My Annual New Year's Eve (now New Year's Day) Post

Let's see how we did:

The 2008 Goal List (duplicated for those who didn't see it on my Livejournal last year)

-Further my ultimate goal of hosting and producing my own TV game shows.  (The Ruly Mob and I have formed our own little game show format think tank known as Ineligible Productions, and we've already put together about three different new formats...including one of my own which I'm REALLY stoked about because it plays fantastically.)
-Get into "fighting shape," whether it's on my own equipment or at a gym. (I'm sure you've read my posts about going to the gym.  I'm not quite to fighting shape but I'm lightyears better than I was.)
-Maintain my friendships with the WLTI and GSNN crews, as well as the West Coast Crew...now officially known as the Ruly Mob.  (I certainly did that.)
-Get a place of my own.  (No time to look.)
-Put on the baddest, most exciting Game Show Tournament ever.   (Didn't have the Game Show Congress so I couldn't do this...which sucks donkey nuts.)
-Keep my PT Cruiser running well.  (I've been slightly broke the last two months persuing this goal.)
-Play some poker and win some dough. (Rackumfrackum.  I bought this new awesome poker chips and haven't gotten to use them for their intended purpose, dammit.)
-Score some episodes of other cool game shows. :D  (Haven't really focused on this.)
-Find a new RPG group and play some Hero System, Deadlands, and Battlestations.  (I had to sell off my whole Hero System collection.  I just realized it was never gonna get used.)
-Exchange phone numbers and e-mail addresses with Amy Jo Johnson.   (I am convinced that I am probably never gonna even see her again in person...especially now that she has a daughter. )
-Help Chris Clementon put on an ass-whipping 2nd Annual Match Game Live! at Game Show Congress 7.  (No GSC...no Match Game Live!  Drat.)
-Induct Drew Carey, the new host of The Price is Right into the Ruly Mob.  (I barely went to see TPIR this year.  I was supposed to go up with the Mob before Christmas for the last taping of 2008....until the whole Perfect Showcase Debacle.)

Overall, slightly better than 2007...but still pretty crappy, goalwise methinks.  At least I did better with the top two, right?

Let's bring up the 2009 Goal List:
-Further my ultimate goal of hosting and producing my own TV game shows.
-Get into "fighting shape," whether it's on my own equipment or at a gym.
-Maintain my friendships with the Ruly Mob, and the WLTI and GSNN crews.
-Keep my PT Cruiser running well. 
-Play some poker, put those awesome Hyperspace Club chips to use and win some dough.
-Exchange phone numbers and...fuck that...pray to fucking God I hear from Amy Jo Johnson, that she and her new family are doing okay and that she doesn't think I'm some kind of sicko.

As always:  remember that no matter what you believe, what color your skin is, what your politics are or what gender you are, we are all human. It only takes a little bit of effort to do right by others.

Big ups to...
-the Ruly Mob: Ben Ziek, Tim Connelley, Travis Schario, the Suchards (Jeff, Julie, Maddie and Emma; their crew as well), Matt Martin, Scott Robinson and Adam Nedeff.
-all the WLTI crew, some of my best friends on Earth: Gordon Pepper, Chico Alexander, Jason Block, and the rest.  I missed seeing you guys even more this year than last year.

-Mr. Buzzer Blog himself, Alex Davis
-Chris Clementson, Matt Ottinger, Chris Lemon, and the Invision Game Show Forum crew
-the gang at the PYLP, most of whom I haven't talked to in ages: Rob Siedelman, Jason Antoniewicz, Dustin Dumovich, Cory Houser and the rest
-the Pittsburgh connection: Chuck Gibson and J. Alexander Lollie (whom I'm really glad things are going better for)
-the Original Master of the ShowDown Dice, Doug Morris.  We wanna see ya out here, Doug.
-and most of all, as always, my two best friends, Jason Hernandez and Mike Klauss. Hang in there, Mikey.  Things can only get better.

And now, my friends, I hope you have a safe, happy, prosperous and peaceful New Year. And remember...

Few things in this world are as precious as friendship.

For now, I'm the "Game Show Man" Joe Van Ginkel, saying God bless you, Godspeed, and...oh yeah, spread the love.

Good night, Blue Butterfly Girl, wherever you are.

Happy New Year!

That is all.

)audiencecheers

(cue balloon drop)