Though I’ve technically never been homeless, I realize that like so many people I’m really just a paycheck or two or a major illness or some unforeseen catastrophe from being in some serious financial ut-oh. Giving up sometimes seems like a great idea. Or getting a simpler job.  

Some days you feel new and invigorated, and on other days the world conspires to remind you how old you're getting. Barack Obama's inauguration and first week in office fuel the first set of feelings. This week's issue of CityBeat, in a strange way, makes my bones creak a little. Or maybe that's just the snow and ice. Our lead story in the Film section is a report from the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, the 15th consecutive year CityBeat has put coverage of Sundance on the cover — every January of the paper's existence.