2016. Goodbye and good riddance!

Well, no one I knew died in a helicopter crash this year, so it's better than 2015. That's for sure.

 

Along with all the awful things that happened in the world at large in 2016, I also saw more than two dozen hard-working, dedicated co-workers lose their jobs, which either disappeared entirely or were shifted to GateHouse. Managed to keep my job, but not confident about 2017. Wouldn't be surprised to see the entire operation shut down. And if not, based on 2016's cuts, I'm probably "next man out." But I'm prepared as well as could be expected for whatever happens. Guess my mantra for 2017 is "prepared for the worst, hoping for the best."

 

And to cap off this shitty year, the neighbors are setting off hundreds of dollars of fireworks. I hope the motherfuckers starve to death. Or have raging, burning piles.

 

I have a neighbor who smoked the dube and now thinks everything is way funny, has to be way loud about it and has that douchy stoner laugh. And the night is just getting started.

Anyone have a grenade they as want to "misplace"?

 

Kiddo woke up screaming at 12:45. Doesn't want a bottle. Best I can tell just wants to have a long conversation about the cats (11 months, so can't actually tell what he's been chatting about...). Oh, and wife's sick. Not from booze. Just sick. Happy new year everyone!

 

Best year of my career. Recognized, in a very positive manner, by my peers and competitors I respect. Promoted into an ideal gig.

Our kids still are not assholes.

Wife and I made our Dave Ramsey style debt scream in September. Damn that was wonderful. 21 years after college.

Because of that, I was able to donate money and give freely to groups I believe in and people I know who are struggling. That touched my heart. Otherwise I would have just lost it gambling on sports.

The man who I thought was my father is still in prison and didn't make parole. That's good for all children.

McCarthy is still coaching the Packers, but otherwise, a pretty great 2016.

 

My basketball team played Cleveland State in Quicken Loans Arena. I parked my rental in Kyrie Irving's spot and left tickets for Ernest Byner. That was awesome.

I also watched the Knicks in Madison Square Garden for the first time and got my players a photo op with Walt Frazier on the court. That was awesome.

We played San Diego. We stayed on Old Town, I spent a day downtown and our 3OT game allowed me to drop Ron Burgandy lines during in game tweets. That was awesome.

Dr. Shaquille O'Neal showed up at our graduation and presented degrees to my players. That was cool.

My associate AD retired after 55 years. I got to both write and pitch the stories about how Branch Rickey came to his homecoming game, how the Steelers kept him and cut Unitas, how he outperformed Frank Gifford one year and how the Dolphins won a Super Bowl with two of his former players being quarterbacked by his Steeler teammate. And when the Undefeated ran his piece, the other lead stories were about Jesse Owens and Barack Obama. That was a good day.

The AD is letting me write a column and my student writers aren't that bad writing optionals. I'm happy about that...I just wish my teams were winning.

I live 20 feet from the river and there was little damage from the Category 3 hurricane. So I'm thankful.

Not a bad year for me.