Where We Been, Where We Going…(aka Nice to meet you 2012, don’t let the door hit ya on the way out 2011)

“Hey Josh, what’s been going on?”

“Eh. Not much.”

“I’m thinking you’ve got a lot going on. You haven’t blogged much lately, you haven’t really Tweeted anything meaningful in recent memory, and if it wasn’t for the fact that Facebook is so easy that even Rick Perry could use it, you probably wouldn’t even be updating that.”

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Hey folks,

It’s been a while. almost four months now. I seem to be going through these long dry spells of writing a lot lately. I’d like to blame my ADD, but, in all honesty, 2011 was a whole lot of suck for me.

My social life; my friends; things like kickball, wrestling, and roller derby – they all kicked ass. But professionally, and financially, 2011 was a kick in the balls. Even personally, i suffered some great losses. i have never been so glad to have a year be in the past than i am about 2011, and i am very excited to have the opportunity to swing for the fences and knock 2012 out of the park.

Two of my friends died in 2011.

Longtime ICW/ICWA Texarkana Television Champion Larry Sweeney. RIP friend.

Alex, better known as Larry to most people (myself included), passed in April. I hadn’t spoken to him in nearly a year when he left us. He called me the summer prior, while I was out running, in a rainstorm. We spoke briefly, and then I let him go to prevent my phone from getting soaked. I wish I had spoken to him longer.

Being involved in the wrestling business, I knew it was just a matter of time before I lost a friend. I just kind of hoped it happened decades from now. RIP Larry Sweeney/Alex Whybrow. A lot of people love and miss you brother. 12 Large.

My friend Paul died in October. It was awful, and it shook me to the core. Paul was six months older than me, and he died in the gym, working out. He was a good man, and he should still be on this planet. While Larry/Alex’s death shocked me, Paul’s devastated me. It devastated a lot of people, and I think we’ll all be reeling for a long time. RIP Paul Kurtzman. You are loved, and you will be in our memory for as long as we live.

Me, Toddy, Paul, Larry, and Robby in Atlanta last year, for our annual Wrestlemania get-togther. I never imagined it would be the last time we'd all be together. RIP Paul.

I probably should have had an idea of what 2011 had in store for me when I was forced to move from the apartment I loved, the one found for me before I moved here from NYC, and one that was really, really perfect. It was through no fault of my own, but I had to move nonetheless.

But, more than anything, the part of 2011 that kicked my ass the most was my job situation, and related to that, my finances. the first third of the year was relatively calm on that front. I was working two jobs part-time, and eventually left one to go full-time at the other. While I knew money would be tight by doing that, I felt in my heart it was the right decision, and that I would love what I would be doing.

And I did. For a very brief period of time. And then, the proverbial shit hit the fan.

I should be more clear. I loved what I was doing right until the end of that job. I wasn’t in an office, I had some really great co-workers, and I got to play with dogs all day long. But at some point, the owner of the place decided micro-managing was the way to go. And when I mean micro-managing, i can’t over-emphasize just about micro. I’ve never seen anything like it.

Flexible schedules were a bad thing. Willing to cover shifts when someone needed a day off was a bad thing. Willing to learn as many different jobs in the company, was a bad thing. Suggesting ideas to increase our customer base, was a bad thing.

Kickball - another high point of 2011. yes, i'm wearing tall socks

Until the next day…when the opposite might be true. or, really, any given day, when it would change again. sometimes, there would be no right answer. There’s a reason that business has been through a half-dozen groomers and an equal number of general managers in just over a year of business. There’s one common denominator, and sadly, she’ll be the reason for the demise of her own business.

When you spoke up, the owner didn’t fire you. Instead, she would reduce your hours dramatically, in an effort to get you to quit, so she wouldn’t have to pay unemployment. it’s unethical, and it’s scumbaggy. When you filed for unemployment, she would make up a litany of charges against you, things that couldn’t possibly be true. There’s a reason she lost lawsuits and every unemployment case against former employees.

And the only thing more miserable than working there for me was the fact that at once point, it was a fun place to work, and watching how bad it got, and how fast, was just awful.

The potential for that place was amazing. But as long as the owner continues to run it like she does, it will be awful, at least until it goes out of business. And unless she finds someone to sucker into buying a part of the business, I don’t believe it will be around next Christmas. I’m not one to mock someone for losing their livelihood, but if that place goes under, it couldn’t happen to a more deserving person than the evil woman who owns it.

2011. Kiss my ass. 2012, I am embracing you with open arms.

2012 began with me wrapping up a vacation in New York. It was fantastic to see family and old friends. That led into a wonderful birthday weekend, which rolled into me starting a new job.

I’m excited about the new job. It’s a good opportunity, and while not the writing job I had hoped for, it interests me, and it pays well enough. And it has benefits (i haven’t been on a serious health insurance plan in almost three years, so it will be really nice to have that again.)

Highlight of 2011 - watching these woman kick ass and win the 2011 Dallas Derby Devils Championship. Way to go Slaughterers! (photo credit to whomever took this pic.)

I’m excited as usual about spending times with my friends, and being involved with wrestling, roller derby, and kickball once again.

I feel lucky that the worst of my problems include losing my apartment and having a crappy job. Losing loved ones was awful, but there are people with worse problems – they wonder where their next meal will come from, they don’t have a roof over their head, and there really is no positive end in sight to their troubles.

What’s 2012 got in store for this blog? well, if you’re easily offended, check out now. We are in a run up to the 2012 presidential election, and things could get ugly in here. While I’ve been disappointed with Barack Obama, I still have faith in him, and i KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that he’s better than any other candidate out there.

So, politics. It will be discussed here. And you may not like it. or you just may very well love it.

2011, you are in my rear view mirror. The good memories will remain. The bad ones? You are done, and don’t let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya.

2012, you are going to be a damned good year. End of the world? kiss my ass Mayans, because i am knocking this year out of the park. It is going to be one helluva fun ride!