I'd Like to Thank the Academy: A One Year Thank You Post

This is it, one whole year of my thoughts being shouted into the abyss of the internet. And surprisingly, I was met with so many positive, loving, supportive words from all of you, I have been constantly astounded by everyone's feedback.

Every post I've made in the last 365 days has been about me, so for the one year post, I'm changing things up and I'm going to talk about some of the people in my life who inspire and support me.

My Mom

Here she is, with the other half of my DNA, my father.

My Mom, Shari Olmstead, is a self-created local legend in the town of Newfield, hailing from Weedsport, New York she is the youngest of five she seems to only be able to live in towns that have some reference to plants and the growing of them in the name. She currently teaches Kindergarten at Newfield Elementary, she has been an educator her whole life. She has been cited as an inspiration to many fellow educators ans former students. She is also a faithful co-pilot as she teaches me to drive and we work to shed some years off of eachothers lives along the journey. She has constantly been one of my biggest fans, supporting me, seeing my shows and performances, working fundraisers, reading my blog posts, talking me through rough times, and putting up with my nonstop sarcasm and snark as she puts it. Never to be seen with out a smile or a witty remark, has been one of my biggest inspirations and role-models. Putting up with late night phone calls and ukulele playing. Despite what she says she always has my back and still owes me a blanket. Thank you for everything, I love you mom.

My Dad

Only context was the word "boo"

My Father, David Olmstead, is the original Big Deal, or "Very Important Person" as his business cards once read, Originally an English Major at Ithaca college my father has done everything and been everywhere, he currently teaches Earth History at his other Alma Matter, SUNY Cortland, where he is the self-titled "God of Science." Along with being the undiscovered Roman god of science he is a manager at Hosmer Winery where I worked with him as a hotdog vender or "Lord of the Tubestakes." My father has been there for many misadventures and life-lessons and is never without a relating anecdote to whatever situation you may find yourself in. An inspiration and role-model to many, including me, my father has always been a huge influence and inspiration. I love you dad

My Sister

Camryn Olmstead is probably the coolest person you will ever meet, she went as a star to her 8th grade semi-formal which was themed "Starry Night" Camryn is everyone's favorite Olmstead, including mine. With her incredible wit and humor, her fearlessness and brashness makes her an amazing human to behold. This year Camryn took the high school by storm, soon winning the hearts of everyone with her easy to like personality. With her brilliant personality and loving, compassionate behavior, it's hard not to love Cam. Camryn is a talented Trumpet player, pianist, artist, and improvisational comedian, she has a humor and maturity that I someday hope to achieve. She is one of my biggest fans and biggest inspirations, thank you Camryn, I love you here is your damn section dedicated just to you, ya butt.

My "Sister"

Maria "Mia" Thannhauser, family friend, former baby sitter and big-sister figure is one of the best people on the planet to know. Maria has taken care of me, advised me, adventured with me, worked at the winery with me and has been a dear friend to me for almost a decade. A phenomenal basketball player and all-around bad ass, Maria is a huge inspiration and support to me and I cannot thank her enough for being the wonderful friend and older sister that she is, thank you Maria, I love you.

Jeffrey Allen

Me in lipstick, Jeffrey in green makeup, the usual.

Jeffrey Allen has been my best friend for several years, an incredibly gifted actor and singer Jeffrey has been described by world famous band director, Sharon Powell as "The perfect human" Jeffrey is a close and supportive friend, a confidant, a moral adviser and semi-willing adventure buddy to me for several years, now considered a legal adult Jeffrey has been shaving and pulling gray hairs since he was in sixth grade, this only shows his endless reserves of maturity and patience required to take care of me as much as he does. He puts up with my ofter childish and brash behavior and is always willing to act as my moral compass. Jeffrey is also a hilarious human and a gifted improvisor. His diligence, musical talents, and humanity will take him far in life and I'm proud to call him my friend, I love you man.

Erik McSwain

Erik is my other male best friend, another gifted musician, Erik is always down for a good night of watching AVGN videos and musicals. Erik is a very generous friend who is always willing to buy you dinner when you're broke because you're a writer and an actor who quit his job at Buffalo Wild Wings. Or who knows the best Christmas gift to get for me was 1989 on Vinyl. He was one of two friends to see my first time playing Cord Elam in Oklahoma. Erik is an amazing singer, friend, and photographer, getting the best candids of people you've ever seen. Erik has a better taste in music than you and he is not afraid to tell you.Thank you for everything Erik, I love you man.

