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2005 Year End Summary
1/5/2006
The path of life seemed to quicken this last year. Quicken, and twist, and turn in even wider divergences. People moved, switched jobs, got married, and had LOTS of babies. The misfortunes of Hurricane Katrina and Iraq pushed the country into a very different political climate. In so many areas a visceral tipping point could be felt -- making the caterpillar that metamorphosed on our porch an appropo motif for the year as a whole.
My own personal tipping point was the band, and it eclipsed all else. Working with Jay and Peter I finished recording and released and album, went thru several versions of the band Website and labored over numerous support graphics such as logos, postcards, fridge magnets, the album cover, and images from our first photo shoot. We played out for the first time and I performed as the lead singer in a band for the first time ever. As if that wasn't enough, we formulated a business plan for the next year and I've even written the majority of the next album.
All this focus on the Mesmers has exacted a price: my finances. I'm sorely in debt, and baring the death of a heretofore unknown, wealthy and generous relative, I don't see any quick solution to this. My predicament is hardly unique -- a great many small business owners scramble towards solvency with bankruptcy nipping at their heels. I suppose catastrophic failure is nothing if not a strong motivator.
Hard work aside, I did manage to fit a good amount of enjoyment into the year. A long drive to Florida, another big Pumpkin party, many concerts, and even bits of hedonism here and there. Most of all, however, I remember the many fond times spent with family, Scott and Mike, and celebrating 5 years of living with Will. 2005 was a hectic, but very enjoyable year.
Other Things In My Life
- Took up a new job with an old boss.
- Had a bunch of long-overdue dental work done.
- Sold my stake in an apartment complex and bought a cabin in the woods.
- Revamped my fitness routine with a personal trainer and a new bike.
- Went to serve for the first time on Jury duty - and was immediately rejected
- Took up a whole new direction in singing.
Best Picture and Graphics
After a couple of years of practice my ability to actually draw things has slowly been realized.
Of Friends and Family
- My Brother got married.
- David got married.
- Laura had her first play performed.
- Scott graduated with his MBA.
- Chris and Dave moved to Statton Virginia.
- Peter and Jen got married.
- Molly and Kevin got married.
- Tom bought a house.
- Jeremy started a new band, Dragonsong.
- My Brother and his wife had their first child.
- Lexy and Miles had their first child.
In Passing
- My Paternal Grandmother - she will be missed
- Johnny Carson
- A Pope
- Bob Moog
- Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist
- Rosa Parks
- Will's Maternal Grandmother
- Aunt Sarah
- Roger Rheil - maker of the Synchronar Digital Watch (which, I'm afraid, makes it very unlikely I'll ever own one).
In the World
- The War in Iraq continued to sour and public opinion of both it and the President took a nose dive.
- A massive and deadly Indian Ocean tsunami.
- Spain legalized gay marriage.
- Then Canada did.
- While the U.K offered "civil unions".
- A huge hurricane, Katrina, ravaged New Orleans and the U.S. responded miserably.
- George Bush is caught spying on Americans.
Films & Shows I'll remember
2005 was a particularly good year for movies and boxes sets of classic TV shows. Add in a bunch of classic Noir flicks I've been renting and you can bet I keep our cathode-ray console unit warm and humming. Top five favorites were:
- American Astronaut
- Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
- Primer
- The Big Sleep (Bogard version)
- The Thin Man
Others of note:
- The Incredibles
- The Asphalt Jungle
- The Clone Wars Animated Series
- Naked Fame - The Hard Road From Porn to Pop
- Raising Arizona - People have been telling me I HAD to see this movie since in came out in 1987...
- Moonlighting the series - I'd forgotten how good this show was. Doesn't everyone want to be David Addison?
- The Graffiti Artist
- Serenity
- Jar Head
- Sin City
- High Noon
- Key Largo
- Horatio's Drive: America's First Road Trip
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
- The Journey of Jared Price
- King Kong
- Nine Songs
- The Island
Books on the Nightstand
- Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart - Gordon Livingston, M.D.
- Ultimo - An imaginative narration of life under the earth with projections by John Vassos and the text by Ruth Vassos
- The Maltese Falcon - Dashiell Hammett
- The Dharma Bums - Jack Kerouac
- Wind, Sand and Stars - Antoine de Saint-Exupery
- Caruso's Method of Voice Production - Marafioti
- Freakonomics - Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner
Memorable Music in the Player
- The Inspirational Sounds of Mad Professor - Mad Professor
- Future Perfect - Autolux
- I Am the Blues - Willie Dixon
- Shadowland - K.D.Lang
- Nashville Acoustic Sessions - Raul Malo
- Tender Buttons - Broadcast
- Cry - Simple Minds
1/5/2006 | Permanent Link
