The Year In Review

[Kid Omega]

So with today being my birthday and all, I thought I would look back over my thirtieth year. (fair warning: a few of these have to do with my career, which may be construed as "shilling")

* My store didn't close

* I got a new bike

* I was nominated for an Eisner

* I have a new nephew

* I went eBay crazy for a bit

* my first good D&D character, that I've played off and on since 1993, finally hit 10th level.

* I started a rarely updated web-strip

* I was in NEW YORK (http://nymag.com/shopping/askaclerk/22775/) magazine

* THE OFFICE was really good

* there was a new Michael Chabon book, and I liked it a lot.

I dunno... everything seems kinda the same.

How about you?

[Winslow]

Congratulations on a productive and effective year.

And Happy 30th birthday.

Alas, you can't be trusted now.

[Joe Grendel]

Thirty is the new 21. And have a good one!

[Ben Morgan]

Happy birthday

[K'Nort]

At a certain point, "kinda the same" can be a really nice thing.

Are you asking others to review their year too? That is a fun idea.

[Kid Omega]

Are you asking others to review their year too? That is a fun idea.

Yes... that's the plan.

[morna]

This is the weirdest year ever

* closed our business of ten years (handing over the keys was a poignant moment)

* acquired a storage locker which adds 2 hundred to monthly expenses

* bailed out the apartment (this took a whole month)

* went on sabbatical

* started trying to figure out what to do next

* started drawing every day April first

* applied for some grants and entered some shows

* stayed on sabbatical

* went on holiday from our sabbatical - twice

* still on sabbatical

* still trying to figure out what to do next...





* oh yeah turned 50 - sigh

[Michael P]

So far, 25 has kinda sucked.

[The Beast Of Yucca Flats]

-I'm moving into a new place.

-Got a porcelin crown (with one more on the way).

-New job in a restaurant kitchen.

-Outside comics, started reading T.H. White's The Once & Future King.

-Visited family up in New Jersey (where I got to celebrate Grandma's birthday; see my 5-year old cousin; and talk about stuff like Planetary, Fables, and Alan Moore when books came up).

-Finally got to read American Born Chinese.

-My younger sister moved to Arizona (to work in Americorps).

-I'll turn 25 in November.

[K'Nort]

Last 12 months....

* Months 2-13 of my brand new career and I survived it and even really enjoyed it.

* Ditto months 2-13 of living in North Dakota. (who knew?)

* Visited Denver for the first time (business)

* Visited New York city for the first time (pleasure)

* Got promoted

* Lost a close relative to cancer for the second year in a row. That really needs to stop.

* Lost a cousin I'd never met. And right before Christmas. That was sad.

* Last Christmas at home. My folks have sold the house and move to another state at the end of this month and who in the world knows where Christmas will be in 2007.

* Survived Thanksgiving with Gus's family, which was also the first time meeting all of them but his mother, and only the second time meeting her.

* Returned to reading novels after a grad school-induced hiatus and had some really good luck with my choices. Including both the new Chabon and finally reading Kavalier & Clay.

* Bought my first 'real' piece of furniture -- a loveseat. (This place is too small for a couch.)

* Upgraded to broadband.

* Co-piloted a U-Haul from Portland to Bismarck for the second time in 11 months.

* Re-acclimating to basically living with another person after an 11-month break.


The next 12 months should be interesting. I'd be just fine with more of the same. Except for the relatives.

[i_mmmchocolate]

Happy birthday, Alex!

I'm probably forgetting a few things for my Review. In no particular order:

*Participated in library-related activities, which is important for networking and my resume

*Bought some grown-up, quality furniture for when I move out (tall dresser and two tall bookcases)

*Got a second job at Columbia

*Completed four graduate courses (this time next year I'll have my MLS!)

*Met an awesome guy

*Revamped my wardrobe- donated lots of clothes I haven't worn in years to charity and bought a lot of new pieces & shoes

*Went to a great Food & Wine event

*Savings on the up-&-up

*Reading less comics and more nonfiction-- I've been on this kick for the past few months

Basically enjoying life a lot and spending less time on the 'net.

