"Happy New Year to me!!!' (And many who know me!)

So, if you "follow" my Twitter "feed", you know I made a quick note on New Year's Eve about not making any resolutions. However, for the same reason, you also know I promised that this past weekend (decently-in to the New Year, some might say) was a big one in my history. Let me start this blog off by explaining that to anyone who may be unaware & curious. (Or just one or the other, let alone neither.)

In order to explain why I'm celebrating a "New Year" 3 weeks late, I have to actually go back a bit more than a year. Join me in the Wayback Machine, & let's head back to mid-December of 2012.

It was my birthday, & I spent a lot of it with my Mom, sister, brother-in-law, & my 2 nephews over at their house (also the one I grew up in). (Understand, as a side-note of sorts that I would've also spent it with my niece, but she wasn't born for about another year.) Mom & I came home, & I spent the next few days doing a lot of the same stuff I do now: Watching TV &/or DVDs, reading my mail, & "tweeting". (I do it a ton, but I hope that doing that helps me discover/create a better word for it; "Tweeting" is what I hear from those stupid birds on may way into the movie theater.)

Eventually, it was about the 19th of December. I had a whole lot of open time, which is something I continue to feel internally-conflicted about: On the one hand, I don't have to see any of my doctors (or other assured "authority figures" I'm outright expected to listen-to & trust). On the other, I have literally nothing hinted/suggested-at for me to do. (I have no guarantee on this, but I believe it's times like these my friend Jon decides to make the video we watched in Theatrics of him skydiving, or Vince McMahon to create the XFL.)

Like many shows, "Burn Notice" was on a break seemingly for the holidays. One thing I have come to recall & appreciate about that show is it never has an ending with a bunch of slow climaxing right up until the final minute; The "case of the week" often ends 5 minutes before the individual episode, & the final piece will include some person or thing (maybe both) that will be the tie-in to the next episode. Probably in large part due to much of my family lumping the holidays together (I only recently voiced my displeasure for the closeness of New Year's- & Christmas-related things, but some relatives begin asking for potential Christmas gifts if you visit them for Halloween), I laid on the couch (where I have honestly spent much of the past month), & started watching recent episodes "On-Demand", hoping I would be ready when it returned.

Mom, meanwhile, was spending time with my sister & my Aunt. I clearly & understandably have no clue what they said or did together. Eventually, though, it was obvious Mom was watching my nephews, as Jen & Aunt Shirley showed-up here. I also have no recall on the conversation, but it ended with the two of them deciding one would call 911. Eventually, I was in an ambulance, which took me to Trumbull Memorial Hospital. (If I had the proverbial nickel for each time I've talked/written about this place!! In addition to being the birthplace of me, Jen, both nephews, & my niece, I have spent enough time in there that I've discussed with many staff the possibility/likelihood of them eventually naming a section after me.)

While I've spent a ton of time inside the hospital, it seems that I've spent a steadily-increasing amount in/on what the staff refer to only as "3 South", which I will tell you is flat-out a mental ward. [I chalk it up to a line I once heard on a Jason Statham DVD. but can never recall precisely about there being "a fine line between genius & crazy". For years, it has bothered me that unlike (for instance) cancer, there is no way to be sure if you have "crazy" or not... It appears to be a "judgment-call" deal; I have differing thoughts from others on a ton of things. I have no problem with their assuming themselves to be correct; What gets me is their assumption that I am on the latter side of the line, whereas I believe myself to be on the former.]

Anyhow, it shouldn't surprise any readers I mention "3 South" because that is where I ended-up in December of 2012. One day, I was sitting in their main room for a meal, & was joined by my Mom. We were later joined by Holly Herrholtz. (I admit to having no clue how to pronounce that surname, but am copying it directly from the business card she gave me that day.) She introduced herself as some sort of representative for a place called "Renaissance North", one of the places her business card calls, "Valley Renaissance Healthcare Center(s)". It was explained to us that when I left "3 South", I would not be going to the endocrinology department of the hospital, or directly home; Instead, I would be sent to "Ren. North". (It surprises me this very second to see that this particular building is not named anywhere on the card; I rode in Ma's car past it less than a month ago, so I know it to still exist.)

Despite having been a high-school alumnus of over a decade (& each parent for much longer than that), none of us were given a choice in the matter (that I recall; Mom is said to have made a few "calls" around this time that surprise me to hear of them now). I was "shipped off" to this place, never being told a date or occurrence that would bring my exit.

Some things about the place were decent: I was given a room to myself, near a shower that was almost-always available (as long as you knew the code for the door, which reminded me of something I was used to on "Leverage"). I was also given 3 meals a day, & often asked which of two I preferred at each prior meal, These would not be mentioned, of course, if the place was without its eccentricities: They had me spend a lot of my stay in daily therapy, though I had not entered (doing so on foot without help) with any injuries I was aware of. Also, looking in my sock drawer now would reveal some still have my surname written on them, as do a few of my shirts.

