Aaaaand it's finally over.

In a year that took our country by the scruff of it's neck and wrastled it around like a wolf would to a fattened up squirrel, we have somehow managed to escape the predators vice-like jaws and hide behind an old tree stump of temporary safety.

While I don't know who or what the predator and the tree stump symbolize, I do know that this year was an absolute @*&/ing doozy. The greed and corruption reared it's ugly face from Cony Island to Venice Beach and while a band-aid has been applied, even Johnson & Johnson may not be able to heal this one. We may have to break out the Robitussin.

Anyway, my slightly harsh east coast surroundings have directed my thinking a bit more negatively it seems. I considered kicking off the year with the "Top Ten Places to Hide when the US collapses" or the "Top One Political Parties to Blame for this Mess", but really what good is that?

So in the midst of national and international pessimism and uncertainty, I'll try to muster enough optimism to continue the January tradition of the Top Ten Things to be Happy About - in 2009 of course.

10. We elected a new President! Before Obama even takes office, he does a couple of very important things - he shows underprivileged minorities that you can do anything, even become president of the USA. Also, his election shows the World that we are not in acceptance of what has gone on the past eight years. Hopefully anti-Americanism will lessen.

9. The stock market crashed. And why is this a good thing? Well, I don't think it is other than the fact that if it did not, we may be awaiting an inauguration of Mr. McBush. It'll come back - don't worry.

8. Everybody and their Mother (literally) has a Facebook profile. Is verbal communication even necessary anymore?

7. Jurassic Park IV, Friday the 13th, Pee-Wee's Playhouse, Transformers 2, G.I. Joe, He-Man, and you guessed it, the A-Team are all slated to hit the big screen in 2009. A-Team features a cast of Woody Harrelson, Daniel Morton, Bruce Willis, and none other than Ice Cube as Mr. T.

6. Ponzi schemes will move toward extinction. They were cool freshman year of college, but at some point you have to grow up - certainly at 65 years old.

5. You can play a full three piece band on guitar hero including vocals, drums and bass. I shudder at the thought of what may be next.

4. It's a great time to buy a house. Prices and interest rates are both low and there is more property on the market than a post gold rush mountain town.

3. Tiger Woods will return to the PGA tour after knee surgery and almost a year off to continue his quest of breaking the major win record of 18. I wouldn't be surprised if he chalked up four more in '09.

2. The Philadelphia Phillies will start the 2009 season as defending World Champions for the first time since 1981. I wonder what people were blogging about then.

1. While skepticism of global climate change still exists, an overwhelming majority of scientific organizations are in agreement that not only is our planet getting warmer, but it is in fact caused by human industrialization. The UN's annual Climate Change Conference will be in Denmark this year with intentions of entering into a binding global climate agreement applying to the period after 2012. And yes, the US is slated for attendance.


Have a great year, and tune in for a posting during the first week of every month.