The week between Christmas and New Year’s, everyone and their uncle rounds out their blogging year by posting “best of” lists, year-in-review reflection pieces and occasionally, personal resolutions. The people who don’t have their crap together or are purists and refuse to jump the proverbial gun wait until the calendar has been flipped to reveal new digits. Then there are the rest of us who can’t tell their nose from their ass, and roll this crap out in the middle of January, which is like showing up to a party like a fratboy, shouting and guzzling tequila while wearing a sombrero only to find out that everyone else has long since passed out. Total buzz kill, bro.

So in the spirit of conscious disregard for convention, let’s see how I fared on last year’s list. And then if you’re still around and not passed out, a list of crap I hope to do in the next 365 days, err, 355 days?

2007: Some stuff I managed not to screw up

1. Started weight lifting. Bought some nice equipment. Have been pretty good at using it. Should be a certified beefcake soon. *checks mirror* Maybe by next year.
2. Bought a suit. Technically this was on the list since 2005. But what’s the title of this entry? Right. Better late than…so suck it.
3. Got someone pregnant. Yup, and the right person at that. Double self-high-five!
4. Traveled. Got out of Louisville and hit Florida, Vancouver, Seattle, Stratford (Ontario), Tennessee. And Dallas, if you count the airport. So really you can just add “a salty Chinese kiosk in the Dallas airport” to that list. Totally counts!

2008: A handful of things I hope not to botch

1. Go to Alaska. My good friend Andrew is up there doing service work for a year. I’m getting ready to book my flight. A week with my camera, a backpack and one pair of pants. Maybe two. I heard it might snow up there.
2. Finish this baby-having thing. I like to see projects through until the end. No reason not to drop the ball on this one!
3. Make a batch of wine. Hops and grain prices are skyrocketing. No reason not to use my equipment to try something new, right? I’m gonna need it when that baby thing shows up.
4. Redo my portfolio. Outdated. Never liked it. Pixelshop.org is going away. In about seven days. Let’s see how long it takes me to get something new up.
5. Build something cool that doesn’t fall over. I started small last year and built a simple desk. My goal for this year is a bookcase or entertainment center. And if you couldn’t tell, this is the longshot goal for the year.
6. Finish #1, 6, 7 and 8 from last year. Assuming I can reduce my personal suck-factor to an acceptable level, these should be a walk in the park to get done.

Here’s for hoping that 2008 doesn’t let us down and isn’t filled with political bickering, financial ruin or international crises. And yes, if you’re wondering, I am indeed an optimist.