Klubmasta Will
TRIBE Member
2014 was my first year of fatherhood. Our daughter, Aixia, was just 11 days old when the year started, so this was a year of many firsts. Her first time recognizing me, her first giggle, her first laugh, her first crawl, her first “Ba Ba”, her first time standing up … you get the idea. This was the year of getting to know the new little person in our lives, and that’s made it the best year ever.
Other stuff that happened in 2014:
That’s about it. We can’t wait to see what 2015 will bring.
Other stuff that happened in 2014:
- There were huge changes at work. My company, which is a portfolio for a U.S. private equity firm, sold 75% of its corporate assets, reducing our total company size from 1,200 employees to 300. This included a sale of several companies, a partially-contested buyout of 75% of our shareholders, a new financing and a corporate reorganization as our new company gets ready to grow out a second platform of businesses which we will sell in 1 – 3 years. At that time, the remaining shareholders (myself included) will cash out, and I will have to start looking for my next gig. This has been the best and most lucrative job of my life, but I know that it will be coming to an end in 1 – 3 years (as is the nature of private equity portfolio companies), and the thought of looking for a new job is scary.
- We did a bit of travelling: Hong Kong twice, Indonesia, Arizona, San Francisco twice for work, Jamaica with an amazing crew for a friend’s wedding, snowboarding trips to Kicking Horse, Banff, Fernie and Vermont (Stowe). We ended the year in Hong Kong, for new year’s and my brother-in-law’s wedding.
- This was our first full year of house (as opposed to condo) ownership, and I never thought I would miss paying condo fees so much. Owning a house also meant big family gatherings and pool parties. We cooked more than our share of turkeys and rib roasts, and I now buy wine by the case.
- My two nieces – Alexandra (age 20) and Emily (age 17) – started “raving”. They started with mainstream events like Digital Dreams, Veld, Armin Van Buuren and Aviicii. I brought my older niece to Andy C and some other events. They are now both hooked. The older niece bugs me to bring her whenever I go out and she constantly asks me about music and oldschool raves.
- Some great friends got married this year: Chrome & Julia, Koko & Heather, Peej & Alicia, Jelo & Katrina. Gave a best man’s speech at Jelo’s wedding, for which I was very nervous but I think it turned out alright.
- Lots of new kids on the horizon for our circle of friends. Bort & Geraldine had baby Isla, Jelo & Katrina are expecting any day now, Jesse & Samantha, Spinz & Angeline … this all bodes well for future group trips with kids.
- Olivia Chow’s book came out. Chapter 10, on working with youth, contained a lengthy recounting of the iDance Rally which was a nice treat to read. I wrote a community letter thanking Olivia for her support of the electronic music scene. This task resulted in arguments and accusations from some folks, and brought me back to some of the ridiculous politrix that existed backinthaday.
- We bought a new car, but don’t get delivery until March. Until then, I am driving a 1996 Pontiac Sunfire that we found online for $500. It is puke green, and has a “University of Guelph” sticker on the rear window, but it drives very nicely and makes a great winter beater. I will give it to my niece when the winter is over.
- Favourite movies of the year were Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and Interstellar. Favourite TV shows were Game of Thrones, The Good Wife and The Newsroom. Favourite comics were Invincible, The Walking Dead, Guardians of the Galaxy (Bendis’ writing on this is his best since Ultimate Spider-Man) and Hawkeye.
That’s about it. We can’t wait to see what 2015 will bring.
