Happy New Y... oh it's almost February

Sorry about the delay. I've been working really long hours this term.

I was going to do a post on the 2nd January detailing my carefully thought out New Years Resolutions, but as I went on a total drunken BENDER for a few days over new years, I totally forgot. I was enjoying myself mostly, but actually I was really lonely. Once again I spent a lot of time on my own, and it was ok, I got things done and had some time off, but I was bummed there was nobody to share the time with. Minky was away in Finland and the kids were at their mum's.

I'm not spending next Christmas and New Year alone. That's resolution 1.

2. I will spend much less time this year moaning to my friends about how broke, depressed, tired, needing some creative freedom and other speeches best left to thin chaps wearing cravats and sitting on a chaise longue.

3. I will spend more time being sociable. It's been MONTHS since I went out for a drink on a regular basis. I have friends but you'd never know it. Most of them would have difficulty picking me out of a line-up.

4. I will make more time for the kids. They are 16 and 14 now. Soon they will leave home and forget me till they need money or solace. Okay they do the second part already but the first part will be hard and I want to be ready for any regrets that I should have spent more time with them. And hey, there is no such thing as "quality time" that's a myth we use to beat ourselves up about things, like "will I ever reach the perfect weight" and "i hope they knew how much I loved them"... stupid humans, always torturing ourselves with things we cannot know.

5. Take more pictures. I love taking pictures. It's a core part of who I am and I've not done it for such a long time.

6. Go for a walk every day. Eat properly. Take vitamins. No excuses. I gave up smoking cigarettes a year ago last October, but I still get short of breath when I climb a lot of stairs at once, and on occasion this effect is worryingly persistent. Having been a smoker for about 20 years I guess I have ground to reclaim, but all the same I need to feel no so out of condition.

7. A couple of my friends are dying. Is it wrong of me to want to go away and leave them alone? No it's human. I must fight the urge to flee. I must spend time with them before they go, or I'll wonder if they know how much I love them. (see 4.)

8. I will make at least 3 long form movies this year, and a handful of shorts maybe. I already have about 8 hours of footage in the can for my meandering biographical documentary babble, "Attention Seeker", but I also want to make a movie about my friend Brent and his music. The plan is to go down there with a couple of cameras and couple of movie lights and film some songs indoors, and then some busking, and fill the rest with conversations. It's a long weekend's work tops. Then I want to make a feature length narrative piece. I don't care if it's "The Sacrament" which I still do want to make, but it's going to cost... I'll write something new if necessary, but I need to film it at least before December 2008 to qualify. Goals are dreams with completion date.

9. I will get my podcasts going. I've been hoarding raw recordings and need to edit and publish them.

Making Better Movies

10. I will try and ramp up my blogging to make more regular posts, AT LEAST once a week from now on, and more frequently if I can make it.

Oh and in parting, for some reason listening to this nice woman talking about whiteheads and blackheads is really relaxing...