Highlights of 2019

in no particular order, here are some of my highlights of 2019, a fantastic year...


-I found the best pair of boxers ever and have since bought about another 10 pairs.  Never going back.
-Cat Taxi finally got some legs!  Finally got band members to hop on board the project and start practicing!  By the end of the year, we had recorded and published our first album!!!  First shows in early 2020!
-Motorcycle trip through the American southwest!  Man- trip of a lifetime!  I had wanted to do this trip for about 15 years and finally, with the help of my buddy Rodney, was able to make it happen.  In 12 days, we covered 3,000miles and hit 6 states (CO, NM, TX, AZ, UT, and NV).  Included in this epic journey was Roswell aliens, cigars and whiskey in Tucson, Zion National Park, visiting my grandparents old house, the staircase at Loretto Chapel, Meow Wolf, Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest/Painted Desert, Las Vegas, Penn & Teller show, "4 corners", and many beautiful national parks
-started dating Katy!!
-Halloween party at Love City Brewing
-Glory's 1-year Anniversary party
-getting to see Young Andrew perform stand-up comedy
-started a weekly yoga practice
-Philadelphia Phillies game with Olivia, Michael, Makenna, Al, and Katy
-multiple game nights with Katy's awesome crew
-I bought another motorcycle!!  This one is a 2000 Honda vt1100 Shadow Spirit.  Its custom pipes set off 4 car alarms already ;)
*Motorcycle trips:  Forest & Main Brewery, Rickets Glen State Park, Peace Valley Park, Chubby's burgers, Louanne's 1st birthday party in Sommerville, Swarthmore college, Mercer Museum
-Grammie Anne's 90th birthday, and the opportunity to help her connect her family's history to Portner Brewery with the help of a friendly historian.
*movies: Parasite, Mississippi Grind (not new), Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse, Green Book,
*shows: Misfits, Iron Maiden, Shilpa Ray, Reverend Horton Heat, The 5.6.7.8's, Voodoo Glow Skulls

December Daily Writing Project: December 19

December 19-

A soldier is about to embark upon a mission that she knows will kill her.

December Daily Writing Project: December 18

December 18-

Describe your demographic.  Describe the stereotypes that you confirm.  Describe the stereotypes that you subvert.

December Daily Writing Project: December 17

December 17-

You track down an old girlfriend.

Yikes.  Which one?  My first thought is that the majority of my ex’s wouldn’t want to speak with me, and try to insult and accuse me with things from years ago.  And that sounds bad.  But in reality, I think it would be even worse.  From the bits that I’ve seen on facebook, or heard through friends, most of my ex’s seem like they’re happily married with children, and I wonder if any of them would even have any brain space dedicated to my memory anymore.  My guess is that they would be surprised to see me, pause for a second to recall a memory, and then smile at how the memory felt like a different life so long ago.  She would say I looked good and ask what I’ve been up to, but then be distracted by one of her children, and before I could answer her question, she’d tell me it was good running into me before politely saying goodbye.  I would be left standing there alone, happy that she found love and children, comfortable that it wasn’t in God’s plan for us to be together, but alone nonetheless.  But alright- I’ll try this exercise…

I track down an old girlfriend…

Claire, Bonnie, Danielle, Alexis, Merri, Paige, Becca, Kristen, Melanie…

hmm..  no…   I’ll save the grave-digging for another time..

December Daily Writing Project: December 16

December 16-

You are stuck on the highway in the world’s worst traffic jam for at least two days.  What happens?

After having only crawled about a mile in over a day, sitting in traffic on I45, I knew every channel on the radio by heart.  Thank God it was mild enough weather keep the windows down instead of running the A/C or the car would’ve died much sooner.  Nevertheless, it was Tuesday afternoon when the car finally wouldn’t start back up, surrounded by all these other cars either dead or dying.

            My car wasn’t the first to die by a long shot.  Just from walking around and talking to other cars on the road, it was clear that many people’s cars had started failing on Monday night, but the people hadn’t wanted to desert their vehicle.  It likely was the only property they owned after all.  Everything to the east had been decimated as far as anyone could tell.

December Daily Writing Project: December 15

December 15-

A beginner’s guide to skipping out of work.

One of my old coworkers once said that the best way to skip out of work is to tell your boss that “I’m pissing out of my ass”, but that you’re only able to use that excuse just once.  And I agree with that.  Well, partially.

The main rule for skipping out of work is to stay original.  While my coworker’s excuse was gross, it’s strongest point is that it’s unique.  If you ever try using that excuse again, a red flag will surely be raised.  So, don’t be repetitive. 

Don’t regularly skip out, no matter what the excuse. 
Pretend that you did everything you could to come in, but it just didn’t work out.  
Butter the boss up first.  Maybe you did a great job on a project earlier that week, so you’re in high standing.  Maybe you and the boss went out for some beers and laughs the other day.  One good way to skip out is to first get the boss on your side so that they don’t immediately doubt your excuses.

December Daily Writing Project: December 14

December 14- 

Write a ransom note.

I have your heart.  If you want it back, you must meet these demands…

You must read my mind, knowing when to be challenging and when to be supportive, knowing when to be a sinner and when to be a saint, when to be driven and when to be chill, exactly how I want.

You must not grow old or boring.

You must always think that I’m the best thing since air conditioning.

If these demands are not met, I will take your heart and squeeze it in my fists.  I will pull it and stab it until it begins to break.  Eventually, I may just give you your heart back, but it will be mutilated and gristly.  All demands must be met constantly, until I say so.