The Eve of a New Year

I suppose it's horribly unoriginal to write a blog post on New Years Eve discussing the past year... but I don't care. ;^) Like a few other people I know, I will be glad to see 2006 fade into memory. It was not a great year.

Early 2006 saw me still living in Scott's spare room, struggling to pay bills via a job I hated, and wondering if I would ever escape the rut into which I had landed myself. By summer, I actually did start taking steps to escape... by taking yet another cruise ship gig. During the required physical for the job, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure... at 36 years old. I nearly didn't get to take the job because of it. I'll likely be on medication the rest of my life.

The cruise ship job was the most difficult employment situation I've ever known. I was worked like a slave, with little regard to my health or well-being. I was so exhausted, injured, and depressed, I actually missed my "rut" back in Michigan. Also during this time, Shadow (our kitty) died. At the end of my ship contract I found out that two of my best friends (H & MA) were getting divorced. I had been the Best Man at their wedding.

Then came the move to Las Vegas. I knew I wasn't financially ready, but there was some kind of momentum going at the time. All those closest to me seemed to be cheering me on (and out). I made the leap. The trip out included blowing out a tire in the middle of the desert at night, and having to buy four new ones. For my first 8 weeks in Vegas, I fell back into depression. In fact, I was so lonely, afraid, and confused that I started to question just about everything in my life. Additionally, 90% of the weight I had worked so hard to lose during the previous year came back, as I jammed comfort food down my throat. Unexpected auto repairs in December suddenly killed my savings. I was broke, alone, afraid, and depressed as hell.

Yes, the story did take an upward turn. January 2nd, I will start a new job, and I'm hoping I'll love it. I still have very little money, and I need to find a new place to live. So for the next month or two I'll still be struggling. I also still have no friends in Vegas.

Admittedly, 2006 did have a FEW good points... mostly for people around me, but those things made me happy by association. Several people close to me had some kind of career success in 2006. My friend Sara graduated and became an optometrist. My brother Brian finally landed a full-time job (even though he hates it). My brother Scott landed a significant pay raise at his job. My cousin Lindsey landed a great new job. As for me, I did make a new friend in Michigan (Rach). I also had fun with my family in Vegas (in February, October, and December). Technically I did land my new job in 2006, even though it doesn't start until 2007. So I can't say 2006 was completely bad... but on the whole, I'll be happy to see it go.

As I have no friends in Vegas yet, I'll be a "party of one" tonight, but I'll still drink a toast to you, 2007. I am still hopeful that this coming year will be a better one. As for you, 2006... don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out!

High School Never Ends

Check out this fan video. VERY true song...

Christmas in Vegas 2006

I hope everyone reading this had as happy a holiday as I did! My parents and Scott (Brian had to work) came to Las Vegas to spend Christmas with me. We had a great time! I even stayed down on the Strip with them at their hotel. We saw a ton of fun/interesting things, including laser/water shows, a magician, a volcano, a full-size wooden Trojan Horse, and a huge display of Christmas lights hung on cactus plants. We ate like kings. We played (for free) in several slot tournaments. I even won $75 while playing $5 in free slot credit! My folks went on a helicopter tour of the lights on the Las Vegas Strip (part of their gift from us--their sons---for their 40th wedding anniversary)! Scott and I saw Nathan Burton ("comedy magic") at the Aladdin, for free (Scott won the tickets for participating in a show at the Aladdin last time he was in Vegas)!

After having been very alone here in Vegas for two months, it was amazing to have my family here. It helped me remember how fun Vegas can be, when you have people to enjoy it with.

Happy Holidays Indeed!

I am victorious... at last! Today I landed a full-time job creating music and sound effects for video games!! I will be creating audio content for Global Gaming Group. "G3" is a small (90 people), very cool company that creates digital content for slot machines. Their business is sky rocketing, so they need more people. I will be working for them full-time, starting January 2nd.

After 8 very bleak weeks here in Vegas, I not only landed a full-time job, but it's the kind of job I've been trying to land for three years now. Maybe all that time locked away (creating music and sound effects) in Scott's spare room was actually leading me somewhere after all?! It truly feels as if suddenly the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders.

Please excuse my extreme enthusiasm... but damn it... I FINALLY FREAKIN' DID IT!!!

[If you want to read about Global Gaming Group, click HERE]

I'm such a guy...

I was standing in line at Wal-Mart tonight. It was a very long line. There was a beautiful young woman in line in front of me. I was pretending not to notice. Much to my surprise, she started talking to me... several times. Now those who know me know I am not even remotely close to being in a place financially or mentally to be asking anyone out at the moment, and I didn't. BUT for 15 minutes or so, while talking to this girl, I actually forgot my problems, and briefly felt like myself again---- for the first time since early July.

How NOT to make money on eBay

So... If you happen to be like me, and you're having a VERY rough December financially, and you decide to start selling off your beloved possessions to pay for incidentals like food, gas, prescriptions, etc. I offer you this bit of advice: Once your items have sold, and it's time to ship them, PACK THEM YOURSELF!!

I put a few items on eBay Sunday night, and I was happy when one sold immediately. I went to the UPS Store today to ship the item (a small travel guitar). I had no appropriately sized boxes for the item, so I decided to have the UPS Store pack and ship it. After packing the item, I was told it would cost $30 to ship it UPS ground. No problem. I only charged my eBay customer $20 for shipping, but I could "eat" the $10, and still make a $50 profit on the item.

Unfortunately, it turns out that price was just for the shipping... the box and packing were an additional $30!! So my gross income for the guitar was $80, and I paid $60 to ship it... meaning I made a whopping net income of $20, and I no longer have my cool little travel guitar (that I bought to use while working on ships). ;^(

Thursday

I'm standing in the middle of the desert
Waiting for my ship to come in
But now no joker, no jack, no king
Can take this loser hand
And make it win

-from "Leaving Las Vegas" by Sheryl Crow

Life - Take the hit

The most true and personally meaningful words I've heard all year come from an unlikely source:


"The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very rough, mean place. And no matter how tough you think you are, it'll always bring you to your knees and keep you there... permanently... if you let it. You or nobody ain't ever gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit... and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. If you know what you're worth, go out and get what you're worth... But you gotta be willing to take the hit."

-Rocky Balboa

An Apple a day...

(click on pic to enlarge...

And yes, this pic is of the Vegas store)

Yes, I finally landed a job here in Las Vegas! I'll be working at the Apple Store, in the Fashion Show Mall on the famous Las Vegas Strip. As an Apple computer user and fan since the mid 80's, working at the mecca of all-things-Apple should be cool, right? I know having enough money to actually leave my room will definitely be nice...

(click on pic to enlarge...
The Fashion Show Mall)

Bowl Games and Indians

Somehow the Chippewas from Central Michigan University (my alma mater) are actually going to a bowl game. They will be playing a "as yet to be determined" team in the Motor City Bowl on December 26th. The last time CMU went to a bowl game was 1994, when they played in... wait for it... the LAS VEGAS Bowl.
I moved to Las Vegas, and now CMU is in a bowl game again. Coincidence? I don't think so! ;^)

Speaking of CMU football, I still think it sucks that students aren't allowed to dress up as Chippewas for games any more (even though the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe has expressed that they are not offended by it!!). Then again, it's doubful that CMU's administration will be in charge of security at the Motor City Bowl... so I emplore all CMU students to put on a Chippewa costume, and go support CMU at the game!

I don't care much about sports (except for the UFC), but even I am impressed with this year's MAC conference win. Yes, I'll actually say it... Fire up Chips!