This week, I am going to get a little into a bit of extended family story prior to answering 20 questions about 2016. I feel like I need to get something off my chest that has been bugging me for a few days now.
Over the Christmas holiday times, my cousin, Brian passed away in his sleep. He was only 40 and had a lot of health issues, but it was surprising to most of the family. I didn’t have any idea about any of these health issues.
We were not close. We had never been close, and my opinion of Brian was not that high. My opinion of him was largely colored by the opinion my family had of his family, and that was not high. I went into the viewing and service cynical and arrogant.
There clearly was a side of Brian that I was unaware of. It may be that he was being remembered with rose-colored glasses, everyone forgetting his faults when eulogizing him, but it may also be that he was actually a nice person and not the boorish dick that I always pegged him as. All indications pointed to him actually being a nice person who was loyal and loving to his friends, and not the obnoxious oaf I seemed to think he was.
I left that service questioning my opinion of him because my opinion was based on little to no facts or interactions with him since we both had matured into adults. Basically it all boils down to the fact that were are products of the environments that we grew up in, and it is incumbent upon us to move beyond the biases we hold as truths. We must seek our own facts and truths instead of relying on the tired old songs that have been sung to us.
That being said, he did have “Hooligan” tattooed across his fingers, so maybe he was a little of Column A and a little of Column B.
Also, when you go to a funeral cynical and arrogant, you are not the hero of that story.
Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.
This is the first week of 2016, and I figured it would be a good one to introduce the topic of “2016.” Let’s ring the new year in correctly with some bad predictions. Thanks this week go to pfmdesigner (who really needs to do one of the 20 Questions interviews), Chris Ring (20 Questions alum), Lsig (OG 20 Q’s Alum), my Wife (you can see her 20 Questions here), some other guy, and Chris Corrigan (another 20 Questions Alum). Onto the Questions:
1. Will Caitlyn Jenner adopt a child this year?
Nope, I try not to be sexist, or cis-centric, but I am fine being agist in this instance. She’s too old.
2. What will be the nature of the controversy surrounding the Duggars this year?
Tax evasion or a suicide. only time will tell.
3. What do hope will be the next innovation in personal electronics to come out in 2016?
Actual personal digital assistants.
4. What are the chances a loved celebrity will not be revealed to have a sordid past sexual scandal?
100% at least one of our loved celebrities will not be revealed to have a sordid past sexual scandal. This begs the question though, did you think Jared was a loved celebrity?
5. What day do you predict Christmas will fall on this year?
Not looking at the calendar, going to say Thursday since it walks back a day every year… Darn! Wednesday. forgot it was a leap year. (editor's note: I am an idiot. It's on a Sunday, everyone get ready for Christ's Mass this year)
6. Who wins the Super Bowl?
To add insult to Peyton Manning injury… the Broncos.
7. Who wins the GOP Primary?
I hate to type this out but Rubio…
8. Who wins the Dem. Primary?
Well, this is a tougher one. I think in a backroom deal, Hillary wins and nods to Sanders as VP to try and unify the Democratic base.
9. Who wins the election?
Hillary
10. Whose child is Rey?
(Star Wars: The Force Awakens SPOILERS! Skip to 11 if you do not want to see) I hope no one of import, but they seem to be pointing towards Luke. That being said, it seemed like there was almost immediate recognition from Kylo Ren when the deck officer mentioned the droid was “with a girl.” So there is some connection.
11. What movies are you looking forward to in 2016?
Captain America: Civil War, Ghostbusters, Star Wars: Rogue One, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Warcraft, Deadpool, and Doctor Strange
12. What vacations do you have planned for this year, if any?
We are going to North Carolina twice this year. One time to the Outer Banks because we have been going there for a few years now, one time for the mountains to celebrate my parents’ 50th anniversary… we want to get another in there, but it depends on my vacation abilities.
13. How horrible will the election cycle get? What outcome do you predict?
It will be absolutely horrible. Living in Ohio during an election cycle is a nightmare… an absolute nightmare. I outlined my results above.
14. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice… good or bad?
So bad… it tries very hard to do fan service, but in doing that the movie is not grounded in any particular tone. It will wildly vacillate between grounded and “real gritty” and “silly camp.” In doing so, it makes it a terrible movie.
15. Any resolutions for 2016?
Drink more water, floss more, and occasionally re-evaluate things I consider to be truths.
16. Will 2016 be better than 2015?
At least it is larger numerically by 1. That’s gotta mean something, right? I think 2016 will be better than 2015.
17. Any new guests coming to your house in 2016?
There are some plans.. currently our garage is being demolished so we can make a M-I-L suite that is not completely attached to the house. There is some other stuff in the works, but I am not willing to confirm it until it is really happening
18. This is the Chinese year of the Monkey, last year was the year of the Sheep… discuss?
I don’t understand the Chinese Zodiac at all. Last year was super wooley and this year we will fling poo… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
19. "We made it?" Is this where we were going? Huh.
I don’t know if this is what we were aiming for, but this is where we are.
20. What will be your biggest unexpected event?
If I tell you that it will ruin the surprise.
To recap:
Happy New Year, everyone
Godspeed Sav.
I have to give credit where credit is do
The “you are not the hero of this story” is derived from the incomparable Jackie Kashian
If you can see her live, do it
One of the funniest people I have ever met
She’s got funny in her bones
I need to be drawing more
And get a new job
I did not get that degree for nothing
Hey, potential employers, give me a looksee
I need to finish the last fight scene in my NaNoWriMo book and then start the editing process
That might take a bit
But it needs to be done
Then I need to commission some friends to do some pinups for it
I brought back Mag-Lite, Princess Fannish, Lightning Rod, The Impenetrable Shroud of Infallible Darkness, The Home Despot, Aye Chihuahua, and a host of other characters
Any of my drawerly friends out there want to take a crack at any of these characters?
I will send you descriptions, or my sketches, if they exist
Have a great week everyone