Out With 2007, In With 2008

Well, well, well. It's 2008. I hope everyone had a good time last night whether it was staying at home or going out with the crowds.

Me? Um, well. I fell asleep early. I had planned to at least watch the ball drop on television, but missed it all. I had to work yesterday and had been up since before 5 AM. I thought I was merely taking a nap around 9 PM, setting my alarm to get me up at 10 PM. Uh-oh. I awoke at about 4:30 in the morning. That's just the way it goes sometimes.

Thinking back over the past year I've certainly had some successes, lots of so-so stuff, one major personal blow.

In the success arena:

• This blog has to be at the top of the list. A community has developed here and it opened the doors to a paying writing gig -- something I've wanted for years although my original intention was more along the lines of the Great American Novel. I thank everyone who's been reading regularly and even more of a nod to those who have made it a community.
• Of course, the paying writing gig for TV Squad is a huge success for me in 2007. No, I can't live on the pay I receive, but it sure helps out a lot and getting paid to write is a very personally fulfilling kind of thing. It's something I dreamed of when I received my first typewriter as a Christmas gift at the age of nine.
• My 401K at my day job did very well this year. I can actually see some sort of life after retirement (which, alas, is several years away) between that, my company retirement benefits, and Social Security. It no longer looks like I'll have to go live in a van down by the river.
• I bought a new computer which I will be able to claim on my taxes due to the writing income.
• I bought seasons 1-4 of The Wire and will watch them over and over again. Storytelling done right in the TV medium. Unfortunately, I can't claim the DVDs on my taxes.

To the so-so arena:

• September marked 30 years since I started with my day job employer (which will remain nameless in this blog). I left them for about five years in the 80s, so I don't have 30 straight years with them. It feels like I have 50, though. 1977. I was surely a child.
• I got addicted to Trader Joe's Espresso Coffee Soda only to see it discontinued. I guess I didn't need the calories, but I definitely love that stuff.
• Despite the reputation of the NJ town in which I live, people say hello on the sidewalk, I see diversity everywhere I go, and I have made friends in town as well as new train friends I enjoy this past year.

The 2007 bad stuff:

• The absolute worst thing is the loss of my cat Teaser. I miss him every day. I found out that my brother (the one who left a comment here) lost his cat of about the same age three weeks prior to the death of Teaser.
  
• My left knee is crumbling more all the time. I fear I'll have to have the knee replacement before long. I'm not all that worried about the operation itself, nor the recovery. I just don't want to be in a hospital or rehab place for more than a few days.
• I fear my day job is successfully sucking just a bit more of my soul out of me day by day.

Stuff I want to do in 2008:

• I want to keep this blog going at the levels previous to this past month. December was a rather boring TV month, plus I was busy at work, and dealing with the loss of my cat companion of fifteen years.
• I want to continue writing for TV Squad. My contract renews in July (at least it should). I already know I'll be covering BB9 live feeds and the upcoming Survivor season for them.
• I have to get my knee fixed. (Waaah.)
• Knee fixed, more photo stomping. Yay!
• I want to take up real painting. I've been having urges to paint (art stuff, not walls or houses) for a few months now. I used to draw and sketch a lot when I was younger but I never got into painting. I plan to buy an easel, some paints, and some brushes (and other stuff I might need), and see what comes of it. I have to decide between oils, acrylics, or watercolors. But I will do it. Also, it's something I could do in knee replacement recovery time.

How was your 2007?

(Graphic by rockin' Zoetawny)

New Year's Eve TV Newsy Bits - December 31, 2007

Don't ask because I don't have any answers. I came across this stuffed figure quasi-dummy in a wicker chair on the sidewalk in front of a Latino clothing store in Plainfield, NJ today. The cigarette in his mouth was actually burning and that's an empty pint bottle in his lap. He may have one hand. If he does, it's in his pocket supporting his travel duffel. What the pink frill on his sleeve is, I don't know. I didn't ask, he didn't tell. He must be a stranger in town. But at least he dressed for the weather, eh?

In today's TV Newsy Bits:

• Yes, the world will be watching the ball drop at midnight in Times Square. I might be watching, but I'll do it from my living room. I've done the Times Square thing twice in my life and vowed 20 years ago never again. I hope everyone has a great time, but please be safe.
• A blog reader has a list of the New Year's TV marathons up on his blog if you don't like football. I know I need some Law and Order!
• The late night talk shows return on January 2nd. Yay, Letterman! Since David Letterman's own show and the one following it hosted by Craig Ferguson are owned by his own production company, he made his own deal to return with the writers. Leno and Conan will be winging it without the writers. I may have to watch Leno once just to see how bad he is when left to his own devices. I actually enjoy Letterman's goofiness, so I personally think he'd be better without writers than Leno, but that's the way it goes. I can't help but wonder if guests might be more willing to go on Letterman who has the approval of the WGA than on Leno where they might be perceived as crossing picket lines. It should be interesting.
  

Today's musical non-sequitur:
Give my regards to Broadway
Remember me to Herald Square
Tell all the gang at 42nd Street
That I will soon be there.
-- George M. Cohan - "Give My Regards to Broadway"

'The Amazing Race 12' - East Coast Update 12/30

Nah, I didn't forget to get a post up and running. The late post is due to yet another football delay here on the east coast. As I type this at approximately 8:20 PM ET, 60 Minutes is still on. I'm not quite sure when it started, but once the real show (TAR!) starts, I'll update this entry with major events including the Pit Stop order.

Late tonight my full review of the show will be posted over on TV Squad.

UPDATE 8:37 PM ET -- Finally, 60 Minutes has ended. (Grr)

Kynt and Vyxsin made up the Speed Bump time and just U-Turned Nathan and Jennifer DON AND NICOLAS (who are ahead of them),ARGH.

TK and Rachel arrived at the Pit Stop first -- won a trip to St. MArtin.

Second place goes to Nicolas and Donald.
Third -- Ronald and Christina

WAH -- Nathan and Jennifer took fourth place, Kynt and Vyxsin Philiminated. ARGH -- why didn't Kynt U-Turn Jennifer and Nathan?!?!?!?!

Merry Christmas

To everyone out there who celebrates Christmas, I hope you have a day filled with love and good food. (Can't forget the good food, of course!)

Graphic artist Zoetawny created this image for the holidays and you know she rocks!

Although I've been a bit scarce as of late, we'll have new shows coming on soon. My best wishes go out to everyone!

'The Amazing Race 12' East Coast Updates 12/23

The show is delayed here on the East Coast -- I'm not sure how long, but I will post an update when it starts. Important events and the Pit Stop arrival order will be posted in updates as it airs. A full review will be posted on TV Squad late tonight.

UPDATE 8:20 PM ET - 60 Minutes just ended, the real show will begin momentarily.

Thanks to the Fast Forward, Don and Nicolas won first place and a trip to Cancun.

Pit Stop arrivals after Don and Nicolas --

2. Nathan and Jennifer (grr)
3. Ronald and Christina
4. TK and Rachel
5. Kynt and Vyxsin, but despite what was said pre-season, it's one of two non-elimination legs. So, they're still in the race. But during the next leg they will encounter a Speed Bump -- a task they must do in addition to the others. It may slow them down and they won't know when it will happen.