, may fortune favor you.