Hello, person and/or people and/or robots of the future! Thank you for coming to allnewyear.com. This project is over, but I wanted this post to serve as a beginner’s guide, so you can get a sense of what this this site all about.

What is this site all about?

Good question, fictional question-asker! All New Year was a project started by Opus Moreschi, in which he did something he’s never done before, once a day, every day, for a year, and blogged about it.

Why are there no more updates?

Opus started his All New Year on his birthday, March 5, 2007 and completed it one year later on March 4, 2008.

How many new things were done?

366 (as Opus’s mother pointed out, it was a leap year).

What are Taco Tuesdays?

Some of the most popular posts on All New Year were Taco Tuesdays, a weekly event in which Opus would eat something he’s never tried before, from freeze-dried larvae, to strange mexican candies, to dog food. Opus occasionally posts new Taco Tuesdays at his other site, HeyItsOpus.com.

I just saw you did something rather small and lame for a New Thing on this day or that. Does that count?

Listen, Fictional Question Asker. I used to like you, but now you’re getting a bit uppity. Yes, admittedly, some of the new things were lame. But you try finding something brand new to do every day while working full time, blogging daily, and trying to retain some semblance of a social life. It ain’t easy, chump.

What are your favorite New Things?

That’s like asking, “Which sharp stick did you enjoy getting poked in the eye with most” But here are the ones that resonated with myself or others:

• Skydiving

• Trapeze Lessons
• Hugging The “Hugging Saint”
• Attempting to get into a fancy fashion industry party
• Peeing in adult diapers
• Drive Naked
• Milk a Cow
• Ear Candling
• Working out with Richard Simmons
• Growing a Mustache for Charity
• Cleaning My Nose With A Neti Pot

What was the reaction? Were there any spin-offs?

The reaction was overwhelmingly positive, with people from all over the globe writing me with suggestions, and support, and only very very occasionally to tell me how stupid I looked. But by far, imitation was the most awesomest form of flattery. Several people attempted to do their own All New Years - to varying degrees of success. I am not judging that in the slightest - it’s a difficult thing to do, and just giving it a try is admirable enough.

• Emily decided to do her own Em’s New Year, along with a Taco Tuesday spin-off called Mini-Muffin Monday.

• Dani, from the UK, started up Dani’s All New Year,: her version of Taco Tuesday was called Fritters on Friday.
• Grace was inspired to do her own twist on the genre by making sure her next year was her Favorite Year.
• Erika brought the concept to her craft business, My Imaginary Boyfriend, and did a craft a day for a month.
• Popular YouTube vlogger Paperlillies recommended my blog to her many fans, her brother were inspired to do a Taco Tuesday, calling theirs Burrito Wednesday. Her accent makes here single edition far cooler than all of mine combines.

Are you going to keep doing All New Things?

God, no. From now on I will simply sit very still, concentrating very hard on never again trying anything new. (Fine, okay, I’m sure I’ll always be open to new experiences in a way I haven’t been before. Is that what you wanted?)

Do you realize you switched from third person to first person halfway through this list?

Opus Moreschi does realize that I did this.

How do you feel about it now that All New Year is over?

How do I feel? Honestly, relieved. All New Year was a huge pain in my ass. Don’t get me wrong, I am glad I did it, but it was exhausting, draining, frustrating, confusing and upsetting at times. Still, I wouldn’t change a thing.

What have you learned from the All New Year project?

I wish I had a pat, Carpe Diem, Oh-Captain-My-Captain, Bucket List sort of answer for that. But life doesn’t serve up easy answers - and if it did, it wouldn’t be as interesting. I started the project because I noticed a tendency in myself to remain too comfortable, to not step outside my own boundaries, and to not explore new things. If I saw those qualities in another person, I would probably be inclined to dislike them. By forcing myself to do new things, I was forcing myself to confront those qualities.

What I learned is that we have boundaries for a reason. And it’s always good to push those boundaries, test their elasticity. Maybe you’ll find what terrified you a year ago is easy for you today… or that something you’ve always shied away from is something you actually really enjoy.

