The new year is already 3 days old, and vacation time is quickly winding down. I've enjoyed the break, a much-needed 2-week respite from the daily grind, and am not ready for it to end. But end it must, and now a busy and intense (but hopefully fulfilling) 2009 looms. While the excitement of a fresh start lingers, and I daydream of a thousand possibilities in every single moment, I suspect that for the most part it'll be back to business as usual -- to quote The Godfathers: birth, school, work, death.
More specifically, from my little outpost, these are approximately the things I have to look forward to:
1. My J-O-B
The bulk of my time and energy will be spent on program management activities for an intrepid nonprofit environmental organization, supporting a group of about three dozen climate change warriors/brainiacs on everything from project budgets to grant reports to funding proposals to document edits to office space and staffing issues to etcetera. While often superbusy and stressful, it's not a bad gig and potential growth opportunities are always out there. It also does provide some decent measure of "meaningfulness" and I am privileged to work with a great and dedicated group of people. In any case, this is what pays the bills for now.
2. Edjumacation
I am in the final stages of completing a Master's degree, which will allegedly make me better-equipped to handle the various duties and tasks noted in item #1 above. It will also add weight to my resume as I continue climbing the ladder in that chronic quest for wealth, power, and prestige which afflicts most upwardly-mobile Americans. It is also covered by my employer, so who am I not to pursue such a valuable piece of paper? Anticipated graduation date: August 2009.
3. Music for the Masses
With the 2008 release of Anti-Social Club's debut album Otherwise Bleak eXistence now complete, the band is feeling primed and ready to get back to the studio again. A wealth of new material is under development, and we hope to begin recording in the months ahead. In the meantime I've been pumping out new lyrics at a healthy clip, and am hopeful for a follow-up to OBX in the not-too-distant future. Stay tuned, o worthy fans!
4. Family Matters
As ever, my wife, kids, extended family, and good friends keep me fully engaged, often elated, sometimes perplexed, occasionally frustrated, and frequently worried, but always grateful for their presence and support. All of the above (and below) happens within, around, beyond, through, with, for, despite, and because of them.
5. Other Stuff
Besides and betwixt all of these items, I'll be working my arse off to climb out of debt, maintain the house, get in shape, keep the cars running, tend the lawn, do the laundry, wash the dishes, vacuum the carpets, sweep the floors, check the mail, walk the dog, and try to squeeze in a few good books, blogs, eats, games, breaks, and naps along the way.
I also intend to thoroughly enjoy the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th U.S. president. If ever there was a time for political change, this is it...
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