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.
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.
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!
