A Nice, Even Number

“You, and you alone
Is forging the path;
Leave your sorrows with the past…”

--Khan from Kamelot, Wings of Despair from the LP Karma, 2001.

I tend to like numbers like 44. They have a “repeat” quality about them.

This week, I turned 44 and decided that changes in my life were inevitable.

Being the youngest in a family of five, one expects a certain amount of immaturity with it all. Some of that immaturity, will go to the wayside.

The last year has been a rocky one, indeed. When I key-padded my last birthday blog; I knew I was separating and I knew that life would change. I did not write about it, but I knew it.

The divorce is here, my life is changing and I think my world will be a better place with time.

On my birthday, my sister sent a nice email; my parents called (Ma is still so pissed that the email card STILL has not made it, and it seriously has not. I should have lied and told her it was here…) and Mark called and put up a nice blog.

Now I have a few goals for this upcoming year.

One—I need a new perspective.

Two—I need to work nicely with others.

Three—I need to lose weight (see picture above for proof).

Four—I need to buy less stupid stuff.

Five—I need to make others laugh which makes me laugh.

Six—I need to help Chumley lose weight.

Seven—I need to be more assertive.

Eight—I need to laugh more, which makes others around me more comfortable.

Nine—I need to educate myself more by reading more.

Ten—I need to accept things as they are.

I still plan on weekly listings on this blog and bi-weekly listings on the Metal one.

And Foggy the three-legged wonder; Guinness the Bold Maine Coon, and Chumley the…well Common Man’s cat seems to fit, will all enjoy the path we have taken.

I have met some truly nice people in the last year; dealt with some jags who wanted to take some potshots at me; and probably alienated myself from some folks during the last year.

Oh well…at least it was entertaining.

I mean, think about it.

In the last year the Bears have gone from the BEST in the NFC to just about the worst.

Captain America was killed.

I found a certain niche with Power Metal Music.

The war is STILL not over.

And there is so much more.

Now I give you a nod, gentle reader, as I really had no purpose other than the purpose of celebrating another year of life. Heart surgeries and personal angst aside; our lives are to be celebrated because we are here and we share so many experiences with others.

My classes helped me celebrate by giving me oranges, singing to me, having their parents email me, and sprawling “Sweetwood is older than my Dad” on my board.

Ah…I raised them well.

Look for some more fun in the next year.