What's something good that happened this year? One of the things could be you winning a Peppermint Pig.

three peppermint pigs

Drawing's closed! Winners have been emailed! But if you'd still like to share something from the past year, please do!

In many past years, we've held a traditional Airing of Grievances this week as a chance for people let out all those petty little complaints about the world -- and then let them go. Also: It was an opportunity to give away some Peppermint Pigs, something we always enjoy.

Well, the last year hasn't really inclined us to add more volume to the collective scream. And petty complaints just seem... petty.

But we still want to give away Peppermint Pigs. So instead of an Airing of Grievances...

What's something good that happened around you during the past year?

Maybe it's something that happened in your personal life. Maybe it's something that happened in your neighborhood. Maybe it's something that happened to someone know. We'd love to hear about it in the comments. We'll draw three people at random and they'll each get a Peppermint Pig.

Maybe we can all pick up some momentum to start off the new year in a positive direction.

Important: To be eligible for the Peppermint Pig drawing, your comment must be submitted by 11:59 pm on December 22, 2017. You must include a working email address (that you check regularly) with your comment. Normal commenting guidelines apply. One entry per person, please. Winners will be notified by noon on Tuesday, December 26 and must respond by noon on December 28.

OK, the editors will start things off...

Greg

My wife and I spent what felt like most of the summer (and fall) building a new fence. And we're happy with how it turned out. But the thing that really struck me about the process was how much response we got from people in the neighborhood. All sorts of people -- friends, neighbors we kind of sort of knew, people we'd never met before -- stopped in passing to say hello and offer encouragement.

There were many times someone would stop and say something along the lines of "I've been watching you build this fence all summer... it's looking good!" And after they left, I'd ask my wife, "You know that guy?" And she'd say, "Nope." And we'd both smile. (I'm pretty sure that, in addition to being The People with That Dog in the neighborhood, we're also now The People Who Spent All Summer Building That Fence.)

We didn't really know what we were doing. I had convinced myself if I watched enough fence building videos on Youtube, we'd be able to pull it off. (Verdict: mostly true.) And there were times I wondered what the heck we were doing. So to get the encouragement of our neighbors -- of people we don't even know -- felt good, and it made me feel better about where we live.


Mary

This was a difficult and challenging year, but when I look back on it, there will be one experience that will always make me smile.

In the fall, my husband directed a production of Cabaret at Schenectady Light Opera. The play is disturbingly relevant today. There were many new faces in the cast, and some old friends. This group of strangers formed an incredibly strong bond over three months. When they finished their day jobs, they came to the theater and poured their hearts into a physically and emotionally demanding piece of art. For many of them, it was a labor of love and resistance.

At the end of rehearsal, they would linger in the theater. With each scene, each dance number, each inside joke, each conversation, they moved from strangers to friends.

In the in end, the work they created was gorgeous and meaningful, and the friendships we created will go on forever. I'm so grateful for my husband, his talent, his vision, and these beautiful and incredibly talented friends.

Comments

It's been a pretty tough year in my house but I got to go to Austria with my mom and sister for my cousin's wedding. It was a furious 4 day trip but I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Graduated law school with honors! Studied for the bar exam! Took the bar exam! Passed the bar exam (on the first try)! Got sworn in as a lawyer! Got a new job! Moved to NY!

Its been a very interesting year....lots of ups and downs. The highlight was selling my house in Colonie and moving to downtown Albany. It really was a life changer! I felt so isolated where I was....with so much responsibility! Now...I'm in an apartment on State Street and pretty much walk everywhere, including work. I enjoy walking my dog through Washington Park, Center Square and through the Plaza, getting a bite to eat at Berben and Wolffs. I absolutely love my new neighborhood!

