2012 is Almost upon us and what better way (for me at least) to send 2011 off than by looking back at 2011. SO TURN THOSE CLOCKS BACK AND REMINISCE... I shall start.

January:

I turned 22! January was a meh month for me. I was jobless, lost, and searching for any source of hope. I had a bleak outlook on life at this particular time.

February:

I CUT MY HAIR!!!! Said it was time for a change and I cut my hair. Got a job a week later and started on the 14th. Working in a hospital. February was a very busy month for me. Changed me.

March:

Participated in a nineteen day fast. March 2 through the 20th. Apart of my religion. March was a rather calm month. Very humbling, if I can say that. At this point im like "hey I'm enjoying life, maybe this is it." BOY WAS I WRONG!!

April:

Started off very promising. I began work on my short film, never given a name. Image below from rehearsal footage. Also the beginning of my dark moments through the year. I just had a phase closing out this month where I was ill. Nothing excited me, the motivation wasn't there. The will do anything was just absent.

May:

Of course this mood carried over into May. A feeling of emptiness. It was like my life was a never ending horror movie. I was running away from everything that made me who I was. *cue sad music

June:

One day at the beginning of June, I took a ride, I rented a cabin in the middle of nowhere for 2 nights. I kept playing back all the self considered "good times" of recent memory. At some point in that cabin, I laughed. I began to sing with the birds. I became happy again, I became me.

July:

Mischief Managed. I'm me again. Totally happy.. Getting by... Thoughts on life: I'm single, things will fall into place... I had a feeling that something good would happen. Real Soon. Until July 30........ One of my closest friends died..

August:

Miserable beginning. Jakarta's funeral... The kindest man I ever had the priveledge to know on a personal level. When he saw you his face lit up. Only 28 years old....

I took a trip to Atlanta. Much needed. Motivated me extremely. Those 3 days seemed like a week. And I enjoyed every moment of it. Did I mention motivated?

September:

The Beginning. I've always wanted to act. To become someone else. That form of entertainment excites me like none other. To escape into another time period or another world. Just fascinating. Well the local theatre was holding auditions for Othello. I decided to do it. Got a part!!!!!! LETS GO!

Rehearsals were going well, and then our director died. Rest in Peace, Tommy Jackson. The man who gave me a chance to live my dream.

Also of note. The Conrad Murray trial began. Sad moments indeed.

October:

The show must go on right? Rehearsals continued throughout October for the show. Around the beginning. I got a call from someone at the theatre. "How would you like to be in a film being shot here in Natchez?"

Life changing. I got a role in the film. It's called Rise Again, directed by the great Craig Ross, Jr. He's done many many great things throughout his career, including, Blue Hill Avenue and The Mannsfield 12. Working with him was remarkable.

SICK!

On Oct 26th... A day of filming for me... I cried.. I cried like I've never cried a day in my life. Tears of joy. And tears of sadness. My greatest source of inspiration. In my belief, the reason I am who I am. I STILL Love her...

November:

Othello opens! Great success. One guy who travels the globe stated, "I've seen this play performed everywhere all over the Earth... and you guys did it better than anyone I've ever seen."

I was still working on the movie too! So of course I'm extremely happy at this point...

and once again another call...

"Michael, how would you like to be Peter Cratchit in this years version of Christmas Carol here at the theatre?" My first thoughts: Me? A musical? Singing? Ummm.. I'll try it.

Few days into rehearsals, I was named Assistant Stage Manager. Movin' on up!

December:

Christmas Carol begins and everyone loves it. My favorite moment was performing in front of over 500 children and hugging each and every single one of them. Some said it was the best Cratchit family they've ever seen. The emotion was surely there. My singing was pretty good too to say I've never done it before. I signed up for lessons after the play....

After the showing.. The theatre began work on Sordid Lives.. I volunteered to help and was named STAGE MANAGER..woo woo...

And they held auditions for Southern Exposure. I wasn't going to go, but a voice said go. I went..

And I got casted! But also.. to be approached by the Exec Director of the theatre and the Director of Sordid Lives and for them to say "We want you to be the Asst Director on this production, and look forward to being placed on the Board of Directors really soon"... an extremely rewarding statement for the hundreds of hours I've put in to living my dream.

I submitted a script to the Exec Director and he said it was one of the most well written stage plays that has came across his desk in a decade. That script is the reason I will be assistant director and joining the board.. He said, "you have a passion and a vision for theatre that makes you stand out"

Truly blessed..

