Hey, kids! It's another update from Your Friendly Neighborhood Freak (and the last for 2007).

Normally, I would start off w/how I've been as of late or say something funny, but please bear w/me as I feel the need to wax introspective...

2007 is almost gone, and while most of us will spend tomorrow drinking and ringing in the new year into the wee hours of 2008, the time is inevitably also spent reflecting on the 360-someodd days that have passed. Today, Yours Truly spent some time doing just that.

While there were many moments in '07 that will be remembered fondly (fun times w/friends and family, going to NY, visiting Sharonaaaa and meeting members in NY, hosting sillyokio and showing her a good time here in MA), there were also some that were...not so fun (namely the passing of my grandma and my relationship w/the ex basically imploding, something that bothers me almost a year later). The new year is also about resolutions, making a promise to yourself, however big or small, to better yourself in some way, shape, or form. But why do we do it? Is it just natural to try to improve your own standing in life, or are we so jaded with the past 12 months that almost any improvement is welcome w/open arms? I can only speak for myself, but it's starting to feel more like the latter. And that's not good.

While I've been making small steps in fixing the things that bother me (cleaning the apartment, taking college courses) and the more tangible things are easier to resolve, others are not. But, in the spirit of things, here are some resolutions I'd like to make for the coming year:

1. Quit smoking (seems to be the norm)

2. Lose some weight (ditto)

3. Get my license / work on affording a car (as long as I'm not out of work come the end of summer, contract negotiations and such)

4. Take more courses

5. Learn to not get so stressed out over things / learn to like myself more as a person (they go hand in hand)

6. Be the best damn Freak I can be

After I get out of work, I will be en route to celebrating w/friends, drunken merriment and whathaveyou. When the ball drops, I will raise a toast in hopes that the new year brings about more positive changes for Your Humble Narrator. Also, I will raise a toast to you guys, as each and every one of you are one of those constants; it just wouldn't be the same w/o ya.



Here's to '08, kids.

Stay tuned...

-TM