ramble

I'm trying to fit new things in for the new year, while it's fresh and I can slip them into my routine. It sounds boring to have a routine, but all of the things I am stuffing in there are ever-changing, exciting things. I swear. It's the process of getting around to them and making sure they happen, the magic of success, that's boring.

One of my new routines is trying a new bar, restaurant, or drinking establishment each week. Ted, Erik, and I had a successful bar night about a year ago, which lasted for many months. Once you miss a few, though, the event dies a quick death. Last night I arranged to check out the Victory, a new bar in my neighborhood, with Ted, John, Julie, Erik, Aspen, and Mae. The bar was so new that it still smells of paint and service is a confused mess, but we had a good time. This year my bar nights will reach out and include more people.

Another routine I'm trying to recapture is running more often. I have prided myself on not caring about weight in the stereotypical girly way, but my eating habits sure haven't changed since running a marathon at the begining of October, and my running has seriously declined. I may have put on only five pounds or so, but when my favorite clothes from ten years ago start getting tight, it's time to fix the situation.

I realize the above does not count as an exciting and new routine, but I have more fitness-related goals for the year including taking swim lessons-- something I've only had once in my life, in fourth grade. It's a step towards completing a triathlon.

I'm also trying to draw once a day, and resume and complete house projects. It's a lot to fit in, so I have to be more disciplined. That's the boring and tough part, so it's not one of my resolutions for the year, just hidden amongst them.

busy tonight

busy tonightI use many techniques to try to stay organized and fit in all of the things I want to do. A Slingshot planner for the year, pocketmod for the week, Google calendar... So I was pretty excited when my friend Josh asked if I wanted to write weekly for the blog attached to his events website, Busy Tonight. It's another way for me to gather my thoughts and settle on which events merit my precious time for the upcoming weekend.

The blog is Busy Today, and my posts are the Portland-centric ones.

costa rica

I haven't been on a vacation in just about a year, and it's time to start planning. Seems like I go every 14 months, so the time of year keeps getting pushed back. February 2007 I will spend a week or two in Costa Rica. Erik and I meant to go last year for our vacation, but by the time we got down to making our plans it was equally expensive to go to Costa Rica, Peru, and New Zealand. We chose New Zealand, since it is farthest away, hence more bang for the buck.

This trip will be with Erik's parents, and we'll be visiting an old family friend who works in Costa Rica as a coffee buyer.

I'm excited about that, with my long love of coffee and its related effects and products. But recently I've severely cut back. I never thought this word would emerge from my lips or typing fingers, but I've been drinking half-caff. One sixteen ounce cup of coffee, from home, made with half caffeinated and half decaffeinated beans. No more caffeine the entire day.

So on the rare occassion now that I do have caffeine, I'm euphoric. Manic. Happy, bouncing, awake. I had completely forgotten that caffeine could have such effects.

It's awesome. So that's what I'm expecting for my entire trip to Costa Rica.