Saturday evening before Christmas
So, the year is almost over. I completed my 2008 survey already a few days ago. I was a bit worried it would be too early but there's not much I have to add now.

Like every year I've discovered a lot new music, not necessarily from 2008.
At this point I would like to recommend Jorane's album "Vers À Soi" and Joanna Newsom's "Ys", two albums that do not fit into any category which makes them very interesting.
Also, there's a German band (singer) I've never known before called "Get Well Soon" ("Rest Now, Weary Head! You Will Get Well Soon") which is very well-produced and reminds me a bit of Arcade Fire.
And of course, because it would break my heart not to mention it again this year, I highly recommend Debbie's solo album "Necessary Evil", my very favorite piece ever.

The last weeks I passed doing courses on Spanish written expression and American English phonetics.
I did a Spanish presentation on the change from American Modernism to Postmodernism, a topic I chose myself.
I'm nearly finished now with all the courses and I do think about my future a lot these days. I mentioned at some other point before that it's almost certainly going to lead me to America, the place where my heart belongs.

I now have tickets for most of the Blondie shows in Canada and the States next year.
It's going to be very exciting and I look forward to it every single hour of the day. I wonder if any more new songs from the upcoming album will be played and if my new little favorite song will make it onto the setlist. I will keep my fingers crossed for it.
The new album is going to be a very creative piece, I just feel it. I'm very curious about the sound, the lyrics and everything else about it.
There are many questions that make the waiting time especially exciting. But at the same time I still feel very melancholic and sad. I miss all the Debbie shows painfully. They're like air to breathe for me and without them I feel incomplete. But of course, it's not (only) about the shows in the first place, it's about seeing Debbie, the most wonderful and beautiful person in the world. I miss her so very much. But I have my little pieces that warm my heart and soul, things that make me survive, things that make me look on the positive side (as hard as it is sometimes).
Tonight she will play at a Christmas show. I hope she will enjoy it and have fun. More than anything I wish I could be there. But I'm still beyond the big ocean, putting up a tree, putting it down again and looking forward to February with a big, big smile on my face.

It seems I've missed the pre-Christmas period almost completely this year. I don't really mind much. I'm not nearly as much into Christmas anymore as I used to be.
But I traditionally appreciate it a lot for the purpose of thinking about the year, the people I met, focus on the good they've done, how they've made our lives better and thinking about how I can return their kindness.
Other than that it's always been the loneliest time of the year for me.

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, wonderful holidays filled with love and company, beautiful presents, peaceful words and good food and a happy and healthy New Year.
Positive things have happened this year that set the ground for more positive things to happen next year - in many respects.