jacobmiller:

That’s right ladies and gentleman. Some of you are going to get slapped in the face by this. And for that, I apologize. However, you should know by now that I have no problem slapping people around. You five influenced my year more than anybody else. I haven’t decided whether this is going to be an all positive list, or a mix of positive & negative. I’m just taking this as it comes to mind. By the way, just because you didn’t make this list, doesn’t mean I don’t love you. It probably just means things between us have been at a constant forever, and things between us rarely fluctuate.

And Goddamn, Tony, yes I wanted to call this list the ‘Top Five Of 05’. Badly.

Without further ado;

5.

Vinnie: Boss man here has been my best since 1st grade. He taught me everything I know. He has to make the list simply for sticking around.

Joe: Without him I don’t know if i could could live my life in 09’. We had some good times this year buddy.

4.

Eric: Unfortunately, I didn’t get to spend to much time with you in 09’ due to our argument. However, the rest of summer and up until you deploy January 11th certainly will have made up for it. You are the strongest man I know. I look up to you a lot.

3.

Goodnight Jersey; Formally Garden State: I’d be lying to the world if I told anyone I had any regrets about anything I did involving this group. The only regret I have is not working as hard as the rest of you did. I could have done a better job myself. You are the 4 most talented musicians I have ever had the privilege of playing music next to. Our friendships deteriorated and I believe we lost sight of what we founded the group on, our love for each other, and the music we played. You all will go places doing the very thing we set off to do. Regardless of how I feel about whatever vocalist you are playing with. Good luck in 2010, guys.

2.

Tony: This photo is practically embarrassing to release to the world. Our friendship has certainly grown more this year than any others. You are the perfect person to waste days away with. Your ambitions, dreams, and goals reach as high as mine. So there is no doubt in my mind why we’re so close. Plus, we immediately claim ourselves mentally to superior to practically every new person we meet in our adventures. You know what comes next.

1.

Taylor: You are my favorite. I love that we were able to grow so much together through out the year together. My summer wouldn’t have been complete with out you and you mean everything to me. You are the nicest, most loving person I have ever met in my life & I do. not. know. what. I. would. do. with. out. you.

 Booyah.

jacobmiller:

09. Release of Love Drunk (Boys Like Girls), Nothing Personal (All Time Low), and Anywhere But Here (Mayday Parade): These three bands are my life. They are three exceptional records. I Don’t know how I would have carried on my year without overplaying all of these albums nonstop.

08. Getting Kicked Out Of Home!: Staying with Tony, Dan, & Eric was probably one of the most entertaining three weeks of my life. Never a dull moment.

07. All Time Low at Newport Music Hall, Columbus, OH, November 30th: One of the top five shows I’ve ever been to. All Time Low never ceases to amaze me live. I actually enjoy seeing them live more than Boys Like Girls.

06. Taylors’ Graduation Party: It was just a fun night…haha.

05. Eric Coming Home From Parris Island: Eric & I became friends again. Obviously played a huge role in the past 4 months of my life. Glad to have my best friend back.

04. Halloween Weekend At Ohio University: Was probably having the best night of my life until bad luck smacked against the gravel. Literally.

03. Graduating From High School; June 6th: What else Can I Say? High school sucks.

02. Boys Like Girls At Peabody’s July 16th: Probably one of the only times I’ll ever see Boys Like Girls in that small of a venue ever again. I sang Thunder on stage with Martin Johnson. My life is pretty much nearly complete from this point onward.

01. Recording ‘The Coast’ At EA & Garden State: I had the opportunity to write a song that people loved to listen to and play in one of the most talented bands I’ve ever been a part of. I learned a lot and made some good friends.

 We had some great times in ‘09.

jacobmiller:

mikemckay:

jacobmiller:

So cliche’.

I’ve never set goals like I’m going to this year. I mean, I’ve always set goals, but I don’t think I’ve ever really done the whole ‘New Years resolution’ thing before. I’m sure I told my friends something stupid once or twice, but I’m going to make this the best year of my life. The year where everything I’ve dreamed about for the past four years finally takes shape into what it’s really supposed to be.

