Out with the Old

So when my birthday (Dec 28) rolls around my mind goes to what I want from the new year and reflect on the year about to fade into the history books. It's hard to believe it's gone so fast but it's been a roller-coaster.

Death has been the big thing in 2009. The stars I grew up with left in high and not so high fashion this year. Natasha Richardson started the year and then in the summer we got David Carradine, Farrah Fawcett and then moments later, literally Michael Jackson passed. I realize they are people who aren't in my personal rolodex but they impacted my life by entertaining me when I couldn't entertain myself.

The bright spot for me was to see Natalie Cole get better, although that was with a touch of sadness because her sister died and Whitney Houston's comeback.

I have to say, about Whitney, that I really looked forward to this "I Look to You" album. She's not the same Whitney anymore. The voice is deeper and more delicate but with all that her tongue is doing, it's still a miracle that her voice still can bring that amazing feeling. Half of singing is bringing forth emotion. She still has that gift. If she stopped smoking she probably would sound better.

And to other things. I lost two soap operas this year. The eldest, Guiding Light and it's slightly younger sister, As the World turns will depart next year. It has to be said that my interest in this medium is strong. It's more than female "stories" in the afternoon, it's traditional, it's also an American creation. It's funny but little by little I find that the American tradition, the products made in American are dying and will soon become extinct. It's very easy to look down your nose at this genre. It's for women and gay men, but no, it's really not. Any one who's ever watched tv in the last 20 years and was addicted to anything serialized that left cliffhangers have soap operas to thank.

It's interesting to see the laizze-faire attitude that Les Moonves has given to an institution that has lasted longer than him. Networks so lazy and defeatist that the only bottom line is making money, quickly without trying to have brand loyalty. Is that what advertisers want and need for themselves. I guess maybe they do considering they've sold out and don't give a shit about who they're marketing to during any program.

That's a fight that is totally out of my hands. I've got to deal with those circumstances. It's time to look ahead.

I'm looking forward to losing some weight. I've put it off for some time now and I really need to get my health in order. I also want to write more often so hopefully this will be the forum that I use to get most of my stuff out. I want to learn to drive and sing and get some vocal lessons.

The year ahead will have it's pitfalls, it's share of changes we don't want but there is one thing that I want for all of us. To make it out alive.

Happy New Year
Love
Uncle D.