…It’s New Years Resolution time.

Let’s see, hmmm, what should I do?

I rarely make New Years Resolutions, part of that pagan stuff Daddy used to talk about.  The Roman god Janus, was the two faced god, looking forward to the new year and back to the old.  His followers were taught to review the mistakes of the past year, and make resolutions for the new one.

Paganism aside, that really isn’t a bad idea!

Oh, heck, here goes.

I resolve to…

…be nice.

…not talk about Kim Kardashian.

…work out more.

…eat less.

…be more politically correct.

…smile.

…not obsess over how many people read (or don’t) my blog posts every day.

…check statcounter less.

…think before I speak…or write.

…drink more coffee.

Well, I have to have one I can keep!

For the last two years, I’ve done a lengthy end of year wrap UP.

This year, not so much.

I’ve been told I’m wordy.

When has something like that stopped me?

First of all, we didn’t go to Heaven in 2011 like the preacher out west said we would.

Valentine’s Day month rolled around and I posted about famous love affairs.  I was moved and surprised by the reaction of my fans, groupies, followers reader.

I did not get the cake plate for Valentine’s Day.

Charlie Sheen screwed UP his career, ruined the best show on TV, and pretty much made an ass of himself.

The Middle East blew UP.  Shocker!!  There was an Arab Spring around the world.

The Christian world celebrated Easter.  I got chocolate, but no cake plate.

I celebrated my birthday in June, the Summer was headache full…

…and cake plate free.

Kim Kardashian ripped off Kris Humphries and the viewing public by staging a marriage that she planned not to knew wouldn’t last.

She did not get the cake plate either,

and I’m not sure she received my “bath room bowl brush set” from K-Mart.  No thank you card yet.

Raised by wolves?

We finally got bin Laden, the Libyans finally got Khadaffi, and Egypt got rid of Mubarak.

Bill Maher made an ass of himself, pissed millions off, and was just mean in general.

We left Iraq.

We’re still in Afghanistan.

We’re still at Gitmo.

Following in Regis’ footsteps, Barney Frank announced his retirement.

There were some major break UPs last year, Demi and Ashton called it quits.  Hef’s 23 year old fiance dumped him…we were all so shocked.  Really, it just came out of no where.

And Elizabeth Taylor died, as did many other famous people, but really, Elizabeth Taylor died.

Christmas came, it was great, but another gift-giving opportunity missed…NO CAKE PLATE!

There was no world peace.

As years go, not the best, but not the worst.

But, hey, we have all that 2012 Mayan joy to look forward to!

I hope 2012 is better.

For as long as I could drive, I’ve gone to see a movie on Christmas Day.

It’s kinda a tradition.

This year was no different.

Well, it was sorta different, I went to see “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo”.  The English Language version, with Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara.

Imagine if Criminal Minds was made into a feature film.

Imagine Captain Von Trapp as the head of an evil family.  Christopher Plummer plays a conflicted man;  half good, half evil, and all bad.

Daniel Craig is awesome.  Like Russell Crowe and Al Pacino –  I’ll go see anything they’re in.  They never fail me.

Craig kept UP his standard of great performances in this gritty, sexually charged, beyond creepy film.

I read the book, I should have known.

Frankly, while reading the book, I thought, “How are they going to put this on the screen.”  I mean, after all, there are just some things that you can barely read, much less watch.

But, alas, they did put it on the screen.  Graphically, vividly, realistically, inyourfaceally.

For the faint of heart, I’ll warn you, it’s more disturbing than “Black Swan”.  Much, much more.

But, as far as screen adaptations go, it’s great.  There are few changes from the book, ok, the ending is totally different, but for the most part, you feel like you’re reading the book when  you watch the film.  One very positive change is that the 1st 84 pages of the book are condensed into about four scenes.  It’s a pity that Steig Larsson didn’t do that.

Honestly, I almost quit reading the book before I met the girl with the Dragon Tattoo!  And the changed ending is much more clear, shorter, and makes more sense.

Rooney Mara is Lisbeth Salander.  And Daniel Craig isn’t just James Bond in this.  He’s even better.

So, if you’ve read the book, think you can watch the book on screen, and have no problem with murder, mayhem, rape, torture, near pornographic sex…shell out the $10, buy some popcorn, sit back and…relax isn’t the word…enjoy…again, no…watch…yeah, that’s it, watch!

I’d go back.

…you may have read earlier that I wanted practical things for Christmas.

Well, everyone came through.

I got these…

…I’m the envy of Martha Stewart, I’m sure.

I got this…

…I read 1491, loved it, and when this came out, I had to have it.

I got Waffle House gift cards…

…very useful!

Cash…

…which always comes in handy.  I mean, Who doesn’t love the dead Presidents?

…and yes, a bag of salad from Donovan…

…It’s not like I won’t use it!

Sweat pants…

…always handy!

And, since my house slippers were ratty, these…

Amazingly, I found out that you can’t go out and pick UP a piece of sheet music these days, you have to down load it on line!!!  So, instead of ’sheet music’, I got a ’sheet music’ gift card…I’ll let you know how that works!

How 21st Century of them!

And of course, as a reminder of Ohio, I got a box of this…

…the best candy EVER!

Yes, a very practical Christmas…it’s a good thing…but, I still want that darn cake plate!

…Oh well, there’s always 2012, unless the Mayans were right!