Going forward like a brave soldier.

We're putting the Key West Holiday Photo Fest on hiatus today because I don't have any of the photos handy and because I'm feeling a little thoughty and sentimental today. Maybe it's the holiday season, I don't know, but there's little to nothing you can do about it so I suspect you're stuck with this post as is---so buck up and suck up.

I had a lovely weekend full of fun and good friends. I often take my rather large group of friends for granted, probably since they are so accessible and willing to do just about anything called upon to do without the slightests complaint. A good portion of them read this blog so I figured I could trick them into reading how much I love them and that way I wouldn't have to actually say it. Out loud and all. I'm not really all touchy-feely like that. I'm more of the punch-you-in-the-arm-and-you-have-to-figure-out-that's-my-sign-of-affection type of person---I guess that explains my love life (or lack there of). So there you go. Although every one of my friends and pretty much the entire planet know I adore the Roommate and Boytek, few actually know I also adore Leigh, her kooky, "seemingly uptight but anything but" cousin Tammy, Dana (I'm fixin' to become her new best friend, you know), Kate (who always leaves parties too early), the other Kate, Rob (the cutest couple that are so made for each other it makes you want to upchuck), Diane, Frank, Heath, Julio, Jon, Emma, her cutie-pie husband Kirt………..hmmm, who else……Erin, Heather, Jeff, Des, Jack and Julie, Katie, Sarah, Rusty, Etip (of our Seattle branch), Jen, Phil, Vicki, the fabu Pat….I sense you're nodding off right about now……Bart, Vanessa, Mark, Kristie Reffleffleffleffeson, my Sailor. There's others I know I'm missing but I'm old and senile and forget stuff a lot, so if I omitted your name it's not that I forgot you, it's just that I temporarily misplaced you, like us old people do with our keys, glasses and driving skills. I'll say a little prayer to St Anthony (patron saint of lost items like my soul and mind----no wait, St Jude* would get my soul) for help with that. Therefore, if I left your name off completely by accident and you know in your heart of hearts it should be added to my list of "lovelies", please, please, let me know. I'll take your request under consideration and add it if it's deserved. I just know I forgot someone important and I'm going to be eating a big steaming bowl of regret later today----in fact probably the second I click the "post blog" button.

Now, let's get down to business. Since 2006 is nearly over (how in the hell did that happen so fast?!?!?!?), tradition dictates that I must make a New Year's resolution (cue dramatic musical score, daa daa DAAA) or two. I suppose I could wait till New Year's eve and just pluck something out of the air (like I did when I decided to quit smoking in 2005---which by the way I accomplished successfully) but chances are I'll more likely than not pick something impractical like "levitating more often" or "finding all my missing socks" so I decided to come up with something before my Xmas weekend in Seattle (and the hangover week to follow), when I'm less likely to be drunk and pick something too random to attain in the coming year. Because I hate taking orders I choose NOT TO actually make resolutions, per say, but instead I've decided that I shall come up with something with a friendlier, easier to obtain, term than your common resolution. To figure out just what this term should be I decided to make a synonym of the word "resolution" so let's break the word down a bit. The prefix "re" indicates "again; "solution" indicates mixing one substance with another………..so here's my 2007 New Year's AgainBlendz (spelled with a "z" so it seems hip to the kids):

1. Get a new fucking job already. As any frequent reader of this blog will tell you, my current job and the company I work for SUCKS ASS completely. Totally useless company. I made the decision to move to H&K from my former employer because it was being purchased by another company and although it was a good idea to get the hell out of that Dodge (as I learned in a conversation this weekend with a former coworker who's still there) I probably could have picked a better company than H&K to bail to. Mickey D's would be a step up from here, work wise, but the pay there sucks. So I'm a'looking---have been for some time now, just under the gun now since this place is making me crazy as a barn owl.

2. Have a show already. If you don't know it already, I am an artiste. I create odd paintings that some folks with excellent taste seem to like quite a bit. Problem is I give these paintings away as soon as I paint them so I never have anything "in stock" for a show. This year I intend to do a bunch of paintings, squirrel them away and have a show somewhere, in a bar or coffee shop since no gallery in their right mind would hang an artist that gives shit away for free. No money in that for them. Maybe I'll force the Roommate to join me in this endeavor.

3. Get my finances in order. The way I handle money is a joke, therefore I am always poor. I'm broke the day after pay day and that is no way to live.

4. Get my wig on straight. In general.

5. Have a goal for my life. I need to come up with some business that I can start up for myself and do for the rest of my life since I'm getting pretty old and I need to work for someone who doesn't mind having a senile employee. I gave up the retirement fund along with everything else when I got divorced, so I need to get a start on taking care of my golden years.

Ok, that's a start. I'll add anything else I think would be a groovy addition and reserve the right to delete anything that I change my mind on (because it's too hard, most likely). I challenge all you, my dear and loyal readers to come up with your own 2007 New Year's AgainBlendz. Not to post or announce in any way, just as a guidepost for the coming year. I'm thoughty and like to give back to the little people but then again, that's how I I roll (I love that term by the way).

So here's your assignment: sharpen that pencil, put your thinking cap on and get that list together. Time's a wasting and none of us are getting any younger.


*Patron saint of lost causes.