Let’s look back, shall we?
2010 was the year I hit the Big 4-0, suffered a stroke, recovered nicely and spent the rest of the year really living my life for the first time in a long time.
2011 was the year I decided to shamelessly, blatantly, unabashedly use self-promotion as a way to shamelessly, blatantly, unabashedly market myself. Uh, to little avail.
And that brings us up to this year, the year everything got shaken, rattled and rolled in my tiny little microcosm. Lots of travel. Got canned from two jobs. And ended up the luckiest human being on planet Earth.
*In January, I visited my friends Ron and Anthony in Dallas. Appeared on Ron’s morning show on WFAA-TV. Was reminded how much I love large, metropolitan cities and how much I love coming back to KC, which is way more my speed.
*Wrote a brilliantly snarky daily pop culture blog for the fine folks at MoxieQ.com. Even got the chance to hit the red carpet as a reporter at the 2012 GLAAD Awards in NY. (Hello, Cheyenne Jackson. Hugs, Bernadette Peters. Smooches, Megan Hilty.) Again, loved being in NYC, for about two days. MoxieQ closed up shop in March and my blogging slowed down to a crawl.
*Speaking of closing up shop, I was unceremoniously dumped by another employer over my BDay weekend in March. Imagine my surprise when four hours later (!!!) I got a call that would change my life. I was asked to try out for a re-launch of a local TV talk show. Auditions … countless focus groups … meetings with talent coaches … and lunches with agents all ensued. A whopping three months later I became the co-host of Kansas City Live. Ever had one of those “dream come true” moments? Well, this was mine. Someone pinch me. When one door closes … another, indeed, magically opens.
*The next few months were an unabated blur of preparation, rehearsal, hobnobbing and nervous energy. I nearly peed myself during the show’s dress rehearsal. We launched the show the week before the Olympics to our soon-to-be adoring public and then …
*… I left for an extensive two-week trip to India with my dear friend Mithra while the show was on hiatus for the summer Olympics. Every morning was a new adventure in Indian culture … heightened by the fact that I didn’t sleep for the first 72 hours. Climbed the Himalayas. Saw the Taj Mahal. Road a camel. Came within 20 feet of the Dalai Lama. And managed not to get amoebic dysentery. All in all, a life changing, Zen-tastic experience.
*Won another Emmy in July for a pro-bono piece I did on a local autism training center based in the heart of Johnson County. The piece was so heartfelt and spot-on that it practically wrote itself. (Technically, I tied in my category … but who cares? I still walked home with the gold!)
*Got the chance to interview more than my share of famous, semi-famous and used-to-be-famous-now-however-are-Z-list people. Matt Damon, Marion Ross, Bobcat Goldthwait, Barbara Eden, Dee Wallace, George Hamilton, Tech N9ne, Carson Kressley, John Krasinski and the list goes on and on. (Shout out Skippy from “Family Ties”!)
*Worked out with Madonna’s MDNA tour slackline dancers. Nearly had another stroke when I found out I was literally perched on the same slackline Madonna uses in rehearsals. I was on sacred and hallowed Madonna ground. It was nirvana to be near Madonna.
*Went to Austin, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Des Moines and LA multiple times throughout the year to visit friends. And made a pilgrimage to see the Mecca that is Mt. Rushmore in June.
*Maintained by overwhelming, irrational fear of horses by avoiding all horses. Even asked Kansas City Chief Eric Berry to be on our show to discuss it. He has the same freakish phobia I do.
*Spent lots of time hanging out with my beloved parental units. Literally. I’ve gotten a newfound respect for them. I think it’s mutual. Plus, they do a good job of keeping the paparazzi at bay.
As we head in to 2013, I’m blessed with an amazing life. Sprinkle in my too-good-to-be-true-friends and it was the perfect recipe for my past year of growth, harmony and blissful blogging. Thanks to everyone who’s been so supportive … and here’s to another year of controlled chaos and unbridled creativity.
Great Blog Michael —Your life in 2012 was somewhat like the CD I showed you of your life when you were six years old. You were always on the move. I do not think I have a scene where your not running, dancing, riding a three wheeler s four wheeler a two wheeler or ski’s (snow & water) or riding a tabogan. You were throwing rocks in the creek, going to three different zoo’s. Going to the Circus. Using conifir cones as a basball and hitting them out of the park with a small shovel. You were riding a riding horse when you were young and a real horse when we all went horseback riding in the mountain’s (Grandma Ruby at 70 was right behind you At Yellowstone you rode in Covered Wagons and watched Old Faithfull blow You did the Wonder Women Dance and didn’t forget the Lssso. I got you washing windows at home helping Mom. How about the pagent at Grand View where Mom made you a Paul Revere costume and also walking down the hill in it holding up one finger Paul Revere’s warning One if by Land Two if by Sea. At the Cabin pumping water from our well
Also how we all enjoyed the durango to Silverton Colorado vintage train ride. Ithink it is still running out there…..Then there were all the soccer games you played sweeeper or fullback for Grand View When playing with Friends you guy’s played Statue where you would spin each other around and what ever positin you landed in you had to stay in that position. Also climbing on each others back making a pyramid. In the mountains you spent many hours in a tire swing and atempted to lay still in a hammock which you fell out of many times
So you can see you were busy in 2012 but you certainly were no slouch in 1970 or all the time you were growing up For proof I now have the CD’d Mackie Memories
Happy New Year…..Dad & Mom
I’ve been wondering about MoxieQ. I really miss it as your forum for all things snark. Thank God I still have your blog when I need a pick-me-up.
So glad you had an awesome year & wish you all the best for 2013!
T.T.F.N., “superfan”
MoxieQ is dead … for the time being. They hope to start back up again soon, dear. Loving you, my dearest superfan. XOXO. M2, Esq.