I view half of 2007 and half of 2008 as a time of being torn down to almost nothing while trying to stay alive financially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually through it all. I saw the worst life had to offer but through it all I also saw some of the best it had to offer.

The remaining half of 2008 I view as a time I was able to build a new confidence and see things becoming restored to my life.

2009 was a year where I felt my life became completely enjoyable again. I was in a great relationship. I had a job that I loved. Finances were not a stress. I saw my family grow. I took many trips, experienced a lot of what life had to offer, and most of it for the first time. I was blessed. But with all those great things there was a downside. In some ways I became comfortable again. And with that comfort came many challenges…and regrettably I know I did not succeed at all of them.

I feel 2010 will be a year of change for me. The year has just started and I can feel it. Perhaps all for the good, but maybe for bad…but only at first. I’m not sure where exactly but I feel it coming. And with that change will come more challenges. I pray this year I handle challenges differently. I pray I don’t allow blessings to make me too comfortable. I pray I don’t allow fear to slip in. I pray I am ready.

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Sara and I have been together for over a year now.

Seeing AC/DC for the first time…which included a full size locomotive engine on stage.

LOST on Wednesday nights with Sara, the McNeely’s, and Adam.

A trip to Chicago in March with Sara to see the Jimmy Eat World “Clarity 10 Tour”.

Signing Abandon Kansas to Gotee.

My first show at the Ryman…Death Cab for Cutie.

A trip to Maui in May with Sara and her family…which included a day trip to Oahu to see filming locations for LOST.

My niece Eva Sephora was born on July 25 to my brother Brandon and sister in-law Samantha.

Holding Eva for the first time on August 8.

Carnton Plantation concerts from SixtyFour and an Eagles cover band.

Seeing Metallica for the first time…which included an encore with Lemmy from Motorhead.

Taking Sara to her first Penn State football game (a white out)…even though I was sick, it rained, and we loss.

Seeing Them Crooked Vultures…which included legendary bassist John Paul Jones.

A trip to FL in October with Sara to see U2 for my first time and go to Universal Studios.

Road trips with Sara that included visiting wineries off the Natchez Trace and Fall Creek Falls.

Seeing Jay-Z and Bruce Springsteen for the first time…a 3 hour set from the Boss included the entire “Born to Run” album.

Witnessing THE Titans win of the year at LP Field with a 99 yard drive and a 4th down last second touchdown pass.

Seeing SixtyFour go from a performance at a housing clubhouse in January to an electric show at 12th & Porter in December.

Spending Christmas in Indio/La Quinta, CA with Sara and her family that included a day at DisnleyLand, my first ostrich burger and date & banana shake, and evenings in the pool with 2 Buck Chuck.

Ending the year in PA with the Moist family.

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Groundhog’s Day has never been the same since 1978.

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Surreal. Thankful. 

Those are the two words that describe this holiday season and the past months. It’s been so overwhelming at times that I can’t fully express it. When I think back to a year ago and remember how broken and fragile I was and how all I wanted to do was survive the year…and then to see now where I am…it just blows my mind to see how God has rebuilt and restored my life in just 12 months. I’m not sure everyone gets to see things come full circle as fast as I have and I can only thank God for all of that.

If I ever doubted my decision to quit my job and stay in TN I was reaffirmed that I made the right decision when I was asked to return to Gotee Records a few months ago. I am grateful beyond words to have a job that I love what I do especially in these turbulent times and in an industry that is struggling. Surreal was the word that popped in my head last week at The Tonight Show. I never would have thought a year ago, when I was desperately looking for a job just so I could eat, that I would be back at the job I love and at The Tonight Show with some of my best friends. Surreal indeed.

I have been blessed with a family that loves me and has supported me immensely this past year. I remember my sister in-law saying “great things in ’08″ at the start of the year and thinking to myself “yeah right, I’m gonna be officially divorced in ’08, what’s great about that?”. But great things did indeed happen. I grew closer to my family. We had open and honest conversations we never had. I saw strength in my mother that I did not know existed. I watched the bond between my father and I grow. My sister in-law has become a voice of wisdom in my life. And my brother? Well, he’s the best and I love him more than anything. And then I got the news that I would become an uncle. For all of that, I am thankful.

To my friends, you know who you are, thanks for your prayers, meals, hang time, and all you have done for me. I am so proud to have you in my life. Here’s to another year of more Thursday mornings, 2-4-1′s at Jonathan’s, LOST parties, St. Augustine trips, and T-Mac pool parties.

And then there’s sweet Sara. A woman of God who simply just glows. A friend of over 7 years. A woman who I find myself drawn to more and more each day. I have yet to meet somebody that knows her that doesn’t say the word “amazing” to describe her. I am thankful for her patience, her giving heart, her convictions, and the full of life spirit that emanates from her. 

Despite the fact that I will turn 31 in less than 2 months I feel more alive now than I did 5-10 years ago. I have been through hell but I have come out stronger and better. I have seen the worse in life this past year and also the best of life. It has been surreal and for all the blessings I am thankful. 

Here’s to the future!

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Sara and I went to Cali for Thanksgiving, specifically the San Diego area. We flew in on Thanksgiving and drove up to Dana Point to meet the family. Overall we were very busy, driving up and down the 5, hitting as many spots as we could.

On Black Friday we spent time in Laguna Beach after grabbing breakfast at The Greeter’s Corner Restaurant…

…and then hit up the Irvine Spectrum for some insane shopping while getting some killer food and brews at The Yard House.

