As 2004 winds to a close, I can say without a trace of malarkey that this has probably been the best year of your buddy Brendo's young, but fruitful life. 1997 was good (I spent the year wandering the Irish countryside, stealing whiskey flasks from tinkers), but nothing could touch the pure, unadulterated goodness of ought four.

Besides the obvious joy of the Red Sox winning the World Series (oh my God! Can you believe the Red Sox won the World Series? It just hit me again.), 2004 brought me into this wonderful world known as Scamper, full of radio-ready pop rock, pillowy marshmallows and all-you-can-eat Chinese buffets. I'm happy and grateful to be part of it all and look forward to rocking with the fellas all the way through 2005 and probably into the first three months of 2006, afterwhich Keith will be killed in a tragic barcalounger accident. Curse this crystal ball!

Speaking of the future, it's time for a few New Year's resolutions. In 2005, I plan to:

- help pick up the broken pieces of manhood that used to be Nate and Mike when they return from New Orleans next week. It's not going to be pretty, people.

- learn to speak Spanish. Failing that, I'll learn Spanglish. Then, Engspan with a possible side order of Sanscrit. When I can't pull that off, I'll just hang out down at Anna's Taqueria and eat burritos.

- finally beat Mike Tyson's Punchout. I know the game is like 40 years old at this stage, but I just can't get by Don Flamenco. He paralyzes me with his Latin machismo.

- convince you to get that mole removed. Seriously, I'm worried about that thing.

- avoid tsunamis. What? Too soon?

- rock out with Fooled By April at the New Year's bash at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge. Shill shill shill. Whore whore whore. I'm still sifting through those random "makeout at midnight" offers that have been rolling in. Dudes?

- appreciate how lucky I am every single day. Sorry, snuck in a serious one there. Have a great and safe New Year everyone.

Anyone else have any resolutions? Fa?