Happy New Year!

 Hey I'm sitting here with my family watching old clips of DickClark eating cookies . I wanted to wish everyone an excellent New year and i hope my friends and family have the best 2013.

2013 resolutions

 Ok the moment i know you have all been looking forward to  Jay's 2013 New Years resolutions. But first a recap of last years resolutions

Jay's 2012 new years resolutions

1) I'm dead serious about losing weight this year. My short term goal is to lose 10 pounds before Wizard World in August. I want to lose at least 20. If i cut all the crappy food i should be able to do it. Fingers crossed

2) i want the show to keep going. I want more interviews this year. I want to broadcast live from assorted geek events

3) ok i know i need to chill out at work. I hate the job but i have a family to support. If i have to be there i should try and be happy about it

4) i think i should take another crack at inventing time travel. I want to travel back to meet the guy who coined the phrase "the customer is always right." and punch him in the balls

5) ok i'm running out of party of 5 actresses to have a 3 way with. I think Paula Devicq who played the maid is still left so lets say her. I do have the full support of my lovely wife Kath. Seriously.

So how did i do?  Well lets see


1) i did lose the weight!  Then i gained it all back! The first part of 2012 i stayed on track and lost some weight. Then i gave up. It was a stressful year between the van and new car and losing a tooth and a cat among other things.

2) Well we did keep gygo going. We switched to a 3 hour format in March. Many friends came on the show. We got to broadcast live from Pulp comics on free comic book day. We also did a live show at the Buffalo comic con. We were invited back to Wizard World and i got to interview the lovely Catharine Mary Stewart as well as ask Scott Bakula from Quantum Leap a question. Besides my family  doing the show is where i get my greatest happiness from.

3) i was actually able to chill at work a little bit. I got switched to making outbound calls to new customers. Not all the customers are angry like before so the stress has gone down a bit.

4) yeah the time travel thing never panned out. If it had i would have gone back to the 1970's to buy all the toys i trashed as a kid so i could re sell them mint in the box in 2012. I did get my kid into Back to the future which is a movie about time travel. Does that count?

5) Believe it or not i wasn't able to convince Paula Devicq that a three way was in her best interest.  So i am 0 for 4 at bedding actresses  from the smash hit show Party of 5.


Ok its time for the 2013 resolutions


1) take the weight off and leave it off. Gut is srting to look really big now and drooping over the belt. Not cool. Very Boss Hogg like.

2) I want gygo to get bigger and better. I want more live show and more convention opportunities. Some more celebrity guests would be cool. I want to have a good time doing the show.

3) A new job? Less stress would be a good thing.

4) Join Bruce Springsteen on stage to sing Badlands?

5) Would love to take Diana to another concert--maybe another 80's hero!

6) Do a better job of keeping in touch with friends then i've been doing. Life is to short. My friends make me happy.

7) try to have a better year than 2012 turned out to be

8) well i am out of lead actresses from party of 5 to have a three way with. Jennifer Love Hewitt, Lacey Chabert, Neve Campbell and Paula Devicq all didn't happen. So with the magic of imdb i will search for someone who was a guest star on Party of Five.  Well lookee what we have here. Patricia Heaton from Everybody loves Raymond was a guest star on 3 episodes. Ok then maybe a 3 way with her. As always i have the love and support from my lovely wife Kath.

New Years eve 2000

 My thoughts are going to New Years eve 2000. I was working at the Donut Diner--a crappy coffee place that was open all night. My stupid boss wouldn't let me have the night off even though  i had asked for it off 3 months earlier. Oh yeah it was new years eve and there were no customers. I was pissed. Lucky for me i have awesome friends so Kath and Mike and Kim and Trish and Salena showed up. They brought booze and food and it was cool. There were no customers so i didn't have to do any work. I was cranking the radio and  i remember the station i had on playing Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen. Then the one low light of the evening happened. My stupid boss showed up--drunk out of his skull. He parked his car  in the middle of the drive through and left his lights on. We hid all our food and booze and i pretended i was busy. He  gave me the old 20 questions and asked why there was no customers. Hmmm maybe because it was New years eve you jack ass. Anyhow he eventually left and i rang in the new year with my friends and future wife.

New Years 1992

  Just sitting here thinking back to some past new years eve adventures. Twenty years ago tonight was the famous night where John and Dennis and Andrea and bunch of us pretty much trashed a hotel room. Somehow we rented a hotel room and got way over the top hammered. AS the night progressed  people started removing clothing. Unfortunately no females were among the people doing that. Then we started singing tv themes and imitating scenes from the opening credits of shows.

