Sorry 2011, It's Not You It's Me(My New Years Thank You's of 2011)

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The years since graduating college have been slowly getting better for me. But 2011 was a hell of a year. And it was a hell of a year because of some amazing people I have now formed friendships(hopefully life long for some of you) with and for that I want to thank some of them individually. Some people chose to compile their favorite tweets and twitter people but I think this is more of my speed.

These are in no particular order of importance  and there is no ranking system but feel free to assess your place on the list if you’re so neurotic that you must do so. You’re like my children, I cant pick a favorite(I’m totally my mom’s favorite). This is a little longer than my usual posts but it’s the end of the year and it’s worth it, read it. So without further adieu here we go…

First I would like to offer a huge ginormous thanks to Rebecca Theodore Vachon and Jerry Barrow for not only believing in myself, my opinions, and my writing, but giving me a place to share my voice at The Urban Daily and with Radio One. As a writer, and someone who knows how much writers value visibility of their work I can’t thank you guys enough. This was truly one of my biggest blessings of 2011 and I hope to work with you guys for many years to come.

Thank you Russell Peters. I can’t even put into words how thankful I am for all that you’ve done for me and my career. From the day I met you when I was just a young comic with stars in my eyes(which reality is slowly prying from them) you’ve been nothing but a class act. I can never put a price on the constant knowledge and career wisdom you pass on or the stage time in front of thousands of your amazing fans. I can honestly say I wouldn’t be where I am or the courage to be who I am if it weren’t for our friendship and for that I’m eternally grateful. You have a beautiful baby girl and a booming career and if my life turns out half as great as yours then I’ve done something right. Also Eddro, you’re cool as shit and a great dude and I got much love for you too my friend. Take me on the road in 2012 Russell!!

My two best friends in the world, Sacha and Chris, I love you beyond measure. You guys know more about me than probably anyone alive and you are the glue that held me together like no one else could in 2011 and I couldn’t ask for more. I love you guys.

To the Gentlemen, John Elerick, Roger Roth, and Will Stephens, thank you guys so much. I’m never having more fun than when were together making those hilarious videos that are  bound to make us rock star famous guys who do coke off strippers at 4am. Believe it guys. It’s going to happen. The first kilo is on John of course. I don’t get to hang with Will or Roger as much but John, you’re definitely at the top of my favorite white guy list. You’re a good man and a funny ass Ohio born cat owner and for that we shall forever be friends. And how great was The Skin I Live In right? Let’s make history in 2012 fellas. PS. Nate and Dave Brock you’re great and I love you guys. Keep it dirty Nate.

Thank you Lauren Greenberg. You were the first of the funny Twitter girls to follow me and we’ve cultivated what I’m gonna go out on a limb and call a semi marriage of sorts because that’s what I want to call it. You’re extremely funny and I hope we remain friends forever. #TeamFreeberg

Thank you so much Matt and Antoinette Brown. You guys have been with me since the beginning and I love you guys and your family to death. I owe you everything Matt!!

Thank you Patrick Walsh for not only putting up with my seemingly endless Twitter direct messages but for actually responding to them as well as the access to the Two Broke Girls tapings. There are a lot of busy people in this business much like yourself who wouldn’t take the time to talk to me, let alone be as nice and helpful as you have since meeting each other and for that I’m very thankful my friend.

Thank you Brian Kiley for not only being one of the funniest writers and stand up comics I know, but taking the time from your awesome job writing for Conan O’Brien to have lunch with me and give me career guidance advice. I still can’t believe you respond to my Facebook messages! But that’s what separates you from the pack and I thank you.

Thank you Deon Cole for being a great comic, a great writer and for being my friend. And for always being sick when you were supposed to have lunch with me and Brian Kiley. Just say you don’t want to be my friend anymore ok Deon?

Thank you Gabe Ableson, for taking my comedy to a whole new level and giving me the confidence to believe more in my comedic voice and talents. I take every compliment for you to heart because youre one of the funniest people I know and I really hope we get to work together again sometime. Stay funny my friend!!

Thank you Donni, the underground king of Twitter. You’re one of my favorite new friends of 2011 and the conversation is always both hilarious and insightful when we talk and you’re one funny mother…I know we’ll work together and some point and I look forward to the day. Thanks for propelling me into the Favstar Twittersphere!

Steve Fucking Huff. You my friend, I wish I could hug. You’re beyond awesome and hilarious and I really wish you lived in California because I would buy you endless beer to listen to you talk. You’re one of the realest people I’ve come to know in 2011 and I never tire of shooting the shit with you buddy. See you down the road my man.

Thank you Halli Borgfjord for being one of the best LA comedy road dogs a person can have. We’ve shared some damn good times since you moved to LA and some I can’t mention in writing to keep us alive and out of prison but you know haha. You’re a great friend and crazy white boy but every black guy needs one of those.

Thank you David Lew for being one of the funniest people on the planet and for being my friend. I had a great time in the bay with you this year, please have me back and then come back to LA! This aint no bullshit Stanley!! I love you man.

To my brother and boy for life Bryon Javar, you already know what it is. I love you man. We bout to blast off!!

Thank you Diego Attanasio and John Stier because without you guys my comedy album “Undefeated” (available January 2012!) would not have happened or been possible. For that I consider us friends for life. Until you guys dont want any black friends of course.

