Well 2008 is almost gone.

I had an amazing year. It was a year of fascination and wonder for me... filled with the full spectrum of human emotion, success, failure, heartbreak and Joy.

Y'know, sometimes people ask, "Hey David! How's everything?"

My standard answer is... "Well, some things suck beyond belief and some things are wonderful beyond description. That's a Life!"

One thing I can say for sure - this past summer out in Central Park was just typically amazing. So, thanks again!

And 2008 ended on such a note of hope and possibility in so many ways for me.... personally and globally. Had lots of laughs, some heartbreak, some new songs, new friends. Of course, I had to say good bye to a really good, good friend of 17 years... my pal Thurman.

Click on photo

But... shhh... d

Don't tell anyone, but... in 2009 ol' Thurman is gonna become part of "The Hill" in Central Park.

Sssshhhhhhh!

It's all good.

Still, I've got some really bad news for people like me who honestly recognize that the 8 years of the Bush presidency have been a national nightmare in every way.

Really bad news.

I'm as anxious as anyone to put all this behind us and move on.... start writing songs about different things. Make fun of a few Democrats. But, those of us eager to put the Bush years behind them will have to hold their good-byes for just a moment longer. There will be an extra second added to the year tomorrow!

AN EXTRA SECOND with this disgraceful frat boy.

Here are David Letterman's Top Ten George Bush moments.

The world's official timekeepers have added a "leap second" to the last day of the year on Wednesday, to help match clocks to the Earth's slowing spin on its axis, which takes place at ever-changing rates affected by tides and other factors. The U.S. Naval Observatory, keeper of the Pentagon's master clock, said it would add the extra second tomorrow in coordination with the world's atomic clocks at 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds.

That corresponds to 6:59:59 p.m. our time here in New York City. So, just before 7:00 tomorrow night an extra second will be added to the Bush presidency. Let's pray he doesn't use that extra time to set the world on fire, break any more laws, torture any more people, fuck up or dismantle our Constitution any more than he already has!

(Let's face it... if someone voted for this man twice and is not profoundly embarrassed or ashamed by now, it probably crosses over into the realm of character flaw!)

Which brings me to...

THE 8 YEAR CONCERT

I wanted to do something to celebrate this presidential inauguration on January 20th... AND have a reason to hang with all of you again. I also wanna retire a whole bunch of songs I've been inspired and compelled to write over the past 8 years.

So!

On Saturday night, January 24th, we'll all get together in H.I. New York Performance Hall and sing a bunch of those songs one last time and retire them forever! We'll sing other stuff, too. It'll be a blast. But, I wanna get everybody who senses Hope and Possibility in a room so we can feel this release together! (Then, of course, we have a LOT more work to do!)

It's general admission... first come first serve. The concert starts at 7:30 but the house will open at 7:00.

Cool?

Okay... have at it! Grab some seats! Here's the banner.

Click on this banner to put your name on the list at the door.

OR...

You can just show up that night with a $20 bill. I'll let you know if it's lookin' like a sell-out as it gets closer, okay?

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H.I. New York Performance Hall - 891 Amsterdam Ave @ 103 Street

Now!

If you were at the "Year-End Concert" in Merkin Concert Hall, you know what kind of kick these things are. BUT, Merkin Concert Hall seats 450. In H.I.N.Y. Performance Hall there are only 150 seats. So, it's a lot more intimate and the way it works is this.

You click on the banner to reserve your seats right now, today, 24 hours a day. There are no actual, physical tickets. You just reserve as many seats as you need and your name will be put on the guest list at the door, okay? Whoever comes with you will also be under your name. For example:

Hedleston, Teresa - 2
Marino, James - 2
Von Trapp, Maria - 8

That kinda thing.

Cool?

ALSO, EARLY IN '09 I'LL LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THE MID-WINTER CONCERT!

(We may just head back into that wonderful music venue... Merkin Concert Hall.)

Hey, I'll see you back here tomorrow with the final update of '08.

Hope you can call a few friends and make it to "The 8-Year Concert" next month.

Thanks for a great year.