Here's a rehearsal shot of Christmas Carol.....

In closing. I just want to say thanks to those who read all of this, your patience is mighty. I'm looking forward to 2012. Big things are in store. I have landed another movie role hopefully set to shoot late summer/fall of 2012. I'm definitely aiming toward the sky. Wish me luck guys...

And I understand that at times I may have gotten down. I realize though that sometimes life just throws haymakers, and if you're not ready for them, you'll get knocked down. The memories of the time spent with ... we'll call her "Susie", motivated me. And I have no clue if "Susie" will ever see this but, if so..

Thank you. I can't imagine the place I'd be in if I hadn't met you. You're an angel. Wherever you are.... I'm living my dream.. and.. just know that I value your support..even if I can't see you or hear you... I miss you.... I love you....

Life's a parade...and the world's a stage....

BRING ON 2012!!!!!!!!!!

^^ Glad you had a good one.

Mine:

[img:$uid]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Fujiyama_rollercoaster_2005-05.JPG[/img:$uid]

aww

2012 will be much better..

Tomorrow the birds will sing! Be Brave! Face Life!... Charlie Chaplin

Mephiles said:

aww

2012 will be much better..

Tomorrow the birds will sing! Be Brave! Face Life!... Charlie Chaplin

Why would you say that?

She just said her year was like a day at the amusement park

Oh! And congrats on your year, Othello

You've done more things in one year than I have done in my last decade

PANDURITO said:

Mephiles said:

aww

2012 will be much better..

Tomorrow the birds will sing! Be Brave! Face Life!... Charlie Chaplin

Why would you say that?

She just said her year was like a day at the amusement park

yeah... mosy of the year was thrilling. The last couple of months have been a bit of a struggle.

But next year is going to be like riding all the good rides.

PANDURITO said:

Mephiles said:

aww

2012 will be much better..

Tomorrow the birds will sing! Be Brave! Face Life!... Charlie Chaplin

Why would you say that?

She just said her year was like a day at the amusement park

I saw rollercoaster and thought.. life is a rollercoaster.. ups and downs..twists and turns..

im sorry

Lisa, glad your year was filled with excitement!

2011 was stressful, but i got a lot done!!!! good year

the first part of my year was sort of stressful, but then in june we found our house, moved, our son is doing great in school, we love our new town, found a wonderful church, enrolled in college, and things are really good. only thing we need to work on is finding my husband a different job, but other than that we are happy as can be. i would say my 2011 was a year of blessings and faith.

Average. Nothing too bad. Nothing exceptional either.

There's quite a few good memories though!

I am glad it's over even though I doubt the new one will be any better .

But nice to see a new face on the org I never saw before !

2011 wasn't my year at all. I guess I should be hopeful about 2012 but I'm not so sure. I just feel like blah. Guess my attitude isn't right but that's just how I truly feel.

2011 was (is?) a transition year for me. So, 2012 should be awesome. A project I have been working on for more than 5 years (an idea I had 10 years ago) will go into production this Spring and will be presented to the powers that be for their approval to go global.

6/10.

The best part: I'm making ends meet by working in music again and don't have to deal with all the stressful shit that trying to survive in the academic world with grants and other types of bogus forms of income will inevitably entail. I love it that I don't have to think about much anything else than music and matters related to it at the moment.

The worst part: I had to gamble with my professional life and ended up losing my apartment in the process. I had to move back with my mother in June, because I couldn't get another apartment soon enough. I only had to live in her place for 6 days before finding a new place for myself, but it was embarrassing as hell considering my age (I'm 32).

Meh, on second thought I'll give it 5/10.

kimrachell said:

the first part of my year was sort of stressful, but then in june we found our house, moved, our son is doing great in school, we love our new town, found a wonderful church, enrolled in college, and things are really good. only thing we need to work on is finding my husband a different job, but other than that we are happy as can be. i would say my 2011 was a year of blessings and faith.

Great!

And stop making the rest of us look so bad!!

novabrkr said:

6/10.

The best part: I'm making ends meet by working in music again and don't have to deal with all the stressful shit that trying to survive in the academic world with grants and other types of bogus forms of income will inevitably entail. I love it that I don't have to think about much anything else than music and matters related to it at the moment.

