Eight or so hours and counting until the Time Square ball descends for the 51st time during this writer’s mortally toiled watch; so, barring any behemothic transpiration between now and the instant I press the Publish button, my work for 2007, as a blogger, is done. I’ve tossed it around mentally for a day or two and concluded that I do in fact, have a thing or two left to say before the expiration dates on these few, lingering thoughts—well, expire; a couple smart snippets, perhaps worthy of a final comment or two, before the twelfth dong of the gong bongs eternal, and I kiss whomever is standing next to me–within reason, goodyear. And so I present to you this year’s final menu, a mulligan stew of left-over thoughts and teasers straight from the mental ice box of my favorite mother’s favorite son: (okay, it’s another year end list.)
1. Don’t buy any Christmas jewely advertised on TV regardless of how much the actress acts like she’d love to own a quarter carat, diamond pendant necklace from Zales.
2. Whilst everybody in my life welcomes a thoughtful gift and even my faithful dog enjoys human praise, it’s pretty obvious from the looks on their faces that they’d all rather have the cash.
3. The best answering machine message I heard all year was: …”If this is a courtesy call, leave a message and I’ll get back to you at my earliest convenience;… If this is a distress call, keep the message short and if I’m not in a worse place than you, I’ll try and help;… If this is a booty call, stay on the line and someone will assist you shortly.” (okay, I made it up and my wife wouldn’t let me put it on our machine.)
4. I’m at a point in my life where I’m actually a little disappointed if I don’t get socks for Christmas.
5. I’ve concluded that there’s no sense in trying to get back down to my fighting weight since nothing good ever came out of any fight I’ve ever been in, anyway.
6. Don’t write a post about a one-armed girl and expect to come away unscathed or get involved in a comment trading war unless you too, are prepared to quit the forum and flee before the lions need fed again. Remember, the lions always need fed.
7. The best dessert I snuck this year while on my 52 week (alright, perennial) yo-yo (Ho Ho) diet was a Fried Twinkie Tiramisu–worthy of the capitalization, I assure you.
8. Take the extended service warranty on anything electronic that has to do with your livlihood and can accidently be dropped in a toilet.
9. Don’t end up at a gambling table with anyone who has a city or a geographic region for a first name, i.e. New York Nick, Long Island Louie, et al…
10. If a dog looks into a mirror…does God look back?
That’s it. I’m done. The chairs are upside down on this tabletop until next year. Empty the ashtrays and call the cabs. Peace, or at the very least…may we all get some sleep and wake up slightly better people.
Greg Swann says:
> I’m at a point in my life where I’m actually a little disappointed if I don’t get socks for Christmas.
Priceless. Happy New Year, Geno!
December 31, 2007 — 3:10 pm
mike says:
I have to say this is hands down the best year end wrap up of them all.
happy new year
December 31, 2007 — 3:27 pm
Missy Caulk says:
ahh, I like the one on the extended warranties, as one who has lost 3 cell phones, one in the tolet, one in the lake and one in the ocean. You betcha I learned. Happy New Year, Geno
December 31, 2007 — 5:07 pm
Sean M. Broderick, CCIM says:
11. Memo to self: Buy the extended warranty on my answer machine, just in case someone tells my wife I changed the message greeting..
December 31, 2007 — 8:33 pm
Eric Blackwell says:
Geno-
You are truly a wordsmith’s wordsmith. Your year end wrap up was the best read to date. Something in there for everyone to relate to and smile about.
May 2008 be filled with many more of your posts. The world will be a better place for it. (grin)
Happy New Year…
Eric
January 1, 2008 — 6:36 am
Geno Petro says:
Thank you all for the comments–this to me, for some strange reason, is the most difficult part of the blogging experience; The comment response! What to say? Thank each individually? A one time blanket TY to all? Do it after the first comment? Wait to the end when the post is 4 or 5 pages back?
Anyway, to Greg, Mike, Missy, Sean, and Eric…TY.(doesn’t that seem at the same time trite, over-the-top and inadequate?) What if I get 20 comments and don’t look at BHB for a day? What if I forget somebody? What if everyone gets mad at me and never comments again because I’m such a poor thankyou-er? My mother told me no one would ever give me presents again if I didn’t write my thank you notes. (And I always weighed that possibility for a moment or two before lunging for the pen and note cards.)
What I really do want to say though, and it wasn’t on the list, was that being approached by Greg and Teri a few months back and subsequently joining BHB was one of the highlights of my year and real estate career. It makes me find the time to sit down write a post even though it takes me less time to finish a piece than it took to write this stupid comment.
January 1, 2008 — 8:33 am
Teri Lussier says:
Geno-
Sorry I’m late, but the good news for you is that I won’t be subscribing to the comments, so no need to respond- really. 😉
Truth in mimosa: Having a part in bringing you to the BHB was one of the things I’m most happy about bloggy-wise in ’07. All the best in 2008!
January 1, 2008 — 10:15 am
Cathleen Collins says:
Hi Geno. Thanks for linking to your one-armed typing post. I don’t subscribe to AR, so hadn’t the pleasure of your work there. Love how you so artfully combine sarcasm with verisimilitude. Also like your TY comment above. Great expression of what so many of us go through. No need to thank me. Your good will is implied. Best wishes to you, Mona and Elvis for a splendid new year!
January 1, 2008 — 12:41 pm
Russell Shaw says:
As usual, ART. I also loved the links to your post on AR and the comment trading war (and subsequent quitting). Wow. I’m still laughing.
January 1, 2008 — 4:58 pm