kicking it old skool

...and the end of my Summer :)

In a really twisted way, and I've said so to more than a few people, I'm kind of glad the whole festive season is behind us and that things can get back to normal. Although “normal” is relative at this point: somewhere between the bloated food fests and the drunken stooper that clearly defined my summer it sank in that I am in fact unemployed.

Now I’ve dealt with this before (way, way before) but it really does only sink in now, when I’m not getting up at a pre defined time and all the pre programmed get-up-shower-brush-teeth-get-to-work-(late as usual)-have-breakfast-check news-check mail-start-my-day shit is no longer applicable. Being a creature of habit though, I do not doubt that aforementioned routine will evolve into something equally obscure in due course. What that will look like, I do not know.

The other prevailing trepidation came with the realization that the little “Capital In” column on my MS Money portfolio is now reflecting a very ominous zero.

As I’ve said before, I have this really cool business venture that myself and two other fellow retrenchees want to attempt. My gut still feels it’s gonna work and that’s good enough for me. The fact that said two partners in crime are tremendously good at what they do also go a long way.

On the final leg of my summer: The last evening before we packed, we decided that we should finish every single drop of alcohol left in my apartment. So bring out the bottle (full!!) of Jack, 13 tots of Johnny Walker, 1 bottle of champagne, 5 amstel lagers, 2 castle lagers and half a bottle of Smirnoff Vodka. We limited to drinking games to some obscure dice game percieved (no doubt) by Lucifer, where you where severly punished for rolling high numbers. And low numbers. In fact, touching the die at any stage warranted a drink. I can imagine that the neighbours didn't appreciate the 3 am skinny dip in the swimming pool either...

Sometime in the afternoon we managed to get our shit together long enough to drive down to the beach house we where destined to do the new years eve thing at. The weather didn’t quite cut it though, so my dreams of lounging on random beaches and catching up on my reading where dashed somewhat. I had a good time regardless and once everybody rocked up for the New Year’s bash it was all systems go. It was also great doing the countdown thing with 2 of my best mates on the planet; a first in 3 or so score years. Male bonding was rife.

Morne and I never checked out the Vortex party though, mainly due to the fact that his wife rocked up a day early and the admin around convincing her that it really really is a good idea to go get all fucked up in the middle of a orchid whilst playing a bongo drum and howling your mating call at the moon seemed like way to much effort.

So all’s well that ends well then? I think so, yeah. I got a girlfriend out of the deal (although I shudder to think what she’ll have to say about that!), got to see all my old friends again and got some family time in to boot. Spent a fortune on gifts and parties et al, but oh well, nothing new there.

New Year’s resolutions? Let’s see, 2004 went something like:

- Become an IT GOD (check)
- Get buffed and beefy (mmmm, jury’s out. I reckon I slacked)
- Scale down my drinking habits (pass…that was crazy talk)
- Learn a new skill, like golf or mind reading (never got past the driving range and all my test subjects where woman. And they don’t even know what THEY want!!)
- Shave myself and become a celibate monk (half true. I shave myself all the time. Everywhere. Liberating, really…)
- Have a threesome (I wish I could say: CHECK! Do blow-up cacti count?)


So 2005, I reckon:

- Become a business GOD
- Still try to get buffed and beefy
- Try harder for that threesome (I am not above begging)
- Get my golf game on
- Learn a new language (other than Drunkaneese)

Here’s wishing you all a very prosperous 2005, whatever you perceive that to be :)

[G], out

you need a permit for that