2018 Year end review

Yeah, I decided to call it a year end review. Makes more sense to me, at least at the moment.

1. What did you do in 2018 that you'd never done before?
 Yeah, no. And I thought last year was boring...

 2.  Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
 I didn't make a resolution last year. I probably won't make one this year as this is being written on  12/30.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
 Only person I can think of is a co-worker but again, we aren't close.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
 An old classmate died this year. It didn't hit me until I wrote a memorial to him on facebook and had a mini breakdown.

5. What countries did you visit?
I haven't left my state this year, let alone out of the country.

6. What would you like to have in 2019 that you lacked in 2018?
My own place. I said it once and I'll keep saying it until I actually do something about it. Also, a blu ray/DVD player.

7. What date from 2018 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
June 2018, I was voted employee of the month at my job.

8.  What was your biggest achievement of the year?
See previous answer

 9. What was your biggest failure?
I had to turn down a job opportunity because it was too out of the way. The year was too dull for anything to really have happened.

10.Did you suffer illness or injury?
No, thank goodness. My insurance is pending so I wouldn't be able to afford a doctor's appointment if something was wrong.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
TV shows and manga to pass the time.

12.  Whose behavior merited celebration?
Hey, I did win employee of the month, ya' know?

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I dunno, I was probably too bored this year to notice.

14.Where did most of your money go?
Meds, groceries and coffee

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Everything that 2018 got me excited for won't be released until 2019. Go figure...

16. What song will always remind you of 2018?
I found an 80s Madonna song, "Think of me", that's quite the earworm. Another song from the 80s, Willie Collins' "Where you gonna be tonight" is a close second.

 17.Compared to this time last year, are you:
-Happier or sadder: Hate to admit but sadder.
-thinner or fatter: According to a recent doctors appointment, a LOT fatter.
-Richer or poorer: A tad poorer but I'll still spend.

18.What do you wish you'd done more of?
See "Struggle Summer II: The Dulling" to see what I wish I'd done more of.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
See "Struggle Summer II: The Dulling" to see what I wish I'd done less of.

20. How was your Christmas spent?
 With family

21. Did you fall in love in 2018?
As always, I fall in love all the time.

22. Did your heart break in 2018?
Probably but due to how dull this year was, I couldn't remember even if I tried.

23. What was your favorite TV program?
Black Lightning and possibly New Amsterdam?

24. Did you know anybody who got married?
I know my cousin got engaged to a former co-worker. Besides that, I don't recall.

25. What states did you visit in 2018?
 Just the one I live in.

26. Where were you when 2018 began?
Probably at home. I don't recall...

27. Who were you with?
Myself

28. Where were you when 2018 ended?
See answer #26

29. Who were you with when 2018 ended?
A pillow and blanket

 30. What was the best book you read?
"Devilman" volume 1 by Go Nagai

31. What was your greatest musical discovery?
This..this year or ever?

32. What did you want and get?
A better understanding about why I need to find a new job. 

33.What did you want and not get?
A new job that involved writing. Though I openly admit I was really looking for such until early 2019 and this blog is for 2018.

34. What was your favorite film of this year?
Between "Black Panther" and "Infinity War", got to go with "Black Panther".

35. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Nothing on my birthday but one of my best friends took me out for Japanese food the day after. I turned 30-something.

36. Where did you go on vacation?
Nowhere

37. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2018?
It's only Black Hipster when I go out. Because I work at a call center, I just dress like a schlub. 

38. What kept you sane?
If I didn't know the answer for this last year, I definitely don't know the answer this year. This year was maybe too dull to go insane about. Maybe those few times of being with friends stretched a long way. Maybe my imagination helped. I really don't know.

39. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I dunno, honestly. Plus sized model Ashley Graham is pretty hot...

40. What political issue stirred you the most?
Don't wanna talk politics right now. It makes my dick itch...

41. Did you have to go to the hospital?
Early February 2018- I caught a bug from work. It wasn't a typical bug because I was in pain for 24 hours and couldn't sleep. I ubered to the hospital early the next morning, thinking it might be the flu. Turned out it was a stomach bug.