But I think its just as valuable a lesson to learn that it’s okay to have those boundaries. If I don’t want to go clubbing until dawn listening to house music and taking illegal pills I buy off a guy in the bathroom who won’t give me his real name but tells me to call him “The Fixer” - that doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with me. It means I know what I like - scrabble, ben & jerrys, and an early bedtime. Ain’t nothing wrong with that.

Do you have any other sweeping, grandiose projects planned for the future?

Shhh. Daddy’s trying to rest.

We’re in the final week of All New Year, and I have some fun stuff planned, but most fun of all will be had on March 5th. My birthday, and the first time in 366 days I won’t have to worry about doing something new. Instead, I will be having a huge, fun party and I hope you’ll join us.

The talented JennieCC is putting it all together, and here’s what she has to say:

Location: Ramada 1160 Bar and Lounge
1160 N. Vermont Ave., Hollywood, CA 90029 US

When: Wednesday, March 5, 9:00PM

It’s that time of year! Time to celebrate our favorite Opus. Let’s get together at the Ramada again this year to celebrate Opus’ Birthday and the end of his All New Year!

Yes, he’s really done it. Something new everyday for the past year…it’s all been fully documented on www.AllNewYear.com. There have been many Taco Tuesdays, swimming with dolphins, mustache growing for kids, surprise trips, baking things, buying things, eating things, convention attending, a pirate faire, flying on a trapeze, visiting a psychic, a trip to Bulgaria, getting naked, a legal change of name, the hugging of a saint, the hugging of Richard Simmons, and skydiving, to name only a few of 366* awesome new things. (Damn leap day…)

Please join us at the Ramada for drinking, dancing, and celebrating our friend Opus and this amazing accomplishment. We’ll recount our favorite new things of the past year and have a rollicking good time. You absolutely do not want to miss the party of the year!

Hope to see you there, Allnewyearians!

As you may realize, we are in our final month of All New Year. I’m excited to finish this damn thing up, do some final big New Things, and have a big party at the end.

I told my friend Erika about the final month, and apparently it has inspired her. Erika makes brilliant crafts under the name My Imaginary Boyfriend, and sells them on craft superstore Etsy. She’s been featured in all sorts of magazines and blogs and stuff. She’s pretty fancy.

Well, she has decided to take the All New Year spirit into her crafting, and promises to make one new thing a day for the next month! She’ll be blogging about it and selling the results, so be sure to check out her My Imaginary Boyfriend Blog to follow along, and buy a few things while you’re at it.

All New Year is still going, if not strong, then at least weakly.

December was a rough month for me workwise, but I have a backlog of All New Year events, Taco Tuesdays and more, just waiting to be posted. And I have until Monday before work starts up again, so the plan is to get it all up and running, and get in a few good New Things while I’m at it.

We’re bearing down on March 5th, the end of the All New Year, and I’d prefer to go out with a bang instead of a whimper. So thanks for sticking with me.

–opus

I take a daily vitamin. Or more accurately, I take a when-I-remember-to-take-it-which,-lets-be-honest-is-more-like-every-other-day vitamin. But a recent blog post on boingboing.net made me curious - they referenced a russian plant extract called Rhodiola Rosea, which apparently makes the user happier and have more energy. I could always use a little of both, and since a bottle of rum is not always close at hand, I figured I’d give it a try today.

All in all, I think it worked out. Although it’s hard to tell - there’s a large placebo effect here, because I want to be happier and have more energy. Also, I had it with a cup of coffee, which is truly nature’s way to make one happier, more energetic, and have to poop more. It’s what I call a win/win/lose.

–opus

PS - I realize the updates have been slow in coming lately. Please, do not give up on me! I still exist! I promise! The thing is this: I have been working late almost every night of the week, often past midnight, and to compound that my apartment was recently burgled. Tales I’ll tell you soon, but know this: I haven’t stopped all new yearing, so please don’t stop reading. Thanks.

