2015, What A Year!

Ch-ch-ch-changes

2015 will go down in my personal history as a transitional year.  A year of transition!  Certainly sounds exciting and it probably is but at the same time, it was stressful.  At my age, having some sort of transition is almost unrealistic, but somehow, after two years of preparation, I was able to pull it off, even if it means, my so-called retirement (a house in western Massachusetts) will be reclaimed by the bank and I'll have nothing.

Side note:  while inexpensive real estate may seem look a good investment on paper or in theory, for me it was the biggest waste and headache.  Unless you get lucky and have access to cheap real estate in a region that has a sustainable economy, you're doomed.  Thinking about it makes me sick and while I am able to continue to live without the burden, it will make my credit almost non-existent.  Whatever, what can you do?  Renting isn't even an option where the house is because the rental market for a house of that size is so bad that I would still have to pay something every month to cover what the potential rent might be to the bank.  More stress.  I think not.  Life has to go on.

January through May was brutal.  I was lucky enough to leave my very unstable position at one of the top-grossing touring ballet companies in North America with my head held high.  Leaving with my dignity was very important to me even if it meant that while they made more money each year based on the hard work of the office staff, they never bothered to share the wealth.  6 people enjoyed "pocket money" totaling about $6.5 million one year and yet the scrubs in the office were without substantial raises for almost 4 years give or take.  Some in the office got a $1 an hour bump here and there, but nothing major that is until a couple of people complained and got a few bucks more, but really that's another story.  No bonuses, even through they were supposedly promised every year.  No Christmas party, no Christmas bonus, no employee appreciation, no "thank you's"....nothing but sour attitudes.  These attitudes made me hate my co-workers, it was disgusting.  After 7 tours, I wouldn't take it anymore and I walked away.

Every May I would fly out to Las Vegas for this wild and crazy event called Punk Rock Bowling and after doing this for as many years that I lived in Massachusetts, I felt it was a waste.  I could just move to Las Vegas for what I paid to go there for 5 days and it almost seemed like an idiotic no-brainer.  I had everything planned out but was stressed I'd be working so much to cover the rent, I'd never see my dogs to let them out and I would've been without a car, so it presented some logistical complications.  I knew western Massachusetts was over for me.  Have you ever lived there?  Where I lived shared more in common with the city on Mars in Total Recall than it did with your average rich out-of-towners' romantic description of the "beautiful Berkshires".  Sure, it's a beautiful area, but try to date some of those underground dwellers and you'll completely relate to my plight.  No thank you!

Go west not-so-young man!

After doing some online snooping around, I happened to notice my old roommate in Southern California was also divorced and he seemed to be living in the same place for all this time and I figured I'd drop him a line even though we hadn't spoken in almost 10 years due to whatever reasons. I saw a clip of him on America's Got Talent farting flames and basically told him that the old man he used as an assistant ruined the assistant character I had developed for the same bit many years earlier. Low and behold, he actually answered me and was glad I got in touch.  After speaking to his current girlfriend and him for a few weeks, they convinced me to pass on Las Vegas and move back to North Hollywood to the same house that I had already lived in for almost 6 years before my parents died and I moved out into a condo.  Without much hesitation, I said "yes!".

To make this long story short, I reserved and paid for the U-Haul, had a couple of yard sales, hired a contractor who'd get paid once the house sold (see above, that probably isn't happening), saw a few people I told about my exit and then set forth on packing the truck.  What a nightmare!  But, it got done more or less.  Not everything I thought was on the truck was actually on the truck, this is what I get for having "help", but I digress.  Anyway, whatever didn't fit, got left on the sidewalk and no sooner than I made my final exit from Parker Street did the vultures or my "friends" come by and pick through my stuff for buried treasures.  If there was this much enthusiasm for what I left behind, it would've been nice if these "friends" supported the events I put together or the store I had to close down because it was virtually ignored, but again, that's another story.

The dogs and I had a great trip.  I have vacationed alone and driving across the country was just as enjoyable.  I guess I'd rather do whatever it is I do with the dogs in tow then have to converse with someone for the duration of a vacation.  The dogs are happy to be with me anyway and don't care if we drive for 12 hours a day or sleep in.

We made it to North Hollywood on Friday afternoon (after leaving at 1pm on Monday by the way) in time for me to make it to the first night of bowling on  Sunday.  Priorities I tell you, priorities.  Since being back I've managed to catch some incredible concerts and I will tell you about them.  I've also discovered the joys of being a vegan (or almost vegan) in Los Angeles in 2015 and beyond.  Whereas in far western Massachusetts, it was a huge pain to try to live as a vegan, in Los Angeles, it's almost too easy that it's funny.   I love it and I love being back.  I've rewound my life like you would rewind your favorite mix tape made for you by someone who had a crush on you or who wanted to expose you to some new and exciting sounds.

It's great to be back and hot damn, I love LA!

Andy
December 29, 2015

PS.  Coming soon are reviews of a slew of concerts, plays, movies and places where I like to eat.

ANYTHING BELOW THIS POST IS OLD by a few years and simply here for nostalgia purposes.