the new year is here. it really doesn’t seem so long ago that we rang in 2006. this year promises to be pretty eventful for me. i’ll be getting married in only a few short months. we have a lot of preparations to make, but we’re moving along pretty good. if i hold true to my resolutions, this year should also see me become more physically and mentally healthy. i haven’t smoked for a couple of years now, and i’ve really cut back on my partying days. now, i just have to get my weight situation under control, but i think i can do that.
the mental party could be the hardest. part of the process was starting this blog. by clearing out some of the clutter in my head, i’m hoping it will make room for more ideas and creativity to come through. another thing i hope will help is continuing to learn to play the guitar. i’ve been playing semi-regularly since around thanksgiving of 2006, and i can already tell a big difference in my ability. it also seems to stimulate my brain, and that is always good. i also plan to read more in this new year. i have books i’ve just never gotten to, and i want to get to them this year.
i will also be moving some projects that i’ve kept on the back burner right up to the front. it is time to see if some of these ideas can pan out. i’m so bad about coming up with an idea, carrying it through about 70% of the way, but just not pushing it on across the finish line. then, i complain about seeing other people succeed with their ideas. i guess i’m afraid that maybe my ideas won’t work out, but until i’ve actually seen one of them through all the way, how will i really know?
i also plan to bust my ass on finishing my masters thesis in geology and finishing up that degree. it will mean a small bump in pay at work, but more importantly, i won’t feel like my 3 years of graduate school were wasted. after that, i may start work on another graduate degree in computer science and information systems, but i’ll just take it one step at a time.
so what about 2006? what stands out to me in this past year? what makes my top 10 countdown of Memorable Shit from 2006? let’s see…
10. i was pretty impressed by the democrats taking back over the US senate and house. i really didn’t think there was anyway they could do it. just goes to show you how pissed off and fed up the people in this country are with george bush, i suppose. now, we’ll see what these folks can do. they wanted the power, and now they have it. i’m hopeful we’ll see some good things finally.
9. another pretty big story this past year was the death of the crocodile hunter, steve irwin. it just seemed like that nut was gonna be around forever.
8. on a personal level, i got to travel to colorado twice in 2006. i hadn’t seen the mountains since my last geology field trip in 1999, and it had been way too long. the first trip was a driving trip, and it was miserably long. the second was on a plane, and it just reminded me of how much i love and hate flying. but man, the mountains. we got to see a lot of snow while we were there, but nothing like what they’ve been pounded with over the past few weeks. i hope it isn’t seven years between seeing the mountains again. if i do, however, the next trip will probably be by driving, due in large part to #7 on the list…
7. the crash of com air flight 5191 at bluegrass field in lexington, ky. this one makes the list not just because of the tragedy of the situation, but also the fact that it happened so close by. although i didn’t know anyone personally on the plane, i had to really pause for a while that morning as the story was being reported to think about whether or not i might have. turns out, a couple of local boys were almost scheduled to be on that flight, but chose a later flight instead.
6. on a happier note, my favorite sports team of all time, the Pittsburgh Steelers, finally…FINALLY!!…won a super bowl again! i became a Steelers fan the last time they won one, way back in the ’79-80 season, against the Rams, and i’ve waited and waited to see them win another one. it was a magical run, followed up by a VERY miserable season and now they have to search for another coach to replace the irreplaceable bill cowher, but i will continue to believe.
5. in another sports related story, rich brooks was able to not only take the University of Kentucky Wildcats football team to their first bowl game in 7 years, but he also led them to their first bowl win in 22 years. they were fun to watch, even if they did make it pretty stressful at times. here’s hoping 2007 will bring continued success.
4. the whole john mark karr fiasco was pretty big news this year, too. he basically comes out and admits to killing jon benet ramsey, but then forensic evidence proves he’s lying, and that he did NOT kill her, and so he then comes back and says…nah…i didn’t do it. what a nut. but this was a year for nuts, as we’ll see in #3.
3. celebrities gone wild. first, mel gibson goes into a rage after being picked up for drunk driving. he causes a HUGE controversy with his anti-semitic remarks, as well as referring to a female police officer as “sugar tits”. oh, braveheart. then, kosmo kramer goes nuts at a comedy club and yells all sorts of racist remarks at a couple of african american patrons who were heckling him and giving him a hard time on stage. unfortunately for him, the remarks are caught on someone’s cellular phone video recorder and, of course, are widely circulated within no time flat. kramer then goes on his apology world tour, which, to me, almost makes him look more insane than the on-stage blow up. i have more opinions on this story that i may share in another post soon. now, to close out the year, you have donald trump and rosie o’donnel going at it. add to that all of the britney spears sans panties photos that were everywhere on the internet, the Pageant Girls Gone Wild activity, and any number of other crazy celebrity news stories, and it was quite a memorable year for all those in tinsel town.
2. this was a good year for music, at least in my little world. sure, the radio airwaves are still corrupted by all kinds of horrible noise, but there are some great bands out there making some very good music, and i was lucky enough to discover a few of them this year, and rediscover a few, as well. one of the new discoveries included Wolfmother, who i had heard of but had never followed up on. this band has a very vintage sound and just rocks. you should check ‘em out. the big RE-discovery for me this year was the Black Crowes. they’ve always been my favorite band, but following their reunion in 2005, i was especially excited about them this past year. i was able to see them twice this year, but one of those shows was absolutely magical. me and my bride-to-be saw them in Louisville, KY, at the Louisville Palace Theater. i bought the tickets on ebay, and we were only 3 rows back. the theater was incredible, and the atmosphere was absolutely intoxicating. they played for 3 hours, and i could have listened all night long. i’m looking forward to at least 1 new release from the band this year, as well as another tour.
1. i’m sure there are other very memorable moments from this past year, and i’ll probably think of them later…but easily the MOST memorable moment of 2006 for me…i got engaged to the most beautiful and loving woman i’ve ever known. she is my soul mate. she makes me laugh and smile just to be around her, and she inspires me on a daily basis. i could never have imagined i’d meet someone like her, and this year, we will be wed. that, alone, should make 2007 a year that i’ll remember forever.
so there we go. a look back…a look ahead. it should be an interesting year.
