Snow!

Mike and I were going out for coffee (in his new car!) and decided to take our coffee through the mountains. I figured there might be snow, but didn't know it would be bright white and beautiful up there!

We stopped to play in the snow a few times, and I built a snowman.

We drove some more and caught up. At another point we stopped to look at the valley with some other people.

All in all it was a very good adventure. I realized how much more I need to get out and do that, because every time I do, I come back feeling refreshed. I do border on being a workaholic, but my biggest new year's resolution is to get balance back. However, I am very much heading down a career track. I work because I need to - I have bills to pay, I can socialize and it's important to network. I feel that January will be my power month. I've got my resume into some very good people and some important opportunities are coming up. But along with that, I'm getting back on the triathlon/5K training and will do a 5K at the end of January. With that goal in mind, getting out for running will be easier. I want to maintain my relationships, keep putting energy into making my apartment better, pay down debt and make time for rest and relaxation.



What a weird year it's been though. Let's hope this year the waters calm a bit!

I hope everyone had a good holiday season and has a great, safe new year!

Merry Christmas!

So, this is Christmas
What have you done?
Another year older
And we've only just begun.

Have a merry, Merry Christmas! And a happy New Year!

Life goes on whether you want it to or not

Life moves on with or without us, that is very true.

Fred, you are a god among men, and an inspiration to us all.

"But I guess when you love someone, you love them sometimes in spite of their flaws, or maybe even because of them. However, you can only do that when those flaws don’t affect you in a direct and negative way. When that starts to happen, its not about love anymore, its about survival. You or them. And you’ve got to go the way of survival. Martyrdom is for fools. I choose to survive. I choose to live."



It's good to make goals so life doesn't move on without you.

I would love to see New Orleans some day. I want take a road trip all around the south, the east coast, and all the way up to Niagara Falls. I want to bike up the North Shore (the Minnesota side of Lake Superior) and camp along the way. I want to take a ride all the way up the California coast up to Washington and see where I go from there. I want to buy a plot of land on the lake, build it into a cabin and get four-wheelers for my kids to enjoy some day. I want to help coordinate big events such as parties and races. I want to fix up old/foreclosed on houses (with the help of my favorite contractors - my sister and Eric) and sell them.

I want an office-like job where I'm required to leave my office and do other things. I want the freedom to take a few days off here and there to discover and enjoy life. I want to complete an Ironman triathlon. I want to own my own business some day that plays a big part in the community. I want to get married and have kids some day - when I'm ready. I want to have a career and life that that I can respect myself for. I want to grow old and create a big family.

I never want to stop overcoming obstacles, discovering life and learning.

In other news, I'm trying to schedule time to get back home for awhile. I'm going to try for around February 10, because Cowboy Mouth plays at the Fine Line that day and my sister will turn 21 that day so she can come with. It looks like I've got JP coming with me, unless the cold scares him off. Silly southern Californians.

22 and old...

I've been 22 for almost six hours. At work, everyone is older than me, so I feel brand new. But in terms of what I've done in my life, I feel much older.

I did come home to a nice surprise from JP - a nice, clean home with the Christmas lights on with a song on the computer for me to play, and this nice note:

"Happy birthday, sweetheart! I hope your day is as wonderful as you are. I want you to know how special you are to me, and I hope to spend many more birthdays with you. XOXO."

Awww. What a sweetheart he is! It made me feel better since I've been feeling so down and homesick lately. Despite what's happening in my head, he's been there a lot for me - helped cure the flesh eating bacteria, walks Reese with me, surprises me by doing the dishes or making dinner, and his laugh is very contagious.

We got to spend two breaks together at work and celebrated with 'birthday cake', aka carrot cake from the employee cafeteria. And the other break, he got dinner and I stole bites of his cabbage rolls while talking about how much I missed my mom's cooking (hey, I can take his food today, it's my birthday!)

Who the hell knows why I'm in such a weird mood these past few days. With a guy like that, who could ask for anything more?