1. Gain an octave, vocally.

2. Learn how to shred on this beautiful guitar :)

3. Learn how to shred on this piano.

4. Go on tour with a new band.

5. Gain some fans. Change some lives.

6. See Boys Like Girls & All Time Low more than 10 times combined.

7. Buy Tony a present…tomorrow, maybe. He deserves it. What an inspiration he is.

8. Take care of Eric’s brother while he is gone.

9. Make Eric take care of himself while he is gone.

10. Not let anyone slip away from me that I love.

11. Successfully achieve 150,000 miles on the Aurora without it breaking down.

12. Visit at least 20 states with Tony on our 50 states trip.

13. Keep my damn credit card below $200.00.

14. Just keep livin’ my life in 2010.

my new year resolution is to chill with you boss

hah

I can dig it.

 Jacob’s New Year’s resolutions.

tgblogs:

Here’s everything I’d like to get done in 2010 (In no particular order).

1.  Continue to become more comfortable with myself.  I got down on myself too much in ‘09.  As the year progressed, I got reduced to a shell of the person I truly am.  Today, I’ve got a positive outlook on my future, and a drive to succeed with everything I’m involved in. 

2.  Knock of 17-20 states with Jacob.

3.  Get my CD recorded, and published.

4.  Remember who helped make me who I am.  I’ve become an incredibly different individual over 2009.  I want to let that person flourish, and become even greater than this.

5.  Get 100 followers on tumblr.  It’s amazing knowing people are actually reading my stuff, or checking out my pictures/videos.  I’d like to continue to expand my audience.

6.  Get 10,000 views on any of my youtube videos.

7.  Hold my own heart.  I’m back in control of my emotions for the first time in nearly 10 months.  I need to hang on to this.

8.  Make music.  Get in a van.  Play shows.  Fuck up the stage.  Get in your face.  Sing words you know, and love.  Be great.

9.  Stay tight with my closest few guys.  Jacob, Zack, Joey, Ahmed, Nate, Brendan, Dubs, Robbie, Johnny, Brandon.  Love you guys.

10.  Learn to love another.

11.  Write a song that “turns out the lights”.  A song that brings tears to your eyes.  A song that makes you weak in the knees. 

12.  Make the summer of 2010 one worth remembering.

13.  Buy myself a camera.  God damnit.  I thought I would have done this already.

14.  See 50 shows.

15.  Do a videoblog for every month.  Take pictures every day I can.

16.  Visit at least two other countries.

17.  Finally figure out “what this means to me”.

18.  Never fuck anyone over for personal gain.  It’s something I try to do on a daily basis, but sometimes I think selfishly and have to remind myself that my character is critical.

19.  Never give up on someone I care about.  I will continue to do anything and everything I can to make someone’s life just that much better.

20.  Record a whole lot of tunes with Jacob.

21.  Visit my college friends at least once over summer.

22.  Drive 25,000 miles.

23.  Achieve a 3.0 GPA for my Freshman year.

Begin.

 Tony’s New Year’s resolutions.

tgblogs:

From November 24th, 2009 to January 3rd, 2010, I drove/was in a car for 6,103.3 miles (Over 5,200 of which I drove).

-148.86 miles per day.

-Traveled to four states other than Ohio.

-Drove for 18 hours in a 32 hour time span.

-Spent an estimated $550 on gas.

-Was in the car for an estimated 125 hours.

-With the miles I drove, I could have gone to San Francisco, California and back with over 1,200 miles to spare.

-I could have driven to Fairbanks, Alasksa, with over 2,300 miles to spare.

As of January 1st, 2010, my car had 104,600 miles on it.  I wonder how many I’ll have at the end of the year.

 Tony’s winter break journies.

tgblogs:

It’s January third.  It’s the end of a 40 day long winter break for me.  I felt like I was home for an eternity, and honestly, being back in Athens is a little bit crazy for me right now, but I’ll readjust.  This is the first chance I’ve had to reflect upon my break, and I’ve got a lot of thoughts running through my head:

-These forty days were initially meant to be spent doing the same shit I’ve been doing for months now.  I won’t go into detail, but it’s similar to running head on into a brick wall and expecting to break it down one day.

-I did not write a single song the entire break.  I have lots of fragments of songs, and lots of lyrics, but I’ve yet to sit down and let the creativity flow.  Hopefully I’ll have something going soon.