 One of the guys there named Chris who was quite the alcoholic started a  fight with 20 guys in the next room over. That was fun. Then a couple friends started wrestling and broke a bed and the one guys thumb. Another guy dragged a dead Christmas tree into the room. It was a crazy night. Someone else stole my friend Andrea's  bottle of booze and started drinking it in the bathroom. Andrea went all Sonny Crockett and kicked the door down,  I remember waking up the next day with a horrible hang over  and thanking my lucky stars that i didn't put a deposit down on the room.

I miss Joe Carter

 So i was flipping the channels today and got to watch something that i never thought i would get to see again--The Toronto Blue Jays win the world series. No it wasn't a new game it was game 6 of the 1992 world series. It was the first of 2 world series victories. Man i remember it like it was yesterday. I remember cheering really loudly in our house. It was an awesome feeling. Our guys finally won!  Unfortunately after 1993 the team quickly fell apart and hasn't made it back to the playoffs.  Someday i hope. I'd like to take Diana to a game. We used to go all the time before she was born. Still it was good to see the game again and relive a great moment from 20 years ago. Yup just made myself feel really old with that statement.

The Hunters rule

 So i do want to thank Hunter and Kristen for the awesome Christmas gift they dropped off. Sitting on our porch tonight was a lego set that included batman and for some reason Aquaman fighting mr freeze! It was pretty cool. We're going to put it together and place it on top of our Gygo fridge.  Thanks a lot you guys.

A little reflection on happier times this year.

  Ok i hated 2012 that's no secret. I do admit that there were some nice things that happened to me this year. I got to take my daughter to see Huey Lewis and The Monkees. I got to ask Scott Bakula a question at a Quantum Leap panel. Elvis the dog came into our lives. I got a job that doesn't piss me off  as much. We got to broadcast live from The Buffalo con and free comic book day. It wasn't all bad i guess. I still can't wait for the year to be over though. One more day.

Happy birthday Nez and Davy

  Happy birthday to my favorite Monkee, Mr Michael Nesmith. So glad i finally got to see him in concert in November. It would have also  been his band mate Davy Jones birthday who unfortunately passed away earlier this year. Here's hoping you guys make the rock and roll hall of fame next time voting comes up!

Sunday

 Had a fantastic lazy Sunday. I got to sleep in. That rocked. I woke up and had breakfast and watched tv. The end. Diana was really awesome and helpful today. She Cleaned her room and didn't complain. My kid is great.

 Ryan came over to do the show. It was our end of the year extravaganza. It went ok. Kim was supposed to be on as well but she got sick. Hope you feel better soon Kimmy! I still have two days off. Kath goes back to work tomorrow but she is out early. I think i may sleep in late again. One day left til the end of 2012.Man i hope 2013 doesn't suck.

Saturday off with the fam

  Staying up planning our year end Get Your Geek On episode which we will air tomorrow night. Spent the day relaxing--after shoveling of course. Watched a whole mess of tv. We took most of our Christmas decorations down with the exception of the tree. Thinking of taking that down tomorrow. Yeah i know--before New Years eve. F it. Not in the mood to look at it anymore. Diana was really awesome today. She helped me tidy up and brushed the snow off of the car. Man i love my family. They help me through the hard times.

Good times in Rochester

  Ok it hasn't been all bad lately.Yesterday was pretty cool despite the cracked windshield. We took a trip to Rochester to visit Kath's family. Not only were we seeing Kath's dad and wife Margaret but for the first time in 3 years we were seeing our niece Charlene. Its a long story.It was really cool seeing her and i felt very old. She is almost 20 years old. and she's so tall now. When i first met her she was just a little girl younger than Diana is now. Man time flies.

 As an added bonus Kath's best friend Ulana and her family were in town as well. We hadn't seen them since we visited Ohio 2 years ago. We went to dinner with Kath's family and friends and it was really cool. Lots of great conversation and joking around and now we want to visit Ohio again--possibly with Elvis the dog. We had a great time and even got home at a descent hour. Great day that Kath and i both needed.

Stupid wind shield.

 And this year continies to suck ass. Yesterday as we were driving around we
noticed there was a gigantic crack in the windshield. Because we can afford to get that fixed. There's only 2 days left this year. Can i please have something good happen? No sign of our cat yet either.Not a happy camper.

Starlight

  So I am feeling really sad right now. Our cat Starlight has gone missing. Somehow she slipped out on Christmas eve, I tore the house upside down looking for her. She's gotten out before but we've always found her. Its snowing outside now and i feel sick to my stomach and  i've cried a bunch of times. My family has told me not to give up yet and that she may find her way home soon. I've heard numerous stories from friends about their cat disappearing for days and then turning up. I'm really trying to be positive. I haven't even told Diana yet. Kath is gonna make up some flyers. I'm gonna keep looking and praying. Poor girl.

