For those who don’t know, there are people in the real world who have decided to take up the mask and cape and pursue crimefighting. These real-life superheroes (RLSHs) patrol the streets at night, looking for crime to stop or report—among other things.

Now, if you’re at all like me, your first instinct might be to laugh at the concept. It’s like when I found out in college that some guys I knew had actually started a Fight Club. Great movie, but doesn’t quite have the same effect in real life. Well, take a closer look at them (the superheroes, not the fight club initiates). You do get your misfits, your nut-jobs, and your egomaniacs—but you get those in office jobs too. (Trust me, I’ve met them.) There are actually quite a few of these guys that are making a real difference.

Take Terrifica. She hangs out around bars late at night and makes sure intoxicated women get home safely. Or there’s Tothian, who breaks up drunken brawls and is saving up to go to Africa and be a freedom fighter. Or there’s Geist, who focuses on disaster relief and helping the downtrodden.

So, if you can’t tell, I’ve actually gained a lot of respect for these guys. Imagine my delight when I found out we actually have our own superhero here in Kansas City: Nyx, recently-elected vice president of the Heroes Network.

Now, I have to preface this next bit by saying that I’ve been giving some thought lately to writing professionally. I’m not giving up my day job, by any means—just a few articles on the side to get my name out there and keep my writing skills sharp. It just so happens that I know someone who writes regularly for The Pitch, a local entertainment mag with good articles and a good following.

So yesterday, I decided to write Nyx to see if I could interview her and write an article about her and this movement for The Pitch. She’s agreed to an interview, but now I’ve asked her if I can go out on a patrol with her as well. Still waiting to hear back on that one. (There was recently an article in Rolling Stone about RLSHs. I’m taking a slightly different angle, focusing on a typical night’s work rather than what they do in their spare time.)

It’s unclear whether or not I’d have to come up with a superhero persona to go on the patrol with Nyx. Just in case, I’m taking suggestions now for name and costume ideas. Just click that comments link below. You know you want to. For great justice.

I thought it would be appropriate to talk about where I was at the beginning of 2008, being that it’s now the beginning of 2009. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a whole lot of interesting stuff going on with me at the beginning of 2008. So let me try to sum up the whole year, since that gives me a bigger pool to draw from. So, without further ado, 2008!

• I was sick pretty much the entire month of January. The way things are looking now, I could be repeating this again this year.
• I got into a band playing percussion with a bunch of world-class musicians at my church. I was by far the worst of the group—but it was a tremendous growing experience for me. I’ve since moved over to another worship service, playing bass. I still miss the congas, though.
• I got promoted to senior at work. This is especially significant, because I can’t say I was really excited about my job until late 2007. I’m now the longest-standing web designer at PlattForm, and the member of the Affiliate team with the most time logged at PlattForm (though not all on that team).
• Janelle and I bought our first house. After a bidding process that lasted for about two months and negotiations that lasted a good month and almost lost us the house, we got it and moved in in June.
• After getting the house, my dad and Christine flew up to help us renovate. After renovations were done, my mom and Mike flew up to throw us a housewarming party. We greatly appreciated both.
• We took in our third kitty, Tilly, whom we found wandering the streets of Waldo, Missouri. She had fleas, ear mites, and badly-matted fur, and was starved half to death. She’s currently upstairs in our bedroom, and is doing and looking much better.
• Landon (my brother-in-law) had to have emergency gallbladder surgery in early November and stayed with us for the recovery. That led to him moving in with us. He’s still here, and we’re doing great.
• I commandeered a Spanish ship and sailed the Caribbean, trading spices, wooing the ladies, and pirating the hell out of the Spanish fleet.