Here’s a quick recap of my 2011. I usually write something longer, but I am not in the mood.
Pardon me for being morbid but as I was skimming through my 2011, the two most weighty events involved deaths of two men I never met. No, I am not referring to the vile Bin Laden, the “dear leader”, the macho man, or even the Big Man. I am talking about the treasured comedian Patrice O’ Neal and the revolutionary Steve Jobs.
Patrice O’Neal may not have had the impact the world that, say, Elizabeth Taylor did, but it’s my year-in-review so shut up and keep reading, please ;)
The two men’s deaths put into perspective what types of lives we can lead. Steve Jobs changed the world; while Patrice O’Neal changed the worlds of the people around him. You can tell a lot about someone by reading the “RIP” tweets in the days following their deaths. While Jobs’s tweets were mostly admiration and respect for the man; Patrice’s were highly emotional and contemplative. People felt they had lost their best friend despite never meeting him.
Most of the population will never achieve what Steve Jobs did but we all have an opportunity to make an impact on each other’s lives. One Life, One Chance.
Good Movies I Saw (no particular order)True grit
Hall Pass
Scream 4
Fast 5
Horrible Bosses
Crazy Stupid Love
Moneyball
The Muppets
Good Books I Read (ordered)
1. A False Spring by Pat Jordan
2. The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
3. The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins
4. Joe Dimaggio by Richard Ben Cramer
5. Shit my Dad Says by Justin Halpern
6. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson
7. The Unforgiving Minute by Craig Mullaney
8. The Last Boy by Jane Leavy
9. Veeck as in Wreck by Bill Veeck
10. Bloodclots in the Mainstream by Rob Santello
Music (no particular order)
Horrible Crowes - Elsie
Mighty Mighty Bosstones - The Magic of Youth
Blink 182 - Neighborhoods
Cobra Skulls - Agitations
The Black Keys - El Camino
Dropkick Murphys - Going Out in Style
Face to Face - Laugh Now Laugh Later
Frank Turner - England Keep my Bones
Have Nots - Proud
Rise Against - Endgame
Moments of the year
Clearwater 2011
Horsemen Hangout – Two words. Fudge Rounds
Hurricane Irene
Bamboozle
XTU
Ocean City Maryland
Strikerz Bowling – Those damn house balls just don’t spin.
Concerts
Dad’s Retirement Party
Phillies – It’s not about the end, it’s about the ride
Pineapple United – Soccer is back in my life!
Wing Bowl – My first
Earthquake – I felt it
MLB Playoffs – If you are a baseball fan, you had to like the ride that was the 2011 playoffs
Patrice O’Neal / Steve Jobs – RIP
Gaslight Anthem / Springsteen – Saw Bruce for the first time as a surprise guest in Asbury Park for Gaslight Anthem’s holiday show.