The worst part: I had to gamble with my professional life and ended up losing my apartment in the process. I had to move back with my mother in June, because I couldn't get another apartment soon enough. I only had to live in her place for 6 days before finding a new place for myself, but it was embarrassing as hell considering my age (I'm 32).

Meh, on second thought I'll give it 5/10.

Fortunately I´ve never been in such a situation but I think there´s nothing wrong with moving back to your mother´s place for a short time considering the circumstances.

Glad you managed to improve your situation though.

Was is your own apartment or did you pay rent?

And 32 is not really too old to accept help, be it from your mother or your relatives or friends.

This whole year sucked major donkey dick.

Here's to hoping 2012 is way better.

JuliePurplehead said:

This whole year sucked major donkey dick.

Here's to hoping 2012 is way better.

So it was a good year for the donkey!

KoolEaze said:

novabrkr said:

6/10.

The best part: I'm making ends meet by working in music again and don't have to deal with all the stressful shit that trying to survive in the academic world with grants and other types of bogus forms of income will inevitably entail. I love it that I don't have to think about much anything else than music and matters related to it at the moment.

The worst part: I had to gamble with my professional life and ended up losing my apartment in the process. I had to move back with my mother in June, because I couldn't get another apartment soon enough. I only had to live in her place for 6 days before finding a new place for myself, but it was embarrassing as hell considering my age (I'm 32).

Meh, on second thought I'll give it 5/10.

Fortunately I´ve never been in such a situation but I think there´s nothing wrong with moving back to your mother´s place for a short time considering the circumstances.

Glad you managed to improve your situation though.

Was is your own apartment or did you pay rent?

And 32 is not really too old to accept help, be it from your mother or your relatives or friends.

Oh, I rented the apartment. I would have been able to renew the lease had I continued as a postgraduate / researcher / teacher in the University of Helsinki as the apartment I was living in was rented only to people working in the university. I'm doing something else. now.

My 2011 went up and down:

• Family: My Mom went through a few surgeries in the Spring (and missed my Dissertation Defense), but Thank God she is fine now... But my Granny passed away in November.
• Emotionally: Finally ended a bad situation, rekindled with an old friend, a crazy relationship in the late spring/summer, ending this year on a lonely note.
• Educationally: I defended my Dissertation in April and became a Doctor of Education after 9 years of hard work; graduated from Rutgers GSE in May. [img:$uid]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a384/themarbleintheoatmeal/smilies/character0112-1.gif[/img:$uid]
• Financially: Spent way too much on Prince tix in the beginning of the year, over-extended myself in the Summer, became a financial wreck in the Fall, holding it together right now... [img:$uid]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u55/BJ_BOBBI_JO9/Money%20related/10_12_8.gif[/img:$uid]
• Overall: Every year is filled with ups and downs, but I made it through 2011 with minimal bumps and bruises...

The first half was full of travelling (two very extended trips to Canada and India, and also a two-week trip to Guadeloupe). The second half has been slow and my only real accomplishment during the fall was to get back in shape, physically. Next year is the year of the dragon, and since I'm a fire dragon I have high expectations!

check my swag...

at 56 i still got swag

i haven't smoked a cig this year

i am just about in school

it was yet another year, no drink, no drug.

no matter whut issue may arise

i'm cool.

this is a 10 for 10 year

Meh.

JuliePurplehead said:

This whole year sucked major donkey dick.

Here's to hoping 2012 is way better.

PunkMistress said:

JuliePurplehead said:

Here's to hoping 2012 is way better.

My birthday is January 1... looking forward to starting off right this year.. Almost all signs point to YES

PunkMistress said:

JuliePurplehead said:

This whole year sucked major donkey dick.

Here's to hoping 2012 is way better.

JuliePurplehead said:

This whole year sucked major donkey dick.

Here's to hoping 2012 is way better.

^^^Yeah that.

2011 brought nothing but misery to me.

People chided me when I created that thread back in October where I was ready to say goodbye to this wretched year.

I would rather gouge my eyes out with tabasco-laced dull butterknives than reminisce month-by-month the way the O.P. intended.

Yeah...I hope that 2012 is better.

Had a few health things come up. Nothing that seems to be catastrophic, but being the Queen of Self-Diagnosis and such...I've stressed myself out once or twice.

Aside from having a freeloader in our home, I can't say that too many other negatives would define 2011.

I was juried into an arts center and have an "official" for realzzzz ART STUDIO, so that is what I will mostly tag on to 2011.