This is going to be all over the place, not in order, and pretty much long.
So 2008 is going to be over soon. I don’t know how to feel about it. It had its ups and downs. I definitely learned a lot that’s for sure.? I can’t decide if I hated it or if I liked it. Maybe I’ll come to a conclusion once I am done writing this post.
2008:
2008 started like any other year. Around people and somewhere loud. I was actually attending a wedding at a horse racing track down the street from my house when the year turned 08. No, I do not live in Hickville. Arcadia has a racetrack called Santa Anita and the wedding was there. Not with the horses…there’s an area…Ok fuck it. It wasn’t anything crazy. Not going to lie, I was disappointed.
A month into 2008 I started an internship at CBS Radio KLSX Los Angeles. I had a strong passion for radio, talk radio to be exact. After a month or two I realized that the radio business is not stable. It was during the time that our economy was in the toilet sink… it wasn’t flushed down yet. Everyone was on alert mode. There was talks about laying people off and down sizing. It happened. I was told that I won’t be offered a job due to the fact that they simply couldn’t afford to hire new people. So I quit my old job just to get screwed by CBS. I got over the whole radio thing. I used to have an online radio show with my friend Brandon, I even canceled that show. I was just turned off by the whole thing. Why did I go into so much detail? Who the shit cares?
Long story short, I landed a job at a retail store at the Beverly Center. The store is called Up Against the Wall. I guess I should say WAS called. The store is closing down this Saturday. Anyway. I actually learned A LOT from working at that store. I realized that I was living in a bubble. I was always around my neighborhood, around the same people. If I ventured out it would be to go to a bar or a friend’s house. There were never constant interactions with other groups of people. By groups I mean races and ethnicities. Up Against the Wall changed that. I’m not going to get into it because I might sound ignorant or racist, but you get the point, I learned a lot. During the period I worked there I started The Neave. Which brings us to where I am now.
I spent another year without a mom. I never thought I’d say this, but I am more comfortable with the notion that my mom passed away just 3 years go. So far end of 2004, beginning 2005 has been the shittiest period of my life. 2008 didn’t top 2004-2005, so I guess it has been a good year. I got a lot done in ’08. Planted some seeds, good seeds I hope, for the future and accomplished some of the goals I had set for myself. By seeds I don’t mean babies or anything…
The Neave:
I have never been so passionate about anything in my life. This site is like my child. I am always concerned, I’m always thinking about it. How to improve it, how to correct it. How to make it something that people will like. It’s only three months old! But you know, I can’t help but to always plan ahead, Keep thinking about the future.
In regards with The Neave, I have made some good and bad decisions. Nothing terrible…yet. I learned that I shouldn’t have condescending assholes write for the site *right Nolan? haha*, or that I should improve on my writing skills, since some of the writers who post on The Neave are amazing and make me feel like I’m illiterate.
The good decisions have been picking the writers who are currently/ still writing for the site. I would like to thank Nolan, our editor, for helping me audition new writers. I feel like I owe a huge debt to every individual who is contributing to The Neave and can not wait to repay them for all their hard work.
Teaming up with Patrick was a great decision as well. I can trust the guy, which is rare for me. We have made a good duo. He has been just as passionate and driven about this project as I am. We have put together a good team. It’s only been three months and we have accomplished some outstanding goals.
Random thought,I don’t know why, but I don’t acknowledge my own accomplishments. It’s weird. I don’t look in the mirror and think “Good job! look at you!” Never. Lately I have been getting called out on it. Today I was writing a cover letter for a potential employer and I was having the hardest time naming them. Not that I don’t have them, I just never think about them. Maybe it’s because I would hate to sound even a tad bit cocky or condescending? Meh.
So tonight I’ll make an exception and pat myself on the back. I am actually proud of myself for starting The Neave. It started off as such a joke and now look at it. Of course it wouldn’t be possible without the help /support of friends and cousins. I guess I should be proud that I got a group of people together to start off a small project and turn it into something huge. It is growing faster than any of us ever expected.
Social Life:
Social-wise it was an interesting year. For some reason the last couple of months I started to isolate myself. I stopped going out. I pretty much stopped drinking, I never really drank anyway, but I would just work and come home and work on the site. The only people I hung out were my cousins, and Patrick when he was down here. I am starting to get out of that phase though. I wasn’t depressed or anything, I just didn’t give a shit I guess. So if I distanced myself from you, nothing personal, shake my hand…we’re cool.
I also lost and gained some friends. The losses were mostly over dumb reasons. Misunderstandings, being too prideful to apologize, stupid complications, or just losing touch with them. If you fall under this category of people, I am sorry, I hope you are well. To all the new friends I gained…cheers. Hope to share good experiences with you.
2009:
As far as 2009 goes, I am hoping to visit my dad in Iran within the next couple of weeks. Hopefully land a job I have been wanting to get. I don’t do resolutions…so I have nothing to say about that. This year I am just going to take The Neave beyond anyone’s expectations. My goal is to be able to say “I made it.” To make my dad proud. We’ll see how it goes.
Thanks for reading.
Happy New Year.
