HAPPY New Year. I MEAN it!

I don't know about you, but my head is tired. Tired to freakin' death, of all the DEATH! Not to mention the destruction, war, disharmony and just plain bad news. I'm so sad from all the sadness. I don't want to hear about anymore men dressed as Santa killing 9 people on Christmas Eve. Here in Phoenix, the same thing happened the next day, on Christmas Day actual, the same way, but it probably didn't make the news where you live because the bastard only killed one person. The ex-wife. When are men going to stop killing us? Can't you just get on with your lives, and let us live ours? There is life after divorce, you know. Grow a spine, for chrissakes!

I'm a little scared of the bombing of the Gaza Strip. The bomb-ees are not going to take that lightly. Nothing good's gonna come of this. I'm tired of worrying about my job, my husband's job, my employer's future. Tired of worrying about money, and the economy. Tired of sorry f****rs like Madoff who are so cavalier about stealing 50 BILLION dollars! How can someone so smart not know that Ponzi schemes ALWAYS get found out, because they ALWAYS run out of steam?Did he really think that could just go on forever? And it was so sad to hear of Mr. de la Villehuchet who felt so hopeless about losing his client's money to Madoff, that he chose suicide. How utterly sad and awful for his family and friends.

I'm tired of Blagoyevich. How does one GROW an ego that huge?! How can he be so stupidstupidSTUPID to think he'd not get caught, especially after he KNEW he was being investigated. I just don't get it. And double damn you, Blago, for casting a shadow of doubt on my new president before he's even had a chance to tarnish his OWN name.

And I am so sad about, and tired of, the meaningless, money-sucking black hole that has become Christmas. I miss the magic. I miss the quiet, reverent awe of the day. The stillness and calm that fills the soul. I miss being 8 years old. I wish I could look God square in the eye, and say "I'm sorry we've mucked it all up so badly".

You know, I was planning to lead off this post with a few ramblings about the state of the world, and then finish off with something funny I had in mind. But as I write, I'm getting farther and farther away from funny. I surely don't want to diminish anyone's troubles by ending with some flip comment.

So instead of funny, I'm going to go out with hopeful. I hope for you, and for me, and everyone in the world, that goodness can find it's way back to the surface in 2009. I hope all the anger in the world can be toned down a bit with rational thinking. I hope all the hatred can be erased with love, or tolerance at the very least. In 2009, I hope your wallets get fat, your families stay healthy, your future looks promising and your dreams remain whole. I hope the universe can generally just dial the bad news back a notch.

So seriously. HAPPY New Year! I mean it!