Tyler Gardner

Tyler Gardner is one of the coolest and chillest people ever to live. Always up for getting lost hiking in the woods, blocking friends driveways with huge logs and staying up all night listening to Lady Gaga and Daft punk while playing GTA. Tyler is a brilliant writer, great friend and supportive dude. He is also one of the deepest and most thoughtful people I have ever met. Tyler has my back when I need him to and our random adventures into the unknown are some of my favorite things and I can't wait until we are unburied from this awful icy prison so we can go out once more without dying. I love you, bro.

Luke Biskup

Luke is one of my favorite people. Always up for a night of junk food and Doctor Who, Luke is also an incredibly generous human being, more than willing to pitch in for food or the video game you've been craving. Luke is always up for an episode of Game Grumps or beating a joke so far into the ground it rounds the irony bend and becomes funny again just by sheer repetition. Luke, thank you for your unconditional friendship and your rad trombone playing, love you man.


Ian Grochocinski

Ian is the one in the back

Ian "Grocho-Cinco" is another beloved 9th grader and co-worker. He has an intelligence that is unparalleled and a friendship that is unrivaled. His comedic timing and sense of humor is always on point and his innocence and kind-hardheartedness is something that is both refreshing and sometimes a little chastising when it makes me realize how I'm neither of those adjectives. His tendency to play Trivia Crack in French just for fun and his ability to fluently speak Japanese is constantly mind-blowing to me, he is a gifted trombone player and a good friend and no one tells him enough how awesome he and his cookies are. Thanks Ian, even though you don't know who Kermit the Frog is, I love you.

Marissa Fargnoli-Peterson

It's truly an act of god anyone is dating us

Finally, this post has been a bit of a sausage fest, and who better to break up the wiener parade than everyone's favorite precocious blondish redhead, Marissa? Marissa is a talented actress, saxophone player, vocalist and friend. She is passionate, loud, loving, off the walls, dedicated, loyal and fierce as all hell. No one can replace Marissa and her constant energy and hard work. She is a dedicated, loving, loyal, and active friend. She has a bright future in music and as with everyone on this list, I'm proud to say that I love you.

Katy Mulcahy

Katy, the OG midget in the squad, Katy likes to keep me in check. A fiercely loyal and caring friend, Katy is always there when you need it, with all the support and care you could possibly ever need. Katy is another talented musician, the clarinet being her weapon of choice. Her favorite attack is a punch to the arm, and she's good at it. She's louder than you, she's cooler than you, and she knows it. Katy is one of the best friends you could possibly ask for, I love you Katy, thank you for always having my back, even though it's hard to reach.

Jasmine Miller

Seeing as how she's not a fan of my selfies or being in New York this is the best picture I was able to get a hold of of the two us. Jasmine, you're a wonderfully talented woman and I'm so proud of everything you've accomplished and how far you've come, I hope you've finally found your home in the great wide open midwest. I miss you dearly and I expect to see you again soon. You deserve all the happiness you come across in your travels, you're going to do absolutely amazing things, I've always known it. I love you.

Breanna Kern

Despite the fact that I've known Breanna for something like 11 years I still cannot pronounce her name to save my life, that says a lot about me. So for the last 11 years you've always had my back even when I've been not the greatest of humans. Your love and talent for art is unmatched, as in your love for Tom Petty. You're a kind and loving human being with a rocking taste in music and a surprising lack of knowledge of 20th century painters.Breanna has faced so much advesity and is still one of the most brilliant sparks to come out of Candor, she has not let their wet blanket smother her flames. Keep on rocking, Tessa. You deserve the world and someday you'll get it. Thank you for everything, I love you.

Ashley Atherton

Ashley, I haven't seen you in more than six months and I miss you dearly, you are one of the strongest most kick ass Robo-Americans to ever walk the face of this great nation and you will change it as the first Robo-American president. You are an incredible friend and a brilliant strategist and politician and you have so much potential, I cannot wait to see what you will do when you finally graduate Kent State. You've been here for me every second that I've needed you the past three years and I couldn't possibly ask for more of you. You and Annie took care of me in a time where I was vulnerable, self-destructive and lonely, I would not be anything without the help of you two, so thank you. I cannot wait to see you again and I can't wait for another round of Ohio adventures this summer! I'm so proud of you and I love you dearly.

