This won’t be the most comprehensive year in review, because I can’t remember everything that happened. But there were some pretty amazing things that went down, and those are what I’ll focus on.
FAMILY
The big things on the family front all revolved around the boy. He turned three, was potty trained, started preschool, and is reading picture books by himself. Michelle spent time in Washington DC taking care of our niece while my brother and his wife took a getaway.
The big things on the family front all revolved around the boy. He turned three, was potty trained, started preschool, and is reading picture books by himself. Michelle spent time in Washington DC taking care of our niece while my brother and his wife took a getaway.
We lost my uncle in New Zealand, and donated to causes to help with rebuilding that nation (and the city of Christchurch) after its earthquakes. Every time there’s more shaking in NZ, we get concerned for our family there. We never stop praying and pulling for them as they continue to recover time and again.
We redecorated a few rooms in our home, notably the dining room, where our friend Ryan and I put up a chair rail. Michelle painted, and made new drapes for the windows. It turned out great.
Dressed as Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach for Halloween because the boy LOVES Mario these days!
We celebrated Christmas by hosting two of my sisters (one of whom got engaged on Christmas Eve!) My folks visited my siblings on the east coast. It was a lot of fun having the girls here with us.
HEALTH
This year marked two years since completing cancer treatment. We had a minor scare in September, but everything turned out normal. Thanks to the love and support of many people, we made progress on the $40,000 debt that was left from cancer treatment, its subsequent costs, and living expenses that piled up because money went to paying the aforementioned bills.
This year marked two years since completing cancer treatment. We had a minor scare in September, but everything turned out normal. Thanks to the love and support of many people, we made progress on the $40,000 debt that was left from cancer treatment, its subsequent costs, and living expenses that piled up because money went to paying the aforementioned bills.
I sold my comic book collection (thousands of issues) for a few hundred dollars, and had some success on ebay selling other collectibles. Writer Brad Meltzer tweeted about these auctions, and that got the notice of GiveForward.com who hosted a fundraiser for us. In total, we were able to knock out about $23,000 of the $40,000. So many people donated money, posted about the fundraiser on social media sites. Other friends donated prizes that we gave to donors. It was a tremendous experience. We still owe tens of thousands, but there is, for the first time since diagnosis, we’re seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.
I was misdiagnosed with a hernia this summer, thanks to participating in 23 moves in/out of our neighborhood. The diagnosis was changed to herniated discs in my lower back. They are painful, but there’s not really risk of putting off surgery (since we can’t really afford it…) The discs may, according to the doctor, heal on their own, but it will take a long time.
Michelle continued learning to manage her bipolar disorder, and part of that has been to be very open about it. We’ve seen a lot of progress, and we’re all excited about the future on the health front, both cancer and bipolar!
PROFESSIONAL
This was a pretty amazing year professionally. I had several comics published—mostly in the UK version of WWE Kids magazine. I liked doing those a lot. One of those comics got the attention of the Hart family, my favorites of all time. It’s been nice talking with them, getting to know them a little bit via online communication.
This was a pretty amazing year professionally. I had several comics published—mostly in the UK version of WWE Kids magazine. I liked doing those a lot. One of those comics got the attention of the Hart family, my favorites of all time. It’s been nice talking with them, getting to know them a little bit via online communication.
The big news was USAToday covering my digital comic Five Senses, which debuted in print at the San Diego Comic Con. The book itself, a horror story, is probably the best-reviewed thing I’ve ever done.
I continued writing issues of the DC Comics Super-Hero Collection, which we refer to as the “lead figure magazines.” I also had a new story in Star Trek Magazine, after a four year absence.
Several books I wrote also came out this year. I’m super proud of my Ultimate Guide to WWE and the Green Lantern book I did (based on the movie.) The Authorized Ender Companion was also rereleased in paperback in December.
I was interviews by the Deseret News in Utah, and for sportswriter Jeff Pearlman’s QUAZ feature, as well as by Journalism student Jess McKenna (that interview is currently unpublished, but may be in early 2012).
