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there a lot in this year I think one of the most chaotic and while I learn many lessons let save that for later (NOT minimize it!)

Ok finishing that drag story then start in two different stories that form some reason or another never got anywhere. YES I'M LOOKING AT YOU PABLO! scream But yes this year being a helter skelter one in some good parts and some bad

2010 has been one of those polarizing years for me, where I can name just as much tragedy as I can uplifting moments of hope.

There are things I've thought, said, experienced, witnessed, and felt that I would never wish to go through again. I have been witness to horrible truths and terrible lies, betrayal of many kinds and sorrow which at times engulfed my very being.

Consequently, 2010 also was full of uplifting revelations, trials passed successfully and inner knowledge granted by introspection and acceptance. There is a lot there, and while not all of it is pleasant, it was indeed beautiful.

I'm hoping to send 2010 out on a strong and hopeful note, I think I'm stronger, and intend to further cultivate the connections I've been granted this year that have helped me through tough times, and taught me how much more there was in life to enjoy.

As far as my personal greatest hits, oh my thats quite a list, hope to get to it soon. But all in all, I'll say it was an important year, although I hope I can make 2011 better. 3nodding

Mafia II was a unexpectedly awesome game, while I won't it was best game of the year or anything I will say that it was just good damn fun, which really is what gaming is all about right?

Mafia II also had the best of death of 2010. (IMO)

The death of Henry Tomasino.

In a game about mafia men doing mafia things you don't expect the characters to live happy endings, or live at all most of the time. But the death of poor Henry Tomasino was just shocking and brutal, even when compared to the other shocking and brutal deaths in Mafia II.

Let paint the picture for you:

You, Henry and your childhood friend Joe having making deals with a Chinese mob that works out of your city (you work the Italian mob) everything was going fine, you were making money and life seemed good.
One day Henry calls you up for a new job and tells you to meet him at park down the street, this is were you always meet up with him so it all sounds good.

So your walking to the park, beautiful day, people are walking about and everything is fine. Then you hear screams, blood chilling screams of torture. You rush over to find Henry, on the ground being chopped into pieces but six Chinese men with meat cleavers. In the middle of the day. At the park.
Henry, a tough guy who more then once has saved your neck, is crying, begging and screaming, blood is everywhere and the Chinese just keep at it. You pull out your gun and blow them away but it's to late for Henry. You and Joe go to his body and can only watch as he dies.

This scene was unexpected and left me speechless.

Another thing I think I'll always remember 2010 for was starting my Star Wars RPG Campaign, I know how A. Nerdy and B. Silly that sounds, but Ive played the game before but never had the opportunity to host a campaign, and its been and amazing, memorable experience so far. mrgreen

Well.. let's see.. exhales.. long list..

1-got back into histo -with a vengeance!
2-made a bunch of programs
3-made more random friends out and about -one from Cali..
(it's understood that hollywood sells... >.> ) -kay, so I skated too.
4-wrote a ton of bad poetry (and some I liked) biggrin
5-made more cash without a 9 to 5.. then lost it all to bills (blar..)
6-buried myself in php
7-Studied people cause they're fun (no really)
8-turned code red on someone then told him to hang up.. he did.
9-ditched my bank
10-to be continued.. (seriously it's starting to look like a shopping list)

I'll maybe post more later

overall I'd say this was a bad year
it had it's ups but the downs were way down
like 2007 down (I'd consider 2007-2008 the worst time of my life so far, I went a little crazy for awhile (in the bad way))

I think the overall result is that I'm even less reliant on friends and family for support
whenever I "needed" someone they weren't there for me
except my dad I guess
I don't have like the best relationship ever with my dad but he can be a really awesome guy sometimes

but yes back to the point
I'm just kind of sick of all my friends and family to one extent or another
and that may sound bad but I'm not really upset about it
not now anyway, maybe I was before
now I've just accepted the fact of who these people are and where I really stand with them

uh in other news I've really liked some TV shows I've been watching
Stargate Universe
Prison Break
Dexter
Breaking Bad
n**/Tuck

