Blergh and Counter-Blergh
2007 has been the Year of Blergh. In so many ways. The editorial We are hoping for a better 2008. Although some things are written in stone (I will, for instance, be turning 24 without fail, and neither time nor tide can stop me from watching a terrible awful lot of bad television) here are some resolutions that may help the rest of the year along:
1. Watch more hockey.
Still reeling from the Mets' depressing finish (and who isn't?), I have resolved to follow a sport in which the stakes are far less personal for me. That said, I have discovered to my great dismay that, in the interim, I have become a Game Albatross, and it is extremely bad luck for whatever team I am following, should I decide to tune in during game play. Nevertheless, 2008 will still be the year I . . .
2. Buy myself a new Mets jersey.
I haven't owned a piece of franchise clothing [that fit] since around 1992, so I think (and hope) this will turn out to be an auspicious decision. For everyone involved. If nothing else, it's my last season to visit Old Shea before New Shea opens next door.
3a. Bake more cookies.
And pie. And cakes. And muffins. And scones. And bread. And cookies.
3b. Not eat all of the baked goods listed in 3a.
Instead, use them to win friends and influence.
4. Continue stocking the wine cellar.
All right, so it isn't a cellar, but I'm building a wine library on the top shelf of the pantry. There's some danger that I'll have to find auxiliary space in the coat closet if I go on, as I plan to, by purchasing a whole case of my favorite sweet wine. (If you're trying to curry favor, it's Bruno Verdi Sangue di Giuda Otrepó Pavese, and vintage is not a particular concern.)
5. Be better at returning (and making) phone calls.
Let's face it, I'm terrible at this, and odds are I owe calls to five people, at least, who are reading this. I blame the Internet, which is at once serious business [see one Wesley W. Hinton's remark here for my favorite recent usage] and a total waste of time.
6. [Finish] read[ing] every novel that's won the Booker Prize.
Having now read P.H. Newby's Something to Answer For, the Prize's somewhat dismal inaugural winner, I feel like things can only mostly go up from here. Thought it does grieve me a little that I wasn't the first one to have this idea.
7. Throw parties; eat; drink; be merry.
Ladies and gentlemen, we do take the RSVP seriously.
1. Watch more hockey.
Still reeling from the Mets' depressing finish (and who isn't?), I have resolved to follow a sport in which the stakes are far less personal for me. That said, I have discovered to my great dismay that, in the interim, I have become a Game Albatross, and it is extremely bad luck for whatever team I am following, should I decide to tune in during game play. Nevertheless, 2008 will still be the year I . . .
2. Buy myself a new Mets jersey.
I haven't owned a piece of franchise clothing [that fit] since around 1992, so I think (and hope) this will turn out to be an auspicious decision. For everyone involved. If nothing else, it's my last season to visit Old Shea before New Shea opens next door.
3a. Bake more cookies.
And pie. And cakes. And muffins. And scones. And bread. And cookies.
3b. Not eat all of the baked goods listed in 3a.
Instead, use them to win friends and influence.
4. Continue stocking the wine cellar.
All right, so it isn't a cellar, but I'm building a wine library on the top shelf of the pantry. There's some danger that I'll have to find auxiliary space in the coat closet if I go on, as I plan to, by purchasing a whole case of my favorite sweet wine. (If you're trying to curry favor, it's Bruno Verdi Sangue di Giuda Otrepó Pavese, and vintage is not a particular concern.)
5. Be better at returning (and making) phone calls.
Let's face it, I'm terrible at this, and odds are I owe calls to five people, at least, who are reading this. I blame the Internet, which is at once serious business [see one Wesley W. Hinton's remark here for my favorite recent usage] and a total waste of time.
6. [Finish] read[ing] every novel that's won the Booker Prize.
Having now read P.H. Newby's Something to Answer For, the Prize's somewhat dismal inaugural winner, I feel like things can only mostly go up from here. Thought it does grieve me a little that I wasn't the first one to have this idea.
7. Throw parties; eat; drink; be merry.
Ladies and gentlemen, we do take the RSVP seriously.