Toured the Blizzard Entertainment campus this summer, and spent time at the now-closed DC Comics office in La Jolla. Also visited my friend RVD and his wife (and fellow cancer survivor Sonya) on that trip to Cali. It was awesome!
Saw the end of three of my favorite projects: Smallville, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and Supergirl comics. Worked on the DVD features for the final Smallville DVD set, and said goodbye to that show which will forever have an amazing place in my heart because my entire career is a direct result of it.
Didn’t work on Batman or Supergirl this year, but when I did last year, they were among my favorite projects of all time. My Batman episode was listed as one of the ten best of the entire series (#9).
Was said to see them end. (There are new Supergirl comics being published, but they are a different interpretation of the character…)
Went to Comic Con, and signed copies of Five Senses. Also attended parties sponsored by Nickelodeon (promoting the new Nick-owned version of Ninja Turtles) and Impact Wrestling. Super fun!
Looking ahead to next year, there are some fun things on the horizon, including a possible fulltime editorial job I’ve interviewed for (and hope to get/start in January…)
I have a Ben 10 comicbook story I wrote hitting comic shops next week, and an episode of Generator Rex I wrote premiering on Cartoon Network on Friday, January 6.
CHURCH
Michelle and I both continued the lay assignments we received in 2010—she as compassionate service coordinator and my as elders quorum president. We have both learned a lot and appreciate the opportunities to serve these callings have presented. Both counselors and the secretary (from the originally called presidency) were changed, leaving me as the last man standing of the original presidency after the first 18 months of being called/organized.
Michelle and I both continued the lay assignments we received in 2010—she as compassionate service coordinator and my as elders quorum president. We have both learned a lot and appreciate the opportunities to serve these callings have presented. Both counselors and the secretary (from the originally called presidency) were changed, leaving me as the last man standing of the original presidency after the first 18 months of being called/organized.
I was made a temple ordinance worker for the Timpanogos temple this summer, and have greatly enjoyed that experience thus far. I serve every Thursday afternoon.
We hosted Elder Joe J. Christensen in our home when he came for a fireside in the spring. Michelle and I visited with President Hafen of the St. George Temple this November, and he shared with us a copy of the biography of Elder Neal A. Maxwell, which he’d written. President Hafen said our experience with cancer reminded him of Elder Maxwell’s and that we might enjoy reading the biography. It is a treasured gift, and spending the time we did in the St. George temple was a big high point of this year.
OTHER STUFF
Other fun stuff from this year included going to the Provo airport with my friend Nate to welcome the BYU basketball team back from their victory in the NCAA’s round of 32. Saw Jimmer and company on a rainy Saturday night/Sunday morning. Visited briefly with Pres. Samuelson and AD Tom Holmoe at the airport, too.
Other fun stuff from this year included going to the Provo airport with my friend Nate to welcome the BYU basketball team back from their victory in the NCAA’s round of 32. Saw Jimmer and company on a rainy Saturday night/Sunday morning. Visited briefly with Pres. Samuelson and AD Tom Holmoe at the airport, too.
Went to Jimmer’s final game in the Marriot Center as BYU Cougar.
I read 35 books (grown up books), countless comics, magazines, kids books, and scripts.
Got our furnace fixed in the early spring after it went out on a freezing morning.
Mostly gave up reading comics, though I still collect the new Star Trek comics. Star Trek comics were the first I collected as a kid, and I love reading them now. Especially since they are retelling stories from the original TV series, set in the universe of the 2009 movie. (Also, my sisters gave me a CD-ROM containing all the Star Trek comics published 1967-2006. Awesome!)
Saw an advance screening of 50/50, which was my favorite movie of the year. Had a lot of personal connection/resonance with Michelle and me.
All in all this was a really special year. Really looking forward to 2012, even if the world will end! (At least our cancer debt would be wiped out for good!)
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