Today I decided to write my congressman. Sure, I could have told Rep. Xavier Bercerra of my displeasure with the war, or my ideas for education reform, but the spirit of All New Year has always been a self-centered one. (Besides, my political views are fairly well represented in my job). Therefore, here is what I wrote. I will let you know of any response I may get.

Hello Congressman Becerra,

I hope this letter finds you well. I will make this letter short, as I am sure you have congressional duties to attend to, such as making laws and, on weekends, fighting crime.

My name is Opus Moreschi, and I live in your district. I am a comedy writer by trade, but recently I wanted to challenge myself and my boundries. I decided that for one full year, starting on my birthday, I would try one new thing every day. Today’s new thing is to write to you! Tomorrow, I will go rock climbing. In the past, I have gone skydiving, eaten dog food, tried the trapeze, visited Bulgaria, and many other things. I chronicle my adventures on my blog, www.allnewyear.com.

I think trying new things is a very American idea that should be encourage in citizens across the country. By trying new things, we have invented, innovated, and overcome diversity. I dare say that by trying new things, we’ve really made the USA the greatest country in America.

Therefore I’d like to humbly request that we make March 5th National Try Something New Day. A chance for everybody in America to better themselves, and in doing so, make America a better place.

Let me know what you think.

Your constituent,

Opus Moreschi

Feel free to write you own congressperson.

I stand on the brink of six more months of All New Things. And frankly, I’m terrified.

I knew this project would be difficult when I started it - but I had no idea how difficult. I not only have to find time to plan and try new things, but also to find distance to think about them, process, and write about them. This on top of my daily job (which is also to write) and everything else in my life.

Over the past few months, it got overwhelming. I began to neglect posting, to put it off for a few hours, then a few days, then a few weeks. Each time I did, it would build up again, and I would look at the site and think of the many many posts I’d have to catch up on. When I’d head out, people would ask me about the project, and I’d have to sheepishly explain that I was behind but promise to catch up. Sometimes I’d wish I never thought of the damned idea, never got the tattoo that kicked off the whole project.

But I’ve made it halfway, and at this point, there’s no way I can stop. I’m taking this opportunity to refocus my efforts, to start again, to kick my own ass into gear.

So, on this eve of starting anew, let’s take a look back. My new thing today is to create a poll, and your job, dear reader, is to vote. Follow the links for a little walk down my own one way, dead end memory lane.

If I didn’t pick one of your favorites, feel free to write-in your own in the comments. And if you have no favorites, well, jeez, you’re mean.

Here’s to the next six months! And after that, to sweet, sweet rest.

Hello folks,

On Thursday I am picking up the final paperwork for my Name Change on Thursday morning. So if you’d like a chance to share a drink with Opus James Shattuck Moreschi (legally), come join me at the White Horse on Western between Sunset and Hollywood at 9pm. We will enjoy each other’s company and the free snacks provided by the bartender.

Join me, won’t you?

Sincerely,

The soon-to-be-official Opus Moreschi

Well the idea seems to be spreading and I couldn’t be happier. I have discovered that Dani, a 14 year old in the UK, has decided to start and all new year blog as well! She says she’s lazy, and a teenager, and doesn’t expect the blog to last long, but I feel like perhaps the power of All New Year will take over and force her to bigger and better things. Give a look-see to Dani’s All New Year.

I also just saw a comment from the phenomenally-named Maximoo who points out a friend of his, Rachel, has started doing the same project. I’m not clear if it’s inspired by All New Year or just great minds thinking alike, but I say the more the merrier. If for no other reason than I can start stealing New Thing ideas. Rachel’s doing her project on a wiki which you can check out yourself.

If you’ve found yourself doing new things, either every day or just once and a while, please let me know by leaving a comment emailing me at opus at allnewyear dot com.

Hello my lovlies. I’m back from the Phoenix Improv festival and a heady combination of cold beer and blazing heat has cooked my brain to a bland mush. I’ll tell you all about the adventures soon, but right now, I need some rest. If you’d like to contact me in the next twelve hours, you can find me in the United States of Sleepytowne.

–opus