Annie Johnson

Annie, between our ours in the car together and our hours spent working at the library I think or conversations have spanned the widest range of topics imaginable. I cannot wait to resume working with you this summer and I cannot wait for your return so I have someone to drive me places and also our Ohio trip part two potentially and terrifyingly featuring me as a licensed driver, so we'll see where that adventure takes us. You and Ashley became my friends when I was so alone and destroying myself, you were the best friends I could have asked for and you took care of me and put up with my 9th gradeness. You are one of the most formidable Pokemon trainers I know. You also have the largest collection of my books of anyone I know. We need to go to Purity once more as well as Moes and get some sweet sweet unhealthy food, I look forward to whatever movies and adventures come our way. I'm very proud of you and I love you to death.

Laura Brown

She's French Kiss

Laura "Ellie B" Brown, a Tumblr Goddess, a hero to many a blogger. Laura is the Epitome of cool and hip, in her floral print dresses, heart shaped sunglasses, ironic costumes, sweet taste in music and a loving and supportive way about her. Laura is prone to some of the sweetest burst of emotions at the most random times, a tendency to text me at 3 AM about Parks and Rec or whatever obsession she is currently gushing about with some of the most Earth moving passion you've ever heard, Larua is casual and cool and everything I strive to be in a public appearance. I love you El.

Cioppa

Karyn "Cioppa" Hutchinson is my former chemistry and current physics teacher, a motivated and effective teacher, Cioppa is 100% of the reason I have been passing science the last two years. Cioppa has let me sit in her room for hours on end and talk to her about anything and everything, often sharing jokes and gossip with me. Cioppa has been helpful with science and not having a mental breakdown during finals week. She is a brilliant teacher and I cannot stress how much of a help and influence she has been on me, she has been a positive support and force in my life the last two years. Thanks Cioppa, I love you.

Sharon Powell

I met Ms. Powel when I was in second grade, she began giving me piano lessons. This would last at least a year and a half. Ms. Powell has always let me stay in her room and put up with my antics for the last decade as I ran around blasting my trombone, singing loudly, nagging her to let us play Indiana Jones for band, and wreaking other havoc. She has allowed more of my shenanigans than I ever thought would be allowed as well as choosing the right shenanigans to allow. She has often pranked and outwitted me and proven to be a master of schoolyard politics. She has also started a sustanibillity program at our school and created several songs and the character "Compost Kuze" in order to help promote the program. She has won several awards with her band and is a beloved teacher at Newfield Central Schools, thank you Ms. Powell, I love you.

Mr. MacDonald

Mr. MacDonald has been a huge influence on my life. Allowing me to hide in his room and rant and rave about the world around me, listening, advising and teaching me dozens of life and musical lessons. Along with the invaluable life advice given he has helped further my musical ability and supported me and encouraged me in my endeavors. He has helped guide the A Capella Group the Treble Alliance and led our choir to Carnegie Hall where we performed last month. He has been an incredible mentor to me and I am very much inspired and indebted to him. Thank you Mr. MacDonald, I love you.

Jon Armstrong

My 3rd grade teacher, neighbor, actor, trombonist and a million other thing Mr. Armstrong has been looking out for me, guiding me, teaching me, and joking with me since I was 8 years old. He has been a huge support and avid reader of my blog. He has been willing to work on projects with me with no ask or mention of recompense. He has always been a good sport when it comes to making jokes and generally having fun. Leader and founding member of the Award Winning Newfield Kazoo Band, and cause for the huge influx of trombone players, Mr. Armstrong has always been a huge supporter of the Arts. Always ready to tell a tale from his days as a Catholic School dropout and beyond, Mr. A has been a huge influence and support for me for nearly a decade. Thank you Mr. A, I love you.

I was reading my first blog post, made February 10th, 2014. I didn't like it that much, it felt so cynical and angsty, and though that has been my trademark since forever, it's interesting to see the growth and change a year can make. It's mind blowing to look and think about all the growth I and everyone on this list has done in a year. I love this blog because it allows me to share my journey as a self-centered, self-righteous, narcissist still trying to be a good person and find his way in the world, and maybe someday I'll find it, until then there are a lot more adventures to have and many more blog post yielding mistakes to make, several life lessons left to learn and so much more to see and write.

Thank you to everyone who read this blog the last 365 days. I cannot wait for another 365 days of self-centered blog posts. I wanted to change up the flow and write about other people, I hope they appreciate it. Thank you. I cannot say it enough, the 5,000+ views my blog got in the last year. The mind blowing response all of you have had. Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you. I have so many things left to write about, so many stories to tell, I cannot wait to keep sharing them with all of you. You're a wonderful audience and your continued support and comments make this so incredibly worthwhile. Thank you.

