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Just returned from a New Year’s luncheon at my parents. 

Haven’t really started going through the pictures from this weekend.  Friday, ER and I picked up Law and Leviathan off I26 and headed to Clayton, GA for NFWA’s last show at Kip’s.  Had a great time.  Good luck to Jay and NFWA – I hope you find a new home soon.  Neil Nitro was brutalized in the hardcore main event. 

Last night, Rocky Starr, Mike McCloud, Derek Ryze and BJ Hancock came to the house – all dressed very nice and we headed to Helen, GA for NWA Anarchy’s Season’s Beatings show.  Very good.  Jimmy Rave and AJ Styles were headlined on it.  Vocal crowd. I got to meet Mary-Kate – the official photographer for ROH, very nice lady.  You can find her work here.

I debuted my new “pro pro-wrestling photographer” look this weekend.  It is solid black with the exception of a white tee shirt.  How will this impact 2007 for me? 

You may (or may not) notice that I have placed a link to the blog back on my front page.  Why?  Because Thomas said to – period.  Asked and answered.

There is something that is on my mind and I’ll be blunt.  I know that indy wrestlers don’t get money for the majority of the shows that they do.  I know that it is usually something that you just grin and bear.  It’s part of paying the dues.  You go to shows and if you get to wrestle then perhaps it leads to bigger and better things which hopefully will lead to a big payday.  There are a few promoters that I know personally that pay their talent.  Of course it usually isn’t a lot, but I know that it is appreciated.  There are other promoters who promise money when they build the show up.  That’s understandable – what I don’t understand is when new talent is brought in and are paid from the beginning and the guys who have helped a group all along get nothing. 

It’s nothing against the guys that come in for the show – they are just trying to get their money like anyone else, God bless ‘em.  I just don’t like this practice of crapping on guys who have been with you for months/years.  I have seen it myself.  I don’t understand not compensating the guys who got you into a position to pay new talent.  I think it is an insult and thoughtless.  You pay someone who drives 3 or 4 hours to come in while not paying the talent that lives 30 minutes down the road.  When the money dries up, do you think the guys are going to drive 4 hours for nothing?  Nope, by that time I would hope the guy down the road has gone somewhere else.

Anyway, the pictures from the weekend will probably be up Wednesday or Thursday? 

aka the Sunday morning blog.

Went to the UWF/TNA show on Friday night in Knightdale – many many thanks again to Mike and Tyshion.

Last night was NWA Anarchy with the Mack Bros.  Jeremy V won a rumble for the chance to face AJ Styles at Anarchy’s Dec. 30 “Seasons Beatings” show in Helen, GA.

I received a copy of Anarchy’s “Fright Night ‘06″ DVD – which is covered in my photos, and I understand there is maybe a montage of some of my pics on one of the disks?

I’ve really got to get a black shirt to start wearing at ringside.  I am taking donations starting now.  Money would be preferable since I’m sort of hard to fit.

Here are a couple of quotes I want to share:

“If you haven’t the strength to impose your own terms upon life, you must accept the terms it offers you.”  T.S. Eliot

“It is surprising what a man can do when he has to, and how little most men will do when they don’t have to.”  Walter Linn

“Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there.”  Will Rogers

“Just Do It”  Nike shoes

The sun is coming down on 2006.  2007 will be another year full of great wrestling shows, road trips, new friends and plenty of photos.  I want to say specifically to a group of young guys who probably have a lot going through their minds right now.  I know it’s tough to jump out of the nest, but the only way you can soar is by spreading your wings and flying.  It is what all birds do.  Does the mother bird block them from leaving by restraint or petty and bizarre actions?  No, the mother bird wants them to fly (you would think) and to go on to better trees and places.  When the new birds are able to fly out, all of the forest benefits.  It is a shame that some are so shortsighted they cannot see that.

I have been able to see many different things especially this past year.  As I said, I’m looking forward to the new year and I have decided that I am not going to be involved any further with situations that have not changed.  I would like to think that I have moved past the people that act with rancor and spite.  It shows insecurity, it shows childishness and it shows an inability to shepherd “the lambs”.  I have broken free from this quagmire and look forward to seeing the other survivors get out also.

So here it is…my little “year in review” post, gleaned from my daily schedules from the past year.

I have attended 82 pro wrestling shows this year (including the last – Dec 2nd).

I have done a lot of traveling, I can’t even start to count the mileage – Valdosta, GA.  Sumter, SC.  Helen, GA.  Statesville, NC.  Mooresville, NC.  Chester, SC.  Clayton, GA.  Cornelia, GA.  Hendersonville, NC.  Spartanburg, SC.  Sanford, NC. Cameron, NC. Lenoir, NC.  Burlington, NC.   I was able to come through Atlanta for the first time in my life this year. 

I attended several new promotions this year: UWA & ACW in Marion, NC.  NFWA in Clayton, GA.  GSCW in Lenoir, NC.  LAW in Sanford, NC.  BCW in Morganton, NC.  World 1 South in Valdosta, GA.  PPW in Hendersonville, NC.

I got to visit Highspots.

Got to meet some ‘rassling folks: CW Anderson, Jaime Tucker, Cham Pain, Lodi, The Hardy Boys, Shannon Moore, Shane Helms, Steve Corino, Ricky Landell, Larry Zybysko, Chaysn Rance, Chris Sabin, John Walters, Colt Cabana, Tracy Smothers, Ronnie Garvin.

Had my first encounter with a psychic…and she was right!

My family welcomed the newest member – Laura Mae in August.  She is a true blessing.

I have been late for work twice this year because I stayed out late for a wrestling show, and when I say late I mean like an hour or so!

I found out that some of my friends know me better than I thought.

Went to my first canine birthday party.  His name is Gizmo and he got lots of presents…but mine were the best.

