Next Year Baby

I end this year bitterly hopeful about the next. I could make a list of resolutions a mile long and then break every one of them because I'm sure there are many things in this life I should resolve to change. If I'm honest though, there are not that many things I need to change in order to achieve happiness or fulfillment.

Yes, I need to lose a few pounds but my weight hasn't plagued my soul. It has just prevented me from being hot or the best looking one in the room...she probably isn't that happy either. So, I want to get into better shape and if that means I lose weight and look better, awesome. That's resolution 1.

Yes, I need to be better with money and spend less on stupid things but I like those stupid things and money can't buy...
Still, I can be a bit more responsible with money. That's resolution 2.

Yes, I really should drink less. Coffee, whiskey, everything but water. Maybe I'll shoot for that one again. I dunno. I went for 5 months with no alcohol once and 3 months another time. It was a better life so I'll try again. I won't stop, but I'll slow down. That's resolution 3.

Those are simple enough resolutions to make...just to try to be better in those aspects. I read a lot now and will keep doing so. Overall it was a decent year and I can make next year even better.

The last resolution I'll make may seem strange but given the past few years, it makes perfect sense. It is to not be involved with anyone who is involved with someone else whether they are just dating, engaged or married. If I don't know initially then find out (which hopefully never happens again) I'll take loneliness and marry it before I compromise myself again. One lesson I've learned is that a great way to lose a friend is to make that friend into a lover. It took a while but friendship can never be regained. A lover can be an acquaintance and a casual one at that but not a friend.

I am afraid as I get out there and date that I'll be plagued with relationships that end in infidelity as some sort of karmic retribution from the universe. My fingers are crossed though and I'll take what I deserve if I deserve anything less than love. I know what I don't want now and think I know what I want too. I hope losing so far is enough and I am allowed to move on with a guilt that is punishment enough for the things I have done. Eventually it should all balance out on both ends though sadly so far the casualty has been me. That is resolution number 4.

As you make your resolutions or ignore the tradition, try to make each day a good one in 2008 and beyond.

A favorite artist of mine is Jamie Cullum and I enjoy the lyric below as it kind of sums up what I'd like to do this year and the above entry is a start:


Next year, things are gonna change
Gonna drink less beer, and start all over again
Gonna read more books, gonna keep up with the news
Gonna learn how to cook, spend less money on shoes
I’ll pay my bills on time,and file my mail away, everyday
Only drink the finest wine,and call my Gran every Sunday

Resolutions, baby they come and go
Will I do any of these things? The answers probably no
If there’s one thing I must do, despite my greatest fears
I’m gonna say to you, how I felt all of these years
Next Year
Next Year

Target Holidays

I went around looking for a particular, old school board game and Target had it on sale this week. I'd list it here but I don't want the person I was getting it for to find out just yet (Christmas isn't here yet folks.)

I went to 3 different Target stores in Fresno and had my sister look in Valencia too. Nowhere to be found! But, all this time in Target reminded me of my favorite SNL skit in recent years. Check it out below...and if I can find the "Schweaty" skits, there will be more to come this week.



Happy Holidays!

The Leader of the Band...

Dan Fogelberg passed away after a battle with cancer. I would hope that he didn't suffer greatly but I am sure that he did. I have seen it in a man his age before and cancer, deadly or otherwise, is so, so ugly.

Fogelberg was beautiful though, in his voice and showed a realism in his lyrics. I have enjoyed a few of his songs very much. One I would say, has been influential on me and they way I attempt to write (privately, not here).

ABC News covers a bit on Fogelberg.

Among my favorite of his songs (and probably his most famous):
Leader of the Band
Same Old Lang Syne
Rhythm of the Rain
Longer

Same Old Lang Syne (lyrics)

Met my old lover in the grocery store
The snow was falling christmas eve
I stole behind her in the frozen foods
And I touched her on the sleeve

She didnt recognize the face at first
But then her eyes flew open wide
She went to hug me and she spilled her purse
And we laughed until we cried.

