Regis, you didn't cut it

I preferred the retro tapes of Dick Clark over the years. Favorite years included 1977, 1982, and 1997. That year it was 13 degrees. Cold indeed.



I am hung over today, not by booze but by the Twilight Zone marathon. Every year I say I won't watch, but I do. Burgess Meredith's glasses breaking near that library is just wicked.



This will be a year, given recent text messages from people, of no drama, chaos, and bullshit. There will be no politics (except the usual Hollywood/D.C. crap), useless tears, or shouts of "why me." I will not be a therapist anymore to people who clearly cannot take control of their lives. I will not put up with whiny intrigues, sniveling, or general cries to heaven in despair. You made your beds? Lay in them, kiddies. Your problems ain't my job to fix. I've got enough on my plate with a new round of doctor's appointments to see how the last quarter of my year's medications helped my ovaries and thyroid. If you want a crutch, go to a carpenter. You will not have me to lean on. Things don't just "happen"--you miss the red flags? Try not to choke on your own muck. Don't tell me I have to help you scoop it out. I thought I got rid of people like this one year ago. I guess there's something in me that keeps finding them. That's my thing to work out.



DJ Rogers is blasting on my iTunes right now. Gospel, pure and simple. No phone calls, no dumb emails. Just some encouragement and things I don't want on eBay right now. Gotta cut that out, too. I'd like to own something one day, and 6K of credit card debt will kick my mortgage rate in the teeth. I think some fiscal discipline is in order.



Prince, back in 1986, put out a B-side called "Love or $". I know I chose money. Why? Growing up poor. Security to me is bills paid, fridge stocked, laundry done, cats fed, metrocard filled. The Jones's never liked me from the time I was knee-high, so I wrote them off as quick as they ignored me. The best way to compete is to take yourself out of the game. I got a good education, but that didn't change the fact that I had holes in my shoes, socks, and coats over the years. At least I know the truth. I'm sick of everyone asking me to tell them the very things they deny seeing before I even got there. Try to wake up, kiddies. Everybody got their somethin', but your's is not my job to fix.



Let that be my solemn vow for this year.