2018 Year-In-Review

Where has this year gone? Seems like just yesterday I was saying goodbye to 2017 and ringing in the new year by recreating a concert I attended as 1997 turned into 1998. To say this year has been amazing would be an understatement. Full of new experiences, bucket list items and meeting some amazing new friends, this year has been full, to say the least.

In January I found out that at a local Kroger (foreshadowing here as well) that 2 Rangers players would be appearing for their Winter Fan Fest, I NEVER get to meet current MLB players, so I jumped at the chance, I met pitcher Keone Kela, who was traded to the Pirates during the season and Korean Shin Shoo Choo, who had a career season.

I FINALLY knocked Skillet off the bands-I've-yet-to-see-live list in April. I have listened to Skillet since 1996, I have all their cd's, I have seen every band I listen to at least once in concert, except for Skillet. For one reason or another, every time they were in the area I either had no money or things came up. When I saw they were in Frisco, I made sure I went. It was one of the loudest, most epic concert experiences in my life. Their drummer, Jen Ledger, had recently released a 6-song solo EP and she and her band opened up, and then if you one of the first 200 people to buy her ep you got a meet-and-greet pass. For King And Country also played, they were amazing, but Skillet made for King and Country look like amateurs, lots of pyro and crowd interaction. There's a point during the set where Jen and singer/bass player John Cooper get on risers and work their way through the crowd on the floor, and I was able to get a high 5 from John, and was able to meet Jen during the meet-and-greet afterwards.

I also saw the Newsboys United concert in Allen in May. The only time I saw them was in 1996 the day before my 15th birthday in Kansas City, played an extended 29-song set, lots of classics, Shine, Breakfast, Take me to your leader, not ashamed, as well as current songs, Guilty, God's Not Dead, and also, since Michael Tait is their singer, they threw in Jesus Freak for good measure.

The month of April was a big month for me, as every year I say I'm going to go watch some races at Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite and never do. I saw where the World of Outlaws sprint car tour was racing at Devil's Bowl and I have never seen them in person either, so I figured I would kill 2 birds with one stone. I purchased a pit pass and was able to meet all the drivers. NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne flew in from Talladega to race that weekend, and nobody knew at the time, but when I met Jason Johnson, 2 months later he would be killed in a crash at a race in Wisconsin.

Other firsts I experienced in racing this year: in June, I always go to the truck race at Texas Motor Speedway. In May, the speedway was driving to different Rudy's BBQ locations in the area giving away Indy car tickets. I'm not the biggest Indy Car fan, but I went to the location in Allen and they hooked me up with 2 free tickets, wasn't the most exciting race and I'm glad it was free, but the Stadium Super Trucks raced after wards, those things put on a show! But I can finally say I got to see the Indycar series race. Again, another bucket list event crossed off.

On 2 occasions this season, I was able to put my passion for photography and dirt-track racing to use when I was able to shoot the infield photos for my local dirt track in Greenville. Lots of action and lots to shoot, so much fun, really enjoyed both nights. And a few more times during the season I brought my camera and just shot for fun. I was also able to help with the announcing, and as I jokingly say, finally got to put my radio face to use. I prefer doing the photos but announcing is fun as. Just thankful I get to help out my local track, basically living a dream, I've always wanted to get a job in NASCAR, but have to move to North Carolina and know people. It's more fun at the local dirt level. Cheaper and closer to home.

Also something I had the chance to do that was as close as I'll get: one night in June at Greenville they had some of the factory stock drivers bring their cars out at intermission to do ride-arounds with the fans. I'm a big kid and jumped at the opportunity. The 2 drivers I knew already had people in them so I picked a car and hopped in. Yes we were idling but still, I was riding around the track. In a race car. I recorded a full lap of that and you could hear my excitement over the idle of the engine. As we went into turn 3 on the 2nd lap I asked the guy driving if he could give it a little throttle and throw it just a bit sideways for me, and he obliged. Next on my agenda is to actually get behind the wheel.

For the November NASCAR weekend, I had already purchased a race ticket and splurged for a pit pass. The day before the race weekend at Texas began, I got a Twitter message from the XFinity series asking if I was attending the races, and if I was they were offering my hot passes (which basically means I have full access to go anywhere inside the speedway minus the media center) I was literally crying tears of joy, thankfulness, and excitement. It was an amazing weekend, getting close-up photos of all the cars (and trucks) and I got autographs of roughly 75% of drivers in all 3 series, and was able to find a picture of myself taking my picture with my favorite driver in the XFinity series, Christopher Bell. Unforgettable weekend, will probably never get that kind of access again.

In August, I was offered full-time employment and left my job at Target at 2.5 years. After 3 months, I was let go without warning. After applying at 15 places over a 2 days span, I was contacted by Kroger and began almost immediately. I started at the Propser store in early December, really enjoyed it except for it being out of my way, worked with some really good people and got the hang of the job. I am currently at the store I will be working at when it opens in late January. The full-time job made me a morning person. Finally. And now working 6-2 and having to get up at 5 am, again, against my will, I am a morning person. So for me, the only low for the year was gaining and losing full-time employment within a matter of months, but the job I had I didn't quite see the point of it, so looking back it was for the best, I have plenty of opportunity for growth.

What a year this has been, so many new opportunities, so many once-in-a-lifetime chances, so many new friends made, it's been an incredible year, can only thank God who is the giver of all good things, and realistically speaking, I'm almost afraid that my 2019 will suck. It's all in God's hands. Not to sound selfish or arrogant, but my 2018 was better than yours.