The year 2013

When I really sit back and think about it, 2013 was an awesome year for me.

This is a timeline in chronological order of all the moments and memories I laughed about, loved, and am extremely thankful for.

It all started with a single event that defined the year… Jonathan Miller spent so much time and effort slaving away in the kitchen on New Year ’s Eve, baking an awesome new year’s cake, and then promptly had it smashed in his face by Kevin.

John makes that spoon toss into the sink by the way.

Then it continued with Exiting The Fall (DJ Williams, Matthew Peter Vacaro, Jonathan Miller, Filipe Inacio, Kevin Klein) and their Resolutions tour. I had an amazing time touring with these guys. Being crammed in that van for hours on end, meeting new people at every show. I honestly couldn't ask for better friends! Big teeth! https://www.facebook.com/exitingthefall

I ate Chick Fil-A for the first time.


Although I was offered a position with AT&T in November of 2012, it became official and all the paperwork was signed in late January. I also had to take a drug test that would give me a bald spot.









One night in February, I watched all 3 LOTR movies in a row. It was awesome

I performed stand-up comedy for the first time in front of a college audience. I loved it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wwg7zo-yfeA&hd=1

To my good friends in Giraffe Anatomy. We had our final Championship win in March. It was a good 4 years playing with some of you. I remember starting the team with Micah our freshman year. Micah and I met because we had a crazy Calculus teacher that didn't speak English very well... her name was Xiaoping Shien, otherwise know as "Annie". It was a struggle of a class, and from our mutual hate for this teacher, Giraffe Anatomy was born. Some of my best college memories are winning championships with you guys!










On April 8th, I had the pleasure of watching the NCAA final with Bryan Andrews and eating the biggest pizza I have ever seen, the diameter was the length of my arm, shoulder to fingertip.



On the 24th of April I had my last class of school ever. On May 4th I graduated college.

I shot a .45 magnum with one of my best friends, and someone I had the pleasure of knowing all 4 years of my college career, Brendan Beyer.

I literally met Dan Moore for the first time EVER on May 9th. We came across this girl named Casey Dunn, she’s pretty cool, wears a lot of crazy pants... you know... that whole thing ;D. Together we all went to our first Pittsburgh Pirates game in 7 years, and that season the Pirates went to the playoffs… coincidence? I think not. Also, I got some jumbotron love.


The next day we invented a drinkin game that included playing Jenga with written commands on each block. A few days later he drove 11 hours with me to from Pittsburgh to Atlanta to help me move in to my new home. We went to the world’s largest aquarium to top it all off. Stinkin great guy.



I started my career with AT&T in Atlanta. For 6 months I lived in the heart of an awesome city. I met 10 awesome people that would become great friends and peers with me here at AT&T, and for the rest of careers.

At some point in time, around early June, I discovered snapchat… my friends are now forever stuck in a constant state of regret and laughter. As Mike Hilton so eloquently put it… “Critics acclaimed best messages you hate-to-love, Matt LoPresti starring in, "Snapchat" Allsnapchatexperiencesmayvarysuitableforallagesratedpg13.”

 

In early August, I parked my car on the street in Atlanta, and overnight it was hit by a drunk driver. I woke up to this...

The driver totaled my poor van that I loved so dearly. No I am not being sarcastic, I freakin loved that van. But, I feel blessed because it allowed me to put a hefty sum of money down an a new car, enabling me to purchase something that I wouldn't normally be able to buy without a crap ton of debt. So thank you Lord for providing in the weirdest ways sometimes.

After many stories, rumors, and whispers, I finally met the fabled and notorious Jack Connolly. I have heard more stories about this guy than I care to admit. What's funny is that we have both shared Dj Williams as a friend for 5 years, and I did not meet Jack until this summer. This guy is an awesome friend to have, and kept me entertained for a weekend or two during the summer. We both traveled to Nashville sometime in late August and spent a great weekend hanging out and having fun.




