The last minute of 2008

. Well who knew?

Apparently the last minute of 2008 will have 61 seconds, not 60.

So make the most of it, won't you.

For the first time in a long time, I'm looking forward to a New Year.

I'm full of hope. And expectations. Aren't you?

New Year's Eve has always been a time for looking back to the past, and more importantly, forward to the coming year. It's a time to reflect on the changes we want (or need) to make and resolve to follow through on those changes.

Even though following through is often so very hard to do....

Nonetheless, I really like the idea of taking steps to make life better.

So, I've checked and double checked the traditional top ten list of resolutions to see if any will 'work' for me in 2009.

1. Spend More Time with Family & Friends - sorry, but the thought of doing this so close to Christmas, given I've just spent so much time with family, means this resolution is a little overwhelming. I will have to come back and reconsider this one in a mid-year review ... I may think differently six months out....

2. Fit in Fitness - I am following through on this one just because...well yesterday I was dragged around the neighbourhood by a relative who happens to be a fitness fanatic. How can I describe the experience? Well, has anyone watched that TV show where celebrities walk the treacherous Kokoda Trail in New Guinea and, after many days' walking, they become angry, abusive, thirsty and exhausted? Well apparently that was me after one minute and 15 seconds. And I was on flat terrain. Even I was ashamed when the neighbourhood dogs cocked their heads to the side and looked concerned when they saw me crawling up the hill on all fours just to get back home. Yes, ashamed people......I will vow to walk more next year but jogging is definitely out. The trouble with jogging is that the ice falls out of your glass too easily.

3. Tame the Bulge - Tame the bulge? What with bulge obedient classes or hitting the bulge with a rolled up newspaper? Forget that. Nor will I entertain the notion of battling the bulge either. Violence is just all shades of wrong. Now if we are talking about negotiating with the bulge, then I may reconsider.

4. Quit Smoking - I already gave up smoking when I was 11.

5. Enjoy Life More - Yes, of course I would like to enjoy life more but how is that possible if I also quit drinking. The two aren't mutually exclusive.

6. Quit Drinking - see above. Sobriety is overated anyway. People need to learn how to drink and not drown.

7. Get Out of Debt - this should only be on the lists of CEOs and politicians and OFF everyone else's list.

8. Learn Something New - well this one is easier than you may think and no effort is required. Apparently I now easily forget things which invariably means that the old stuff becomes the new stuff by default....and I'm forever learning things that I think are new but which apparently really aren't.......and Alzheimer's is more than likely in my future.

9. Help Others - I do that best by staying out of their way.

10. Get Organised - organisation skills are something you are born with or can hire in. If you don't have them don't pretend you can get them just because you resolve to do so. You will end up stressed and unhappy and a failure. You have to work with what the good Lord gave you if you want to succeed.

I wish I could come up with some crazy resolutions though.

Jeff, the owner of the Weird Meat blog made a new resolution to eat as many "weird meats" as possible. Some of them included raw yak, crickets, ostrich sandwich and deer penis. Gala Darling's last year's resolutions were to : "learn a party trick - weird stomach contortion, belching the alphabet and handstand push-up demonstrations" or "learn the names of flowers - it's such an odd thing to master, but it's so utterly charming that I can't help but be impressed". Other resolutions I've seen in the blogosphere include 'must remember to suck less on a daily average', 'find a snuggle partner', get my comma problems under control, 'read and memorise more poetry' and 'make no propositional statements in 2009.' I am unsure as whether these are all related to each other in some way. It doesn't bear thinking about.

Perhaps this year I can hedge my bets by picking some vague resolution about becoming a better person. That gives me a whole year to do at least one thing right. How can I go wrong?

I therefore vow to be kinder in 2009. To myself and others.

So, do you make new year resolutions? Do you write them down or share them with others? Do you have any weird ones you want to share?
And, as the last sparkler splutters and dies on New Year's Eve, I hope you make as merry as the law in your country permits. May optimism reign supreme. My wish for you in 2009 is that the harsh dose of reality we have lived with in 2008 doesn't make a return on New Years morning and that you continue to ride a new wave of optimism throughout the year.

Have a 'great one' everyone and take care. Just remember that Australia gets to celebrate before the rest of you so when you see the Sydney NYE celebrations on TV think of me....just look out for the kind looking one. I'm already practising...

Auld Lang Syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.