It’s that time again – when I take a look back and see how well I did – or did not do – versus the goals that I set out to accomplish for myself back in January of 2023. This post will also be where I set myself some realistic (and hopefully challenging) benchmarks/goals for 2024 in the areas of Life, Golf, Miniatures, & Other Distractions (after all that is the title of this blog since its inception back in 2015!). It’s more for my own motivation, but I have found that others have enjoyed the ride (especially the spreadsheets for Roger and John!) – so here we go.

2023 was, like 2022, one very busy year on multiple hobby, golf, and life fronts. I did set some pretty aggressive goals for all aspects. Some were around gaming, some around hobby production, some were around golf, and more.

How did I do versus my 2023 goals?

Paint 250 figures or more

Well, I blew goal that out of the park and had my most productive miniature painting year ever – mostly Wars of Ozz figures obviously! I managed to paint 330 miniatures – 128 more than I did in 2022.

Complete a brigade of Winkies for Wars of Ozz.

This was a big part of the 330 – 107 Winkie figures painted – and much bigger than just a single brigade! 1 witch, 3 leader bases, 1 cavalry regiment, 1 artillery battery, and 5 infantry regiments as shown below.

Complete a brigade of Land of Harvest creatures for Wars of Ozz.

I really fell in love with the Great Land of Harvest figures – and painted 111 of them. 4 leaders, 1 witch, 9 infantry 1egiments, and an artillery battery. This was close to just not 1 brigade but 2+ brigades.

Run and play more games – track them too.

Yes indeed, I did both run AND play, and track them as well. I attended and ran games at several conventions and club nights. The conventions included 2023’s TotalCon37, HAVOC, HMGS Cold Wars, HUZZAH!, HMGS Fall In, and EllisCon. I also played in several. All tallied, I played as a player in 12 games – 8 Wars of Ozz, 1 Feudal Patrol, 1 Axis & Allies Miniatures, and 2 Eagles and Empires games. I acted as GM for no less than 20 games - 9 Wars of Ozz, 10 Feudal Patrol (Mesoamerican era/Spanish Conquest skirmish, and 1 What a Tanker game.)

Complete the scenario booklet for Civilizations Collide.

That’s a miss – though I have written 10/16 scenarios.

Complete my terrain for Wars of Ozz, games.

So far, I have to say that’s completed, with a final assist from Guru Dave down under. 

Paint up a platoon from Wargames Supply Dump for Combat Patrol™ .

I want to get there – and someday I will Roger!

Try to get my Nomonhan WaT project off the ground. Note I said “try”.

Nope – not enough time, but this stays on my list.

Get the Mass Pikemen more active.

I think that happened at about the same rate as last year, so not more active, but active.

Have another nice trip to Florida.

We had a nice escape from dreary cold New England to sunny warm Florida for fun and Golf School. Also got to get together with Buck Surdu and play Eagles & Empires.

Post on the blog 48 times or more – make them of good quality

I exceeded this – mainly because I started using the blog for The Tour of the Brookfields golf tournaments – to share information and to share results. As we do have a Facebook page – but not everyone is on it – this blog became crucial to sharing information. Also, this kept it free from the FB bots that, for example, decided that a post of a winning putt “violated community standards”. I posted on the blog 54 times - a good average for me.

Be a good blog follower – still a goal but one that I cannot measure!

Always on the list – but others can decide (like you dear reader).

Have multiple Zoom chats with fellow hobbyists.

I had a few very nice ones – can always do more.

Go to a golf school and get my golf handicap down below 18. This time.

Well, did hit the school, and I barely got under 18 – but done!

Yes! As shown above, I managed to get to 17.6.

Update my golf tournament progress on my blog – either as posts or a page or both.

OK, I did not record my individual tournament progress – though I did start to use the blog for the Tour of the Brookfields, so I’m going to say yes. Certainly, I left off most of the club tournaments that I played in, but still posted a few. It certainly rained – A LOT.

Play golf (in season) at least twice a week.

Exceeded this as I had 86 handicap rounds plus maybe 8-10 others that were scrambles.

Win my flight in the Championship.

Nope – not even close.

Be a competitive golfer.

I had my moments – and did do well in the annual Club Derby. Knee injury in August (and playing on a bad leg) did not keep me down too badly.

Personal Highs in 2022

1. For the second year in a row – the Florida trip and golfing with my wife (she’s getting better)!
2. Getting together with family especially my daughter Ellen and my granddaughter Tabitha.
3. Winning my second “PELA” GM award at HMGS Cold Wars for the Battle of Lake Texcoco.
4. Winning my third “Al” award for the game with the most stunning visual appeal at the Battle Group Boston HAVOC Convention for the Wars of Ozz!
5. Knocking out 330 figures and terrain for the Wars of Ozz!
6. Having EXCELLENT wingmen in Brad Gosselin and Leif Magnuson at MULTIPLE conventions.
7. Getting together with Dave Wood, Buck Surdu, Greg Priebe, Chris Palmer, and Duncan Adams, Eric Schlegel, and all of the other HAWKS in person.
8. Getting honored by Old Glory by them putting my painted Great Pumpkinheads on t-shirts!
9. Being on the Committees for the Tour of the Brookfields tournaments and the New England Service Academy golf tournaments.
10. Having fun Zoom chats.
11. As a team, winning the Club Derby with Tom Orszulak by one stroke over 36 holes over two days.
12. And again, being with my wife Lynn, every day (seriously, and she won’t likely read this).

Personal Lows for 2021

1. Knee injury in August. 
2. Knee surgery in December – though that’s a long-term plus for my golf game (I hope).

My goals for 2024

Well, its time to set my Life, Golf, Miniatures, & Other Distractions goals for 2024.

1. Paint 365 figures or more.
2. Complete 2 brigades of Quadlings for Wars of Ozz.
3. Complete a brigade of Whim Whim & Noobi for Wars of Ozz.
4. Complete a brigade of Temujicans for Wars of Ozz.
5. Continiue to run and play more games – and continue tracking them too.
6. Attend and run games at conventions. This would include TotalCon38, HAVOC, COLD BARRAGE, MAYHEM, HUZZAH!, HMGS Fall In, EllisCon, and others..
7. Complete one more scenario for my scenario booklet for Civilizations Collide.
8. Paint up a platoon from Wargames Supply Dump for Combat Patrol™ .
9. Try to get my Nomonhan WaT project off the ground. Note I said “try”. Again.
10. Get the Mass Pikemen more active.
11. Have another nice trip to Florida.
12. Post on the blog 50 times or more – make them of good quality.
13. Be a good blog follower – still a goal but one that I cannot measure!
14. Have multiple Zoom chats with fellow hobbyists.
15. Go to a golf school and get my golf handicap down below 16.
16. Update the Tour of the Brookfields on my blog.
17. Play golf (in season) at least twice a week – get in 80 rounds.
18. Win my flight in the Club Championship.
19. Defend in the Club Derby
20. Be a competitive golfer.
21. Be a good friend.

Of course, MUCH thanks to all who make the time to read this blog and comment on my stuff, craziness, and madness – Happy 2024!

And now – get busy Mark!