[Gingold]

Let's see-

* Found out were going to have a baby

* Watched my boss slowly descend into madness

* Started spending a lot more time on the comm. board

* A new niece was born in October

* Popeye vol. 1 came out and it was good

* Our son was born in March

* All of my seniors graduated and got accepted into college

* The school's reading scores improved dramatically under my supervision

* I signed a contract to return to my insane job for another year

* My favorite co-worker and drinking buddy moved to DC and I am sad

* Summer vacation began and it is good

[Chris Nowlin]

In a year

*moved forward in graduate program and have settled into research

*discovered CBR where I've learned much about comics, met cool people (some in real life!), and found a new excuse to not work

Life seemed to become somewhat constant after that last one for some reason. The above two pretty easily summarise all I do.

*6 sets of friends got engaged. I remain pathetic and lonely, yet strangely content in my ennui.

*I successfully used an oven for the first time.

*Read Usagi Yojimbo for the first time

*lost faith in new Marvel and cut back my new comic buying to a tiny fraction of what it was

*It was just over a year now, but I moved to this subsidised apartment that saves me $550 a month in rent from what I used to pay; that's affected my life greatly. I'll start saving that extra money... tomorrow...

[Joe Grendel]

Won some awards. Alienated the Western Region of the Little League, which means my new son will likely have to play baseball in a different part of the country when the time comes. Moved into a (rented) house for the first time. Had a kid. Preparing to pray big-time when I apply to grad school 15 years after graduating with grades that I referred to by saying "hey, at least I wasn't hoping on going to grad school." Killed a man in Reno, just to watch him die.

[MichaelMogg]

Kind of interesting, since it's my 30th birthday as well on Monday. This year has been an eventful one:


Got married just over a year ago.
Moved across the country and now live on the east coast.
Got a new teaching position and a pay raise in line for the next academic year.
Started reading comics again, and first came to CBR.
Bought a new apartment.
Got my wife pregnant, and then she miscarried. :(
Parents got divorced -- completely out of the blue to me.
Visited Canada again for the first time in four years.


I wonder what the next year will bring. :confused:

[howyadoin]

Hmm. My year through the looking glass, starting with last July:

Survived a heatwave that was hot enough to fry my external hard drive.
Recovered from the sprained ankle.
Mildly renovated my bathroom.
Experimented with various art media.
Signed on a couple new clients.
Started losing friends as they decided to follow the cultural imperative.
Saw a shitload of bands.
Was introduced to Redbreast, but otherwise had a pretty dull New Year's Eve, for the first time in over a decade.
Bought a lot of art supplies, and really plunged into the acrylic painting.
Got a couple of new art commissions.
Designed and produced all the invitations, maps, programs, etc. for my sister's wedding.
Finally got my last tattoo touched up.
Got my nose pierced.
As of January, started having my best year yet as a freelancer. (Unfortunately, it came on the heels of my worst year yet, so I'm still chipping away at that debt load.)
And now I'm thinking about buying an air conditioner.All in all, not the best year. Great from a creative standpoint, but in almost every other way, it was ranged from mediocre to shitty.

[gary bolt]

My past year from this date:

•Had two sculptural glass pieces published in a book - “500 Glass Objects”
•Was on TV talking about our studio/gallery closing
•Had an article about our gallery (Starfish Glassworks) published in a national magazine (Galleries West)
•Closed our ten year old glassblowing studio and gallery
•Had many parties and emotional interactions with people because of said closing
•Met howyadoin in Vancouver
•Spent an entire month packing up and removing equipment
•Crammed a storage locker full of stuff and added several van loads of stuff to our one bedroom apartment
•Spent a month going through everything in the apartment and off-loading a lot of old crap
•Applied for a Canada Council for the Arts grant
•Applied for a Arts Council of British Columbia grant
•Got out on my bike a lot more (but I’d like to do better)
•Started swimming lengths (but I’d like to do more)
•Went to a comic con (Motor City) and helped out our pal David Petersen
•Went for dinner in Detroit with a Stan Sakai, a bunch of his fans, Sergio Aragones, David Petersen and his pals. Sergio and Stan were very approachable and supportive and Sergio was very encouraging of our creative ambitions.
•Went for dinner with Guy Davis and have been emailing pictures and chatting back and forth
•Had a long holiday in Ontario and Quebec and got to see friends and family that we haven’t seen in quite a few years
•Didn’t get my Canada Council grant
•Got by BC Arts grant
•Swam naked at midnight in phosphorescent water

