2013 -- It Better Be Good

This year, like nearly every other year, I will be spending New Year's Eve in front of the TV tuned to CNN--probably without booze, but that could always change, depending if the break in to talk about the fiscal cliff again.

It's not as pathetic as it sounds. I can only remember ringing in the New Year with other people twice--last year and when I was ten years old. And I can definitely tell you that sharing the experience did not make the event itself or the year as a whole any better. In fact, I believe both years I spent with others turned out to be a couple of pretty bad years. So, I am glad I am home alone, in my PJs and writing poetry.

I read someone's tweet today that said the Greeks believe what you do on the first day of the year you will do all year long (or something like that--I'm poor at paraphrasing). So, I will be writing poetry until and slightly after midnight, because I don't want this sudden surge of creativity to stop in 2013. 

For those who are venturing out to have fun, be happy and be safe. And let's hope everyone finds their success in 2013.

The New Year

By the time I finish this post, it will officially be 2011. I don't know if I necessarily have a tradition for the holiday, but on New Year's Eve I typically watch the ball drop on TV, cry (both for how pathetic the previous year had been plus having little hope for the next year to be different), then write the first journal entry of the year. And this year I was able to have a toast with a little Jaegermeister I had left from when I still had friends. The booze did help lighten the dark mood just a little. Sounds sad, but when I thought I had other plans (nothing grand--just babysitting) I almost missed the idea of this ritual.

And I don't make resolutions anymore. I can't stick to anything no matter what the date happens to be. If I did though, it would be the usual: find love, find purpose, get something published. There's not much else in my life that I don't have besides that. I have a job, a great DVD collection, a fantastic library... I'm just missing the intangibles. Everyone tells me to stop wanting it, and I'll get it. Ha. I laugh in their faces. Why? Because even though they have it, they sure aren't happy with it. And if they are, they're lying.

My toast to 2011: "May you not suck as bad a years past and may you bring into my life exciting adventure." There. celebration is over. Off to bed.

How did you celebrate your New Year's Eve? I rang in the New Year in front of the TV set in the living room, watching the 20 minute New Year's Eve with Carson Daly. I would have preferred to watch CNN's New Year (do I have to keep capitalizing it? Hmmm..) celebrations, but the "cable" company pulled CNN from my lineup two weeks ago. at least I still have my podcasts.

I'll admit it though--at 12:00:15, I cried a little. I do every year. I still haven't figured out what I cry for though: am I crying because 2007 is gone or because 2008 is here?

I didn't make any resolutions this year. There's no point. Like 99% of those who do, I don't keep them. I'm lucky to stick to whatever I promised myself I would do after the first week when it's time to go back to school and get caught up. Only difference this year is that I'm not going back to school. I'm hitting the pavement and getting a job... well, maybe the cyber pavement, but it's still hard work. I don't have a comfortable computer chair.

So... they say the way you ring in the new year is the way you'll end it next year. Hmmm... I'll have to get back to all of you on that one. We'll have a little experiment to see if it's really true.