My transaction failed to go through and the prompt referred me to the nearest branch. I knew something is up.

When Bruce the teller handed me a list of recent transaction to verify, I glanced at it from top to bottom. It reminded me of those looong shopping lists you see on TV that could almost touch your knees. Blah! Blah Blah! Ikea! Good! Staples! checked! WHOA! What the fuck is this? $500?! There were two of these withdraws from the Green Machine on the receipt. Ones that were made while I was at work. Bruce then explained to me that I was the lucky winner of a debit card fraud.

Whoa! whoa! whoa! This has never happened to me in my life. What an honour! These tech-savvy thieves think I am rich!

I called up the loss prevention department and played 20 questions with them to verify I am the man I say i am (Dare da tomotte yagaru??). Then, this voice on the receiver assured me my case would be submitted to their Security and investigation team, and if everything checks out, they would reimburse me in a week's time.

I hope so since going from a meager withdrawal of $80/week to a $500/day rampage is a little out of character for me (even for a Con)!

There is one thing that's bothering me though. The money has gone missing ON payday and the day after that. Isn't the timing awfully spot on? They could have easily hit me before payday...It's as though they knew when and exactly how much...and there are only two places that know about my pay period. The bank and the company I work for...

REVIEW: Year of the OX

JUNE – I reviewed my VISA statement with utter clarity one day and thought to myself, Shit! I might have to declare bankruptcy for real. I’m in way over my head…

Well, I’m jumping ahead. My year of trials and tribulation began in January, where I attended a Trump wealth building seminar. I so desperately wanted to be rich. I wanted to live in my own condo, own my own businesses and vacation whenever and wherever I wanted. So, it seemed ridiculously rational that I should give this Trump thing a go, no?

I was so moved by the success stories they spun at the freebie seminar that I signed up for a weekend course that cost as much as a MacBook. I had made some questionable choices living on this planet, for instance, um…destroying friendships by gunning after someone else’s girlfriend and watching 2 Girls 1 Cup over and over again to discern what’s real and what’s fake? This time, however, I managed to top my own record. I got suckered into these things two more times and with nothing to show for it…

LATE APRIL – A couple of convicted charges from 2007 caught up to me. A speeding ticket and a count of driving without a license had booted me out of my existing car insurance. Luckily, my insurance broker found someone who would cover me for a fee. It’s only over $290… Supposedly, these things stay in your record for 3 years, so I should be free by May or June-ish this year.

MAY/ JUNE – Where do I begin? The awkward run-ins with some wonderful friends at Anime North or the part where I turned my back on them in late 2008?
After much deep reflection, it all boiled down to a lack of integrity with me. I didn’t have the balls to tell these friends I was dating this girl in 2008. I was so ashamed of my action (or rather Inaction) that I dared not face them. I left them in the dark and ran so far away, wishing I would never cross paths with them again. I couldn’t be more wrong…
When I finally saw them again at Anime North this year, I couldn’t bring myself to look them in the eye. How could I? I broke their hearts. All because I didn’t have the wisdom to own what’s true for me and didn’t have the courage to express it.
The truth is I love them and I wasn’t brave enough to communicate that to each and every one of them or my girlfriend. Well, Ex-girlfriend now. I broke her heart too…but that's a different story.

Take it from a fellow bridge-burner! Fear and Cowardice make terrific kindling!

AUG/SEPT – Began training in Acting and re-embracing my comedic improve roots. Later I learned that I would much rather hone my skills in acting instead, since I have no problem making stuff up as I go along. Acting seemed more challenging; its concept is easy to grasp but putting it to practise is difficult…for me anyway. Who knows? I might return for another foundation course this year. Late September, I started studying Buddhism.

OCT – Two friends from the cosplay community got hitched. As a fly on the wall for so long, I never thought two conventioneers could actually meet and fall in love with each other. It’s beautiful and certainly inspires hope for us all. I was fortunate enough to bare witness of this momumental day. I was the camera guy and the priceless footage that contains a sliver of eternity did not survive the transfer to my friend’s laptop. HE lost it all...ANYWAY, marriage is no small feat especially of the cosplay variety. To me this is like going back in time in the Tardis to meet Leonardo Da Vinci and tell him, “You’re not crazy, sir! You’re brilliant! Now how much do you charge for a sketch?”

EARLY NOV – Fully converted to a vegetarian and continued to study and practice Buddhism.

Also got a chance to experience the warmth and joy of a big family. It was strange for me since I haven’t had that since I was a child. I’m ashamed to admit that I felt uncomfortable in that blissful atmosphere. While I was surrounded by his relatives in the house, the same questions surfaced in my mind over and over again as I looked on, “Would my life turn out differently had I been brought up by these people? Would I be more socially savvy like him?” The dynamic of that night was very Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent for me. Even so, their welcoming me as part of the family had touched me deeply; I felt a spark of loving friendliness in my heart.