looking back

in the bible eight is the number of new beginnings so at the start of '08 i was looking forward to a great year.

it was.

despite all the challenges, the pain of losing loved ones and absorbing the pain of others as they struggled, i can't and won't complain about what went down in '08.

sure, i could have made more money but i'd trade it all just to see that little zulu boy in durban smile at me again, or hear the laughter of the kids i met in soweto.

priceless.

i could have worked harder, but if it meant having to miss spending precious moments with my folks i would have said no to an opportunity to shoot with annie leibowitz.

i could have prayed more and will do as the year winds down, but i'm thankful for the blessing of life, the love of my family and friends and for the $10.99 bottle of marquez de caceras at trader joe's.

i'm not one for resolutions really but i will enter '09 with a lot more clarity. i have what i need so now it's time to go after what is there for the taking.

the best of '08

travels: south africa, london, turks & caicos, tobago, toronto, new york
music: i was particularly fond of songs by alice smith, benjamin dube, the west angeles mass choir, beyonce, heart, amy winehouse, coldplay, keb 'mo and many others
tv: mad men, the l word, private practice, ugly betty, entourage, gossip girl, lincoln heights, cnn's situation room, unsung
movies: dark knight, the duchess, tropic thunder, notorious, secret life of bees, slumdog millionaire, rachel getting married, the boy in the striped pajamas, pineapple express, step brothers
worst: seven pounds, quantum of solace, the women, meet the browns, it's a great time to be black and sexy, cover, zohan
books: (unfortunately i didn't read a lot--no time) the legs are the first to go, passing for black, the last lecture
purchases: a big ass fan, a nikon lens, the felecity box dvd set, some custom jewelry in barbados, asics, computer bag on wheels, oakley specs, wine cooler, gps
worst purchases: a small ass fan
the jury's still out: iphone
best times: road trip with gaby, my birthday dinner in oakland, safari in south africa, reconnecting with old friends on facebook, dinners with cm in nyc, lunches with rrr in l.a., happy hours with jacks at kado, diving in tobago, dining in turks, exploring london, late-night calls with mam, surprise calls from jew and hanging with dd, the tremendous support i recieved from bl and btr, election night, giants' super bowl win
worst times: dad in rehab, mom's surgery, the deaths of pancrazio, nancy maynard, big frank and mr. white, the break-ups, gaining weight, hot flashes, any time i had to spend in vegas, new year's eve, severing ties with the doc crew, megabus, pappy's cancer
best interviews: james franco, kevin smith, rod lurie, rosario dawson, joe the tour bus driver in johannesburg, annie hathaway, colin farrell, taraji p. henson, nicki micheaux, sanaa lathan, kathleen mcghee-anderson, angela bassett/faith evans and my dad
restaurants: m cafe, kado, thai market, red bamboo, electric korma, taco loco, pink, ago, zen garden
best move: letting go and letting god and learning final cut