My thoughts on 2007

It's now 2008.

And, as many people do, I feel somewhat compelled to look back on 2007 and wonder what's new and different now, apart from the fact that I have to remember to write 2008 instead of 2007 on everything, that is...

of course, I don't really understand the arbitrary calendar celebration.

I mean, why do we not reach July first and reflect on the first 6 months of the year? Why don't we consider how things are as of September 1st, when three-quarters of the year has past?

In most cases, when my birthday comes around, I usually consider the advent of another year of existence on this planet, which makes sense since it's the actual benchmark of my time so far. Why then do people always feel that they need to also celebrate this intermediary anniversary, based on the Gregorian Calender.

To the point, though.

The ball dropped (being rebroadcast, of course), and where I was, on the particular meridian of the planet, it was generally accepted that one year had ended and another begun. It was in that moment, clinking glasses, kissing my girlfriend, saying happy new year, I was able to take stock.

As it turns out, 2008 doesn't seem to be much different than 2007. I'm still in debt, and flat broke, all the problems of 2007, many of which were problems of 2006, and so on, stretching back throughout the time I've been alive.

Perhaps it's my own incompetence that has left me in the state I'm in, perhaps it is the fact that the world is out to get me. Either way, I'm not where I want to be, and try as I might, I don't seem to be getting anywhere fast.

So, of course, there begins my new year. On that note, resounding through my mind, reverberating throughout each deep corner of my skull. That doesn't mean that I don't have any joy, or happiness. I'm certainly bringing plenty of good things through with me into the new year, it's just hard to focus on that sometimes.

So, as of now, January 1st, 2008, all I can do is keep an eye on the future, live in the now, and try and deal with the past as best I can. Between the work and the hope, and possibly some luck, there's a chance that 2009 might find me less cynical at the start.

Movies

There's quite a few things to look forward to this year, including some excellent films.

There's a few decent lists out there, telling me what's coming.

I'm looking forward to a lot of the 'coming attractions,' knowing full well that hope usually equates to disappointment. One that I'm only lightly looking forward too is Cloverfield. I say that hoping you can understand what I mean. What I mean is that the first trailer I saw of this film left me feeling excited. Then I saw that J.J. Abrahms and Drew Goddard of Lost were involved (as it's a Bad Robot production, the company responsible for Lost), even the fact that Matt Reeve's directing experience seems limited only to a handful of episodes of Felicity and some other stuff I've never heard of (rather than just not seen), I thought, "wow". But, I'm trying not to get caught up, because it always happens that I see a trailer for something that looks good, then I go see the film and find that it's just cookie cutter, mass produced to make all the little kids and parents happy and that level of disappointment is really starting to get to me.

There's a lot of other films I'm looking forward as well, but, I'm sure you can check out the various lists yourself and see what's coming, and I'm sure you'll have your own movies to salivate over.

Other things

Another sour note is that I'm presently sick as a dog, which is a horrible way to ring in the new year.

It's also the reason why this entire post seems to be meandering so much, and it's also the reason I'm done typing....

now.