Like Sands Through The Hour Glass...

...yada yada yada (actually I can't remember the exact wording).

As the year draws to a close I am once again feeling a wee bit reflective on the days past. Discounting the miserable hell that is my job a great many things have been good.

1) My significant other. She is the light of my life, and a pain in my ass (which is a good thing, it keeps me on my toes)

2) My house. Having a place to call home helps to assuage my tortured soul and bring a measure of calm to the shitstorm that is my life. It's also a great place to crank up Rock Band so I can't hear myself beating the shit out of the plastic drums.

3) Concerts. This year has been an embarassment of riches in that regard. I am a full-blown concert whore and have little faith that the coming year can match the selection and talent that this year brought. From Ozzy and Rob Zombie at the start of the year to Iron Maiden and Monsters of Rock in the summer and ending with Paul Van Dyk and Metallica at the twilight of this anum, my brain is fairly melting from the sheer number of amazing bands I've seen.

Kirk Hammett from Metallica.

4) Friends. As always, good friends are one of my anchors. They help ground me, and join in (or start) assorted schenanigans that generally involve copious amounts of certain frothy beverages.



5) Music. While I haven't had the time to invest as I did in the past, when I can do it I still lose myself and forget the world around me. With the addition of a sexy new bass guitar to my collection all that's left is to purchase a set of electronic drums. It is interesting to see the confluence of two very different styles of music and how they come together when dumped in my brain and set to puree.

6) Video Games. In a similar fashion to music making, a good game can be cathartic. With many games the release I feel is generally due to my being able to blow shit up in a spectacular fashion. Topping the list for this year is Mercenary 2. The effect of exploding fuel tanks as seen from the cockpit of a helicopter is quite a sight to see.

With that I bid you adieu. I raise my pint and wish you all the best for the coming year.