Another WWE year has gone by and WRESTLEMANIA 2013 is upon us. As a long time WWE fan I have to be honest. I remember in the past the time from THE ROYAL RUMBLE to WRESTLEMANIA was always crazy. Story lines played throughout the year come into play in those few months and end at the big pay-per-view. Now, in the last few years, it seems as if they just randomly put some matches together. Where has THE ROCK been since last year’s WRESTLEMANIA. I know that he’s done stuff, he’s odviously the champion, but nothing has happened between him and John Cena since last years show.

I honestly just don’t get it. If these people want to headline Wrestlemania shouldn’t they wrestle all year?

Even after that mini-rant i’m still excited for the big show. TRIPLE H has been and always will be my favorite wrestler. I’m excited to see his match with Brock Lesnar but again, i’m still a bit bummed by the fact that there was really nothing leading up to this match. Did Triple H even wrestle at all since last year’s Wrestlemania? Oh well. I’m a big Stephanie McMahon too so i’m hoping that she will grace us with her presence!

I found The Undertaker Vs. CM Punk match to be interesting. It’s sad that Paul Bearer passed but the story line, in a creepy WWE sort of way, is interesting. It was a classic WWE way to create the rivalry. I loved it. Should be an interesting match. I hope that CM PUNK isn’t the one to break THE UNDERTAKERS record. It would just be weird. I’m just not a big CM PUNK FAN.

Are there any other matches on the roster??!! Just kidding. lol. There are plenty of more great matches on the roster but the top two are really the only two that i’m interested in. I’ve seen so many great matches over the years and Wrestlemania NEVER fails to disappoint. My favorite match of all time the MACMAHON IN EVERY CORNER match at WRESTLEMANIA 2000!  Tonight will be a great night!

7 years ago, at age 19, I was again faced with the same issues I dealt with in high school. Alone, working retail in a mall, going to school full time, I let myself get to a record high of 325 POUNDS. No, i’m not kidding. 325 pounds was, and still thankfully is, my max weight. Wearing an XL DRESS SHIRT with buttons about to burst I knew that it was again time to make a huge change and I had to do it fast.

One of the ladies that I worked with had this great idea to try WEIGHT WATCHERS. She said that we could buy the books to do the program offline and read about how to do the program online as well. As crazy as it sounds that is exactly what we did.

I feel that the program is pretty straight forward. You are allotted a specific amount of ‘points’ per day based on you sex, age, activity level, and current weight. The goal is to eat within those specific points each day and the end result is that you lose weight. Well.. it works!

I’ve tried NutriSystem, The South Beach Diet, Slim Fast, The Master Cleanse, and many other random diets (just google diets and the crap that appears will blow your mind). This was the first diet where I could eat whatever I wanted and not have to feel any guilt. If I wanted to go out and get a quadruple cheeseburger I could. I learned that there were consequences to what I was eating though. If I ate that burger than there was nothing else that I was going to be able to eat that day.

7 Years ago I went from 325 pounds down to 225 pounds. It all took less than a year to do it as well. I have spent the last few years (and attempted a few of those crazy fad diets as well) fluctuating between 200 and 225. I was a big fan of NutriSystem but the cost was way to expensive. I used Slim Fast to get down to around 180. I still struggled back and forth with different diets.

When February began I had another co-worker who had the bright idea to do Weight Watchers and wanted someone to do it with. I stepped up at around 175 pounds and decided it was time, once and for all, to finish my weight loss journey and get exactly where I need to be.

Now, almost 2 months into the program, I am down another 15 pounds and am around 160. The sad part about this journey, and also the most shocking to me, is that my co-worker has fallen off of the band wagon and i’m still going strong! We head to VEGAS next week so i’m hoping that I can stay on the diet with no issues.

This morning at 2:30 AM my grandfather MERLE SMITH passed away. It was everything listed above. As an older man I knew his time was coming. I knew that every minute I had with him could some day be my last. I took that for granted and unfortunately I didn’t spend as many moments with him as I should have. A REGRET IS A MISTAKE THAT YOU HAVEN’T LEARNED FROM. I learned therefore I have no regrets. I look back and smile only on the happy memories I still have.

Grandpa was admitted to the hospital on Sunday for pneumonia. At the time everything was normal. Being elderly the admittance was simply just a precaution. Monday evening things went sour when an aneurism in his brain burst. A few short hours later he passed to his home in heaven. He will have great company with fellow family members that have gone before him. 

Today is the first time ever that i’ve called off work for a death in the family (don’t judge me). I feel that its more benefiting to be at work keeping my mind off of the pain instead of sitting at home and sulking about it. This situation is different. This man meant everything to me. My dad passed when I was young and this man stepped in quickly to fill the voice. This he continued to do up until the day that he passed. I will never forget the beautiful memories that I am left with.