How many road trips with ER?  Who knows? – thanks bud.  A slightly smaller amount of trips with Thomas and the Macks.  I’m looking forward to even more next year.

So that is it.  If I think of anything else, I will post it.  Right now though, it’s time for lunch.

Also, for something totally off topic.  I think it is time to start doing something about marriage in this country.  I would think the christian right/moral majority would increase their efforts to prevent deviants such as this from ruining the sacred institution of marriage.  Just my thoughts.

hee hee…

Ok, so now I am more awake from earlier this morning.  

Friday we started our AWA-CON weekend.  ER came up to the house and we set out through the backwoods of Rutherfordton and Morganton and hit I40.  We finally located the Hancock Hideaway high above the valleys of Baton, NC to pick up Derek and BJ.  BJ even has his own private restaurant at the base of his mountain.  

If you have read ER’s blog, you have seen that I allegedly struck BJ’s dog with the van.  If I did, I don’t recall it.  It wasn’t hurt as the damn thing kept following the tire, as most dogs do.  Canines are not the smartest animals – how many cats do you see chasing tires?  Anyway, I apologize to BJ and his dog – which really seems like a nice pooch. 

Oh, and it is true – ER is like Diana Ross on an overnight trip.  A genuine road diva, but more of that later. 

Got into town and pulled into the Ramada off the interstate.  Those of us not accustomed to 5 gold star accommodations, ahem ER; would say this hotel was clean and welcoming.  We unloaded and waited for the Macktion Express to arrive. 

We walked over to Don Pancho’s right next to the Ramada.  Met up with the AWA brass and promoters who were getting together.  ER wasn’t lying about this restaurant.  It was THE worst mexican place I have ever eaten at.  I asked for salsa (not seltzer) seven times, it took five requests to get a refill on my pop and the big one – they put those green peppers in my “yolandas” when I specifically said “I can’t eat those peppers, hon.” 

We then went to Steve Corino’s seminar at the Sports Arena.  Very interesting and informative.  After this, it was back to my favorite road trip restaurant – Hooters.  Blech.  I tried the crab legs this time, and I won’t lie – they were actually pretty good.  Matt Hardy joined us at the seminar and then dining out.  

We were lucky enough to screen an advanced copy of “OMEGA: Uncommon Passions” DVD.  It looks awesome; make sure to get this when it comes out at Highspots.com.  I was unable to make it through the entire screening though – at 2.30am I had to bow out and head back to the room.  

ER, Derek and BJ came tumbling into the room about 30 minutes later – I had just about nodded off.  Derek, BJ and I made ourselves as comfortable as we could in the hotel beds; ER (Eddie Ross) began his sleep ritual.  Since his highness will not sleep on hotel sheets, he bundled himself up in his sleeping bag.  Then because he was hot and couldn’t get comfortable (I suppose with another man in the same bed) – he put it into the floor and slept there. 

Up around 8am.  I hit the shower first, and I noticed that the drain was a little slow.  ER goes to use it, and the whole thing is clogged.  Maintenance comes in, does his work and leaves.  ER walks back into the bathroom and comes shrieking out in horror.  I inspect the bathroom and find a small ham sized wad of hair in the toilet.  This is what was clogging the drain.  After we comforted ER, he was able to go back in. 

Saturday was set aside for the AWA promoters meetings.  We rode around town.  Went into JR, Target (where I got a DVD player for $30), and Best Buy.  Had lunch at Chili’s. 

The AWA Showcase that night was great. Derek and BJ made their CWF debuts – and by the match after that BJ already had a sign made for him.  The ladder match was spectacular – the ending was quite a surprise for anyone who follows Team Macktion.  AWA President Dale Gagne has been making things rough for Kirby the past few months.  He made his way into the ring when it appeared that Kirby had the title wrapped up.  TJ came out and stopped him, and while Kirby began climbing – TJ turned on him (as did Thomas) and claimed the title for himself.  

Also new AWA World Tag Team Champions too.  Congrats to Rob McBride and Tank Lawson. 

ER, BJ, Derek and I set out home about 2.30 Sunday morning after a quick meal at Steak n’ Shake. We got to Lenoir at 4am – and I finally got settled in at home at 5.20. 

Super weekend, lots of fun.  ER-BJ-Derek, you all are great travel companions.  Thomas – once again, a thousand thank yous for the weekend.  Kirby & TJ – you know I love you guys, my condolences are with you.  Stoney – remember what I said about the name. 

Speaking of Stoney – great kid, very enthusiastic and eager.  And he’s got new pants!  

Good to see all the rest of you folks too – Tyshion, Tim, Jimbo, Brad, Katie, Slamfest Bob. 

The pictures (close to 400) will be up in the next couple of days.  I will probably be taking this weekend off – I’m working my real job and plus the batteries need to be recharge a little.

AWA Showcase this past Friday and Saturday in Burlington, NC…..

Tired, got home at 5.20 this morning, up at 11 – which means I get to start on the pictures early!

Congrats to the new AWA World’s Light Heavyweight Champion – TJ Mack.  TJ shocked the crowd when he turned on his brother last night during the Ladder match. 

Congrats to the new AWA World’s Tag Team Champions – “Boogie Woogie Man” Rob McBride and Tank Lawson – thanks to the three count from AWA Champ Ric Converse, the “Old School Blondes” Steve Corino and Ricky Landell were defeated.

Had a great weekend…maybe three hours of sleep….

Kirby, I hope your ankle is ok…

I’m forgetting stuff…I’ll write another one later….going to start working on the pictures soon….Came close to shooting 400 last night….

Good to see all the folks in Burlington…Derek, BJ and Stoney did great….

CarolinaIndependetWrestling.com was in attendance…

Good to meet Dale Gagne, even though he does have a bit of hatred for Kirby…