For the last 3 years, I had been in a job that was what I needed when I started, but was not allowing me to grow anymore and was not fulfilling. I set my mind that by the time I turned 30 (which was early this fall) I would be in a job that wasn't just a job, but a career move. Well I did it about a month and half before the deadline! I now have a dream job that I love, working for a non-profit here in Albany that does amazing work that touches the lives of real families every day. I couldn't be happier to go to work every morning. And, I'm so grateful for all the positive change it has brought into my life.

I had one of the best years of my adult life in 2017-travel, friends, good health and lots of personal growth. The highlight of my year however, was strolling around Buckingham Pond and seeing Greg and Mrs Greg putting the finishing touches on THE FENCE.

It's a pretty cool fence.

It's been a busy year. Traveled abroad(Europe) pretty much every couple of months, so many memories of times spent with friends. And finally got to climb a 12000ft mountain in the Rockies(after dozens of 4000-5000fters of NYState).

The best thing that happened around me this year was the new playground at Buckingham Pond Park. This project was a labor of love and had been in the works for two years before it became a reality.

The dedication of the Buckingham Pond Conservancy (I'm the current VP) and the generosity of neighbors (those currently in the neighborhood and those that grew up here and have moved away) was astounding. The city played a big role in the installation, too. Shout out to DGS!

The new playground has only been open for a short while, but it has been hugely popular! I still pinch myself when I drive by.

Happy New Year, AOA!

PS--Loved watching the fence progress all summer!

I was funemployed for most of this year. The "good thing" that happened was the time I spent feeling like a human being & realizing what was actually important to me.

Personally, the best thing that happened to me in 2017 was that I got married for the first time at age 39! We had a great ceremony and reception in Hudson and then spent a few days relaxing in Vermont. It's only been a couple months since then, but married life is working out well.

In my community, the Delaware Ave. Revitalization Project in Delmar is nearly complete and looks very nice. The traffic changes and detours were a bit of a pain, but I'd say they were worth it.

Our family had the opportunity to host a UAlbany exchange student from Japan for 4 months this year. It was a great and I really enjoyed getting to know him and sharing our home and traditions.

PS - Greg, as a frequent neighborhood walker, it was fun to see the progress on the fence. I think it came out great!

After a REALLY rough start to the year (Trump's election) my wife and I started an Indivisible group in our little town. We have met so many wonderful people who live right here in our tiny little town whom we never would have met otherwise.

After battling illness and injury for most of 2016, this year has been a big step in the right direction. I've managed to sort out most of my illness issues, lost almost 70 pounds and I'm in the best shape of my life... at (almost) 40!

Excited to see what 2018 holds!

I bought a house. I left Albany and returned to my hometown. Now I see the stars at night and the sun rising in the morning. The only catcalls are from the feral barn cats.

This shouldn't be as hard as is it.

My family got to travel all over the southeastern United States, and witness the solar eclipse. The experience is something we still discuss almost daily.

2017 has been a year of ups and downs.

Two big "up"s:

My husband and I bought a house in the town where he grew up.

I have met a wonderful group of women in said town, and we have established a "knitting circle".

We got to celebrate my parents 50th anniversary.

A close relative with a chronic illness had great improvement to his health this year.

Probably the best thing that comes to mind is after all the hard work, time, enegy and planning we put into my sons sports we made our first college trip and he was recruited for lacrosse, as a junior in high school. Super proud of him and knowing—& proving—that hard work pays off is satisfying.

So many good things. Starting a new holiday tradition with my favorite cousin was definitely a memorable one!

I got a job in Albany and moved here, and I love my new job!!

Watching my baby and puppy grow up together and both turn one over the summer was really cool.

I got back in the swing of regular physical activity, and I've managed to walk ~6 mi/week since July.

I joined a local fitness club near a 24 hr McDonalds on Washington Ave and, when I can't sleep I show up to see other Albany insomniacs exercising at 4am! Love it.

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The Scoop

For a decade All Over Albany was a place for interested and interesting people in New York's Capital Region. It was kind of like having a smart, savvy friend who could help you find out what's up. AOA stopped publishing at the end of 2018.

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