"I don't make resolutions, I just improve a lot"
It's like Big Pun. "I'm not a player, I just $&#* a lot" (try to not think about the mind-boggling physics involved :P). I've just never been able to justify making resolutions myself...maybe because I perceive it as a weakness for myself , or maybe because I think it excuses not changing things that need to be changed the rest of the year if it's not "on the list," maybe I feel it take away from the spontaneity of life, or maybe it's because of something I haven't even considered yet. At any rate, I don't do it. I'm always look for new things to do, things I need to change in myself, and new obstacles to overcome. Do I have resolutions? No. Do I have plans? Sure.
Now that I have a car, things open up a little bit for me. Since it's a sportscar, I can begin getting into Autocross. I've been interested in doing this for quite some time, because I want to learn how to push the limits of the car. To know these things will not only be a fun learning process, but it's going to help keep me safe in that off-chance I need to do use this (like the time Clay got attacked in his car, and by using his driving skill he was also to evade their pursuit...after surgically removing on their knee caps with his headlight in order to escape, of course). After I get a little more used to the car, I can start thinking about doing tasteful performance modification. For the time being, I'm just doing a couple small, tasteful, and completely "rice-free" aesthetic modifications.
Also, now that I've been doing Crossfit, it'd be hard to imagine just going back to doing the my old workout routines. The variations and general hardcoreness (which, btw, I'm sure is a real word) of the WODs make it too great a system to not continue with. I'll be interesting to see how this might affect my 50- or 100-mi biking times as I start training for the STP again in a few months. For the better I'm sure, but I wonder just how much...
Oh, and I decided the moment I passed the finish line this summer of the STP, that, barring extenuating circumstances, this is probably going to be an annual tradition for me. Especially given the new bike...I can't corner tightly well at all in it given certain geometries, but damn it can I go fast! Once it gets warmer, and stops raining every other day, I'll be getting back on the saddle since I'm trying to cut 4-5 hours off my last STP time, which was 18.5 hours.
Going back a little...having the car gives me the ability to make regular trips to Kannagara, though I still need to email Barrish Sensei to confirm this is acceptible to him. I'm going to be trying to go probably come Feb, once I can coordinate everything...maybe even help plan more trips for UW Aikido to go back to the home shrine more than once every six months. I've been asked by a friend what plans I have with Aikido (like "is there a place I want to be in your training in a year or two years?"), and I laughed to myself thinking just how I would be missing the point if I had such notions.
Also, by Nov 15th 08 I'll be permanent at work. This means I start shopping for a place to live (condo or townhome, depending on availability, pricing, and just what I end up liking). My dad told me that if I save up to $200 per month for money down on a place, he'll match that...so my $2400 will turn magically into $4800, through his generosity. He gave my brother the same deal, though I kinda doubt he won't be in a house in six months.
One of the things I wanted to get into after graduation was learning more about music, and had bought books and started to read them and what not on my spare time. I just don't have time for that with everything else I'm doing now, so that's been sidelined for the time being...except for drumming. In, oh, October or November, my bro recruited me as drummer for the Newman Center choir and I've been relatively regular since mid-Nov. My skills in some ways have really matured without the practice of these many years, especially in listening (what, a drummer who listens to everybody else??), though in other areas I've begun to improve through doing again. I still have some real room for improvement, but I'm happy with where I'm back to already. They have a great core group there, so it's a great environment. Absolutely amazing guitar, bass, and piano. My brother is a great singer (though I think he doesn't keep a tight enough apature, and if he were to improve this, he'd be just amazing), and the guy who plays guitar is fantastic at singing.
There are other things too, sure, but I prefer keeping large over-arching plans/goals and the other stuff small and sponaneous, open to change without notice...following the energy. I know, it's very Aiki :P. Life is easier if you let it happen instead of getting caught up in the little things...like trying to swim against a tidal wave.
Now that I have a car, things open up a little bit for me. Since it's a sportscar, I can begin getting into Autocross. I've been interested in doing this for quite some time, because I want to learn how to push the limits of the car. To know these things will not only be a fun learning process, but it's going to help keep me safe in that off-chance I need to do use this (like the time Clay got attacked in his car, and by using his driving skill he was also to evade their pursuit...after surgically removing on their knee caps with his headlight in order to escape, of course). After I get a little more used to the car, I can start thinking about doing tasteful performance modification. For the time being, I'm just doing a couple small, tasteful, and completely "rice-free" aesthetic modifications.
Also, now that I've been doing Crossfit, it'd be hard to imagine just going back to doing the my old workout routines. The variations and general hardcoreness (which, btw, I'm sure is a real word) of the WODs make it too great a system to not continue with. I'll be interesting to see how this might affect my 50- or 100-mi biking times as I start training for the STP again in a few months. For the better I'm sure, but I wonder just how much...
Oh, and I decided the moment I passed the finish line this summer of the STP, that, barring extenuating circumstances, this is probably going to be an annual tradition for me. Especially given the new bike...I can't corner tightly well at all in it given certain geometries, but damn it can I go fast! Once it gets warmer, and stops raining every other day, I'll be getting back on the saddle since I'm trying to cut 4-5 hours off my last STP time, which was 18.5 hours.
Going back a little...having the car gives me the ability to make regular trips to Kannagara, though I still need to email Barrish Sensei to confirm this is acceptible to him. I'm going to be trying to go probably come Feb, once I can coordinate everything...maybe even help plan more trips for UW Aikido to go back to the home shrine more than once every six months. I've been asked by a friend what plans I have with Aikido (like "is there a place I want to be in your training in a year or two years?"), and I laughed to myself thinking just how I would be missing the point if I had such notions.
Also, by Nov 15th 08 I'll be permanent at work. This means I start shopping for a place to live (condo or townhome, depending on availability, pricing, and just what I end up liking). My dad told me that if I save up to $200 per month for money down on a place, he'll match that...so my $2400 will turn magically into $4800, through his generosity. He gave my brother the same deal, though I kinda doubt he won't be in a house in six months.
One of the things I wanted to get into after graduation was learning more about music, and had bought books and started to read them and what not on my spare time. I just don't have time for that with everything else I'm doing now, so that's been sidelined for the time being...except for drumming. In, oh, October or November, my bro recruited me as drummer for the Newman Center choir and I've been relatively regular since mid-Nov. My skills in some ways have really matured without the practice of these many years, especially in listening (what, a drummer who listens to everybody else??), though in other areas I've begun to improve through doing again. I still have some real room for improvement, but I'm happy with where I'm back to already. They have a great core group there, so it's a great environment. Absolutely amazing guitar, bass, and piano. My brother is a great singer (though I think he doesn't keep a tight enough apature, and if he were to improve this, he'd be just amazing), and the guy who plays guitar is fantastic at singing.
There are other things too, sure, but I prefer keeping large over-arching plans/goals and the other stuff small and sponaneous, open to change without notice...following the energy. I know, it's very Aiki :P. Life is easier if you let it happen instead of getting caught up in the little things...like trying to swim against a tidal wave.