[Joe Grendel]

Started losing friends as they decided to follow the cultural imperative.
They're watching "American Idol," aren't they? :(

[K'Nort]

Designed and produced all the invitations, maps, programs, etc. for my sister's wedding.

Do you have any of that on your NEB thread?

[howyadoin]

They're watching "American Idol," aren't they? :(I'm sure they're much too busy social-climbing, going to wine-and-cheese parties, and generally acting the way they think married people are supposed to act for that.

[howyadoin]

Do you have any of that on your NEB thread?Nope. I haven't shown any of my graphic design work over there - just the art.

[gary bolt]

They're watching "American Idol," aren't they? :(

My guess is that they started breeding.

[morna]

ick! breeders

[K'Nort]

ick! breeders

I swear to god that's who I have playing right now. On shuffle.

[gary bolt]

I swear to god that's who I have playing right now. On shuffle.

Listening to Kim Deal and the Breeders is a good thing. Listening to old friends talk about their baby? Not so much.

[howyadoin]

Listening to Kim Deal and the Breeders is a good thing. Listening to old friends talk about their baby? Not so much.I don't even mind the talking about it. It's the active campaigning to convince other people that they should have kids too.

Especially when it's coming from new parents who barely have a clue how to raise their own, yet.

[K'Nort]

I don't even mind the talking about it. It's the active campaigning to convince other people that they should have kids too.

Especially when it's coming from new parents who barely have a clue how to raise their own, yet.

I still think that's a "misery loves company" sort of effect.

But also because they realize they can no longer talk about anything else, so it's the only way to continue to have anything in common with their friends.

That doesn't happen to all new parents, of course, but I have seen it happen to some. It is just 100% all-consuming. No idea whether it causes long-term problems.

[howyadoin]

I still think that's a "misery loves company" sort of effect.

But also because they realize they can no longer talk about anything else, so it's the only way to continue to have anything in common with their friends.

That doesn't happen to all new parents, of course, but I have seen it happen to some. It is just 100% all-consuming. No idea whether it causes long-term problems.Probably. But it just seems so manipulative and pompous - "why don't you change your entire lives to accommodate my needs?"

[gary bolt]

I don't even mind the talking about it. It's the active campaigning to convince other people that they should have kids too.

Especially when it's coming from new parents who barely have a clue how to raise their own, yet.

Agreed. Campaigning sucks. And some talking about babies is okay with me but it is a rare new parent that can stick to some. Oh and here is a newsflash for parents that want everyone to see how beautiful their baby is - your baby looks like every other baby.

My cousin married a woman who clearly stated that she was not interested in having kids. He thought she would change her mind and didn't let up on the campaign until she asked for a divorce.

[Gingold]

As a new parent, I will state that some of us really try not to push parenthood on our friends. I've been on the receiving end of it, and it's annoying as all hell.

[Joe Grendel]

I'm sure they're much too busy social-climbing, going to wine-and-cheese parties, and generally acting the way they think married people are supposed to act for that.
Any time someone starts to behave like they think they're "supposed to act" -- unless it's the way their mother told them, once upon a time -- they need a smack. And depending on the mother, they may need a smack anyway.

[Dan Apodaca]

So, is it kosher to wish you a happy birthday here?

I mean, since I'm not allowed to talk to you anymore, being thirty and all.

[K'Nort]

So, is it kosher to wish you a happy birthday here?

I mean, since I'm not allowed to talk to you anymore, being thirty and all.

Isn't he 31 now?

Although he still looks very twenty-something regardless.

[Dan Apodaca]

Isn't he 31 now?

Although he still looks very twenty-something regardless.