I went skydiving for the first time ever on September 7th. It was awesome. Early birthday present to me.


I took a really good photo of me in a suit.

On the 19th of October I finally was able to accomplish one of my lifelong dreams: Driving across the country to the west coast. I accepted a corporate position in San Diego, and began the move of a lifetime. I'd like to thank my long time friend Taylor Law for letting me crash at his home in Huston on my way out to California. He treated me to the wonderful land of cowboy boots, guns, and good food that is TEXAS! I love this state, but alas, it was not where I was destined to settle. I had to carry onward, to the west coast!

I woke up one morning in Texas and drove 10 hours straight… when I went to bed that night, I was still in Texas. It was crazy. Huston to El Paso... i saw Courage, the cowardly dog's house out there. The bright side? ... 80 mph speed limits! YEEEE FREAKIN HAWWWW!!!

I saw the imperial dunes from Star Wars located in Arizona… sandayyyyyy

After even more stories, rumors, and whispers... mainly by Jack and Dj, I also finally met another fabled person of legend, Lindsay Anderson. Just a quick note here though, the only interaction I had with Lindsey prior to hanging out with her this past Thanksgiving is this...

She posted that on my Facebook wall a year or two ago and I had no idea who she was, what she looked like, or how I knew her. Then, when I was moving out here to California I decided to contact her for some tips on living/housing/things to do... etc. She was incredibly helpful, but then she invites me to Thanksgiving dinner with her family since I didn't have any family out here to spend it with. I accepted the offer and I'm super pumped and thankful to go. Then, on my way up her house, all I can think of is that photo she posted on my Facbook wall a year or two ago saying "...soon" .......... and the same thought keeps running through my head over and over again as I draw nearer and nearer to the Anderson household... "Will I be Thanksgiving dinner this year?".



Seriously though, her family is awesome and I'm super grateful for their hospitality a few weeks ago. Lindsey taught me the ways of California life, and her family gave me the experience of my first “Perfect California Day” where you have snow in your hand in the morning, and by the afternoon your feet are sandy as you run into the waves to hit the surf. She was also the one who taught me how to properly surf a wave. Now she has created a monster that won’t stop and spends way too much time looking at surf reports planning his next diabolical surf session.








I bought a surfboard, her name is Blondie, we make love out on the ocean every week, I am smitten.






Over this past year I had many a laugh with Mike Hilton. This guy is the man. I have always enjoyed playing battlefield with him, talking about all kinds of junk, randomly naming people we have not seen or heard of in the LONGEST time... (Jake DeSantis), or singing about batteries to the tune our favorite songs.



You know how old people will always talk about the good ol' years?... well for me, this was one of them. I will always look back at this year and say "Yeah, that was a good year". All in all, I'm incredibly blessed that the Lord has provided so many opportunities and crazy fun adventures for me. All I can do is just thank Him, keep seeking His glory, and hold on to see what other amazing things He has in store for me!

Matt LoPresti Life Update / Stand Up Comedy / Exiting The Fall / Careers / Post College / Atlanta.

My name is Matt LoPresti, let me tell ya what's been going down.

Hey guys, it has been a while since I have updated this rusty old site. I have been incredibly busy with College and the going-on's of that life. But all of that is about to come to an end because I am finally graduating! May 4th 2013, just two days away. Dang, where did the time go?


First off, I am incredibly excited for my friends at Exiting The Fall. If you haven't heard of them, check out their Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/exitingthefall
or their website http://www.exitingthefall.com/

The band consists of Matt Vacaro, Dj Williams, Filipe Inacio, Kevin Klein, and John Miller.