As it seems to annually, New Year's Eve came. I remember still that I was in Renaissance this particular day, as I can still picture myself in my room, watching "Dolph Ziggler" (actually an alumnus of a semi-local college) making New Year's Resolutions in the ring on "Monday Night Raw". [Another good thing about this place: No "lights out" time or anything like that; While I didn't have my CD player & was using captions on several TV shows, I could watch all the Craig Ferguson (or read any book) I wanted.]

After a few weeks, the therapists (one male leader & one female leader among them, which I still wonder about being motivated by Title IX or something) told me I was done not withe the building, but with them. I did eventually leave there (clearly; No Internet service I was aware of), & came back to the apartment.

Now, come on the "Way-Forward" machine with me to about December 10th of 2013. Knowing my birthday was approaching (& would be on a weekend), I was looking forward to it & attempting to plan something. (Spending it at my sister's again was all but cancelled, as my niece was due earlier in the week.) I also enjoyed the fact I had no doctor's appointment directly preceding my birthday. (I don't think we can hang wall calendars here according to the apartment lease, so I simply keep my appointment cards in order as best I can on a counter near the stove.)

I had a few doctors' appointments in the week following my birthday, though. Following each one, I would plan the next visit to that doctor, obviously for 2014. Each time, I was unsure if the day they said was currently doctor-free, but knew if it turned-out I had one scheduled for that day already, I could call back & reschedule the one who hadn't called "dibs"/"shotgun" on it in time.

Unlike me, Mom had already bought a calendar. (I tend to wait until around now, thinking the calendar stores & the like will have them "marked-down" once a new year has begun.) One day early this month, I attempted to check it to see what I had coming when. (The guy I see at the Kidney Group, for instance, often calls last-second to reschedule for several months later, leaving the appointment card in very-much the wrong spot sequentially.) It was then I read some note on this past weekend about her having brought me home from "The R" (what we've both come to call it) on the 18th.

Her note said nothing of time, however, so I just assumed I'd make sure to be sure (redundant much?!), & wait to celebrate this past Sunday. It got to the point I E-mailed my sister, asking what she might like to do to join us in marking it. (She remains unable to travel a while more, related to the birth of my niece.) I also told her on the phone recently I was approaching "my last weekday before Sunday". She said it was hers, too. I asked her what she had coming Sunday. When she said, "Nothing," I reminded her of my situation.

I've been saving this for the big ending (which I now recall is in direct conflict with the thing I said I enjoyed about "Burn Notice" episodes at the start of this, which is kind-of "circularly-ironic", especially considering the part that show (& the trait of it I referred to previously) plays in the story told in this blog. But as I said, I've been in Trumbull a ton, & spent less than a month at "The R". All that means is that, while I am well-aware 2014 is over 3 weeks old (according to the chronograph on my watch). I have only recently completed my first year of never being admitted to either of those places or any others.

--Last note; Promise... This is my first blog (I believe) of 2014, & also the first being typed entirely on my own computer in my own room!!

Thanks To "The Elite 1E"!!! -- How My Future Career Began [Footnote Added 1-10-14 @ 10 PM]

Note: This blog is being written without the consent of “The Elite 1E”, “Dustberg”, or the other members of the status-currently-unknown “Elite Wrestling Federation” once based in Howland/Warren, Ohio… Except “The Wildman”, AKA the author/blogger himself. (I did seek it from the others, but was unable to get a response in time.)

I’ve done some quick mental Math about an hour ago, and discovered that I apparently started my Freshman Year of high school in 1997. While that was after some claim to have “invented the Internet” (Google tells me “WebTV” was invented the year before), my immediate family was behind a lot of my friends in areas related to several media & other things. (The top 2 of my All-Time 3 favorite bands in order are also chronologically in order of their conception; 1 & 2 both released albums before I was born; & While 1 member of #1 is deceased, only #3 has publically called it quits.)

Anyhow, let me “break away” from that part of things for a minute, & just state the fact that I spent much of my high school career attending what I’ve long called “alternative schooling”. Due to health issues that may still remain partially-undefined (over a decade since graduation), I attended some of Freshman Year, most of Sophomore Year, & all of Junior Year away from the actual school buildings. (Makes me laugh to think of it now; I went to the same “primary school” my nephew does, & the elementary school I attended still exists, named after the street it’s on, the same street that contains the apartment complex where I now live & type this blog.)

My relationship with my father has changed a lot over the years, even though I estimate half of the county knows me primarily due to my connection with him. Regardless, it’s a simple statement of fact that a lot of what I’ve gotten from him over the years has cost either/both of us $0.00. (He bought me my first-ever CD, “Fairweather Johnson” by Hootie & The Blowfish. I also got a “Greatest Hits” CD by Elton John from him, which I begged him for due to “Rocket Man” being stuck in my head for days before he mentioned receiving it from his Columbia House membership.)

