I am totally borrowing this idea from Peter King’s Monday Morning Quarterback column. I have become a big fan of him and his columns and thought this would be a great way to add a little something to my blog. So…here it goes:

1. I think these are my quick-hit thoughts for the close of 2009:

A. Becoming a Husband & Dad in the last decade were the absolute highlights.

B. 2009 was not my favorite year. I’ve never before been more happier for a year & decade to come to a close.

C. This past decade was an absolute roller coaster. I’d prefer some gentle wave action this coming decade.

D. My friend, Bill Butler, is now living the life that everyone wishes they could live. Granted, pre-Hopetown wasn’t great – but he’s past that now. Salud my friend!

E. Companies…listen to me…the customer is now in charge of the transaction. Learn it, live it. We can buy from wherever we want, whenever we want. If it’s good, we might tell someone. If it’s bad we’ll tell everyone. If you go the social route take the good with the bad.

F. I am so tired of selective friendship. We’re either friends or we aren’t. Most people confuse friends with being an acquaintance. If you’re in Tucumcari, NM locked up for some crazy reason and you’re my friend – the phone will hit the floor before the call is done – period. I’m on my way.

2. I think my Internet prediction for 2010 is the decline of Facebook. I don’t know, I think it’s peaked here in the USA. My friend, Scott Gordon, said it best, “When my Grandma asks me about Facebook, I start looking for the next thing.”

3. I think I’d present these thoughts to you:

A. Football should be year round.

B. MLB plays WAY too many games. Same with the NHL.

C. Life in 140 characters…we’ll have to see where this goes. I’m @cgallent if you’re interested.

D. I love tech, but I am very concerned about my step-son’s inter-personal skills. He’s not learning to talk to people – they’re all texting. We’ll have to wait and see where this goes, too.

4. I think it’s a very long shot, but Q1 2010 is going to be a record quarter. I think a lot of people have been waiting to close out, write off and purge ‘09 and are going to start fresh in 2010 – with a bang.

5. I think as much as I’ve had my differences with the news media, it’s not going to change. Extremists on both sides are going monopolize the conversations. Thank God there’s sports talk!

6. I think this is what I liked about 2009:

A. I think 2009 taught us all that a job is not an entitlement. And, that’s a good thing.

B. “The Hangover” – what a great movie.

C. Thank goodness for savings accounts and a good financial planner! Regardless of your income level, you can get good financial advice – take it.

D. Radio on TV works. “Mike & Mike in the Morning” on ESPN2 and Dan Patrick are the best. I don’t have Direct TV, but from what I hear Dan and the Danette’s put on a solid TV show on the 101. I listen to them most every day on the radio.

E. Kindergarten rocks. I love seeing the world through the eyes of my 6 year old son. It’s the best cure for a bad day, grumpiness or anything else. Dylan, you better stay that way.

F. The turnaround of Vince Young was something to behold – it happened right in front of my eyes. It’s as American as it can get. Everyone, including me, thought his NFL days were over – but he overcame, learned and changed. That’s a lesson for us all. There are times when our talents will be equalized, that’s when the work begins.

G. Any LEGO game on the Xbox360 – great family fun! Still waiting to play Lego Rockband, though.

H. Best kid story – Dylan is 5 and sitting in preschool and they’re asked to go around the circle and sing their favorite song. So, it comes around to Dylan, and what does he sing…”Back in Black” – yeah, the AC/DC song. Needless to say we got a note home. But, I lifted the rock horns in the air and was a proud Dad that day.

I. Best cookbook I read in 2009, it’s a tie – John Besh’s “My New Orleans: The Cookbook” and “My Last Supper: 50 Great Chefs and Their Final Meals” (it was published in ‘07, but I just found it a few months ago – great stuff).

7. I think this is what I didn’t like about 2009:

A. All things financial.

B. Bailouts.

C. The fraternity that is comprised of chief executives in the finance world. Once you’re in, you’re in. You really have to screw up to be black balled from this fraternity. Hey, just a medium-sized screw up will net you $20 million.

D. Boards of Directors of Homeowner Associations. Get a life people.

8. I think this is what I am looking forward to in 2010:

A. The passion bucket filling back up. I can feel it coming.

B. Getting back to being proactive rather than reactive.

C. Toes in the sand.

D. Advancing – professionally, personally, intellectually, musically. 2009 really felt like a bad detour – time to get back on the road.

9. The three best shows on TV right now are Three Sheets, Spectacle and Pawn Stars.

10. I think these are my non-year-end thoughts of the New Year:

A. To my musician friends…here’s an observation: those musicians who are treating their fans like customers are winning. Those who are treating them like fans are gone.

B. Websites relied on the merger of the sales, marketing & IT departments. Social media is the merger of the PR and customer service departments. Ad people need to stay out of the social media thing – you don’t belong.

C. Rest in peace, Mac.

D. Caffeine Free Diet Sun Drop is the best diet drink on the planet.

E. What happened to hobbies? People…go out and find one. Facebook is not a hobby.

F. Sudoku – damn you! I hope everything they say about stimulating your brain cells is correct. This is supposed to be good for you, right?

G. There’s nothing more precious than a little boy waiting on the first snow fall of the year.

I’ll close with my all-time favorite toast from one of my favorite literary characters, Travis McGee, “Here’s to life, love and happiness; and time to enjoy them all!” Happy New Year everyone. <clink>

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