Sunday, December 27, 2009, 8:58 PM
Sports, Music, Movies, Celebrities, Atlanta, In the News, Stop the Presses
By Kevin Moreau

Looking ahead to 2010

Is there any time more frustrating than the last week of the year?

Everywhere you look, people are putting the last 12 months away and getting ready for what’s next. Retail stores are filled with shoppers returning Christmas gifts, and the Internet is awash with annual best-of lists. For all intents and purposes, we’re just killing time, waiting for the new year to begin. But that block of days between Dec. 26 and Dec. 31 hangs in the air, a useless appendage dangling off the end of the calendar, while we wait for Father Time to take a knee and run out the clock on 2009.

I’m not big on year-end lists; I prefer to look ahead. In that spirit, here are a few things I’m looking forward to in 2010:

I’m looking forward to the Atlanta Hawks reaching the playoffs for the third year in a row, and taking things all the way to the finals. I’m also looking forward to the Braves getting back to the postseason, at least, for Bobby Cox’s final year. (As for the Falcons? I’m looking forward to a productive draft.)

I’m looking forward to former AJC “Peach Buzz” columnist Richard Eldredge continuing to dish on the things that really matter at his new home at Atlanta magazine.

I’m looking forward to new albums by Big Boi and André 3000—although I wrote those same words last year in this space.

I’m looking forward to a respite from the flurry of celebrity deaths that cast a sad shadow over 2009.

I’m looking forward to a future in which no one cares about Jon and Kate, now that they’re divorced and their show is over. I’m also looking forward to seeing whether Kim Zolciak and Sheree Whitfield get cut from the next season of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” (although I’m not holding my breath). And I’m looking forward, in a masochistic way, to seeing what new soul-numbing reality shows are in store for 2010—shows that will no doubt make us long for the wholesome days of “For the Love of Ray J” and “Jersey Shore.”

I’m looking forward to “Steven Seagal Lawman: The Motion Picture.” (Hey, a man can dream.)

I’m looking forward to Atlanta’s police officers getting the step-pay increases they’ve done without for most of the last decade, as well as the staffing and resources they need to keep us safe.

Most of all, I look forward to spending another year with all of you. Have a happy and safe New Year, and I’ll see you in 2010.