Thank you Shawn Garrett. Many people are unaware of this but you were the first popular and funny twitter person to follow me back after I followed you when I didnt have very many followers at all and I was pretty excited about it. So much so that I would routinely check to see if you finally decided to unfollow me and you never did. Then you topped yourself by making an awesome cover to my comedy album and I can’t thank you enough for that. You’re the man Shawn and feel free to use me anytime you need a black guy to do anything. Legal or illegal.

Thank you to all of my exes. I love you all very much(even the one of you who still refuses to talk to me from like, 11 years ago) because you’ve contributed in a major way to who I am today. Our ups and downs, joys and pains, laughs and cries, they all fuel the work I do today and some of you will be the inspiration for characters in projects and the punchlines of jokes but I’ll never tell All of you are still my friends(except one) and I appreciate our friendships and the fact that we were mature enough to maintain them post break up. I would wish you all luck but who wants  to see their ex do better without them? Just kidding…(not really)

Thank you Brandy Ward for everything. I don’t even have to list the things I’m thanking you for because you already know. You’re a truly truly amazing woman. Stay that way.

Samiah Phillips. There isn’t enough blank space on the internet to thank you enough for all you’ve done for me. You’re an amazing friend, a great woman and I’ll love you forever for it.

Reggie Webber. Thank you sir, for being one of my best friends for almost seven years now and for always reminding me I’ll never be good enough. I love you Reg.

Thank you too Rob Fee, Nick Stadler, Marcus Strickland, Josh Hara, Bill Mc7, @ProSextips, @PimpBillClinton, Amber Tozer,  @letsgetgizzy Giselle, Lauren O’Brien for loving black guys so much, Jeffrey Raymond, J Lee, Nardster, @Im_Tricia, @emzeld, Lauren Ashley Bishop, @Spergers, Witstream for adding me, Nikki Walter, Louis Peitzman, Matt Tice, The amazing Lauren Caltagirone, and all the other cool ass Twitter friends I’ve made in the last year. Sorry I can’t name you all but I’m very selective about who I follow so take a look at the list and you know those are Grade A tweeters. You guys are so damn funny and you made Twitter one of my most terrible addictions. And you got me a ton of followers which is always great! And to Ryan Detert, one of my newest of friends, were gonna do great things together my friend.

Thank you Eli Braden for not only being one of the coolest and funniest people I know, but for the hilarious song you wrote and made for my album that people will be enjoying for many years to come. You’re a brilliant man and I’m glad to call you a friend.

Thank you all the people I didn’t hook up with. Catch you next year.

Thank you Rob Delaney and Kelly Oxford for continuing to keep the streak alive. The days without following me on twitter streak I mean.

Thank you GOP presidential candidates for making comedy writing so much easier and for working so hard to get Barack OBama re-elected.

Thank you to all the fans, blog readers and especially the over 4500 subscribers, twitter followers, and new Facebook friends I’ve acquired this year. You guys are amazing and the reason I do all of the things I do and without you I am nothing. I will continue to provide you with the best content possible to keep you coming back for more. I love you all and appreciate your support very much. I will always respond to as many tweets, messages and all other correspondences as I can, as soon as I can so don’t think I don’t see you because I do. You’re all very important to me and my work. And to everyone who supported my book, an even bigger than you. Email me directly or Facebook me and I will be more than happy to sign it or give you a free copy of my Album!(only if you bought it in 2011!)

Thank you to everyone who had the courage to stand up for something good and right in 2011. Whether is was unions, gay rights, the occupy movement, HIV/AIDS awareness, or whatever meant something to you that would bring the world along and together in a more progress and equal manner, thank you. You inspire me.

Thank you John Fugelsang, even though you may never read this. You are a brilliant comic mind and political pundit and I hope one day we get to share a stage. I want to one day spark a movement and a crowd the way you do and hearing your new album this year changed my life both as a comic and a person. God bless you John and keep doing what you’re doing. The world needs more of you.

And finally, a ginormous not big enough for this Earth thank you to my family. My mom and sister are the best on the planet and I don’t know what I would do without either of you. Try not to ride in the car together so often so in case something happens I don’t lose both of you ok? There’s a reason the president and vice president cant be together at the same time too often. My uncle Kawan with all of your wisdom, my grandmother, all my cousins and everyone else, I love you all very much and know that even though I always busy you’re never far from my mind. Which is why I thanked you all last. Because every time someone reads this, the last thing they will remember is how important my family is.

If I left anyone out it was on purpose and you should be better to me next year. So here’s to a great 2012 with new friends, journeys, experiences, and opportunities. God bless you all and keep on rocking in the Free world!(see what I did there?)

Now go get drunk and  sing Aude Lang Syne…

UPDATE 1/2/2012:

I feel terrible for forgetting one of the most important people that should have made this post and in my frantic eating of a subway pastrami sub before I got ready to go celebrate the new year and not physically writing a list first, I forgot one of THE most important people of not only my 2011 but the two years prior to knowing her. That person is Ms. Danya Steele. One of the smartest, intelligent, beautiful, awesome, kick ass people I have ever known. Period. We all need a friend who not only pushes us to be greater than we think we can and challenges our ideals to think beyond our knowledge and frames of reference and Danya is that person. There is so much I wouldn’t have done and wouldn’t even being to know how to say if it weren’t for you. Thank you, thank you, thank you Ms. Danya Steele. Forgive my absent mind. Charge it to my head, not my heart. It loves you tremendously!

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