Tick...tock...

Woke up this morning to "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles. Not a bad way to wake up, I think. Last week, the winner in the "Get Foggy's Ass Out of the Sack" was Zep's "Stairway to Heaven."

There are few better ways I can think of than to wake up to that opening guitar riff. And, seeing as how the song is more than eight minutes long, I didn't even need to hit the snooze button. I just curled up tighter and waited until it was finished before facing the day.

Speaking of days, apparently they're adding an extra second to today to make up for the earth slowing down or some such. My questions are these: When do they add the second and who does it? Are all the important clocks magically linked to the Naval Observatory's? Or do they have to do it themselves?

How's this for funny: As I went looking for a link to the atomic clock, I also found this link, which answered my first question. Apparently, the second gets added after 11:59:59 this evening. So is midnight midnight? Or should I wait an extra beat after the clock switches to all zeros? Still don't have an answer to the second...and I don't really care.

I have to say, except for losing a bit of cash in my retirement plan (which I'm not planning to use for a while anyway), 2008 was pretty good for me. After I got over being traded in at the end of '07, I decided I wouldn't let that interfere with the new year.

During the past year (in no particular order except the one they come to mind in) I have made new friends; started this blog and made more new friend from that; seen Harper's Ferry from all three of the states surrounding it; seen HMS Pinafore at Wolf Trap; welcomed two beautiful new nieces into my family; been the best man at my best friend's wedding; seen the Colorado National Monument; lost $50 playing poker in Vegas; saw the Caps win and lose in the playoffs, my first and second professional playoff games; won $110 playing poker in Chapel Hill; helped turn raw, unfinished 2.5-inch-thick walnut into a beautifully finished 2-inch-thick top for my friend's new entertainment center; went to my 11th (and best so far) Jimmy Buffett concert with my best friends in the world; attended the wedding of one of my dearest friends who, many, many years ago, I had a soul-scorching unrequited thing for, but who I couldn't be happier for now that she's found the love she so much deserves; watched my Tar Heels win the ACC championship (on TV) with another of my best friends; saw Superman at Screen on the Green; remained employed.

The year wasn't all sweetness and light. My family and I said our final goodbye to our beloved Uncle Mike who, as a Christian Brother, devoted more than 50 of his 70 years here on planet Earth to two things: God and teaching. Just before he died, my uncle mustered some of the little strength he had left in his body, a once 6-foot-4 body I well remember towering over me as a child, and spoke four simple words:

"We're on the road."

He was, as usual, correct. We are all on that same road, the road leading us from where we are here today, to the promises and challenges tomorrow holds in store for us.

As for me personally, well, I'm looking forward to tomorrow.