(photo: New Years 2007 in Nha Trang, Vietnam)

2009 is going to be fantastic. But first, a cliche look back at 2008:

Most important lesson learned in 2008

The number one rule: Do what you love. Don’t give a *** about what anyone else thinks about you.

Top Non-Fiction reads of 2008

Vagabonding by Rolf Potts and The Four Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss. These two books are required reading for anyone who wants to travel or doesn’t like the idea of spending their life in an office cubicle.

Top Music of 2008

Muse – Best of Muse (2CDs)
My favorite rock and roll band of the year hands down. Too bad most of their music videos are terrible.

Radiohead — In Rainbows

Anything by Juan Gonzalez

Michael Franti — Yell Fire
Not my usual taste, but a fantastic album.

Hey Rosetta – Into Your Lungs
Best Canadian rock album of the year. Runners up are Wintersleep’s Welcome to the Night Sky and Joel Plaskett’s Ashtray Rock (My buddy Corey doing a fantastic cover of Hey Rosetta’s Epitaph)

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Stadium Arcadium
Since they revived guitarist John Frusciante, I haven’t stopped loving this band.

Top Movies I saw in 2008

C.R.A.Z.Y.
Fantastic coming of age Quebecois film.

Les Invasion Barbares
Another great Quebecois film. The two main characters, the father and son, are fantastic . The father is a womanizing hedonist meets intellectual professor, who is unapologetic for his lust for life and women even as he nears his death from cancer. The son is a suit-clad fixer for a London bank who can talk or bribe his way into getting whatever it is he wants (note: the actor who played the son, Stephane Rousseau, could use a few acting classes).

Once
Best musical I’ve ever seen, hands down.

Quantum of Solace

Daniel Craig is the best bond since Connery. Although this one wasn’t quite as good as Casino Royale.

The Dark Knight

Best action movie I saw this year.

Major Goals for 2009

Amass my fortune for Project 2010 – I managed to get out of debt super quick with my current job (and my no-unnecessary-spending discipline) and now have a good piece of change in the savings account. The goal is to have 25 Gs in the bank when I leave on my motorbike in June, 2010 (not including buying and outfitting the bike and getting lasik). So far this one is right on schedule.

Attain my dream job of my 20s – After an unsuccessful first attempt, I’m now one small step away from getting this job. It will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine.

Treat my body like a temple– How do Tony Robbins, Tim Ferriss and Dean Karnazes have the energy to do what they do? I’ve started to work out twice a week following my own version of Tim Ferris’ workout and using an adapted version of his high protein diet. I already feel healthier and like I have more energy.

Make the most of being in Labrador – take any and every opportunity that comes my way to experience the beautiful culture here.

Become functionally bilingual with French – progress so far. I’m definitely better than when I started out 4 months ago. I’ve got a long way to go and I’m ready to put in the time and effort.

Be the best at my job that I can be – look at problems as challenges; take every opportunity to improve as a leader, facilitator, and communicator; improve my time management skills and have more fun.

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In line with my current goal to learn French, I wrote a story for my French class the other night. It’s about my most memorable Christmas — which was two years ago in Cambodia. Not bad for a first attempt in French. Although I can’t figure out how to get that little friggin’ dot thing over the e on Noel…

Le noel le plus mémorable dans ma vie

Cela fait deux ans que j’ai passé mon noel au Cambodge. Avec ma blonde, j’ai loué une moto et nous avons été jusqu’à la côte. Nous avons pris un bateau à une île très isolé pour noel. Pour le souper de noel, j’ai commandé une assiette de poulet et un de crabe. Après la commande, la serveuse a criée à son fils de dix ans. Le petit garcon cours vers l’océan et plonge. Il est revenu avec un très grand crabe vivant. J’ai dit à ma blonde, “peut-être ont devraient annuler le poulet.” Et puis le garcon a enlevé une sandale et a couru après un poulet sur la plage. Quand il est revenu, il avait un poulet dans ses mains. J’ai eu mon souper et le plus mémorable noel de ma vie sur cette plage au Cambodge arosé d’un merveilleux coucher de soleil.