By day three all of the irritation seemed to be gone. The only thing at this point that i find to be annoying is the amount of work and discomfort required to remove the braces and the amount of time I feel like i’ve spent cleaning them over the past few weeks. I initially had the idea that the Invisalign would be ideal because they can be moved in and out of my mouth at will. But, it’s a giant pain in the butt! The bright side of everything is that I don’t have to worry about ungodly amounts of mindless snacking.

Overall the experience has been nothing like what I thought it was going to be (please note above). I would never go back and change my mind. I would consider the option of standard braces a little more than though. I know that the pain is worse, the scarring is a bit more permanent, and your food options at time can be limited but at least you never have to take the darn things out!

Well, another new year is upon us. Another chance for each of us to plan out our new years resolutions and attempt to correct all of our mistakes from 2012. I spend each New Year’s Eve trying to figure out a list of my new years resolutions. This year I decided that I was not going to do this BUT it just wouldn’t be a new year without my resolutions!

RESOLUTION #1 - ORGANIZATION. I have committed myself to utilizing a 2013 Moleskin planner that I purchased from Barnes & Noble. Tracking my work schedule, tracking my bills, tracking fanlistings/blogs, and overall just tracking everything in my life will (hopefully) insure my organization.

Organization has always been tough for me. No real reason why. I’m a bit of a procrastinator. I put things off, I end up losing things, and overall get my dates mixed up. The only time I get a fanlisting on the overdue troubles list is simply because I didn’t document somewhere when it was due. I have found that when I use a planner that things get done and they get done on time!

RESOLUTION #2 – GAIN CONTROL OF FINANCES. I plan to do this by setting a budget and really sticking to this budget. I overspend continuously and spend money that is not necessary.

I can’t even begin to tell you how many half used bottles of foundation I currently have in my bathroom, its crazy! I do believe that I work hard for my money and can enjoy the simple luxuries of spending money on myself. I still plan to do this but in a more cautious manner. So much of my money is wasted on food and eating out when we could easily utilize coupons and grocery store specials to make great meals.

RESOLUTION #3 – GAIN HTML/PHOTOSHOP/WORDPRESS KNOWLEDGE. Learn how to create some of my own wordpress themes. I have friends that make beautifully stunning layouts and there really is no reason why I can’t do the same. This would go hand-in-hand with finances as well.

Nothing is wrong with paying for a beautiful layout. You shall notice the beautiful new layout I am currently using from CRAZY CORDY DESIGNS. But I really need to limit myself and only purchase when necessary. When I buy these layouts it’s important that I use them for a more extended period of time as well.

I truly can think of many more resolutions but I’ve been guilty in the past of having TOO MANY and then not sticking to any of them. If I set 3 and they all go hand-in-hand 2013 really will be a success.

2012 was truly a year of mixed emotions. I lost the most important women in my life towards the beginning. I gained a promotion that i’ve been waiting (and busting my butt) 3 years for. I revamped God Give Me Truth, Obsession, and A Public Affair. My relationship hit a low point and then yet another peak. I crawled out of debt. I bought my DREAM CAR. I saw a handful of amazing concerts and shows as well as an amazing live WWE RAW SUPERSHOW.

I look back on the year and have some of the greatest memories and some of the worst memories. I’m moving forward into 2013 with high hopes, great resolutions, and much to look forward to. New years blogs are some of my favorites to read so please let me know about your resolutions!

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?
   I got to visit GERMANY in October. Although I have to be honest and say that it wasn’t the best vacation ever, it was truly a great unforgettable experience that I love reliving through photos.
2. Did you meet any of your important goals this year? What are your goals for next year?
   Well, honestly, no. I lost a bit more weight and got below my goal but other than that no.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
   No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
   Yes. My grandmother (and best friend) passed away in 2012.
5. What countries did you visit?
   Germany!
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
   I’m going to agree with Rachel’s answer. I want to look better and feel better about how I look.
7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
   Besides my grandmothers passing, June! I got a promotion that i’ve been working years for.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
   My promotion to MANAGEMENT mid year was one of worked very hard for. I also bought my dream card. A JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE.
9. What was your biggest failure?
   Procrastination and disorganization .
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
    5 sinus infections.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
    My Jeep!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
    None, people never fail to let you down.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
    Those I shall not mention.
14. Where did most of your money go?
    Hmm.. bills, gas, and Sephora! haha
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
    Going to a WWE show and the CARRIE UNDERWOOD concert!
16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
    Call Me Maybe, this song drives me nuts! haha
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
    a) happier or sadder? Happier
    b) thinner or fatter? Thinner
    c) richer or poorer? Richer (yay!)
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
    Making money and working out.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
    Eating unhealthy and spending money
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
    I spend every christmas with my partner, my mom, my moms sister, my moms brother-in-lawn, my moms mom, and my two cousins.
21. Did you fall in love in 2012?
    Wordpress. I also re-fell-in-love with Fanlistings.
22. Read any good books?
    Yes. James Patterson never disappoints.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
    WWE, Gossip Girl, and Risoli & Isles.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
    Nope.
25. What was the best movie you saw?
    Dark Knight topped my list.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
    Justin Bieber? haha.. where have I been.
27. What did you want and get?
    My Jeep!
28. What did you want and not get?
    Happiness
29. What did you do on your birthday?
    Nothing. Honestly, absolutely nothing.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
    My grandmother not passing.
31. Who kept you sane?
    My co workers. Honestly.
32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
    Danny Worsnop (from Asking Alexandria), I guess. I didn’t really fancy anyone, but he’s pretty cute.
33. What political issue stirred you the most?
    Healthcare
34. Who did you miss?
    My BFF who moved to Texas.
35. Who was the best new person you met?
    Katie!
36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012:
    Whats mine is mine and what’s yours is yours in my relationship.
37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
    “For every time you broke me, Well youre gonna face an army, army of me” Christina Aguleria

