Bringing in the New Year

above: puking into the new year

I, Joe, am not going to try to generalize the year that five of us experienced in five different lives in many, many different ways. Some of us had great years. Others, not so much. I guess the only thing that can be said is that the year was both good and bad for different people at different times. So vague! Something more specific: we can always say that next year, we are going to do better.

This concept is known as the "New Year's Resolution," and it is one's way of telling himself or herself that next year, we are going to try to improve our lives, and perhaps not make the same mistakes we did last year. We here at PoYB have compiled our own New Year's Resolutions, to let you in on the ways we are going to improve, but also to perhaps inspire you, our wonderful reader, to make 2009 better as well.

New Year's Resolutions:

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Mandy.

1) Give up on Juicycampus — Maybe it came with the vagina, but I love gossip. Juicycampus made it hard for me to keep my nose out of other people's garbage. At the dawning of 2009, I plan to never visit the site again.

2) Wear whatever the hell I want — I even purchased fire-red pants to help achieve this.

3) Save up enough money to visit Kait in Ireland — Because there are pubs and men with accents that need conquering.

4) Learn how to really cook — So I can fend for myself without the haven of Treetops next year.

I have other, more productive goals set for myself, but I'll keep those in the confines of my mind. Let's just say that, like I hope for every year, I'm going to do the best I can to be the best person I can possibly be.

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Nick

I haven't decided yet. I know, I know, its eleven hours away. Maybe it's because I feel like I shouldn't need a reason to improve myself, that it should come naturally. I have goals, certainly; but a resolution? No.

1) I'm resuming my education starting January 20th, and my goal is to not fuck it up like I did last time around.

2) I'm currently in my first true relationship since that cunt at Manhattan College, so I'm going to make the most out of that. However, if it's not to be, I'm going to brush it off and move along like I should have done the last time.

3) I'm going to cut down on the sarcasm, particularly when meeting new people. Too often I come off like an asshole and live my life with people treating me like one.

4) I'm going to write some shit on PoYB.

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Joe

1) It would be foolish of me to say that I want to cut down on the drinking; it's just not going to happen. However, I do want to keep it from escalating any further than it has. Let's stick to drinking about four nights a week, eh?

2) I want to refrain from getting written up again. I'm on a roll with this, as I lasted all semester. It would be nice to keep this going and last until I get to the townhouses without getting written up again.

3) I resolve to NOT get naked at a party this year. Not because I don't like being naked, but because having a mostly-nude picture of yourself on Facebook is bad news.

4) I have to stop letting girls affect me as much as they do. This one I'll most likely fail at.

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Dave

To continue to care more my career, new writing styles, and my best friends and care less about falling in love. Also, to write 1-3 PoYB a month.

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Mike

Go Camping More — this year I only got to go camping one time, representing the lowest number since I started in 2nd grade. Seriously, even when I was a Wolf Scout in Den 2, we went camping once a year to Lorimer Park. My inner caveman feels pathetic.

Find a Good Summer Job/Internship — not since starting at the Laf have I found a job that made a good fit. Working with computers was cool but I didn't get enough hours. Teaching had great pay but it nearly killed me. This year, I have slaved in two separate University departments, and I have literally felt my brain dying slowly. Enough is enough.

I also plan to study abroad — This will require a resolution to not procrastinate on paperwork, along with one to save money$$$. I'm also going to try to knock some stuff off my bucket list, which shouldn't be too bad. Lastly, I swear to all things righteous that I will not go tanning with Jim C****, no matter how tempting it may be. (I'll just whiten my teeth instead).

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A Jerry Springer-esque "Final Thoughts" ending:

I think one thing that still stands true after this whole goddamn year, after the many years past, is this: No matter what happens, no matter what shitty nonsense befalls on us, no matter what life can throw at us, at least we have our friends. Whether we're laughing with them, drinking with them, or just blogging with them, we can always count on our friends to get us through just one more year.

From all of us here at Puke on Your Birthday, I want to wish you a safe and happy (and hopefully very, very inebriated) happy New Year!