Yeah, I need to work on my reading skills. I shouldn't have been consorting with him for a whole year now.

[gary bolt]

As a new parent, I will state that some of us really try not to push parenthood on our friends. I've been on the receiving end of it, and it's annoying as all hell.

There is hope for the future!

[Gingold]

There is hope for the future!

Especially my awesome kid. He is the cutest baby in the universe. Hey! You should have kids too, Gary! Then we could set up a playdate!

[gary bolt]

Especially my awesome kid. He is the cutest baby in the universe. Hey! You should have kids too, Gary! Then we could set up a playdate!

Why I aughta!

[K'Nort]

Especially my awesome kid. He is the cutest baby in the universe. Hey! You should have kids too, Gary! Then we could set up a playdate!

There's a woman in LA who has a thing called The Three Martini Playdate, which amuses me.

[Joe Grendel]

There's a woman in LA who has a thing called The Three Martini Playdate, which amuses me.
I think that was the name of a book, too.

[Winslow]

Well let's see . . .

Last year at this time I was in the Rocky Mountains. (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=134975&highlight=Rocky+Mountain)

I hate my job, and after almost two years of job hunting, I decided to make a career change. So I applied for a teacher Internship Program, and started attending classes in March.

I graduated into Boy Scouts with my son.

I went to Hershey Hotel with my wife, and we had such a great time we went back with the kids in the fall, and went to the amusement park. My son rode his first roller coaster, and my daughter's stomach can take the g's better than me.

Shit, I'm talking about my kids! :D

[howyadoin]

I think that was the name of a book, too.See, that doesn't sound like it's about children, necessarily.

[K'Nort]

See, that doesn't sound like it's about children, necessarily.

The essay where I read a ref to it was about the stress and annoyance and expense of beign a parent in Los Angeles and especially all the evil perfect parents who worried about getting into the right kindegarten and having the kids speaking six languages and playing two sports and three instruments and etc. And just saying "They can play in the yard with sticks and go to community college. To hell with it." It was pretty funny. It's a writer I like anyway.

It was probably in this piece (http://www.sandratsingloh.com/index.php?pr=Guide_to_Schools).

[Merey]

furnished my first living alone apartment
got promoted
went on vacation to Europe and visited two new countries, but got sick and had to go home early
went to Columbus, Ohio for my first indie comic convention (also met Dreadstar, Tadhg and DarkBlade.
8 months ago started a relationship with an awesome guy
took awesome guy to California and introduced him to the family
the first couple in my group of friends got married
helped take my company public
my sister is pregnant, I will an aunt!


29 has been a pretty eventful year.

[Joe Rice]

Got married.
Left the country for the first time; really enjoyed it
Tried out cluster teaching drama . . .liked it less as year went on
Got a new friend and partner at work
Started saving money for various future things
Started obsessively "Yelp"ing.
Quit writing.
Read a lot of great stuff
Started running my own D&D campaign and discovered I really enjoyed it
Got to see my fake daughter and her friends really excell in school
Became close to the staff of the local pub
Became a better chef
Became a better cleaner
Got a better handle on what I do to make Lisa mad
Saw Gran's boyfriend before he died
Discovered that friendships shifting from one part of life to another isn't so bad
shilled for buddy's comic shop
Spent too much money
Drank way too much
Changed focus on life from fun to helping others
Judged many

[Guapo Méndez]

Starting last july



My wife's granddad passed away.
My sister-in-law's moron boyfriend dumped her after 10 years.
My grandmother died.
My wife's uncle got diagnosed with a very aggresive strain of cancer.
Business is so-so, (barely catching up this week) so we're stepping up to the plate.
There's some major power issues brewing between my brother and I vis-a-vis the family business (on his side. I couldn't care less if I'm second fiddle to him. He's the eldest brother, for pete's sake).
Ups and downs with the wife.
My wife's grandmother developed Parkinson' and it's going at an alarming rate.
Good times playing D&D.
Another 12 months without writing any fiction of my own.
Lost touch with some local friends (and I'm glad for it).
My cousin had a baby. He needed surgery and he pulled through.
Still not winning the lottery.