December 25th

Well it turns out Christmas day was alright. Diana woke us up at 9 am which wasn't to bad. She opened her gifts  from Santa and from us and she loved them all. We had a great Christmas dinner at my sisters. My mom and step sister were there as well. I ate way to much. Mom gave us some gift certificates. It was a nice day but I'm still glad Christmas is over.

How i spent Christmas eve

Well its Christmas eve. The presents are wrapped,cookies for Santa are out. I  watched the new holiday movie Harold and Kumars Christmas. There's an hour and a half i ain't getting back.What a horrible waste of a movie. It was worse than a very brady christmas--hell it was worse than Batman and Robin. People paid money to see that movie? I feel sorry for them. Wish i could un see that movie. So bad.

Merry Christmas

 Despite hating the holidays i do want to wish everyone a very merry Christmas. I do look forward to Diana opening presents and seeing my family. Can't wait til the day is over. Yup i am scrooge.

Elvis fits in

 A quick Elvis update. So elvis has gone from barking at me everytime i enter a room to getting excited when i come home. I came home for lunch the other day and when i left he was looking all over the house for me.  He still barks at anyone who isn't the stewart family. Both the cats like him but still hate each other. Go figure. He is a dog so he gets into food all the time and garbage. I guess thats what dogs do, I really like having a dog here in the house though and he really is a friendly guy. Diana loves him and he is protective of her. Thats the main thing.

Christmas--ugh

Christmas eve and still have that bah humbug feeling. I guess I'm not alone. None of my friends or family are feeling it this year. I know its wrong but i just want t to be over. I did have a great time with John and Rach on the gygo Christmas special last night. Can it be December 26th already?

Hooray for Steve

  In a very good mood today. My manager Steve came to the rescue and gave me the afternoon off to attend Diana's Christmas concert.I was so thankful.I got to spend a couple of hours with Kath. Diana was gtrat in the show. She knew all the parts and dance moves. It was very cool. So yes i am in very rare goood mood and no still not looking forward to Christmas.

Concert blues

 In another example of 2012 sucking ass--just found out i might not be able to go to Diana's Christmas concert. Every year her school has 2 shows, 1 in the morning and 1 at night.I've always been able to make it to the evening show. So we've been waiting to hear about show times and finally tonight the night before the concert we get the times--10 am and 2 pm. No night show. I'm going in to work to see if i can get  some time off to go. Hopefully my work will be cool with this. Can it be 2013 now please?

week til Christmas

 Well its a week until Christmas and I'm not feeling it. Diana and i put up the tree and decorated it today. Its been a crappy year. I'm a tiny bit excited because Diana can't wait but that's about it. Just want this year to be over. Yup I am captain downer

And it looks like we made it to the end--of the monkees review

  So getting back to the review. Yes the Monkees played their own instruments. Peter Tork was probably the best musician on the stage. He played guitar,bass,banjo and keyboards. Dolenz was so great on the drums and probably had the strongest voice of the three. I seriously couldnt believe that  hey were all pushing 70. they sure didn't act like it the way they were moving around the stage and what not. They even played the entire soundtrack to their film Head. Nesmith kicked ass on Circle sky and tork rocked on Do i have to do this all over again. Following that we were shown a video montage of Davey Jones interviews which made me tear up a little. As soon as it was over and the lights came on we heard the beginning of the best known monkees song that Davey was a part of--Daydream Believer. Kath had a hard time with this as Davey was her favorite and she went through a little bit of kleenex. I have to admit it was sad. So who would be singing the song? Mickey  then said they couldn't sing it as the song didn't belong to them anymore. They invited a fan onstage to sing it. The encore included Nesmith's Listen to the band and the classic Pleasant valley Sunday. It was such a great show. I've seen about 150 shows in my life give or take. I would rank this in the top 5. I had such a great time and the smile on my face never went away. I really hope this isn't the last time we see these guys play together. I hope that one day these guys make the rock and roll hall of fame. They certainly deserve it. I finally got to see Michael Nesmith in concert. I can now die happy--when I'm a much older man of course!!  Before i go here is the setlist for this 2 hour extravaganza.

