I have a confession: I struggle with the week between Christmas and New Year’s. The presents are unwrapped, the festivities at a lull, but life hasn’t returned to normal. With no bustle and swing to occupy my time, I tend to get a little blue.
My youngest tends to be a worrier and focuses a bit too heavily on the negatives. So when things are getting rough, we help him stay positive by listing five things he has to look forward to the next day.
Since I try not to be one of those do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do parents, I’m practicing what I preach. I’ve made a list (and checked it twice) of things I’m looking forward to in 2016. Hopefully, just thinking of all these upcoming treasures will help shake loose those end of year blues.
- Movies:
With so many fantastic titles upcoming, I had to group them all into one category. I’m looking forward to so many, in fact, I probably should have made this the last, and best, item on the list. But I’m too excited!
Having just let the theatre after seeing Star Wars: The Force Awakens for the second time, my brain is abuzz with previews. What am I looking forward to? It might be a shorter list to say what I’m not excited about, but here goes:
- X-Men: Apocalypse
- Independence Day: Resurgence
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
- Star Trek Beyond
- Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
- Captain America: Civil War
- Suicide Squad
- Deadpool
Photo from FoxMovies and Marvel - Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
- The BFG
- The 5th Wave
- The Forest
- Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
- Doctor Strange
- Alice Through the Looking Glass
- Gambit
- Finding Dory
- The Secret Life of Pets
- Moana
This is by no means a complete list – but come on, who can be too sad about saying goodbye to 2015 when there is so much cinema fun to be had in 2016!
- Game of Thrones:
Before you start in on me for clumping movies into one giant gooey-centered category of yummy goodness, but singling out a television show, let me explain. There really isn’t any nice way to sugar coat it: I’ve got TV. trust issues.
Every time I fall in love with a show (Defiance, Dominion, Wicked City, Constantine, Firefly, FarScape, need I go on?) I get my heart broken. Movies are at least a safe bet. Sure, they may suck beyond the telling – hang on for my next topic – but at least I get a beginning, middle and end. Usually. Again, see the next topic for more on that.
But GoT is different. I trust that even if HBO royally messes it up, the books will fix it for me. Well, as much as Mr. Martin with his penchant for killing every single character can fix anything! And the best part about this season? We’ve finally caught up to the books!
May I just give major props to all my literary brother and sisters who managed to keep quiet when watching season after season? My husband hasn’t read a single page of A Song of Ice and Fire, and yet he was surprised at every twist. I can barely keep Christmas presents a secret! Although he did ask me why I was hiding under the covers at the start of the red wedding…
- Shadowhunters:
I love The Mortal Instruments Series from Cassandra Clare, but the first, and hopefully last, movie was a resounding disappointment. I actually have harsher words for it, but this is a PG-site. Talk about lacking a satisfying, well, anything! Apparently I wasn’t alone. Instead of making another dud, the production company with the rights to Ms. Clare’s work has gone the television show route. Given the complexity of the world, this might be a better fit.
And while I have some serious reservations about Shadowhunters on Freeform (formerly known as ABC Family), I’m an optimist. The characters have been aged up from the book, which gives me pause, but McG is listed as an executive producer. He has earned my trust with his good work on Supernatural, so I’m willing to give this show a chance.
Fingers crossed!
- New Thrill Rides:
I love amusement parks, and Orlando is pretty much the epicenter for all things thrilling. 2016 promises to be a banner year for folks like me.
Universal Islands of Adventure will be opening Skull Island: Reign of Terror. I saw some of the ongoing work last summer and can vouch for the intricacy of the design. A lot of thought appears to have gone into this attraction, and I can’t wait to experience it all.
Disney World’s EPCOT park will be opening the much awaited Frozen Ever After in the Norway pavilion. While they have used the existing Maelstrom ride as a base, and many of us will miss that trippy boat tour, the popularity of Frozen is sure to make this ride a hit. Especially with my little people.
- Election Results:
I’m honestly not trying to be political. At this point, I just want this election over. The non-stop, wall-to-wall coverage is driving me crazy, and not a single vote has been cast! I don’t live in an early primary state, so I can only imagine what those of you who do must be suffering. So sure, we all hope the right people get elected, from the city dog catcher all the way to the top, but at least, when this time next year rolls around, we won’t have to listen to one more “I approved this message because…”
And a little bonus…
I can’t say I’m looking forward to this, exactly, but I thought it made a nice little cherry on my sundae of lists. For all those miss-written dates; it is going to be a heck of a lot easier to change that 5 to a 6 than it was to go from the 4 to 5!
