It’s a new year. It’s a new post.

I hope this year begins with a little bang to spice things up. Just a little something something to let me know that this year is going to be a little bit different from other years.’

Morning texts from cousins don’t count.

I need a little something, just something that is different.

The crazy girl that was definitely on something isn’t here today. But that was different and judging by how last year was, I hope not to repeat that incident again.

It’s been a tradition, but I will be spending the New Year at the Carter’s today with their southern New Year Tradition; fried chicken, black eyed peas, and collard greens. Yum. I can’t wait.

* * *

Resolutions. Do I have any?

It seems like I do try to make a few from year to year. I just don’t know whether I am actually successful or not.

In a way, I was last year by trimming down my visits to Ms. D, so that worked, but other than that, were there any others?

Of course, health is important so I need to start exercising. I think it might help with this constant fatigue feeling and the lack of focus that I have been experiencing this past year. It’s always good to be in shape, to not feel this little tingle in my chest, my heart; always fretting that I might bite the big one soon just like my old man.

Creating. I just need to. I just need to focus all on creating. New scripts. New shorts. New ideas. New pictures. I just want to be constantly creating. I just need to do. Stop fucking around and just do.

I have taken enough time off. I need to work my brain creatively again. I need to focus on The President’s Daughter and knock it out with Bradley. Just do it.

Get out more.

Maybe. That one is always tough given my introverted home body nature. But it is something that needs to be done.

Girls just don’t come knocking on guys’ doors anymore. Such a shame.

Three resolutions. Simple ones, well, except the get out more. But we’ll see.

Let’s just play this by ear and try to keep it a year of YES.

* * *

No.

It’s not going to be a year of no anymore. I’ll make an effort.

I still have a story to write with the premise of simply, No.

I owe someone a story and I think that will be the one that I will tackle next.

I need to be proactive on these stories, proactive on writing, proactive on these things.

No.

What to write?

It’ll come to me as most stories do, organically.

* * *

Smiles.

There are times when I think I have a knack for bringing out smiles.

Some people are easy because that is their disposition, sunny side up. Others are a little more difficult, because that is their disposition, Tard the grumpy cat.

Those are the ones I like. Those are the challenges I like to take on.

I know that they aren’t particular mad or angry, it’s just that is who they are.

So I pull and I tease. I joke and play.

Slowly with the skill of a surgeon, with craftwork, I tug a small crooked smile out of them. Then eventually things warm up, things just gets easier each time I see them and there it is. A smile that needs no coaxing. It is just there.

I should use this talent to my advantage. I should make it work for me.

* * *

Now it just seems I am typing words for the sake of typing words.

I am stringing them together to make a sentence, to make an insignificant thought together that has no bearing on anything that I am doing.

I am just wasting time, but in a way, I am not all at the same time.

It’s a skill that I have perfected; this brainstorm free writing of mine. It helps get these timid creative juices jumping and simmering, hopefully reaching a rolling boil which it hasn’t done in quite a long time.

Stories. I love stories and I think in a way, I have found my calling to make stories.

But first, I need to live to gather stories. It’s a work in progress.

Life.

* * *

Quiet.

It’s been a quiet morning today. More quiet than usual at the boba shop.

I’ve been here before where I had been the only customer that they had for the whole time I was here, but that was a long long time ago.

Today is no different than one of those days. There were only a handful and I’m the only one in here, typing away my life as the three girls do whatever chores they need to do behind the counter.

It’s a quiet and slow day in deed.

But in a way, it already seems that this year is shaping up to be something better than last year.

Already, driving from the energy and the sense of relief for the past few weeks, I am able to focus and write.

I’m able to make stories. I just hope that I can keep it up.

I need to be a man of conviction again. I need to do what I say I am going to do. It’s not that hard. I just need to be a man of my words.

I’ve been that for a while now. I just need to step up that game.

* * *

There’s a new girl today. Tall.

I don’t think I’ve seen her before. I thought she was Stank Face, but upon closer inspection she isn’t.

I wonder what her story is.

Actually, I wonder what all of their story is.

Everyone has a story and they are all interesting stories.

They might not be interesting to you in particular, but there will always be someone who thinks their story is interesting and it only needs one…just one person who thinks the story is interesting to make it interesting.

I just hope that my stories are worth writing, worth telling.

I just hope that my stories can make people feel love, anger, joy, and all the other emotions in their infinite spectrum that other authors are able to make me and millions of others feel.

I just hope that I can.

Hope.

It’s worth something.

Without hope, there is nothing.

* * *

My time here is winding down as I am just looking for something to pass the time. It is about time for me to just pack up and leave and just focus on the rest of my day, my month, and my year.

I am looking for a friendly distraction.

It is time.

To say goodbye for today.

Oh…Les Miserables….the movie and the musical. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Just LOVE.

There is not enough LOVE from me for it….

Just LOVE.