The next day we drove north to visit the Zappin’s and Oatley’s. We hit up Kingsroad Cafe for breakfast, cruised by their friends boutique, did some shopping in Santa Monica, and ended the day with dinner at C & O Trattoria in Venice followed by a walk on the pier. It was a great time. 

The next day we hit up Kono’s Cafe at Pacific Beach for an AMAZING breakfast burrito brunch… 

…and then hit up the Coronado area, specifically the beautiful Hotel Del Coronado. 

For dinner that evening we were treated to a home-cooked Korean meal courtesy of a family friend. I even tried the jellyfish. 

Our last day in SD we hit up the San Diego Zoo with Sara’s mom. Pandas, gorillas, hippos, rhinos, and elephants oh my!

And yes, I finally had In-N-Out for the first time. 

After returning back to TN, and starting back at my new/old job,  I got the privilege to return to Cali this past week with Relient K. They performed their version of “Sleigh Ride” with Tom Wilson (Biff from Back to the Future) on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Tuesday evening. It was surreal being backstage as the other guests included Jim Carrey, Rosario Dawson, and Fred Willard. 

I even walked away with a Christmas gnome from the set.

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Well, I started my new/old job at Gotee Records today. I didn’t sleep too much last night because I was so excited. Below is part of an email that our label president, Joey Elwood, sent out to our artists, managers, and agents today.

I’m excited and encouraged to officially relay to all of you that starting on Wednesday December 3rd,  Brad Moist (former head of A&R at Gotee and General Manager at Mono vs. Stereo) has accepted the position to return to the label, and head up our A&R efforts at Gotee Records.  Obviously, to have a familiar face return to our label is exciting, but Brad’s experience I think will also be felt in all areas of our business as we move into this new season.  

It’s times like these that Jeremiah 29:11 rings truer than ever. Here’s to the future.

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On Friday night, Halloween, I got to see a band I have wanted to see for a long, long time…NINE INCH NAILS. The show was spectacular and by far the best light show I have ever seen. I went with the Lacroix brother so check out some pics that James took HERE. Thanks to Steve’s wife Sarah for the hookup. 

On Saturday Sara and I went and watched the younger Boer brothers play soccer. In the evening we went to another Predators game. This time Gotee recording artist Stephanie Smith (whose album I A&R’d) performed between periods. Sara and I even made the big screen…but not during love connection. The game went into an over-time shoot out which was the first I’ve seen and quite entertaining.

 On Sunday Sara and I scored free tickets to see the Titans. The seats were killer. 30 yard line 26 rows up. Thanks to Amanda and Tim McGraw’s management (RPM). This game went into over-time too and we had a blast.

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It’s been great to do things recently I haven’t done in the 8 years I have lived in Nashville. And this weekend I got to do 2. The famous Loveless Cafe isn’t too far from where I live and I have always wanted to eat there. So on Saturday morning Sara and I went. We had tried going there a few weeks before but the wait was an hour and 20 minutes and we had somewhere else to be. So, after only an hour wait this time we were treated to some of the best southern cooking I’ve ever had considering I ordered ham & eggs for thei first time…and ofcourse we had their famous biscuits.

Afterwards we drove along Natchez Trace for what was a cool but beautiful day. We stopped at some scenic spots and enjoyed the view. I love the south.

We then hit up the Franklin Pumpkin Fest. We got to see the Jackson boys all dressed up and enjoyed some Bayou Billy soda. In the evening I got to see my Nittany Lions defeat Ohio State to become 9-0 and #3 in the nation! My brother was in attendance at OSU and sent me these pics. 

On Sunday the 2nd thing I got to do that I haven’t done since I have lived here was go see the area where Johnny Cash lived. Sara took the time to look it up online and figure out how to get there. In 2002 the Man in Black passed away and then later his house burned down during renovations by a BeeGee who purchased it (yeah, disco sucks). It’s so sad that the house is no longer there but it was great to see the area where the house was as the foundation was still there. The view onto the lake was beautiful and obvious why Johnny purchased the house in 1968 and lived there until his death.

We then drove over to the Hendersonville Memorial Gardens to pay respect.

In all, it was a very eventful and extremely fun weekend. Like I’ve said before, it’s been amazing to see places and do things I haven’t done in all the years I have lived in Nashville. I love it here!

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Sara got back from her cruise ok (despite some very rough water on the day Ike hit) and she came with me to Grace Center. It had been a while since I was there due to trips and a football game so it felt great. It seems that every time you bring a “visitor” to a church for the first time something out of the ordinary happens. But not this time. So I was glad she could see the church I have been attending the past year and experience the worship led by Chris.

Nashville was hit with a massive gas shortage partially due to Ike the week before and really people just panicking. So on Friday 85% of the gas stations in the Nashville/Brentwood/Franklin area were out of gas. Those that had it had crazy long lines and limits were put on how much gas you could purchase. It was like something out of Mad Max. It’s really unsettling how easy to shake or crack the system we depend on so much when it wasn’t even completely knocked out. It definitely made you think.

I have been in Nashville 8 years and have never been to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Well, all of that changed on Saturday. My friend Matt Miller (formerly of The Evan Anthem) moved here a few months ago and took a job as a host at the So Bro Grill, the restuarant inside the Hall of Fame. Sara and I met up with him there for an amazing lunch…seriously…amazing. If you live in Nashville and work downtown you need to hit this place up. And since Matt worked there we got to tour the Country Music Hall of Fame for free. It was awesome. The Williams Family exhibit was extremely informative and it was great to learn so much about a genre I never fell in love with till I moved to Nashville. But don’t peg me for a fan of today’s country…I’m old school (Cash, Willie, Hank, Merle, and Waylon).

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