The year of singing wildly

So here’s how it goes… I just got back from running in the park in January on a day when it was in the seventies. Oh, global warming. I’m listening to the new Bruce Springsteen (which is really good, by the way), as the birds chirp and sing out in my backyard. My house is marginally clean, Christmas decorations taken down, trash out, dishes done (and put away). It’s like I am a whole new person. Truth is, I just had a day off, finally. So I bought some new music (also the soundtrack to Once, the new Kanye West and Jay-Z, as well as Amy Winehouse and Bruce—It’s been a bitch having an old computer and not being able to download the newest version of iTunes—I’d curse Apple if I didn’t love Macs so very much). My point in all this is, I’m taking stock. The beginning of the year will do that.

For one, I cannot promise I will write much. I hate it when writing is just one more thing I have to do. It’s dumb, and frankly, counter-productive. If I don’t have anything to communicate, then I shouldn’t have to. And if I don’t have the time to do it properly, my words full of the love or loathing, then what’s the point? So, I am officially announcing the end of my other blog, Down, Out, and Hip in St. Louis. Like all younger siblings, it has the potential to be better than it’s older sister, but I just don’t have the time. So all my valuable (and sometimes not so…) thoughts will now be here. And… as I have been getting back to my roots and writing a shitload about culture lately, you might be in for some small surprises along the way—some not so STL inspired writings.

Oh, and expect some lists. I was just looking over my list of 30 things I wanted to do this past year in STL. I only managed, like, seven. Maybe 5. One of which occurred recently—I finally went iceskating at Forest Park, and it was totally worth it. It felt like winter, and had that continuity that only activities you have known since your youth can have. It had been about 20 years, but I was happy I went. It was a great $8.50 and I am looking forward to popping in on random lunch hours to skate over the winter.

Also, I managed the following:

-a trip to Luckett’s Lounge
-a trip to Peveley to see the stock car races (it’s not summer unless I go, and this year, it took me until almost October to get off of work and get there)
-lunch at the Blue Owl
-a bratzel at Gus’s (eaten while on the hill, watching traffic on the interstate)

That might actually be it, but in fairness, I was out of the country for a few weeks missing some events. And then I only had, like, six days (literally) off between May and October, so not much happened there.

I’m compiling my list for this year, though it’ll be much shorter. I am shooting for one new thing a month. If you want to compile your own list, drop me a comment and we can compare notes.

And for the record, the same weekend I went iceskating, I also managed to eat dinner on Cherokee, hit the Hideaway, drink beers at Riley’s and have a killer sandwich at Blues City Deli—not a bad weekend in all, and each I strongly recommend. Thus far, 2008 is looking pretty good. Maybe it’s because “eight’ rhymes with “great”. We’ll see.