-Yesterday (The last day I had at home) was a really eye opening day.  I woke up and planned to call a lot of people to hang out with before I went.  I picked up the phone, hovered over a contact, and then had a realization.  These people know that I’m leaving the next day.  If they really care, they should be calling me.  I shouldn’t have to extend my hand to people who clearly don’t give a fuck about me on my last day in town.  I learned who I really mattered to this break. 

-I got into a lot of new music over break.  Jacob and I hung out a lot, and it got me in to some new shit.  I miss that dude already.

-I was in five different states over those 40 days:  Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, and Michigan.

-I realized that I couldn’t spend my whole life holding onto a feeling.  I lived a very moody lifestyle which was based around the fact that my feelings weren’t reciprocated.  I would constantly scratch, and fight for something that I never stood a chance obtaining.

-Based off of the above, I found something that’s exciting.  It’s really quite true:  Everything you want is right in front of you.  It’s just a matter of whether or not you choose to see it, and accept it.

-I had a hell of a lot of fun.  The last two weeks of break were absolutely phenominal.  The holidays are always wonderful.  Christmas was two days long this year, as I got a very unexpected late Christmas present.  I’ve felt like it’s been the holidays ever since.

-My brothers and I had a lot of good conversations.  They helped me through the brick wall scenerio, and showed me that I was capable of being so much happier.  Now, I am.  I love both of you guys.

-I’ve already got a lot of plans for the next month.  That is exciting.  As excited as I am to be back in Athens, I know I’ve got something beautiful waiting for me at home.  I have wonderful friends, a wonderful family, and more.

I had thought this break was going to be something that bonded two people together.  Then, it looked like everything I did was a wasted effort.  Now, I can see that what I really wanted was waiting for me to come around. 

Now, I can safely say that this break did bond two people. 

Here’s to a new year, new beginnings, and newfound respect of self-worth.

tgblogs:

trishxtastic:

where-the-heart-is:

morganfreeman:

theriouthbithneth:

loveesierra:

twokidsonelovee:

speaksoftly:

callerfifteen:

snow day. ohhh 9.

oh my god this is the best one of these yet

LMAO YOU ARE A PAN HAHAHA.

‘hang ten brah’

‘you were always green in puzzles’

LERDUSKFJMA LOL

i do not have an accent ok

i don’t have an accent.

I’m not a dumb sox fan, I like the yankees and I actually have more of an accent than southerners.

 lol @ Jersey

 A nice little commentary on our 50 states.  I’m glad Ohio wasn’t labeled “Farm Country”.  That made me happy.

 We’re putting this map to the test.  We can certainly file Kentucky under:  I don’t really care.

tgblogs:

This is the last second of 2009.  The last second of a rounded decade.  The last second that Jacob and I could correctly use the phrase “Just livin’ my life in ‘09” for.  The last second before that giant 2010 sign lit, and people started kissing.  The last second of the most testing year of my life.

I gotta say, I had a pretty good night.  If you asked me what I would be doing on New Years Eve a few months ago, I probably would have told you I’d be doing the exact opposite of what I ended up doing.

I’m happy I am where I am.  This year taught me a lot about my own character.  It taught me a lot about my will; my strength.  I have a clearer understanding of who I am as a person today.  That makes me feel really good.  A year ago today, I was completely consumed in the fact that I was 18 years old, and the top of my high school.  I am an entirely different, and undeniably better person today.

Thank you to everyone who made 2009 the most important year of growth in my life.  Let’s have some fun in 2010, shall we?

 2009:  The beginning of an epic journey.

tgblogs:

All because of you, I haven’t slept in so long

When I do I dream, of you of drowning in the ocean

Longing for the shore, where I can lay my head down

Inside these arms of yours.

 Tony traveled to Charlotte without Jacob :(.  It was kind of wierd being in a different state without the two of us together, and subsequently we didn’t cross the state off our list because we didn’t do it together.  This shot of Tim McIlrath was taken at the Rise Against show in Charlotte, North Carolina.

tgblogs:

Alex Gaskarth (All Time Low) - “Therapy” LIVE @ The Newport Music Hall in Columbus, Ohio

I also shot this video.

I love the opening.

And the lights. 

And the part at 1:21 where a member of the crowd yells:  “You’re the man!”

To which Alex calmly responds:  “Yes, I am.”

 ”Thereapy” as performed by Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low. 

We went places.  Unfortunately, we didn’t make it out of Ohio.