42.  How many concerts did you see in 2018?
None

43. Did you have a favorite concert in 2018?
See previous answer

44.  Who were the best new people you met?
Um, there's Glee...and...that might be it.

45. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
If I did, I don't remember.

46. What was your most embarrassing moment of 2018?
Maybe not being able to keep up with my friends the way I used to when it comes to drinking. Or being rejected by a woman I possibly had a chance with years ago.

47.  Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2018?
see answer #32

48. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

Some days won't end ever and some days pass on by
"I'll be working here forever, at least until I die
Damned if you do, damned if you don't
I'm supposed to get a raise week, you know damn well I won't..."

-Huey Lewis and the News "Workin' for a livin'" 

Super Duper Senior expands...?

Hey, ya'll,
 A while back, I realized that I've had this blog for over 6 years. Though it has been fun sharing my stories of my joys, pains and geekdom with my readers, I feel that this blog is in need of something...more. I'm not talking about giving the blog up but wanting to expand. I am a writer, I've done it professionally, and it was with the help of this blog, along with writing classes, that have helped me become a better writer. I want to use these skills (that I think I have, I know I'm not the greatest) and my awkward, dry sense of humor to reach new heights.

Today, Blogger.com. Tomorrow, the world...or you know, maybe Cleveland.

Am I about to start asking for cash? Not that I can think of, but I won't complain if you wanna give me some. I do want to begin doing things such as interviews and podcast but I wouldn't know where to begin with podcasts. I guess I can ask for help.

"But Super Duper Senior, if you don't want our money, what do you want from me?"Well, maybe you, yes, YOU, can spread the word about my blog. It'd be nice for people to leave comments. I want to know if people agree, disagree, feel neutral or just want to tell me to shut up already.

In the end, I want to make my blog more entertaining, not only for myself but for you all too. I also think, in my head,  that it takes more than talking about emotions and likes to get noticed in the world. Again, that may just be me...

P.S. If you're a professional writer reading this and am intrigued about anything I've written professionally, please leave a comment in the comment section and let me know.

Struggle Summer II: The Dulling

You readers recall a couple of years ago, I wrote a blog called "Struggle Summer" that was about what I felt was one of the worst summers of my adult life. 2018 may top that theory but for far different reasons. While 2016 was depressing, this year was just downright boring or maybe so dull that it was depressing (?).

NOTHING HAPPENED. I got up, I went to work, I left work, came home, cooked, got on my laptop, went to bed, rinse, wash repeat. My friends seemed to have had their own issues so I barely saw any of them. I didn't go to many events because, to me, it's odd to go anything without friends tagging along.

My mood was normally grumpy, possibly because I didn't have anything to do or anyone to hang out with. When I did hang out with people, I'm pretty sure my grumpiness carried over to when I did hang out with friends which I'm sure made me a pleasure to hang around with.

Writing or reading would get started but never finished. I start writing an idea or reading something but then my mind would literally blank out and not come back to it. I dunno if this was in part of my job (times where my job can become soul eating  helped in me zoning out.

To sum up what's looking to be a short blog, other my job, I felt like I spent my summer in a bubble, floating in a void with only my laptop and the occasional food. I'm not pointing the finger of blame  at anyone other than myself. I know there could've been people to reach out to but, since the bubble became my comfort zone, I just didn't.

Here lies Super Duper Senior's summer. He never scored.

The inescapable A**hole (a play on the Incredible Hulk)

It's times like these when I truly wonder how small is Dayton, Ohio and who I hang out with...

A while ago, in the days of "Free your thoughts...", there was a couple I befriended that beyond being in that student organization but were nerds like me. She, Ariel, had a serious Sailor Moon obsession  while he, Asshole Mcgee, like his fair share of anime and Hong Kong movies. I was friendly with them, Ariel more than Asshole but I tried to be friendly to both when I saw them. Then, out of the blue, the two broke because...well, being in that group had that effect on people. Ariel blamed the group and cut all ties with them, probably from also seeing the writing on the wall but Asshole stuck around...

