![\"\"](\"http:\/\/stallonezone.com\/zone\/2020\/z123120happynewyear_lookback.png\")
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2021 is almost here.\u00a0 2020 has been quite a year… and not all in a good way.\u00a0 I thought before I wish you a Happy New Year (and go in to watch the official dropping of the ball to signify 2021 is indeed here) I’d take a brief look back at 2020.<\/p>\n
When the 202o started, I was excited.\u00a0 I was scheduled to retire after nearly 36 years as an educator.\u00a0 I had a great career as a teacher, Assistant Principal and Principal.\u00a0 I served as a soccer, football and basketball coach.\u00a0 I was fortunate to work at the elementary, middle and high school levels.\u00a0 I worked as an administrator on the construction of two new schools (the AP of one and the Principal of the other).\u00a0 I had decided that my last day with students at the end of the 2020 school year would be my last day of work.\u00a0 I thought it would be cool to have my last day with students be my last working day.\u00a0 Unfortunately that was not to be.<\/p>\n
Because of the COVID pandemic we went to virtual school after Spring Break.\u00a0 Students and teachers worked from home for the remainder of the school year.\u00a0 My AP and I continued to work from school and home (splitting the week so one of us was always at school).\u00a0 I retired at the end of May.\u00a0 My wife and I had talked of having a big retirement party (she had retired in December).\u00a0 We would invite family and friends for an evening of fun.\u00a0 Thanks to COVID, that idea was shelved.<\/p>\n
My plan after retirement was to travel with my wife (short trips around the country).\u00a0 I also planned to attend several comic conventions with my best bud, John Beatty.\u00a0 Yep, The pandemic put an end to both.<\/p>\n
Since the start of the pandemic my wife and I have stayed at home except for take out meals when not eating at home and our only travelling was the two miles to my oldest son’s house to visit him, his wife and our grandson.\u00a0 Since the pandemic started I’ve known more than a few people who contacted the disease.\u00a0 Some had to be hospitalized and two died.\u00a0 I’ll be so glad to get the vaccine and for things to get back to “normal”.<\/p>\n
Being home so much gave me the opportunity to watch a lot of movies.\u00a0 I normally see about 200 a year (mostly streaming).\u00a0 This year I saw 453.\u00a0 Yep, over two times as many.\u00a0 I also read more novels.\u00a0 I usually average about 20 – 25 a year.\u00a0 This year I read 34.\u00a0 I would have saw more movies and read more books except I was laid up with my medical emergency in September\/October.<\/p>\n
As you’re probably aware, I had to go to the emergency room in September.\u00a0 Ultimately, I had surgery and they discovered my gallbladder had ruptured and gangrene set in.\u00a0 I was in the hospital for six days and the doc said had they not operated when they did I probably would have died.\u00a0 Talk about an eye-opener!<\/p>\n
As we head in to 2021, I look forward to getting the COVID vaccine.\u00a0 I probably won’t be able to get mine until the 3rd or 4th wave.\u00a0 I’ll be thankful whenever it becomes available.\u00a0 I hope things will begin to return to normal in the summer.\u00a0 Maybe my wife and I will be able to do a few trips.\u00a0 Who knows, maybe John and I will have a convention or two to attend.<\/p>\n
The StalloneZone turns 25 in 2021!\u00a0 Hard to believe.\u00a0 I plan to do more with the site and work on ways to interact with fans more.\u00a0 I also hope to start doing video reviews on this site, as well as livestream sessions with creators and fans (here and at the SZ).\u00a0 We have an active forum and I’d love to interact on livestream with those folks and others — we could have some lively discussions!<\/p>\n
I hope that 2020 has had some highlights for each of you.\u00a0 I want to thank you for visiting my site (and the StalloneZone) and appreciate the e-mail and comments you leave me.<\/p>\n
Enough rambling.\u00a0 Time to get ready for the ball drop.\u00a0 HAPPY NEW YEAR!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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