2008: Year of the Awesome

(Allow me this sentimental post and I promise I'll get back to more sperm videos soon).

As I sit here on a Greyhound bus speeding through somewhere in Michigan, I'm reminded about how great the past year was. I started the year off in Chicago and ended it in the city where I started. In between were 365 days, each day miraculously surpassing the events and good time of the day preceding it. I've spent the past year in different cities, provinces, states, and countries in different homes, venues, bars, and places. From holding an Oscar in Times Square, New York City, to getting splattered with blood at Evil Dead: The Musical in Toronto. From surfing on tables to the sounds of Brian Wilson at Bluesfest in Ottawa to going absolutely out of my mind at Umphrey's McGee in Chicago.

The following are just a few of my favourite things in 2008 (some of which are “braggy” but some of which you, the loyal reader, should check out or go to if you have the chance):

Moments:
1) NYE Chicago Run

and then in reverse chronological order:

Getting Obama'd at La Maison
Not My 101 Week
Folk Festival
Bluesfest
Summer Southern Ontario Swing
Reading Weekend in New York

Concerts:
1 of the year and of my life) Umphrey's McGee - 2008-12-31 - 2009-01-01
2) Umphrey's McGee - 2008-12-30
2) Umphrey's McGee - 2008-12-29

and then in no particular order:

Basia Bulat @ Zaphods
Kathleen Edwards/The Fugitives @ The Black Sheep Inn
Wyclef Jean/Akon @ Bluesfest
Coldplay/Stars @ Scotiabank Place
Great Big Sea @ Heart and Crown
Born Ruffians/Ruby Coast @ School
Broken Social Scene/Dala @ Folk Fest
The Frequency @ Bluesfest

Albums (in no particular order):
My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
For Emma, Forever Ago - Bon Iver
Viva La Vida - Coldplay
The Rhumb Line - Ra Ra Riot
Asking For Flowers - Kathleen Edwards
We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things - Jason Mraz
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
A Good Day - Priscilla Ahn
Punch - Punch Brothers
Hammerstrike - Lotus
Original Soundtrack - Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog
Original Broadway Cast Recording - Passing Strange

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All my thoughts divided

All my friends divided

All my worlds divided, it’s gone so far

All these ways divided

All these thoughts divided

When all our roads are spoken for

Then it fades, far gone

Last night, as Brendan Bayliss of Umphrey's McGee sand these words to close out the best concert I have ever attended, I was moved to tears. Many, many miles divided me between most of my friends while inches divided my between some others. As corny as it sounds, you were all right there with me, saying goodbye to the old and looking forward to the new.

To all the friends and people I've come across this past year, old and new, I'm eternally grateful and thankful from the bottom of my (admittently sometimes cold and cruel) heart. It’s because of all of you that made 2008 a year I won’t soon forget.

BUT 2009 is a new year and as amazing as 2008 was, I’m excited about what each of these next 365 days will bring for me, for you, and for the world at large. I expect to be sitting somewhere at this very same time next year writing virtually the same entry, only with different memories, events, and all around good times.

Here we go again.