[Ed Cunard]

Hmm... This past year, starting from last July, in relatively chronological order.


Started building my first home, liked that.
Started graduate school, liked that.
Found out one of my dogs has cancer, treating it.
Marriage fell apart, mixed feelings on that.
Started taking mood stabilization medication again, liked that.
Contractor stole approximately $25K from me, still haven't found a way to give him cancer; really didn't like that.
Rescued a wounded bat that was hiding in my basement, liked that.
Finished house on my own, mixed feelings on that.
Travelled back in time and petted a dinosaur, liked that.
Learned I was allergic to dinosaurs, didn't like that.
Tentatively re-entered the dating pool, to mixed results; mixed feelings on that.
Started blogging (http://edcunard.wordpress.com/) again, liked that.
Got a new tattoo, liked that.
Had my lovely annual MoCCA trip, loved that.

That pretty much sums up my year.

[Dr. Hfuhruhurr]

From July '06 to now:


my son got potty-trained: YAY!
my brother and I settled a long-running business dispute for my mom's boyfriend: YAY!
said boyfriend, who had been suffering with symptoms of dementia, finally went full-tilt and had to be committed to a home: BOO.
my little girl turned 5 in October and my boy turned 4 in May; every day, they bring me more joy than the day before. I am a fortunate man to have such wonderful children and try to remember that every day: YAY!
a friend of mine (OK, that's not true; I worked with him and thought he was a prick, but still...) got into a serious motorcycle accident and wound up paralyzed from the neck down. He has 3 small children. The strength of his wife in taking care of them and him at the same time continues to amaze and inspire me. BOO and then YAY
ruptured my Achilles tendon playing basketball. The tendon split, so I have a 9 inch scar up the back of my leg from that. Spent a month and a half in a cast and then another month and a half in a walking boot, and 3 months of PT afterwards. Not fun. BOO!
my law firm moved to new digs, about a month too early: no phones or computers worked for more than a week and there was insulation hanging from the ceiling and outlets without covers for weeks after that. But now it's done and a lot more comfortable than our old offices. BOO, then YAY!
Our two goldfish, Dorothy, who our daughter got when she turned 1 and Tom, who we got about a year later, both died within days of one another. While we thought it would be traumatic for the kids, my wife took it harder than anyone. BOO!
My son lost his first tooth, and then my daughter lost her first tooth, both within weeks of one another. YAY!
a high school acquaintance went to federal prison for 42 months for bank fraud. Neither BOO nor YAY. He deserved it; his wife didn't.
My college roommate and one of my best friends and his wife had a baby, after years of being told they would never be able to conceive: YAY!
My daughter registered for kindergarten. YAY (but truth be told, BOO. Part of me wants her to stay a little girl forever!)!
My brother-in-law had surgery for skin cancer and then they found cancer in his lymph node a couple weeks later: BOO.
My wife and I had some marital difficulties, went to therapy and things got and are getting much better between us. We're communicating better than we have in years and I feel closer to her than I have for a long time. YAY!
We took the kids to SeaWorld and had a fabulous time... drinking FREE BEER in the hospitality lounge: YAY!

[Mac Danny]

Lets see, this year..

* Managed to successfully pay my mortgage every month.
* Went to Hong Kong on a business trip
* Got most of our house painted and unpacked.
* Still employed
* Got a small cost of living raise.
* New Mac computers in our office.
* My wife and I are NOT pregnant yet! Wahoo!

[howyadoin]

Quit writing.Why would you do that?

[Joe Rice]

Why would you do that?

To be good enough to do what I'd like or even please myself, it require more time and effort than I care to/feel able to commit.

[howyadoin]

To be good enough to do what I'd like or even please myself, it require more time and effort than I care to/feel able to commit.That's a shame. I think you're pretty good at it.

[Joe Rice]

That's a shame. I think you're pretty good at it.

Thanks. I think so too, but not good enough to justify taking time away from other pursuits.

[Dreadstar]

Thanks. I think so too, but not good enough to justify taking time away from other pursuits.