• 1. Last Train to Clarksville
  2. Papa Gene's Blues
  3. Your Auntie Grizelda
  4. She
  5. Sweet Young Thing
  6. I'm a Believer
  7. (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone
  8. I Wanna Be Free
     (Davy on video)
  9. You Told Me
  10. Sunny Girlfriend
  11. You Just May Be the One
  12. Mary, Mary
  13. The Girl I Knew Somewhere
  14. For Pete's Sake
  15. Early Morning Blues and Greens
  16. Randy Scouse Git
  17. Daily Nightly
  18. Tapioca Tundra
  19. Goin' Down
  20. Porpoise Song (Theme From "Head")
  21. Daddy's Song
      (Davy on video)
  22. Can You Dig It?
  23. As We Go Along
  24. Circle Sky
  25. Long Title: Do I Have to Do This All Over Again?
  26. Daydream Believer
      (Vocals sung by audience)
  27. What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round?
  28. Encore:
  28. Listen to the Band
  29. Pleasant Valley Sunday

Hey Hey its my 950th post!

 Wow. Just realized this was blog entry 950!  Wow almost to 1000 posts. I can't believe i still write. I guess i can blog about something cool that actually happened in November. Not sure why i haven't done so yet. Anyhow on November the 18th Kath and Diana and i went and saw the Monkees in concert at the university of Buffalo. My good friend John was going to go but had some issues with  getting a passport. I know he felt bad and so did i because its something i would have liked to have shared with him. Maybe  the two of us can catch a show together next year. Unfortunately no one else we know likes the Monkees so we drafted Diana.

 So i blogged about it before but this really was going to be a once in a lifetime experience. My favorite member of the band Michael Nesmith was returning for a 12 city tour. He really hadn't joined in on any of the past reunion tours. He had played with them maybe a dozen times since 1969 the year i was born. The last time he shared a stage with the others was  in England in 1996. Unfortunately another member of the band David Jones had passed away earlier this year. It was sad to think that he wouldn't be there  but was really excited to see Mike. I'm a huge fan and even own his solo albums. I've always wanted to see him play if not with the monkees then  maybe a solo show. I never thought i would get the chance.

  Anyhow the big night came. We took a detour before the show to visit our friend Hollie who also lives in Buffalo. Also at Hollies was a couple friends of Kath who she hadn't seen in awhile--Amanda and Missy. I had met them once before and they are pretty cool. As a matter of fact they were going to the show as well and were actually in the front row. After the visit we were off to the show. The auditorium was pretty cool and there really wasn't a bad seat in the house. We were in the balcony and had a great view. I  would love to go back there for another show. Great acoustics as well. Before the show on a big screen behind the band stand they were playing old music clips from the Monkees tv show. It was awesome.

 The lights went down and the back up band came out--including Nesmiths son who played guitar. They kicked into an instrumental melody of some of the Monkees hits while clips and pictures filled the  screen in the background. Lights went down and  as the announcer announced Mickey Dolenz, Peter Tork  and Michael Nesmith three spotlights came down and there they were! The place went nuts when they announced Nesmiths name. He got the loudest applause of everyone. They quickly kicked in with their first single Last train to clarkesville. A smile came to my face and didn't leave for the next 2 hours. Next up Mike sang lead vocals on Papa Gene's Blues. I have to admit i wasn't sure beforehand what to expect. Mike hadn't played live in years. How was he going to sound? Well he sounded awesome. Throughout the night i think he sang 10 songs--many of which they hadn't played in years or never at all.

Seven songs in the lights went out again. On the screen they played one of David Jones songs 'I wanna be free.' Kind of a sad moment. The crew was setting something up when this was going on. Then the lights came on and there was a new drum set in the middle of the floor and the backup band was gone. Only people on stage were Mickey and Peter and Mike. They then did an impressive set from their album Headquarters. Headquarters was the first album they were actually allowed to play on. The studio only let them sing and not play on their first 2 albums. Anyhow anyone who ever thought they didn't play their own instruments should have seen this set. So cool.

Anyhow gonna let Diana use the computer I'll sum up in my next entry

Rambling on a Sunday night

 Hey its December. So far not a fan. I was sick for over a week. The weather has been awful and work has sucked. How are you?  Had a fairly descent day. Had a great episode of Gygo with  our good friends John and Ryan. Always a pleasure to have those guys on. They know their stuff that's for sure. A bunch of people have joined our Gygo face book group in the last few days. We're up to 175 people now!! So close to 200.

 I'm off tomorrow. I hope this week goes by fairly quick. Not looking forward to work this week. We added another 9 people to our little group at work. Some of them our huge air heads. That's putting it nicely.

 Elvis is  fitting in pretty well. He does like to bark at new people that visit. He is really protective of Diana and i appreciate that. He seems to love Kath and i now and even Starlight the cat is used to him. Merlin still not a fan. Just hoping Batman the neighbour doesnt complain again about the barking. Dog does like to walk outside though. Anyhow thats all i got for now. I'm going to sleep. I'll try to write more soon.