The game focuses on the Attitude Era of WWE, replacing its Road to WrestleMania Mode with an Attitude Era Mode where the player plays through the Attitude Era in 6 different storylines. The game also brings back its Predator Technology engine, adding in a new audio system called WWE Live. The game is said to be the second phase of a “Revolution” in WWE video games, with cover athlete CM Punk taking charge. Following release and positive reception, the game would be nominated for the Spike VGA for Best Individual Sports Game

There isn’t to much about this game that I can say that hasn’t already been said on sites such as IGN, WWE Games, Gamespot, IMDB, and many others! For video games fanatics, sports freaks, and WWE fans alike this game is absolutely top-notch! I have been playing WWE video games since their Nintendo 64 release of WWF NO MERCY. So many great games have come. Wrestlemania 2000, Smackdown! line, and Smackdown Vs. Raw line. Many more as well. WWE and THQ really revolutionized the sports entertainment video gaming experience with the initial launch of WWE 12. The gaming system was COMPLETELY resigned and made easy to use for every gamer young and old.

I have to be honest and say that although I miss the idea of the road to Wrestlemania mode I don’t miss the actual road to Wrestlemania. I am loving the attitude era mode. I began my journey with WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT back in 1998 when the attitude era was really beginning to kick off. I was HUGE DX/HHH/Stephanie McMahon fan and remained that way until today. Side note, i’m a bit bummed HHH is retiring (for now) and that he cut his hair! This installment from the WWE franchise of games really was a well loved trip down memory lane.

Another great thing about this game is how easy it is to play. My one complaint with the game is that there is no training mode. My partner can’t play the game simply because I don’t have the patience to teach and he doesn’t have the patience to read the manual to learn. WWE 12 had a very annoying opening sequence to the game that slowly taught you how to play. I complained about that but now there is no way to learn how to play the game until you ACTUALLY play and read up a bit (if you’ve never played a WWE video game).

The game really makes up for this one spot it is lacking in how real the game looks. Check out Triple H’s entrance video below,

How awesome is that? I can not get over how real this game looks. There are a few annoying glitches in the game as far as graphics go but hell, its a video game. You can’t expect anything more. This game is a great play and can’t wait to get more game time in. Has anyone else played the game? Thoughts?

I know that this is a VERY controversial topic, but its one that must absolutely be talked about. Yesterday my partner and I went on a short road trip to Amish Country for lunch. Instead of enjoying our usual holiday music for the ride down I decided that I wanted to listed to the CNN state on my sirius radio.

I have been very bothered and deeply disturbed by the events that unfolded friday afternoon in Newtown, Connecticut. Through our two hour car ride CNN repeatedly recapped the information that we already knew and continued to provide breaking news updates throughout the afternoon. The two items that CNN repeated over and over again were that we needed (1) tougher gun control laws and (2) tougher mental health laws.

This poses my biggest question. IS GUN CONTROL THE ANSWER? Now, I don’t own a gun and i’ve never put a ton of thought into our current gun control laws. The thing that seems to resonate within my mind is that the shooter in this situation never owned a gun. It was his mother that owned the guns. Now, I agree that that military grade semi-automatic weapons have no place in a consumers home. But the truth of the matter is that the shooter in this situation never owned a gun (he attempted to purchased one days before the shooting and was denied) but instead our shoot stole his weapon from his mother.

Yes, I agree that if laws on gun control had been more strict our shooters mother may never have had this semi-automatic killing machine in their home. But their were 5 other weapons within the home that the shooter had access to. CNN brought another good point, if you want to kill someone what is going to stop you? Gun control laws aren’t going to stop you from obtaining a gun. It’s similar to drugs in my eyes. Drugs are illegal substances but look at how many people are admitted to rehab each year because of a drug addiction. I can’t tell you how many people I knew in high school that smoked marajuana. The laws on drugs never stopped them from doing them.

I’m not in anyway trying to justify the horrible crime that was committed on Friday. I feel the same pain and mourning that the rest of our country is feeling. I just believe that it’s time to take a stand together and put in place solutions to attempt to prevent this from happening within the future. I believe that CNN had it wrong. We need to look past laws and policies and think outside the box for a proper solution.

I understand that this topic is controversial. I’m not looking to argue with others on the issues. Please be respectful with your own personal questions, comments, and concerns