They just completed their full length album and let me tell you, it is incredible. These guys have grown the biggest hearts in the world, and it is showing through their music. I had the pleasure to go on their Resolutions tour this past January, and I have seen first hand how they handle themselves on and off the stage. On stage, they are intense, passionate and sound very professional. They could play huge arenas and they would put on a great show. But the thing I love about them the most is their ability to connect and make friends with anyone they meet, at any venue they play at. They are some of the most honest and downright friendly guys, and it shows when they are at a venue talking it up with the other bands or when they are chatting up their fans, inviting them out to steak and shake after the show to just hang out and have a good time. They get involved with their audience and truly have an astounding message to share.

Now they have a new album they just finished up, but haven't released yet, and I can't wait for everyone to hear it. The whole album is a hit, it's not just carried by one or two songs. They all work together incredibly well, and when people let their ears get a little taste of this, they are going to want to listen to it for the next few weeks on repeat! The vocals in this album are so intense, Kevin Klein sounds absolutely amazing with the clean vocals, and they put a tasteful amount of them in this new album. Enough, but not too much, and Kevin's guitar work as always is out of this world, just str8 up NasTay, with a side of, "what-what-now!?". Matt Vacaro better go see a freakin doctor, because he is sick. His scream is ridiculously awesome to listen too in every song. It's so dynamic, authoritative, brutally  honest, and clear, and the passion he brings to these songs is just straight up unhealthy... (aka sick)...((in a good way)). John Miller... my man, I have to congratulate you, the drums are so good throughout the entire album. It is clear that you put a lot of technicality and heart into your work, and it definitely shows through these new songs. My FAVORITE bit of the entire album happens for only 12 seconds during Kingdom, but dangit, it's the best 12 seconds I have heard. John, IDK what you do on the drums, but it makes me melt man. Triple bass something... so good.  Filipe, dooooooooood, sooo good dooooooood. Filipe brings not only some crazy hardcore rifts to the new album, but he also does the most beautiful technical and clean guitar work I have listened too in metal. I can tell you and Kev put a lot of thought into the rifts you guys created, and it turned out amazing. And Dj Williams, well... he's just Dj.

Second off, I have congratulate the other Miller and give props to Angie Miller, who currently is in the top 3 of American Idol, and is Jonathan Millers sister. Apparently the Miller family is hitting a hot streak. She is freakin fantastic, and although we've all known she is an amazing singer for years, I'm glad she finally got her break and I can't wait to hear what her first album sounds like. Good job Angie, we all know you'll kick butt in the final!

Third off, I want to share this with you guys.
Ya, that video right down there.

This is a video of me performing stand up comedy at OU in Athens OH. I have always wanted to perform stand up, and I finally got a chance to this last semester here in college. The only regret I have is not doing this sooner! Athens is an awesome community and the people here are incredibly friendly and supportive. I can't believe I didn't know about this opportunity until my senior year, but I can't dwell on the past. If you have ever though about doing something, don't wait, get out there and kick some butt! What I am looking forward to now is taking the experience I have gained here in Athens, and moving it to Atlanta where I will be living for the next 6 months. I do have a job right out of college, and I am extremely excited and blessed to move to Atlanta and start my life as a full fledged adult. I also have figured out what I want to do on the weekends/weeknights, and that is perform stand up in clubs and bars all over Atlanta. I may even be able to get in on an open mic night at Georgia Tech or something, either way I am excited to be moving forward. If you enjoyed that, here is another one, this time it's about a phone call I had, and my experience being colorblind!

The final thing I'll update you fine people on is where I am heading, and what I'll be doing with my life after college. I did mention I will be moving to Atlanta Georgia in May and will be there for the next six months (until December 2013). I'll be living right in Midtown Atlanta, so I'm excited to become a big city guy. What will I be doing you ask? I will be working for AT&T. On a side note, I just had my drug test done for my background check, and I went to a Lab in O'Bleness Hospital here in Athens. It turns out they have to cut a chunk of your hair, and now I have a bald spot on my head haha, you can check it out in the pictures to the right.