Like dishes and pleasing the wife-mate...

[Joe Rice]

Like dishes and pleasing the wife-mate...

Yeah, definitely a part of it. School stuff (and I'll soon be going back for an admin degree, I think) is a big one.

[howyadoin]

Like dishes and pleasing the wife-mate...A dishwasher and a blow-up doll are all a writer needs!

[i_mmmchocolate]

Yeah, definitely a part of it. School stuff (and I'll soon be going back for an admin degree, I think) is a big one.
The good teachers always end up switching to administration.

[Shellhead]

Last 12 months:

• Got my boardgame published by White Wolf, after 6 years of sporadic development.
• Commuted by bus for 3 weeks during some really expensive car repairs.
• Finally convinced my tough boss that I'm a great employee.
• Got another really good raise at work.
• Moved out of the apartment that I lived in for 9 years.
• Moved my office (and helped move the whole admin area) from the second floor to the third floor at work… just 2 days after my own move.
• Survived a month without air conditioning in the new office space during an unusually hot spring.
• Got rid of a few hundred pounds of my personal possessions… throwing away, giving away, donating, and shredding. Still have at least 80 pounds left to dispose of, when I get around to it.
• Helped my girlfriend and her cat move in with me.
• Survived another year of my 5-year debt management plan. 34 months left.

[darkhanamaru]

I broke up with a long term boyfriend
I got new roommates
I rediscovered my love for football
I changed my job - twice.
I fell in love - twice.
Rebuilt a social group
Got drunk too much
Got happier
Started reading again
Became more independent (not a done deal)
Decided on a career

[Thorlief]

I broke up with a long term boyfriend

I fell in love - twice.


in six months? I think you just extabilished a new record here


-my three years relationship with Luna has ended badly- couldnt care less, actually

-got a new car, not expensive but still better than the crap on wheels I had before- moderately happy

-started drawing again and found out I didnt lose my skills at superheroes and manga. Hope it becomes a job, eventually- good thing

-FINALLY got glasses, I was kind of ashamed about em and that was quite idiotic...man the world really changes behind em- happy

-got a bracelet. A pretty tiny one since I dislike everything related to jewellry, but this one looks good and doesnt bother me

-visited London for the 11th time. I adore that town, I become quite a friend around Pentonville Road, had a blast as usual - Great

- already planned my next trip: two weeks in Oslo, can't really wait- superb

[jessecuster3]

Hmm the last year?

-back to work at a company that laid me off 5 years before in July
-met my girlfriend in October at a bar playing darts
-the company then went bankrupt in November and closed their doors for good.
-was brought on as a consultant at my new job two weeks after the previous company let me go.
-New Years was unspectacular, I will always be chasing my 2000 New years which was the best party of my life.
-In April, I became a full time employee, no longer a consultant
-In June I went to Mocca for the first time and had a great time
-in July I turned 34.

That's all I can think of right now

[GremlinClr]

• Got a new (to me) car that much better than my old one. Although it's killing me that there's no cruise control.

• One of my dogs died of a stroke, which I didn't even know was possible. At least it was relatively quick and painless.

• My roommates worthless sister, husband and 7 year old daughter had to move in because they were homeless and really had no where else to go. If it wasn't for the fact that we didn't want their daughter living on the street we would have said no. That didn't last too long because the husband attacked the roommate and is now in another state with a restraining order against him. We're still stuck with the worthless sister and daughter though. But hey, now I get to play such fun games as "What's smeared on the doornob?" and "Why the fuck is the dog covered in duct tape?!". Good times.

• I'm growing my first "I'm doing it by myself, don't fucking touch." garden this year. My parents have had a garden my whole life and I could go over there and get whatever I wanted but I decided to grow my own this time around and see how I do.

• I've discovered I might be allergic to gluten. Since the only treatment is "Hey dumbass, stop eating gluten!" I'm gonna do some research and make a gluten free menu and try that for a couple of months to see if the symptoms clear up.

That's all I can think of. Most of my life can be summed up by reading my sig. I should probably work on that next year.