The End of the Longest Year

Even after falling off the face of the earth for the last three months of 2006, I can't help but look back at my bountiful contributions to the blogosphere this past year and marvel that I had so much free time on my hands. Yes, as the year wore on my voracious appetite for the clatter of a keyboard diminished as my life got busier and my brother got safer, but as I look back on the year that was, I am overcome by the many trials both myself and my loved ones endured in the most tumultuous year I can recall.

To give you proper perspective on how far we've come this year, I'll direct you to my first blog of 2006. Only a handful of people have ever seen this post. I posted it on a blog I coyly described as my "black site," a blog separate from The Longest Year that constituted my own personal essays that were too "gloom and doom" for the site I set up for my family. My cousin Brian knew about it. My friend Jasmyne knew about it. And my brother knew about it. But that's it. I'm sharing it now only because a year of hindsight and perspective would likely soften the gravity of my family's situation last December. But my less prescient avatar of a year ago brings it all back.

At this time last year I was unemployed, having recently been laid off from an unbearable job in the Thoms Proestler warehouse that only exacerbated my malaise over my brother's deployment to Iraq. My only solace came from my Playstation that efficiently whittled away the hours in my day as well as contributing to an unprecedented and unsightly weight gain. I reached the pinnacle of my girth at 235, the highest weight I've ever tallied -- including my ramen obsessed college years. And with all this going on, I know you are all shocked -- SHOCKED -- to learn I was also a bachelor. Any other doubts about my dire situation at the start of 2006? Take a look at my birthday present from the city of Rock Island. And the fact that my birthday comes the month after Christmas is no excuse.

The winter months passed with no change on the employment front, but what was disastrous for my bank account proved invaluable in helping my family acclimate themselves to the anxiety of a family at war. As the new year began, my brother and I started having regular conversations over instant messenger. Not only did this afford me the opportunity to update my family with alarming regularity, it also allowed me to compile two "Rolling Stone" articles between myself and my brother (revisit them here and here). Those two stories and one other (which I'll get to later) are three of my favorite pieces I've ever written.

About the time I got a trash can for my birthday, things started to turn around. Not pleased with my ever-expanding ass, I took the lead from my mother and got on Weight Watchers. Since I had inherited her tendency to eat when stressed, I knew that if I didn't get control of my caloric intake I'd make quick work of even my most forgiving elastic waistbands. By the end of the summer I had lost over forty pounds and scratched the surface of the 180's (which I had not seen since high school). Despite a few awkward side-effects to my new eating habits and exercise regimine, I shaved off my extra chin and I'm proud to say it has not grown back despite my slightly increased gluttony over the holidays (you try saying "No" to mom's broccoli casserole).

After a couple months playing biographer for my brother, good fortune finally came my way on March 22nd, when the television station of my youth called to offer me a job. The next day I joined KWQC's studio crew. The fact that I'm working at the number one television in my hometown has become old hat (unless you're impressed by it, at which point I will say "bask in my glorious self-importance"), but after spending four years bartending, warehousing, and retailing, finally getting a job in a medium to which my talents are suited was a godsend. It's led to some of the best moments of my life (as well as a prescription for anti-anxiety medication Three cheers for elevated heart rate!!).

The world of news introduced me to myraid new things, the first of which was MySpace. Within my first month on the studio crew, I joined the social network along with a bevy of my coworkers. I got settled just in time for the infamous Bloggergate -- in which a disgruntled and borderline insane director posted a venomous diatribe about my boss' religious persuasion. The director was suspended for a week and all of us in the studio were gloriously entertained. Aside from centralizing the office gossip, MySpace also served as a tremendous hub for communicating with Andrew and his legions of fans.

And that communication became increasingly important as things in Iraq deteriorated. From the destruction to the Golden Mosque to the burgeoning civil war, we received weekly updates from Andrew regarding the troubling situation. And just when it seemed the US had scored a major victory in the death of al-qaeda in Iraq leader Al-Zarqawi, fate dealt my family a swift backhand. The night after that momentous kill, my brother's humvee hit an IED that obliterated his vehicle and seriously injured both himself and his driver. Naturally, our world stopped as Andrew was put on a plane and sent back to the States. The attack severed a nerve in his leg, an injury that will be with him for the rest of his life. Andrew has adjusted well to the injury -- his mobility is quite remarkable considering everything -- but he will face many difficult trials ahead as his military career winds down.

Speaking of career changes, I made a drawn out transition from studio grunt to full-time photojournalist. The promotion has not been void of blessings, though I miss many of the hubris-lite folks I worked with in the studio. Three months in news and I'm still wondering whether it's an appropriate fit for me. I thought I was a pretty cynical guy until I started working in news where a good day at the office usually means somebody was shot, killed, maimed or had their house burn down. There's nothing more distasteful than showing up at a person's front door because your assignment editor heard a 1079 call (coroner requested) only to have a police officer shoo you away because it was a natural death. And instead of informing people, we tend to just scare and alarm them. Perspective is anti-thetical to our news philosophy.

However, my new position has had its fair share of upside. The first is money. Hopefully by the time baseball comes around I will be watching Alfonso Soriano's Cubs debut in my own home. For a self-appointed loner like myself, having a place of my own is essential. The other blessing has been my induction into the revered Highlight Zone. Of all the things we do at KWQC, the Highlight Zone is the only thing that is guaranteed to be positive from top to bottom. It's a rush like no other and it's pretty much assurred I will be up until four in the morning on Friday nights, because it's quite the chore coming down from a night of Zoning.

A side benefit of getting into the Zone mix was finally being able to fulfill a childhood dream: producing the Rock Island Football highlight film. For those who didn't get it for Christmas in glorious DVD form -- you can check out a much blockier version on my MySpace page. Although I would advise you wait if you're ever going to watch the real thing.

So, that was pretty much my year. I'm sure I'm forgetting a handful of worthy anecdotes (ever tried to keep a camera steady while a tiger cub is pawing at your crotch?), but this was long enough. To finish up, I'll leave you with a list of my favorite blogs of the past year and five things I intend to do in 2007.

Happy New Year all. Don't be strangers.

Top 5 Blogs of 2007

1. The Hum
2. Garfield, Your Ass is Next
3. Identity Crisis: Am I Funny?
4. The Hot 111
5. Apparently, I Need a Girlfriend

Top 5 Resolutions for 2007

1. Buy a House
2. Finish the Sledding Syndicate Highlight Film
3. Remember Who Matters
4. Start My Brother's Book
5. Find a Girlfriend and End the Joke