We took her groceries to the checkout stand
The food was totalled up and bagged
We stood there lost in our embarrassment
As the conversation dragged.

We went to have ourselves a drink or two
But couldnt find an open bar
We bought a six-pack at the liquor store
And we drank it in her car.

We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness
But neither one knew how.

She said shed married her an architect
Who kept her warm and safe and dry
She would have liked to say she loved the man
But she didnt like to lie.

I said the years had been a friend to her
And that her eyes were still as blue
But in those eyes I wasnt sure if I saw
Doubt or gratitude.

She said she saw me in the record stores
And that I must be doing well
I said the audience was heavenly
But the traveling was hell.

We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness
But neither one knew how.

We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to time
Reliving in our eloquence
Another auld lang syne...

The beer was empty and our tongues were tired
And running out of things to say
She gave a kiss to me as I got out
And I watched her drive away.

Just for a moment I was back at school
And felt that old familiar pain
And as I turned to make my way back home
The snow turned into rain --

These Few Things...

It has been a while. I feel like I have abandoned most things in the last month, not to mention this blog. I have a ton I think about writing and if I had an iPhone, I might just send everything to my blog as it came to me, like the people in the commercials seem to do. There would be danger in that I suppose since some of my thoughts are not meant for general broadcast and time to think before I speak (write) is uaually valuable and lends to less regret.

I've seen few films as of late but the two I did see were great:

Enchanted is Disney's latest vehicle and craftily blends and animated storyline with live action. Disney characters have come to life before at Disneyland but they haven't been injected into our reality as they are in this film. It is a spoof of the fairy tale happily-ever-after story that I have certainly never experienced but still allows for the happy ending that I somehow still love to see! This isnt just a chick-flick but could be a good date movie. I can't see a group of dudes piling into the theater to check it out but if your gal wants to go, you'll have fun to. Amy Adams was a delight in her role and Patrick Dempsey was a dreamy as he could get without Dr. Grey lurking in an elevator at Seattle Grace waiting to see him.

No Country for Old Men is by far my favorite film of the year, friend-o. Javier Bardem is completely unrelenting and eerily natural in his portrayal of a man willing to kill anyone to get back the money that belongs to him. I don't want to say much because it is one to just see and then talk about with other people who have seen it and feel as creeped out as you do once they have. Tommy Lee Jones is consistent and plays the Texas Sherriff the way we've come to expect. Josh Brolin gave me the biggest shock on film in recent years because he was actually good. I have been pleasantly surprised by some performances but for all I don't like about Brolin, he was undeniably good in this one.

Atonement is one I haven't seen yet but NEED to see because of the Golden Globe noms. I already recommend it.

The Bucket List is due out on Christmas and teams up Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. I cannot wait. It is the thing I'm most looking forward to on Christmas Day.

Speaking of Nicholson, this month's Men's Journal (cover not on the site yet but it is on newsstands) features Jack on its cover. The interview with Jack, getting his opnion of various aspects of being a man, was entertaining and compelling at once. It gave a great insight (as much as Jack will give) into the man who is a legend. If I were a man, he's one man I'd want to be. I recommend the article to men mostly and also women who are interested.

Last, I am nearly in the holiday spirit though I'm away from home and not going to be there anytime soon, missing the time with family, missing the tree decorating and behind on sending Christmas cards. Yesterday a colleague invited me to go work a toy drive with her and it was a rewarding experience. We didn't get to see the kids receiving the toys but we wrapped probably 60 gifts at least and I felt good about it. It is one of those times for giving and though I would like to think I donate my time and give what I can, I don't unless the opportunity is easy and obvious sometimes as it was in this case. Still, I'm glad I didn't sleep in (beleive me, with jet lag I'd have liked to) and went out yesterday morning. It was a lovely time.

Happy Holidays all...I'll hopefully have time to say hello from the road.