To think of it, I'm rather fond of 2008. It's been a good year. Sure, there were a couple of things that I would like to see happen differently, but then again you can't ask for everything. And you know, everything happens for a reason. Supposedly. If you believe in His Almighty Plans. Speaking of which, I went through an interesting phase this year where I swam in the ocean of philosophical quizzing on the nature of God and religion. As bullshit as that may sound, it was an interesting phase. Plus, it was an entirely substance-free journey. Speaking of substances, I have to admit that I consumed a lot of alcohol in the last 12 months. It's not something that I'm proud of, but oh was it legendary. It was, in fact, memorable. Some of the things that happened to me while I was heavily smashed are the things that will remind me of how fun uni life can be; When I didn't have to go to work, when I can get smashed on Friday, wake up on Sunday afternoon and still feel sane. Then there's that pub that I go to every Thursday. Why Thursday? Because I know there's going to be that ritual where we go to the movies every Friday evening. And when we don't go to the movies, I'd stay in, watch a movie, write a story or play the guitar. Speaking of the guitar, there was a period where my guitar was entirely unplayable. I remember spending 28 bucks to get it fixed, because I learned to never try to fix a guitar's electronics unless I'm absolutely sure that it's the right thing to do. Anyway, it never broke again since. There's also that time when my amplifier broke. I had to buy the amp that I sold to Barli for 50 bucks. I bought it back for 50 bucks. It was the silliest transaction I have ever done in my life. I also remember that time when Tommy and I started this little band called the Trash Motel. We weren't that good. We're somewhat better now. Then I remember when I played that guitar at Barli's house on Ramadhan. I remember getting beat up at Wii by this girl, who I ended up going rock-climbing with several weeks later. That was fun. I remember staying over at Bryan's place, and just talking crap about politics and more politics until 5 in the morning. There's also that time when I took the 5.30 am train from Caulfield to the city. I shared a seat with a couple of blue collar workers, cleaners, janitors, inner city service workers. The people you don't see in morning commute. I remember Mama Duke's and Workshop bar. So much happened in 2008. I think I grew up. Just a bit. I went to my first job interview for a real, professional job. I didn't get that job. I'm glad I didn't. I ended up working for a multinational company that does offshore engineering stuff, among other things. I learned a lot about the oil and gas industry in the last few weeks of December. I went on a lot of geology field trips, I didn't think I want to see another rock ever again. Until I got a 90% for a geology exam back in semester one. I remember jumping into a pool with my shirt on during a warm spring day in Phillip Island. I didn't know why I did that. I remember throwing up inside my sleeping bag, I remember throwing up into a toilet bowl in a seedy motel in Ballarat, I remember throwing up into another toilet bowl in Melbourne Uni's biggest, most crowded library during the exam period. I remember not remembering anything at all for a whole day, which was blissful. I remember thinking so much about everything and everything at the same time. Overthinking hurts. I remember when I started praying to God again after a several months hiatus. I remember talking on the phone with my mother one night, trying to explain to her how things weren't working out. Things were fine. It has always been. I remember stumbling down Swanston St., half drunk, half bitter and somewhat broken. But then I got home and I remembered that everything was alright. I learned that rocking up at 11 in the morning to surprise someone you barely know for her birthday is never a good idea. I remember Bryan's car and all the places we went to in that junk-filled car. I remember Ballarat, and the two Phillip Island trips. I remember that 2 am conversation with her, and everything else we ever talked and laughed about. I remember my first day of work at Fugro. I remember ruining my dad's car. I remember speeding down Sentul's racetrack in a souped up 1960 BMW at 140 km/h. I remember the stories Omar and I wrote on MSN. I remember How I met Your Mother, and how it made my weekday nights less miserable. I remember how Heroes' 3rd season sucked donkey balls. I remember going to Soundwave 2008 and seeing Incubus and Thursday live. I remember reading American Gods on the way from Melbourne to Singapore. I remember seeing my grandmother in a wheelchair for the first time, and how it broke my heart remembering that she used to babysit me when I was 6. We used to walk together to the market. I tiptoed because I didn't want to get my shoes dirty, and she would hold my hand so I don't fall. I remember what my grandfather said on the last Monday of 2008: "When facing a problem, never see it as a burden, but see it as a challenge. And remember, to cherish every moment, and be grateful of what you have".

2008 was a good year.

So this is the new year
And I have no resolutions
For self-assigned penance
For problems with easy solutions

-"The New Year" , Death Cab for Cutie