So now I'll be walking around with this patch in my head for the next couple of weeks, until it grows back. I can't wait to meet everyone I'm working with on day one and see where everyone else has thier bald spot. I call it "The price for professionalism" since AT&T is doing an intense background check and wants to know everything that has gone into my body for the past year. I can't blame them though, and it makes me feel more professional knowing they only hire incredibly professional people both inside and out.


Well that's it for me, you have had a healthy dose of my goin-on's. I'll be updating this throughout the summer, so feel free to stop in and check out what I'm up to!

Bind

She stands, on broken dreams
And she cries, sweet melodies
I can’t stand, to see her feel like this
Oh, how did things, come to this?

When your, main intention, was only love
And you, only seek, to make happiness a bug
When all you give, is love and joy
How do pain and hurt creep in, and destroy?

She stands, on broken dreams
And she cries, sweet melodies
I can’t stand, making her feel like this
Oh, how did It all, come to this

When you, only care, for a person in need
And, kindness is the only thing you feed
You can, feel them cry, in the middle of the night
And you just try to help them, find the light


When, you really feel, another person’s pain
And you try to comfort them, all the same
But instead of healing with what you give
You only make it worse, than you ever did.

Verse:
C
G
C
G


Bridge: Em C G D
What can I do, what can I say, to repair your heart?
What Can I do, what can I say, to ever heal your heart?
2X

Giraffe Anatomy

Yes, that is what our band name is now called. We used to be the ChillBotz but we decided on a name change. Giraffe Anatomy. So for 2011 we now have a new band name! Giraffe Anatomy!

Halo Movie

I strongly believe that SOMEONE should make a movie about the book, HALO: FALL OF REACH. It's already scripted out for you. Just make a stinkin movie already.

Summer Fun

Well, It has been a very very long time since I wrote down one of my dreams. I was so busy with finals and junk at college, and summer has just started up! I can tell now that this summer is going to be a good one. So far I have climbed K-Mart, I have stood on the top of a watertower, I have crawled through an abandoned hotel, crane wrapped my friends car, and have thrown a cheeseburger at a car. Not to bad! I'll be in Germany from the 1st of July to the 15th. And when I get back there will be no stopping the awesome Germanized Matt LoPresti! Ahhhhh! I have the oddest feeling that when my friend Dj wakes up tomorrow, he's going to need a knife to get into his car.... and I think he's going to laugh very very hard about that.

Till I feel like writing about my dreams or experiences again,
Matt LoPresti

Underwater city

Last night I had another incredibly elaborate dream. It began with traveling around the world looking for certain things. I'm not really sure what these things were but apparently they were valuable. Then fighting broke out and we realized that someone else was after these things. Eventually we fight these people in key locations around the world and I'm almost positive we use mechanical suits to fight with. I'm not sure because I don't really remember this part as well. Anyway we end up saving the day somehow and we're now in freakin space on a space station. My friend and I are talking and a lady comes up to us to thank us and she says that we have have anything we want. I don't want anything so I look over to my friend and he says that he wants to go back to the city he was born in. It turns out that this city was an underwater city that you can't get back in to unless you have special permission. So, the last thing we did was go back to his home city that he has never seen before. So we take this ship to this remote place by the water by flying through caves and all these rocks, and then we descend into the water and end up docking below the sea. We step out and I see this huge magnificent underwater city. It's brilliant. I asked them how the built it and they said it was pretty tough. First they brought down all the steel and made the outside of the buildings. Then, when the outside was complete and sealed, they began to pump the water out and pump air in. They said it was ridiculously hard to pressurize the air so the building wouldn't collapse but that is why some of the buildings still have water built into the outside of them, so they don't collapse as easily. The city was beautiful, and we ended up having dinner with my friend in the middle of the city.

I also had another shorter dream. I was at a lecture of some sort and I met this girl that I sat next to. We ended up eating cereal together. She was incredibly nice and I believe that the lecture was on teamwork or something weird. Anyway this guy passed out cereal and I sat next to her and ate some with her. Pretty cool huh?