Happy New Year & Good Riddance to 2025
Dec. 31st, 2025 09:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatI'd say Hasta La Vista - but that actually means goodbye and see you later, and I really have no interest in revisiting this nasty tediously painful extraordinarily long seemingly endless year. I plan on forgetting most of it. People wondered in person and online where the year had gone to, and how fast it sped by...not me, folks. I was aware of every stinking hour of it. It drug. And if felt mean.
Bye Bye 2025. Don't let the door smack you on the way out. With any luck 2026 will be more memorable and at the very least? Less painful.
Hopefully your mileage varied in far more positive ways.
***
In 2026, I turn 59, an inch closer to 60, and a couple inches closer to retirement. With any luck it will bring peace and prosperity in its wake.
***
End of the Year Memage:
1. Memorable Television Series of 2025 (I'd say favorite - but it's kind of a moving target at the moment, I'm going with memorable).
* Adolescence - it's not a favorite, but I can't forget it. Kind of takes hyper-realism genre to a whole new level. It's shot almost like a documentary in long shots. Grainy film. And focuses on a boy who may have brutally murdered his classmate and why. Chilling.
* The Bear - at least we have the Bear, about the trials and tribulations of turning a family restaurant into a five star dining experience. One of the best character arcs I've seen.
* The Pitt - among the best medical procedures series that I've seen. I like it better than This is Going to Hurt. Feels a bit like that series blended with ER. Noah Wyle provides a tour de force performance in the lead, and is well supported by the daughters of Brad Douriff and Brian Cranston.
* Andor S2 - slow to start, but the finish made it worth the ride. And excellent prequel to the Star Wars saga, and if Star Wars was meant to be allegorical to the Vietnam and Korean conflicts, than this is a far better allegory to our current times.
* The Diplomat - one of the most interesting romantic comedic political satires that I've seen, and by far the most watchable. With a stellar cast.
2. Memorable Films of 2025 (see above)
* Sinners - a blues musical combining blues, jazz, and blue-grass, about vampires in the Black post-Civil War South, starring Michael Jordan in dual roles. Imagine Night of the Living Dead with vampires, an all black cast (with few exceptions) as a musical - and you have Sinners.
* Fantastic Four - a feel good superhero flick for nostalgic Marvel comic book fans. A rarity these days. With some superb performances, a half-way decent script, and excellent special effects.
* Superman - a feel good superhero flick for nostalgic DC comic fans. It was also uplifting in its own way and actually had something to say. Plus bonus points for giving me - "I'm a Punkrocker, Yes I am". I was surprised I liked it - I honestly thought the dog would annoy me. It didn't.
* One Battle After Another - the damn thing haunts long after the final credits roll. About a former revolutionary who has to come to terms with his past to save his daughter from an old adversary. It's hilarious in places, and gripping in others. Says a lot about how women and race is still perceived - and is at times a painful satire about just that.
* K-Pop Demon Hunters - an animated film that blended five different anime styles, and created something new. Also empowered women in a strikingly male genre, music and otherwise.
3. Fandom that you miss
The Buffy/Angel fandom, I'll always miss it.
4. Memorable Books of 2025 (well that I read or listened to in 2025 at any rate, they weren't necessarily published in 2025).
* Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler - read it in the spring and still vividly remember it. It's about a young woman with the gift to feel the pain of others deep inside herself. In an apocalyptic world, she brings together a weary tribe of survivors with her on a journey through a chaotic California to the Pacific Northwest to settle and hopefully grow a community. It was written in the 1990s, yet predicts much of today's political upheaval and climate change, but thankfully it is so much worse, as these books tend to be. Also Butler doesn't quite understand how the laws and the political structure of the US works - as well as she understands botany and linguistics.
*Remarkably Bright Creatures - I remember it, that's saying something I guess? I don't remember a lot of things that I've read. It's about an octopus that befriends an old lady working at an aquarium who is hunting news on her son who went missing over 20 years earlier. I'll never eat calamari again.
* Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man - by Paul Newman, and audio autiobiography. One of the better ones. It's adapted from various transcribed taped conversations that he had with his best friend Stewart Stern, and others during the early 1990s, when he was in his 60s. It's an introspective take on what it means to be human in the midst of fame and unexpected fortune, and philanthropy. Beautifully written in places, and haunting.
* Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik - wanders and jumps in and out of multiple points of view, often without warning (reminiscent of Remarkably Bright Creatures in that respect). It's an interesting take on the Rumplestilskin legend, except Rumplestilskin turns out to be a bit more heroic, as does the woman tasked with spinning his silver into gold. It's by no means a direct take on it. And weaves a lot of Russian and Eastern European folklore into the mix.
5. Memorable Music of 2025 (not necessarily written in 2025)
* Huddled Masses
* What is the Reason for it by David Byrne from his album Who is the Sky?.
* Just Like That by Bonnie Raitt
* Something Wicked (this way comes) by Siouxie and the Banshees
* Say a Little Word by Ellen McIlwaine
Question a Day Memeage - End of December
28. How much exercise have you had over the last few days?
Bad knee. Been doing knee exercises. Walking a lot - because it's my main mode of transportation outside of subways. I go up and down a lot of subway steps. Averaging 4,000-8,000 steps a day. Today just did knee exercises and a little walking.
29. In 1886, the dishwasher was patented. It was invented by Josephine Cochran, who lived in Shelbyville, Illinois. She constructed the first one and won a prize at the Chicago World Fair (and was used by the restaurant industry). Do you own a dishwasher or wash your dishes by hand?
No. Wash dishes by hand. I rent an apartment and it's not cleared for a dishwasher. Also I'm single - so not an issue.
30. It’s National Bacon Day! What’s your favourite way to eat bacon? Have you ever tried vegan ‘bacon’?
With eggs or with pancakes or waffles. I don't eat it now - it doesn't digest well and it tends to go bad before I eat all of it.
No, never had vegan bacon. Artificial yes - bacon bits. Won't do it again.
31. It’s New Year’s Eve – how would you sum up 2025 on a scale of one to ten? Let’s stay positive - what was the best thing that happened to you this year?
1, maybe 2. No definitely 1. Assuming of course 10 (is best) on this scale.
Moved my work place from Jamaica, Queens to Lower Manhattan, Battery Park, Tribeca/Financial District. Shorter Commute, and nicer area all around. Also have a window. And peace and quiet for the most part.
Happy New Year, hopefully regardless of how you ranked 2025 - 2026 will be a better or more positive year for us all around the globe.
Bye Bye 2025. Don't let the door smack you on the way out. With any luck 2026 will be more memorable and at the very least? Less painful.
Hopefully your mileage varied in far more positive ways.
***
In 2026, I turn 59, an inch closer to 60, and a couple inches closer to retirement. With any luck it will bring peace and prosperity in its wake.
***
End of the Year Memage:
1. Memorable Television Series of 2025 (I'd say favorite - but it's kind of a moving target at the moment, I'm going with memorable).
* Adolescence - it's not a favorite, but I can't forget it. Kind of takes hyper-realism genre to a whole new level. It's shot almost like a documentary in long shots. Grainy film. And focuses on a boy who may have brutally murdered his classmate and why. Chilling.
* The Bear - at least we have the Bear, about the trials and tribulations of turning a family restaurant into a five star dining experience. One of the best character arcs I've seen.
* The Pitt - among the best medical procedures series that I've seen. I like it better than This is Going to Hurt. Feels a bit like that series blended with ER. Noah Wyle provides a tour de force performance in the lead, and is well supported by the daughters of Brad Douriff and Brian Cranston.
* Andor S2 - slow to start, but the finish made it worth the ride. And excellent prequel to the Star Wars saga, and if Star Wars was meant to be allegorical to the Vietnam and Korean conflicts, than this is a far better allegory to our current times.
* The Diplomat - one of the most interesting romantic comedic political satires that I've seen, and by far the most watchable. With a stellar cast.
2. Memorable Films of 2025 (see above)
* Sinners - a blues musical combining blues, jazz, and blue-grass, about vampires in the Black post-Civil War South, starring Michael Jordan in dual roles. Imagine Night of the Living Dead with vampires, an all black cast (with few exceptions) as a musical - and you have Sinners.
* Fantastic Four - a feel good superhero flick for nostalgic Marvel comic book fans. A rarity these days. With some superb performances, a half-way decent script, and excellent special effects.
