Happy New Year. It's Great To Be Back.

So, I basically quit blogging in 2007. It was a combination of things, and I don't need to get into it here, at least not in boring detail. But, I'm going to actually try to resume posting on a semi-regular basis in 2008. Not a resolution or anything, I just feel like doing it again.

The highlights of 2007--things I would have blogged about had I not given into the lazy--in chronological order:

• Went to New Orleans with the Drizzle in March for the opening round of the NCAA tournament. It was a blast, and will actually get its own separate post, since I actually have it mostly written out.

• Saw Acid Mothers Temple and Mammatus with Carl back in April at the Rock and Roll Hotel. Turned out to be a really good show. Carl, unfortunately, missed the second half of the AMT set, which was the superior part; completely mind melting.

• Erica moved in with me in June, and then a string of very unfortunate events happened in short order within the first couple of weeks her moving in: her aunt passed away, she got a nice gash in her head at work that required a few stitches (thanks to the Driz for helping out that day), and then her mother injured herself. It really felt like a sign that maybe this wasn't supposed to happen. Fortunately, I leave that kind of stuff to those more superstitious than I...

• In July, I asked Erica to marry me. She said yes. Guess she doesn't heed those warnings, either, much to my infinite delight.

• Between the moving in together and the engagement, I had a very nice visit from my mother, my aunt, and my sister. E and I took them around town and had a great time. My family, incidentally, love E, so that's a nice bonus.

• September marked the second annual road trip to Wilmington with the Drizzle. It was just as fun as last year, better even. Thank the maker for Digby O'Hollywood.

• A week after Wilmington was the 10th Anniversary of Los O's, which was a fun gathering. The chocolate soda was a bad idea, but the rest was fantastic. Seriously, it was a great time, and I hope in 10 years, E and I can have something similar. Lots of love there.

• October saw more family come to town to be tourists, as E's mother, cousin and his wife and sister-in-law came down for a weekend. That one was even more walky and touristy, but also good fun. I think E's family is fond of me, too, which is another nice bonus.

• November and December brought trips to North Carolina to see my for Thanksgiving and Christmas, respectively/obviously. Unfortunately, because E had to work the day after both, she could not make the trip with me. Thankfully, her mother came down and spent both with her. Next year, the families will have to come to us, as I don't plan on spending the family holidays apart from E again.

• In December, E and I (and Maggie and January and Los O's) went to see the One Man Star Wars at the Woolly Mammoth theater, which we enjoyed, even though I was slightly disappointed by the lack of Greedo. But, hey, minor quibble.

• Oh, I also got promoted in December. That's...something.
  

And now we're in 2008, which is just a week old and has already seen a couple of blogworthy items, as I helped the Drizzle move into his beautiful new spot on Saturday, while I spent half of the next day in the ER, where Erica had been taken from work (again). Fortunately, no stitches or anything else of that nature were necessary. She's going to be fine, and I'm staying home with her today to make sure she's taken care of.

So...there it is. I hope everybody else had a happy and eventful 2007 and will have an even better 2008. With a little luck, I'll keep yins abreast of anything noteworthy via the wonder of Blogger.

Oh, Happy Day

...and to top it all off, I walked all the way home with some unfortunate scrunching and no opportunies to adjust.

***

Usually, with a day like today, I'd be using this space to wax psychotic about all the pain I'd like to inflict, in fantastic detail, on the next person who brushed me on the sidewalk. But that would mean reliving the work day, and I've already had my fill of experiencing it, not to mention writing about it, so we just go to the big finish.

On the plus side, I'll be putting off unpacking for another day. Ditto my haircut, which is actually the greater tragedy.

Weirdly, you know what was perfectly listening for my uncomfortable walk home? Ministry. In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up to be specific. "So What?" to be even more specific. Ministry is a live concert I think everybody should experience. Or it used to be. Honestly, I don't know what they are like these days.

Now I'm listening to "London Bridge." I think I'm pretty close to being unwound.

And finally, an endorsement: pick up American Born Chinese by Gene Yang. It got a mention in Decibel's end of year wrap up of comics, and after a little more research, I decided to give it a go. It was worth it. I should probably re-read it to give it a proper review, since the first read through was focused less on the art and more on the narrative, which was told with subtlety (yes, even in the uncomfortably hilarious shadow of living stereotype, Cousin Chin-Kee), humor, and affection.

Hopefully, there will be more on this, other recent text adventures (including Fermat and two-thirds of Michael Marshall's Straw Men trilogy), the PA-trip, and music, though that will probably be over on Musica Generica. I might even talk about my total divalicious shopping spree. Or not.

Shove More Bourbon Down His Mouth Hole

Guh.

The last two weeks have been kinda ass, to put it politely. As if the work wasn't bad enough, now I can't checks my home email or reads any blogs, because it's all been blocked! How dare they create an environment where I'll get more work done. But, the craziness--as far as the workload goes, anyway--ends tomorrow. The return of a co-worker means he gets his work back, and hopefully signals the loss of one seriously inept temp. Plus, I'm off to PA early in the day, not coming back until Sunday. Just in time.

But, not to leave you empty-handed, regardez: go download something a leaked track from the (still) upcoming GNR album, Chinese Democracy. Go on, do it. Don't be a pussy.

Bleh

You know what sucks about working until nine? Getting home late and then eating dinner and then being up at 1:30 in the morning digesting, wondering why I'm not allowed to punish the wicked with impunity. Savages.

Word of advice to anyone who is going to purchase a computer over the internets. PAY ATTENTION TO THE DIMENSIONS. I got this tower and it's a feckin' beast. Feels like overkill, but I likes it.

Anyway...I'm going to see if I can get in the mood to sleep. In the meantime, kitten therapy.