Life's Better with Company

12/31/2015

This year was a great year, we had some controversial moments but all in all a lot of positive things happened in 2015. I was reminded the most important things in life aren't things, they are people. We saw some troubling & dangerous events in 2015 but not far behind the "bad times" we ALWAYS saw people willing to help.

Some great things happened in 2015 and I hope 2016 is equally as great if not better.

In January, my youngest nephew Niko turned 1
I continued mentoring a Foster Kid 4 hours a month and it's great for both of us
My Dad's Surprise 60th Birthday party & the pony
Teacher for a Day/ Career Day through Jr. Achievement
My cousin Liam Graduated High School (Athens, GA)
Joined Mentor 2.0 through Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring a Sophomore student in Joliet named Martin; awesome kid & great experience
I joined a book club, something I wanted to do for years
My brother started working at Sprint
The Foo Fighters concert at Wrigley Field was awesome
& Dave Mathews at the Alpine was Great
Went to Florida twice in September
Golfed a scramble and finished 7 under par with Justus,
Chris and Jeff from work

What color is the dress?
Not your Father's Root-beer & the Selfie Stick became popular
Hulk Hogan got fired from WWE and removed from Hall of Fame
50 states now support Gay Marriage
"Netflix and Chill"
Terrorist attacks in Paris & San Bernardino
9 killed in Charleston NC shooting in a church by a 21 year old

America's favorite TV Dad Bill Cosby was accused by countless woman of rape and drugging girls for sex & finally arrested and charged December 30th
Donald Trump is the leading candidate for President of The United States Of America in 2016
Bruce/Caitlen Jenner won the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPY's & came out as a spokesperson for the trans gender community
Politician Dennis Hassert sex scandal cover up & lieing to the Feds, plea bargain in the works
Jarred Fogle spokesperson from subway gets 15 years in jail and registered as a sex offender
2 escaped prisoners from NY, 1 captured alive, the other shot dead, help from prison guard
+ El Chapo Mexico's cartel leader prison escape
Lemar Odem hospitalized and in a coma after drug overdose at a Vegas brothel
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev found guilty in Boston Marathon bombing; jury to weigh possible death sentence
Aron Hernandez found Guilty of 2013 murder, life in prison without parole
Police officer GI Joe Gliniewicz from Fox Lake and the massive man hunt turned out to be an elaborately staged suicide
Chicago Police officer Jason Van Dyke is arrested and charged with murdering Laquan McDonald in 2014
Charlie Sheen announces on the Today Show he is HIV positive and paid over 10 million dollars in settlements to keep the story quiet
Chicago Police Chief Gary McCarthy was fired & protesting began in Chicago asking for the resignation of Mayor Rahm Emanuel & State's attorney Anita Alvarez

We lost some Good Men in 2015

Stuart Scott from ESPN
Mr. Cub Ernie Banks
Andy Buttler Manager at Sprint and Friend
Wrestlers Dusty Rhodes & Roudy Piper
My Good friend Scott's Dad Jim

Apple released the Apple Watch
I got a balancing electronic scooter
Adele returned after 4 years away
Some great movies came out in 2015:
* American Sniper
* Fast 7
* Jurassic Park 4
* Star Wars 7
Steve Harvey Miss Universe "mix up"

Letterman retired, Colbert started hosting the Late Show
Jon Stewert quit the Daily Show and signed with HBO
HBO series The Newsroom ended after 3 seasons
Sons of Anarchy season finale killed off the main character Jax
Making a Murder documentary debuted on Netflix

Russel Wilson threw the ball on the 1 yard line causing an interception losing Super Bowl XLIX
Mayweather & Pacqaio finally fought + Mayweather retired 49-0
Ronda Rousey won 3 fights combined in 64 seconds
+ Rousey's 1st UFC loss against Holly Holm
CM Punk's first UFC fight pushed to 2016 due to an injury
Patrick Kane and Derick Rose accused of rape & both cases were dropped
Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup
Manager Joe Maden comes to Chicago and the Cubs are in the Playoffs for the 1st time in 8 years
Kobe Bryant announced he is retiring from the NBA after this season