* Superman - a feel good superhero flick for nostalgic DC comic fans. It was also uplifting in its own way and actually had something to say. Plus bonus points for giving me - "I'm a Punkrocker, Yes I am". I was surprised I liked it - I honestly thought the dog would annoy me. It didn't.
* One Battle After Another - the damn thing haunts long after the final credits roll. About a former revolutionary who has to come to terms with his past to save his daughter from an old adversary. It's hilarious in places, and gripping in others. Says a lot about how women and race is still perceived - and is at times a painful satire about just that.
* K-Pop Demon Hunters - an animated film that blended five different anime styles, and created something new. Also empowered women in a strikingly male genre, music and otherwise.
3. Fandom that you miss
The Buffy/Angel fandom, I'll always miss it.
4. Memorable Books of 2025 (well that I read or listened to in 2025 at any rate, they weren't necessarily published in 2025).
* Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler - read it in the spring and still vividly remember it. It's about a young woman with the gift to feel the pain of others deep inside herself. In an apocalyptic world, she brings together a weary tribe of survivors with her on a journey through a chaotic California to the Pacific Northwest to settle and hopefully grow a community. It was written in the 1990s, yet predicts much of today's political upheaval and climate change, but thankfully it is so much worse, as these books tend to be. Also Butler doesn't quite understand how the laws and the political structure of the US works - as well as she understands botany and linguistics.
*Remarkably Bright Creatures - I remember it, that's saying something I guess? I don't remember a lot of things that I've read. It's about an octopus that befriends an old lady working at an aquarium who is hunting news on her son who went missing over 20 years earlier. I'll never eat calamari again.
* Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man - by Paul Newman, and audio autiobiography. One of the better ones. It's adapted from various transcribed taped conversations that he had with his best friend Stewart Stern, and others during the early 1990s, when he was in his 60s. It's an introspective take on what it means to be human in the midst of fame and unexpected fortune, and philanthropy. Beautifully written in places, and haunting.
* Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik - wanders and jumps in and out of multiple points of view, often without warning (reminiscent of Remarkably Bright Creatures in that respect). It's an interesting take on the Rumplestilskin legend, except Rumplestilskin turns out to be a bit more heroic, as does the woman tasked with spinning his silver into gold. It's by no means a direct take on it. And weaves a lot of Russian and Eastern European folklore into the mix.
5. Memorable Music of 2025 (not necessarily written in 2025)
* Huddled Masses
* What is the Reason for it by David Byrne from his album Who is the Sky?.
* Just Like That by Bonnie Raitt
* Something Wicked (this way comes) by Siouxie and the Banshees
* Say a Little Word by Ellen McIlwaine
Question a Day Memeage - End of December
28. How much exercise have you had over the last few days?
Bad knee. Been doing knee exercises. Walking a lot - because it's my main mode of transportation outside of subways. I go up and down a lot of subway steps. Averaging 4,000-8,000 steps a day. Today just did knee exercises and a little walking.
29. In 1886, the dishwasher was patented. It was invented by Josephine Cochran, who lived in Shelbyville, Illinois. She constructed the first one and won a prize at the Chicago World Fair (and was used by the restaurant industry). Do you own a dishwasher or wash your dishes by hand?
No. Wash dishes by hand. I rent an apartment and it's not cleared for a dishwasher. Also I'm single - so not an issue.
30. It’s National Bacon Day! What’s your favourite way to eat bacon? Have you ever tried vegan ‘bacon’?
With eggs or with pancakes or waffles. I don't eat it now - it doesn't digest well and it tends to go bad before I eat all of it.
No, never had vegan bacon. Artificial yes - bacon bits. Won't do it again.
31. It’s New Year’s Eve – how would you sum up 2025 on a scale of one to ten? Let’s stay positive - what was the best thing that happened to you this year?
1, maybe 2. No definitely 1. Assuming of course 10 (is best) on this scale.
Moved my work place from Jamaica, Queens to Lower Manhattan, Battery Park, Tribeca/Financial District. Shorter Commute, and nicer area all around. Also have a window. And peace and quiet for the most part.
Happy New Year, hopefully regardless of how you ranked 2025 - 2026 will be a better or more positive year for us all around the globe.