Thoughts About The Coming New Year

Now that the holidays are almost over, most peoplewill have two things on their minds: New Year’s Eveplans, and New Year’s resolutions.

I don’t have the money to go out and spend $125 to goto a party and get free booze for a few hours, thenpay out of my rear end for booze the other hours ofthe night. Then again, who does? But will that stoppeople from spending hundreds of dollars on New Year’sEve because it’s the cool thing to do? I mean, it’slike everyone in the club is like watching and you will be like a loser if you don’t like kiss someone atmidnight. Like.

I know it is one of the bigger party nights of theyear, and everyone likes to go out on New Year’s Eveand have a good time, me included. Bars and clubs allaround have specials. Some are great, some are not.I’m sure there are some celebrities that no one caresabout who are hosting parties somewhere.

For South Siders, our best bets are probably the Irishbars on Western Avenue or the Bourbon Street tavern.But who has the money this year to spend $100 on aticket to a party?As for resolutions... Some are going to get intobetter shape, and others will look for a better job.Good luck! Some will say they will quit smoking,drinking or whatever they do too much of. Only a fewwill actually make it, and most will give up onwhatever their resolution is. Most will be good for amonth or two, then return to their old ways.

Notice how gym ads want you to pay for the entire yearupfront? This way, they have your money and they don’tcare if you go or not. No gym will have apay-as-you-go month to month special.Many people wish for something beyond their control(like rooting for the Cubs to win a World Series thisyear) or set themselves up to fail, like quittingsmoking or losing weight, but go about it the wrongway.With the economy the way is it, people will seem happythat they do have a fresh start. Love him or hate him,there is a change in the president. Many people aregoing to feel better just hearing those words, somemight get sick.But the new year is a chance to better yourself, butit shouldn’t start on Jan. 1.

It is also the time we get bombarded with all thesetop lists of the year. Best movie, best actor, bestdressed, worst dressed, blah blah blah. So with thatin mind, here is my biased lists for 2008.Biggest story of the year: Barack Obama electedpresident. It doesn’t matter your feelings, it is thebiggest story of the year. Worst story of the year:Blagojevich. Again, love him or hate him, he was theworst thing to happen to Illinois this year.Best movie: “The Dark Knight,” and an honorablemention to “Rambo.” Worst movie I saw: “RighteousKill.” Pacino plus DeNiro does not always equal good.Best Album: “Death Magnetic” by Metallica. The worstalbum was almost everything else.

The best national sports story might have to beMichael Phelps and, locally, the rise of theBlackhawks. Worst sports story nationally again has tobe steroids, with Roger Clemens added to the mix, andlocally it was — after a great summer for both Chicagobaseball teams — how quickly they both exited from theplayoffs.

Best television show season was “The Sopranos.” Worsttelevision show season: any and all reality shows.

This is my list, and I hate such shows. I also lostinterest in “Heroes” this season.Best dressed...kidding.I once heard someone say that when you come to adecision in life, “take the one that will provide thebest memory.” Now that might not always apply, andthere might be some other variables that go into thedecision, but it’s not a bad idea either.I hope everyone had a very merry Festivus!

(Chuck Salvatore is a reporter for the SouthwestNews-Herald. He may be reached at (773) 476-4800, ext.241, at chucksalvatore@hotmail.com or atchucksalvatore.blogspot.com. Also don’t forget tocatch him every Thursday on the Linda Padgurskis showfrom noon to 1 p.m., and every Friday on the“Out’N’About” talk show with Ron and Joe from 2 to 3p.m. He will also guest host Friday, Dec. 26 on RadioChicagoland, Mornings with Ray Hanania, all on WJJG1530 AM.)