Looking back, this year has been a great one. 2011 was the year of learning new things and upgrades. Here is the overview:
In January, I finished up the Girls Disney Showcase (1/1 to 1/3) from 2010 which was great. After I returned from Orlando, I was thrilled to get to go snowboarding with some of my friends. I started to learn to snowboard a few years back and do not get to go that often. But this year, I was able to go out and really nailed what I had been working on. I was thrilled. Later in the month while working for my brother, I was able to set up my first partnership for Irwin Photo Booths. We partnered with a golf club which will come back into play 12 months from this point. At the end of January, I went to Boston with some friends and went to the aquarium there. The penguins were my favorite part.
Toward the end of April, one of my cousins got married out in California and I was able to make it out there to attend. The wedding was ranch themed and it was absolutely fantastic. Congrats Cuz! Then in May, I turned 26. It’s a funny age that doesn’t really mean anything, but I feel like I’ve nailed it given everything yet to come in this review.
In June, I moved into my new apartment in downtown Rochester with two new roommates. I am enjoying living so close to all of the action down town. There is a lot of art, culture, food and friends all living well within walking distance of my apartment. It feels a little more like Madison, but it is still very different. Additionally in June, my other cousin out in California got married as well in a Polynesian themed wedding. It was again unbelievable and my family had a great time out there. My brother and I performed a reading at this wedding as well and added our own twist to it which was fun.
In July, I completed my final requirement for my upgrade to a State Referee. I have been working on this for a while and have been working hard on my refereeing to gain the skills necessary to be a State Referee and succeed at this level. I’m looking forward to the challenges and advantages this new level will provide me.
August was the end of the soccer season here in Rochester and overall, I had a great first season back with the Rochester Referee Unit.
I decided to take on a new project in October and learn something new. My uncle is a fantastic woodworker and was kind enough to teach me while helping me build a bar for my apartment. It is an amazing bar that I helped build in OH, then brought it back to Rochester and stained it before putting it in my apartment. It looks great. My Uncle put a ton of work in with me and I really appreciate all he did and taught me.
November and December brought some of the biggest changes in my life for 2011. Mid-November I quit my job working with my brother at Blue Apple Productions and ventured out into the technology startup world. I have been having fun with it and working hard. I will keep you all updated on the progress, but for now, there is not much to report. Shortly thereafter, I was making a final run to the golf club where I established my first relationship for Irwin Photo Booths back in January and had a very unusual meeting with one of the staff members. However, this meeting ended up being the start to my first relationship in over 4 years and I am thrilled. Shelby and I have been having a great time together. We’ve been ice skating, to look at the ginger bread houses at the George Eastman House, we painted pottery at at Color Me Mine and have had many fun times together already. I really enjoy hanging out with her and am looking forward to where it goes.
My December was filled with travel and all for great reasons. The first weekend in December I went to Boston with a friend of mine to visit some of his family. I always enjoy Boston so it was a fun trip. The second weekend in December, I went to Birmingham, AL for a college showcase soccer tournament. It was great to get back out on the soccer field after a few months and retain all of the things I’ve learned throughout the year. It was a great tournament and I look forward to going back next year if accepted. Then came Christmas which my family always does a fantastic job with. Unfortunately this is the year that my grandparents came in the day after Christmas for their yearly Christmas visit. This is unfortunate because I left at 6:15a on the 26th to fly down to Orlando for the Disney College Showcase soccer tournament (which is where I am currently writing this from). The boys tournament finished up on the 30th and the girls portion runs the 31st through the 3rd of Jan 2012. It once again is a great tournament and I have been having a great time with my referee friends from WI down here in the warm weather.
A great 2011 can only lead to an amazing 2012. Look ahead, I have a cruise planned with my family in February, I’m hoping to go snowboarding a few times (if it ever snows) and I am really excited to continue working on my startup in 2012.