Yes, I will be referring to him as Asshole Mcgee throughout the blog. If I change it, it'll be to something similar like, Shit Breath, Fuck Nugget or Madam Lameborne. Guess which one of those is close to his real name.

Anyway, even after leaving that student group, Asshole Shit Breath was still a factor in my life due to the group of  mutual friends we had. I always played nice with him, even befriending the guys he lived with at the time. A mutual friend of ours, Dil, always mentioned movie nights that the guys at house always had and I was intrigued. I loved movies and I liked being around these people, despite feeling like the token, but I was never invited to these events. After a barbecue at their house, which we dubbed "cyborg house" (don't ask), they had announced they were having a movie night the next night. I kept hinting that there was a possibility of me showing up but I think no one, mostly Shit Breath, took me seriously. Oh, this is where thing get ugly...

The next day, as you can guess, I showed up for movie night, which surprised the shit out of some people. Well, my appearance seemed to piss off Shit Breath Fuck Nugget because after kicking around for about 15 minutes, Fuck Nugget and a couple of my friends walked up to me, asking me to leave. In my brain, I was thinking to myself "Which one shall I choke out first?"until Dil pretty much begged me to leave. I just turned and left, ignoring Dil even asking to drive me home. If I ever felt humiliated, if I ever began to hate white people, it would've began with that event. I proceeded to not speak to that group of friends for quite some time.

Months later, I ran into some of them at event happening at my old university where they apologized profusely. I think I punched Dil in arm for my troubles and went on to forgive. They proceeded to tell me how horrible Fuck Nugget Madam Ramborne became through that time period and I just laughed about hearing them finding out how terrible a person he was. Yet, most of these people still associated with him. Through time, they've began to disassociate with Madam but he keeps finding ways to show up in my life. Hang outs, on my way to work, this summabitch keeps popping up. I do my best to ignore him because if I didn't, I'd be in jail. Some friends still speak to him when they see him, which I guess would be the right thing to do. I've even had a friend who used to date him one ask why I won't squash things with him. It's very hard to squash things with someone who has made you feel so low. There's still friends who still affiliate with him (the main one I'm thinking of doesn't know about the problems we have) but you can't pick who your friends are friends with. I will always see Madam Rambone as the inescapable asshole, point blank, period.

GOD! It feels good to vent

Thundercats...Moar?

,This is a calmer approach to what I originally was going to write. This is a response to a response video done by Bob Chipman, known over the internet as MovieBob. In his video, Bob said that upcoming Thundercats reboot is a complete 180 from the original 1985 show, that fans of the original show don't have a reason to be upset about the new show because the new show is not for them.

I wonder which Lion-O has the bigger sword...

With this, I do completely agree with Bob. This isn't my ThunderCats and therefore, I have no reason to watch it. Those who are hanging on a heart attack about the show, please and do the same. This, however is where our agreement ends. Bob goes on to call the original Thundercats and other shows of the time, i.e. the 80s, brainless 30 minute toy commercials. Oh, Bob, now you've landed yourself in a minefield.

As an 80s baby, I have fond memories of those "mindless 30 minute toy commercials" and have actually had the chance to sit down watch a few of them recently. Guess what? They're not as mindless as you think. This isn't rose tinted nostalgia talking, this is mid 30s cynical me. Most of the my favorites had timing, stories and humor that made me say "How in the hell did that end up on a kids show?" I remember listening to the BGN Podcast where the creators of Jem (yes, that Jem) were guest on  the show. When, someone called the show and others like it 30 minute toy commercials, Christy Marx, the brain behind the show, let the audience know of the effort put onto these shows, including the writers and voice actors. Marx also said she's run into fans who have thanked her and said they were inspired to write or do music by Jem. I know 80s cartoons have gone to inspire me to write. You can't shit on that.

