Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Gallowmere 2008 Edition
10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1... Gallow New Mere! So another year's come, it's called 2008. Nice to meet you, 2008.
I can't say I miss 2007. It was a pretty useless year for me, my head was full of TV static for a good chunk that year. Hating it so much, I figured I should celebrate its demise. I decided that a few symbolic exercises were called for. I grew out a beard for most of December, it was thickening a bit, and covered a good deal of my face. By the end, I really started getting sick of it. So as the year came to an end, I chopped it all off with an ax. I also got a 2008 Edward Gorey Calendar, and tossed the 2007 one into the fireplace. I watched as all the clouds of smoke rose from it in the forms of the dark, etched, and ethereal images which embodied the calendar. It expelled the haunting cries of the swooning woman in the MYSTERY! intro. Finally, and most sacredly, I drank myself into oblivion. I tagged along with my party animal friend [Bong Brewski] as he went to some random house party full of strangers under the influence. It wasn't too long before I found myself being stranger and under the influence. I had quite a bit and, of course, found everything people said and did extremely hilarious. I'm proud that I didn't dance, Lord in fairyland knows that I couldn't dance to save my life. And off on a little tangent, I would love to see the type of situation where my life would actually depend on me dancing.
The music there, like most music, just sort of went in one ear and out the other. Mostly hip hop, 80s dance music, techno, and Cambodian music. I guess it's stuff to dance to. I couldn't imagine people getting all juiced up and dancing wildly to the stuff I listen to. The stuff I listen to would probably only be fitting if they were played at funerals or something. So we were there, they did the countdown thing, I stayed a couple more hours, and went home.
I know in essence, all that's happened is that another day's passed, but things feel different, for now at least. I can get quasi-superstitious about things like this I guess. Though I still always have that heavy sense of skepticism I wear on my sleeve to hold me back from getting too carried away. And since I get so superstitious about stuff like this, I'll impose myself some new years resolutions.
1) Finish my novel - Time to fucking finish this beast. It's been waaaaaaaaaaay too long. Way too long.
2) Read more - I have enough books in my padded cell to be responsible for taking out a rain forest. I've only read a fraction of them, so I've got to get back into the habit of reading more. I keep getting the phobia that I'll "subconsciously" plagiarize other writers like that literary cunt bag Kaavya Viswanathan. I don't think I would be that stupid, and I think it's important for me to read to observe the techniques employed. Techniques I should be trying to shamelessly steal from and make my own as opposed to content. My other problem is that when I read, I feel like I'm having an affair on my novel, like I should be working on that, toiling with my own imagination rather than delving into other people's. I hope to be a little less neurotic about that.
3) Talk more about writing - I should get more into the habit of letting it all hang out and talk about where I am with my novel, which for now, I'll still reveal here as [The Obscure Opus]. Doing stuff like that should give me a reality check on where things stand with things. I should actually add features to the musings section of Gallowmere.
4) Get healthier - This one isn't as much of a biggie. I mean, I'm not a biggie, and I doubt I'm heading on that path since I'm a vegetarian, and I don't really have a massive appetite. Nonetheless, I should work out and go running more. Haruki Murakami (who I'm not ashamed to say is my idol) says he jogs every day after writing, and it's what helps him have the stamina he needs to engage long bouts of writing, and accessing the many "drawers" in his deep imagination. It did work for me when I kept up a running regiment. I have to get back into things again.
5) Be more gregarious/be more reticent and solitary - I can do without people for great deals of time. Solitude is my best friend at times, which, only until a few years ago, I discovered wasn't a common thing. I didn't have much time to be alone last year. There was always something to do, or someone around, and that made my head feel all clouded. When I get a good period of peace, quiet, and solitude, my thoughts get to flourish. Still, I need to also be more gregarious and be in the company of others and in their contact so that I never get embarrassingly "out of touch". So I'll have to work on a balancing act for that one.
That's all I can think of for now. Whether or not I'll succumb to the most natural aspect of human nature (i.e. failure), only time will tell. This year could throw anything in my direction. I look forward to all the crazy global fuckups which will take place over the year. I wonder if we'll manage to actually blow ourselves out of existence... Oh wait, conspiracy nut forecasts say that's 2012. We'll see what actually happens.
Ladies and Gentlemen place your bets! All or nothing!