The reason I mention this is for quite some time, though my parents were divorced & he lived in another residence, he regularly brought over copies of Entertainment Weekly. I would read much of them before they were eventually tossed. One of my favorite parts (which they seem to have stopped including) was something I believe was called, “Opening Lines”. In it, they would include staff favorites of the opening lines of new books.

One night, I was sitting on my bed & watching TV, with a laptop I’d received from Dad on my lap. (I don’t think he ever told me how he’d gotten it.) As some show on MTV ended, I told myself I was going to try & write a fictional story, beginning by attempting one of those “Opening Lines”. I did it, altering my own first name only slightly into “Tom” mid-sentence, & thinking I had created the real-sounding surname McGowan. (Imagine my shock a few years later watching the credits at the end of “Frasier”, & seeing this man’s name; I still shudder & get taken from the story for a few minutes when I see him in anything.)

Since my “alternative schooling” left me with plenty of open time, I spent a lot of the next few years writing fictional stories. [If you have the time, & feel like it, you can find my online history all over, much of it written under the name "TJChurch". This was/is my original self-given pseudonym, simply combining my first 2 initials (with one period after the grouping) with my real last name.]
After taking so much of a “Summer vacation” when I left school Sophomore Year, I convinced myself that (actual) Summer I was going to try to go back to Howland High School. (No big feat, really; I had taken two “Acting For Teens” Classes recently at Packard Music Hall, & had been at the school many evenings to hear my older sister in the band/choir.) I was further convinced I could do this by the fact the aforementioned sister had convinced me to join her in trying out for the local “Summer Stock” program that year. (She had also done so the previous year, resulting that time in me playing numerous parts in a traveling show.)

I indeed went back, in essence replacing my now-alumnus sister in the Band, Choir, & Speech-&-Debate Team. (I also attempted some “one-upsmanship” by adding the school paper & “Pep Band”.) In retrospect, I consider my return easier due to the facts that the Seniors (often considered Kings/Queens of the school) were mostly longtime friends of mine, & nobody else had any prior memories of me to think about/compare to what they now saw.

It was my Senior Year in band that brought me into a group I learned was called “the EWF”. It included then-Freshmen Eric Baker (referred to as “the Elite 1E”), Dustin Dickerson (called “Dustberg”), & Jason Valenti (forget what his name was now), among a few others.
As I recall, the ”Federation” was some sort of “backyard wrestling” group. [As I said, lack of memories of me made things easier; I still believe I left the school largely due to being blocked from sports (& Marching Band) by Cleveland Clinic doctors in the Spring of Freshman Year. Local cardiologists allowed me to return prior to Senior Year starting.] I’m not sure if they ever actually had matches, but we all had fictional biographies on its Website. (It was on Angelfire, & I still recall the address, but attempts to go there now tell me, “We couldn’t find the page you requested.  Please check the URL and try again.”)

When I left high school again, this time with my diploma, I aimed for a way to continue doing what I had done in the EWF. (It’s now popularly called “role-playing” or “RPing” for short, though it was far before “World of Warcraft” & the like, & honestly, not much similar in comparison.) Since I was out of school (college plans fell through due to further health issues), it shocked me when the next Fall came, & the people I had been RPing with online all Summer seemed to be doing it far less often. (It finally hit me that school had begun again nationwide.)

I therefore went back to having a ton of open time, & continued writing fictional stories. I found (or so I recall/believe) that my creativity being accessed for my “E-fed” RPing led to better work in my other writing. [By now, this also included lyrics to songs (though I still have trouble writing the songs note-wise on a staff), fully-realized when I completed my first original musical just over 12 years ago. It remains my hope to perform it on the same Summer Stock stage my sister & I co-starred on right before my Senior Year.]

Any day now, I hope to buy a new computer. (No guarantees; I’ve said that for months, & Ma says “frostbite” warnings won’t even allow me to get out for grocery-shopping today.) When I do, I then hope to continue several writing projects that I have (both in my head & physically “lying around”), many of which I have delayed actually starting until I am able to type them in full. (My current cell phone, now within arm’s reach, has one text message on it saved in my “Drafts” folder which will never be sent to anyone, but is to/for myself about a character in my next-to-be-written musical project.)

Also, if my writing largely remains unpublished in 5-6 years, I am recently trying to contact Angelfire to regain control & update it, but here is the old page for the career I will be attempting then. (Note the URL/address; It was originally used for something similar to “blogging” & other things, & created not long after I left HHS & the EWF.)

Note: The "good people" at Angelfire/Lycos were very quick & kind in their response to me, so I have regained control of my old page, & updated it. (Feel free to simply take the link; It has a link right back to this page!)