I'd recommend any of them (well maybe not SGU, you kind of have to be a scifi fan to really enjoy that one)

I can't recall if I saw any good movies this year
I'm sure I did they just aren't sticking in my mind
I do NOT recommend the social network though
boooring

as far as music goes I really got into Angels & Airwaves this year with the release of LOVE on valentines day
also Katy Perry's Teenage Dream
while I still enjoy her music I'm kind of down on Lady Gaga
her political activism lately annoys me
ditto Greenday

hmmm I didn't play too many new games this year
the new pokemon games were alright (HeartGold and SoulSilver)
just remakes of the original gold and silver versions
I beat professor layton and the curious village recently and am really looking forward to the two sequels
oh
one game I really got heavily into was MineCraft
if you haven't heard about it already you really need to look it up
you can play a lesser version of it for free which is very similar to playing with leggos with friends but if you buy the game for ~$10 you get a really great sandbox game that's being heavily developed
if you buy the game you're also entitled to all future updates (there should be a loooot coming for a long time)
really it's already worth the money but with all future updates and the ability to play with friends on personal servers this game is really imo game of the year
you can do so much with it from just exploring an interesting world to building a town to roleplay in with your friends
it's really great

what else is there to talk about? hmmm
oh well this year I've been dealing with like
mini panic attacks
I just get really scared and anxious about the fact that I'm going to die some day
it brings me near to tears sometimes
but anyway let's not go into that right now

I spent maybe half the year trying to get a job but after a failed interview with Target and being jerked around by Toys R Us I sort of gave up
like those were the only places out of dozens and dozens that even called me back and both were such bad experiences
it's just really difficult for someone like me to get a job right now
what I mean is
my age group (20)
my education and work experience (HS diploma, none)
and who I know that can help me get hired (absolutely nobody)

ah well
poor me I guess

oh I didn't talk about books yet did I?
uhhh I'm not 100% sure I read this in 2010 but it's worth a mention anyway
the Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher
if you're into fantasy at all just read the first chapter of the first book and I guarantee you'll be hooked
when I went to read it for the first time I was just gonna skim the first page
but then I turned the page and read another
and another
and another
I didn't put the book down until I finished it that same night
the next day I did the same thing with the second
and then again with the third
they really are that great

oh there was a book that came out that I really want to read but haven't yet
it was a continuation of the Landover series by Terry Brooks (you might know him as the Shannara guy) called A Princess of Landover
also a good series though it can be a little...campy? at times

and of course I'll make a shoutout for Towers of Midnight the newest wheel of time book THAT'S COMING OUT IN THREE DAYS OMG
that should be pretty crazy can't wait to read it

uhhh so yeah
can't really think of anything else to say about the year
feel free to ask any questions about any of the stuff I talked about or whatever
I may make another post or update this one later I dunno

Wow Rivlen sounds like a trying year, I'm sorry for that. I wish there was something I could do to help, though I'm sure that can be said of just about anyone here. Here's hoping things get better soon. Don't give up on the job hunt. I know how frustrating it can be, I was out of work for three months this summer and had the same experience, few callbacks and fewer offers. Just hang in there and see if maybe your local unemployment office can give you any tips.

As for my year it was good, bad, fantastic, gut wrenching, and everything in between.
In June I moved from my uncles place to Las Vegas and his stepdaughter moved in to take my place. By July he had been flown to the hospital twice and was fading fast. He passed on July 20th. The following month, per his request, we shot his ashes out of a cannon over his property.

Through all of this I was job hunting and stressing about Sam paying my bills. I did finally get a job as a substitute teacher for Kelly Services. The first job they got me was as a long term English sub. It was great experience but very stressful as I had to be the teacher in all aspects event though I had never written a lesson plan or put together assignments in my life. I am now a daily sub for the same company and trying to get back into school so I can become an Actual teacher.
Beyond that, living in Vegas with Sam is great. His family has totally adopted me and he makes me very very happy. I can't wait to take him to Cali to meet my grandparents for Thanksgiving.