Good morning everyone, and a Happy New Year to you all! This is sort of a recap, a way for me to count my blessings, because sometimes, as the moments are happening, I only see that moment. You know, can’t see the forest for the trees and other similar maxims…

Right. So first off, let’s start with this assessment:

2012 was a year of amazing year…

• I survived a cancer scare.
• My mom survived . Period. Not a scare, but the real thing. WAY TO GO, MOM!
• I starred on stage in three different iconic roles: Alfie Doolittle in My Fair Lady, King Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar and Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street. Not bad for a guy who was once that he was too old and too intellectual to be an actor.
• I was 35 at the time.
• I appeared on the field at an NFL game as Santa Claus – the coldest and wettest Santa Claus appearance I have done and one of the most fun!
• And I appeared as Santa to a bunch of folks from an adult day care facility before a performance of “Miracle on 34th Street.” Easily the best and most rewarding appearance as Santa this year. (Thanks, Josie).I had another year of Disney magic, including:
• – I was interviewed by an Orlando TV station on Feb 29th before the opening of the Magic Kingdom about doing One More Disney Day.
• – I was one of the last guests to leave the Magic Kingdom that day in the early morning fog. The toll included a blown out pair of sneakers. I lasted the night, they gave way about 3 a.m. That did lead to my first pair of Disney Crocs, though.
• – I was at the opening weekend of Disney’s new California Adventure and saw Cars Land for the first time. Yes, the traffic light does blink just a little bit longer the third time, and my Glow with the Show ears blinked along in time with it.
• – I attended multiple Disney special events – Mickey’s Circus pin trading, D23 Sip & Scream. D23 Fanniversary and D23 Magic and Merriment. The D23 folks are amazing. The Walt Disney World special events staff is incredible. But Disney Pin Traders scare me. Seriously.
• – The way I managed to get into the Be Our Guest Restaurant on November 18th was truly magical. That’s it’s own story, and one I’ll share on another day.
• – And finally, though I wasn’t one, I was being constantly mistaken for an official Walt Disney World Santa Claus throughout the Resort in November and December. It’s both and honor and a responsibility I take seriously.Let’s see. What else happened?
• A bunch of perfect strangers came together against the odds and partied to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the girl who could do anything, Kim Possible. It was a lot smaller event than originally conceived, but in the end, it was pretty fun. Kudos to Tony Victorino for taking my original idea and pulling it off.
• Through the pursuit of the Kim Possible project, I made friends with a number of writers and as an author have continued and maintained that friendship. These are amazing, down to earth people. I can write prose… but screenplay is so beyond me.
• I became a member of a sketch comedy troupe out of Tampa, Some Sort of Show. Scott, Brandon and Jonathan, they know funny, and have written some amazing stuff.   They are going to have to figure out how to use me in the coming months. But it should be fun.
• I made new friends, and jettisoned some who I thought were but who proved they weren’t even acquaintances. That’s okay, though. I prescribe to the saying that you should never get an author upset, for there are many spectacular ways to die in prose.
• I was also publicly humiliated once as I have rarely been before in my life. This is something everyone should go through as well, because you cannot appreciate the sweet in your life without the bitter.
• I went back to Lake Stevens, at the invitation of my ex-wife and did the scariest thing I’ve ever done – I taught a 6th grade class about writing. Talk about walking a tightrope without a net! I did it one day and was both exhilarated and exhausted. She does it everyday and has for a decade. I’m still amazed.
  

  Cover artwork by Ricky Gunawan

• Oh…and finally, I wrote a book. Which reached #2 at Amazon for a day. Probably the reason why she wanted me to talk to the kids.

Yeah, 2012 was a pretty cool year.

Can’t wait to see what 2013 has in store.

Happy New Year, everyone.