I quit my job. I’m losing my house. Just barely made the late payments on my truck in time to save it from repossession. And oh, boy, do I have some credit card debt. I’ll probably have to declare bankruptcy, and I’m pretty sure that will nuke my credit for … well, just about forever. Can’t seem to interest an agent in either of my books.
I’m still not finished moving, and it’s turned winter with a vengeance here in Upstate New York. I couldn’t get a load from my old house today because it snowed, and it’s down to about 4 degrees right now, a few minutes after 1 a.m. I’m still paying for heating at the old house, and I’m late on that bill too, so I’m worried the power will be cut off and the pipes will freeze.
My elbow is doing something weird. Maybe it’s tendonitis, which is probably minor, but it’s painful as hell at times, and it gets worse after shoveling snow.
And then there’s that whole world-economy-in-freefall thing.
On the upside, my truck, after a bout with a dead alternator that cost $350 to fix, seems to be running well. I moved in with a really good friend, and I’ve been painting his house and doing some refurbishing for him. Not only do we get along great, but he’s provided me with a really nice private room for my office, and a big roomy private bedroom. We had a drink and a New Year’s cheer at midnight (and earlier a pretty good dinner — I cooked — and a roaring fire in the fireplace).
I’m learning Flash CS3, and enjoying it. I have some big projects in mind for prospering in the new year. (I think I might figure out how to use Flash buttons as links to URLs before I’m done tonight.) I’m days away from completing a website that I think could make an interesting splash. I feel good that, at 56, I’m still learning new things, and I still find it fun.
I have a potential client set to call me Friday for some writing, and I have feelers out on several other projects. I have a couple of people who want me to come out and take pictures of their horses in the snow. And hey, I might get to pet a real lion sometime this winter!
I’m getting back into the gym – I have a long way to go, but I’m started, at least. I’m eating better. I’m going to start going to a local nightclub and doing stand-up comedy (without pay, unfortunately) on Open Mike Night.
Another good thing: It’s a bit distant from my life, but still an area of passionate interest — that asshat Bush will be out of the White House in less than three weeks and, as columnist E.J. Dionne said, the 21st Century will begin at last.
This is going to be a very tough year for me, I think, but I still feel optimistic about it. I think good things will happen. Are happening. And really, I’ve come such a good long way in my life already.
I think it could be a year of unparalleled adventure, discovery and accomplishment. For all of us.
Happy New Year! Happy 2009!