2008-01-01

A lot of people asked to have their photos taken with me on New Year's Eve in Las Vegas. That's what I get for wearing the red and white striped suit from the Just Go Out With Me movie.

Kate asked me about my year over dinner, and I realized it was pretty amazing.

This year I: put on the world premiere of Brainpool's rock opera, filmed the Just Go Out With Me short movie, finished recording my new album, got granted a permanent residence visa for Sweden, moved to Los Angeles, lived alone for the first time, got hired numerous times as a professional photographer, had my songs featured in prime-time television shows, flew enough times to rack up a free flight, apologized to some of the people I'd hurt and wronged, played my first concert with my live band, I stopped drinking and using drugs, taught at a college, gave up using sleeping pills to sleep, lost a few pounds, had my entire body shaved to the skin by a hot 23-year-old just for kicks, took up reading books again, and spent more time than ever with my grandparents.

Of course, there were some really bad times, too. I got beaten up and robbed in West Hollywood and left for dead on the sidewalk. I overdosed a few times and went to the psych ward. I got a DUI. I went to rehab. I broke the heart of a wonderful girlfriend due to negligence and selfishness.

But, when I compare the good with the bad, it seems like I came out on top. It's best for me to put the lists next to one another, otherwise all I think about are my failures and shortcomings.

I wonder what next year will hold? Then again, every day is the beginning of a new year.


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