Things to be grateful for this (and every!) year: For the warm snoring bodies of the people we love next to us in the bed. For daily walks past people’s yards landscaped with strange desert flowers. For breathing clean air. For rainy days and cars that run. For creative impulses, and the time and ability to pursue them. For family, friends, and random moments of beauty shared with strangers. For sudden trips to far-off places. For the continuation of life.
2021 in a Nutshell:
⬆ B got to see old friends in Indiana.
⬆ We both got to see friends again in Los Angeles.
⬆ B took a trip to Argentina – it’s on a whole other CONTINENT, ya’ll!
⬇Paul had his gall bladder removed – it was stressful…
⬆ …but now he can eat Panda Express orange-flavored chicken again.
⬇Some household-maintenance issues that were not fun or short or cheap.
⬆B joined some writing groups and loved having an online writing community.
⬆Paul was happy to go back to live board game groups, and recordings for his podcast group.
⬆B achieved a 265-day Duolingo streak. (Como se llama at me, baby, I’m ready!)
⬆Paul and B got our first produced TV writing credit.
⬆B won a prize for a short story, optioned a show, and got a TV agent.
⬆Americanish, which Paul produced, won prizes at almost every festival where they played!
⬇Nobody sold a script or got a job in a writers room.
⬇ Some health stuff that we’ll talk about in a minute…
But first,
Some Stuff We’ll Do in 2022!
Barrington:
- Exploring UX Writing and Content Design as a career path. No idea what this is? Doesn’t matter, just say “something with computers.” The exciting thing for me is that the more I research, the more I’m finding that the many jobs and side-hustles I’ve juggled over the years have all been training me for a job in this field. Seriously, I might be The Karate Kid of UX Writing!
- I’m also committed to some Kondo-level decluttering this year, in my physical space and beyond.
Paul:
- After threatening to start his own podcast for most of 2021, he says that 2022 could be the year he pulls the trigger! Two potential titles are: Five Ticket Ride (there’s a story behind this one) and Paul Saves the World… featuring Patrick. (I’m assuming his friend Patrick is his partner in crime on this.)
- He’s keeping the faith for his various film projects breaking through, looking forward to the pandemic actually being over, visiting friends, traveling and, of course, winning the lottery.
Dumb Health Stuff I Don’t Want To Write
No one knows every hurdle a new year might bring, but in our case, the first one is already up to bat. In October, I received a cancer diagnosis. It’s colon cancer, like once before in the past, but smaller. Really, so much smaller. It isn’t life-threatening, but there are varied opinions regarding what amount of surgical intervention will be necessary to remove it. If you know me, you know that in addition to jumping through the traditional medical hoops of doctors, second opinions, etc., I’m also doing all the things like veggie juice, supplements, no-sugar, meditation, etc.
I am gratefully accepting prayers, healing thoughts, good vibes and any and all assorted types of woo-woo energy. If you need a mantra or something to manifest, try the phrase: stage R-zero.
If that’s too short, you can add: and Paul wins the lottery! (This letter has been edited by Paul.)
Quick Wrap Up
That about wraps up 2021. Despite a few things that didn’t turn out as awesome as we hoped, we really did have a lot of fun times this year. Here’s a picture to show you that we’re still standing:
Sending lots of love and affection and our very best wishes for 2022,
Barrington and Paul