I got a question for you tonight: Where were you 1 year ago? Sit down and think about that for a minute.

Amazing what 1 year can do to you. Amazing how things change and/or disappear within the ball droppings, the TV specials, college football games, and what else goes down on New Year's Day.

Let me put this in perspective: 1 year ago, I was on vacation in another country, and I was a different person back then. I was not making music, I was actually coming off an academically great 1^st semester, and I was still on good terms with certain people in my life. Things were in-between back then, neither abysmal nor blissful. For the 1^st time in my young life, I was completely lost and cared less…

So….what happened in between 1/1/08 and 1/1/09? Lots.

To be honest, when I look back on 2008, I'll probably remember it as a year on both ends of the spectrum, being incredibly awesome, and also being horrific to the point of extremes. I really don't know where to start with this, but I'll try.

I probably should highlight some of the more agonizing moments of 2008 first to get them out of the way. To be honest, this year was rough, and nothing like I had ever experienced before, with a fair share of challenges and problems. Honestly, in the past year, I lost my mind, ran out of money, almost had my identity stolen on the internet, damaged or at the worst, destroyed personal friendships, and barely passed this past semester at FSC. So in addressing those difficulties, I do admit I struggled in those areas and it was painful. At this point, I'd like to tell anyone who's reading this who I've had acrimony within the past calendar year one thing: If you can find it in your heart to forgive, I will do the same with you. It's better to forget the misery and pain that may have been caused, and move on with life.

*deep breath*

With that out of the way, it's time to look back at the great moments of 2008:

• Making music: Well, duh. This was a huge part of 2008 for me, from a personal perspective. Like I said, at the start of 2008, I was inactive and pretty much out of the game. A few weeks after the New Year started, I thought to myself, "Hey, let's give music another shot!" and with nothing to lose but rust, I went back to it, and realized how much I missed doing it. So I went back to writing music and crafted a new album, recording it over the summer with my man Chris D'Amico from DETOUR 45. A while after we wrapped recording, a good friend of mine from the college radio station, Ari, had expressed interest with pursuing music when school resumed in the fall. So when we returned to school, I offered her some of my beats, and I was astounded by how driven and passionate she was in recording. Not to mention, her incredible talent which can't be described in words, you'll have to hear it for yourself. Eventually, 2 was not enough and this lead to…
  
• Aces Down: The story you probably know by now, that it started out as a backing band and that it was too good to make it a mere one-shot or side project once we all started jamming. The full story is this: Aces Down was probably the most fun I've had with my friends in my whole life. No bull. From the 1^st jam session at Victor's place, to our 1^st show at Tom's Gourmet Marketplace, the experiences we had as a band are definitely the most found memories I've had in years, and I owe it to the guys and girls in this chaotic ensemble for making it happen and making a crazy dream of mine become a reality. Brett, Ari, Jay, Laura, Victor, Niko, (and soon to be Gorz) it's been a lot of fun so far, and it's only getting started…