Now, if there is a same reboot with Silverhawks, then I'd be pisseed.

My drawing days (no pictures available, sorry)

First of all, I want to dedicate this blog to my old friends in the neighbor and the fun times we had playing our super hero personas...

Did y'all know I that I used to draw my own comics? No? Probably because I've never mentioned it. Yeah, I used to draw my own comics when I was about ages 8-14-ish. Was I any good at it is another question. I was inspired by a friend of mine who lived up the street from who was also a huge comic book fan. One day, he showed me drawings and told me that he was going to make a comic book featuring all of our neighborhood friends.

The moment he told me this, I went home and began drawing my own heroes. Of course, his comics were like actually comics and mine were more "page 1. Heroes meet. page 2. Heroes go to their destination, etc...". I didn't even have panels on the pages. I could never draw on his level but I didn't know that at the time. I recall even making my own X-team known as "X-Club tm" which consisted of possibly the most generic group of heroes ever. I even created the most generic villain for them named Mr. Destruction who was literally just a evil business man with electrical powers. No origin on how he got those powers or why he's evil, he just is.

I recall even drawing Marvel characters fighting characters from Street Fighter II. I could be in for some money if I can find the pictures and prove that I drew them around 1992.

Alas, kept noticing how detailed all of my friends drawings were compared to mine. He had bragged about how he had won an award for his drawings and compared to his drawings, mine people looked straight out of "Minecraft". Also, I don't think I was putting in as much effort as he did. So, at age 14-ish, I decided drawing comics wasn't my thing and though I sketched every once, I put up my mom's contract paper and drawing pencil. It was also at this age that I actually began reading comics, not just collecting them and thought to myself, ; "Hell, I could write this!"...

Untitled (assholes in yellow hats you used to admire)

There’s a saying I learned as of late, “Never meet your heroes”. Well, I can’t say that I met the person who this blog entry is about and I dunno if I can ever say this person my hero. Kindred spirit that I felt sympathy for, maybe.

In the past few weeks, there’s been I guess you could say a revolt against entertainment website, Channel Awesome, by former content creators of the site. Among the asshole behavior listed that the website creators did to their employees, there came a document that had shown that the former content creator, Justin “Jewwario” Carmichal, had sexually assaulted and groomed women that worked with the site and fans of his. Yes, Jewwario, the “man” that a previous blog of mine “Goodbye Stranger” was about. A man I felt a connection to, a man with a wife. Just...fuck.

But I shouldn’t have been surprised. A couple of years back, a former beau who had connections to Channel Awesome told me that Jewwario was not on the up and up. When she first told me, I didn’t want to believe her. He came off as too nice of a guy to do what she was accusing him of. I...I had a connection to him. We both like Japanese exclusive video games and Tokusatsu. He didn’t look like someone that could do such a thing. But that’s the thing with mask, you can’t wear one forever. It doesn’t have to be someone who doesn’t look like a dangerous person to be a dangerous person. Since I didn’t discover Jewwario until after he died, I put  what my former beau told me in the back of my mind, but disassociated my self from him in every way shape and form. I keep my blog entry about him up however, until today.

I really want to address a video he did a while back called “you are not stupid”. It was a video where he talked to his fans, giving them possible confidence in perhaps their darkest time. I know I watch it a few times myself and to think he made this video while manipulating others is very disturbing. But if anyone feels stupid from following his words, he’s got one thing right, YOU ARE NOT STUPID. None of us are, we were manipulated. The smartest people in the world can be manipulated if they are caught off balance just once by assholes with hidden agendas. Keep knowing that you are as smart as the galaxy is and beyond. Wow, that was heavy.

To his victims, I’m sorry that he wasn’t the man he made himself out to be. I’m sorry if you told someone and they didn’t believe you. No one should ever give you the benefit of the doubt. I know sorry isn’t enough but…

and finally, for Jewwario... お前は野郎だ