I love you all, happy one year to SuperDuck Productions, I can't wait for many, many more.

Leave in the comments your favorite quotes and posts from the last year.

Thank you <3

Love,

Bailey S. Fox




Copyright SuperDuck Productions 2015

Egomaniac or: How I Learned to Stop Self-Loathing and Love Myself

It seems I keep starting these blogs with bragging, today's is no exception. Tuesday, February 10th, in addition to being the world's most beautiful girl's 17th birthday (Misty Boudreault), is also the one year anniversary of my first blog post! Looking back at my blog posts is like looking at a sedimentary deposit graph of my angst and edginess. The metamorphosis of over cynicism to blind optimism as the year has gone on.

Here is my Earth Science reference for my father.

So today's blog post is going to be another one about my struggle with self-loathing and my abundance of ego I never seem to stop talking about on my blog.

So I am regularly called out for my egotistical behavior, my narcissistic tendencies, my self-absorbed nature, and my absolute vanity. And my reason for it, my logic behind it is rather simple, if I do not love myself to the extreme, if I am not over abundantly self praising and arrogant, I plunge back into hating myself. I hated myself with such certainty, such entirety that in my attempts to be humble I overshoot and self-deprecate myself into self-loathing again. It's a slippery slope. one of my close friends asked me once "Why don't you find a nice middle ground the every other god damn person in the world?" and that's because I'm not sure where the middle ground exists for me, I do not know a way of feeling about myself that is not in one way or another an extreme.

I don't want people thinking I'm using my self-loathing tendencies to justify my ego, I don't think that because I have a hard time loving myself my ego is okay, justified, and totally a good person thing to do. I know it's not, good people, actually good people are not arrogant and egotistical. This whole quest to not hate myself isn't one of being a good person or a bad person, but it's a quest of trying to coexist with myself. Because when I hate myself I start to hate other people, I start to mistreat the people I love and care about, I self-destruct into this toxic self-loathing and world loathing pile of anxious, angsty toxic sludge. At least with my ego I try and do things I can brag about, I try and go above and beyond for my friends and girlfriend and family so that I can turn around and brag to to other people what a good friend/boyfriend/son/brother I am. It might not be the best, most healthy way of going about it, but it's the one that works for me.

I never want people to think that due to my ego I am also selfish and uncaring, but that's not true, I care very deeply about the people around me, about the people I love. Because when you get to my core, through all the layers of ego and self-loathing, arrogance, childishness, awkwardness, sleepiness and everything else, at my core I'm just a scared little boy who wants to be a knight and slay the dragon and save the world. I'm just a kid trying to earn the love that he is given, I'm just a kid who wants acceptance and to not be afraid to be himself, and I'm getting there I am.

I want to thank the incredible and astounding number of people who put up with my egotistical behavior and everything else about me, I love you all dearly and I never could tell you enough that I do, I'm sorry I'm not always a good person, I'm trying, I am. You know who you all are, you are wonderful incredible people who have so much potential and I'm so proud of each and every one of you. I truly am honored to be your friend. I love you all so much.

I also want to thank my family who accept me and love me despite my household habits of only spending time in my room, and making my room an atrocious wasteland faster than you can a Cappella sing the captain planed theme song.

I want to thank my girlfriend as well who puts up with my ego and childishness behavior on a constant basis. Who makes sure I get enough sleep and loves and accepts me more than anyone I've ever met, I love her dearly and she's probably the best person that's ever lived so there is that cool fact. She is a better person than I am and makes me want to try and be a better person, so thank you. <3

I want to thank the people who read my blog, you're an amazing and supportive audience and I couldn't ask for a better one, thank you all. Thank you for the kind messages you send in support and thank you for reading and everything you do, I read all the comments you write and all the messages you send and they all mean so very much to me, thank you all. <3

If you haven't heard Post Modern Jukebox's cover of Shake it Off or Alex Boye's cover of it you're missing out on so much. I'd also recommend checking out Post Modern Jukebox's cover of Stacy's Mom.

 I also want to pay my respects to Monty Oum, Creator of RWBY and animator for Red vs. Blue who passed away last week, you were a brilliant and motivated man and you will be missed dearly. Rest in peace.

Thank you for reading for a whole year, you're all wonderful people.
<3
Bailey S. Fox
















Copyright 2015 SuperDuck Productions