New Year's Resolutions

I can't believe it is 2007! I feel like it only ought to be about April 2006, but sure enough, the calendar tells me it's January 2nd, 2007. Here is my obligatory list of New Year's resolutions:

1. Run the Bolder Boulder. This is the resolution that I tell people when they ask - not that I don't intend to do it, just that it's easier to give a concrete resolution than list off all the less tangible ones listed below. The Bolder Boulder is a 10K race held every Memorial Day weekend. I've never done a 10k before, so this should be interesting. I starting running last October, but due to illness, travel, snow, and the lack of daylight, I've fallen off the wagon! So this week I am devising a training plan, and hopefully in the next few days enough snow will melt that I can safely run in my neighborhood.

2. Read more. I say this every year! A couple of books I'd like to read this year include: Don Quixote, the Jane Austen novels, Barack Obama's book, Robinson Crusoe. Plus, I'd like to stay caught up on the Atlantic Monthly and Time magazine.

3. Organize and decorate my house. Tired of the college dorm room look. I want to paint the walls, get rid of all the boxes, put some art up on the walls, buy a couch, organize my closet, find a nice desk and bookcase, etc.

4. Work on training with Fenway. Fenway is a pretty good dog, but I'd like to finally solve some of his problem behaviors, like jumping up on people, barking, etc. Plus I'd like to teach him to do cool service dog-type commands like putting toys away. That would be super cool.

5. Learn to ski the black diamonds. Maybe not the DOUBLE black diamonds, that can be next year. But I'm definitely ready for the single black diamonds.

6. Make more time for creativity. I'd like to spend less time watching TV and more time doing photography, scrapbooking, playing the piano and other musical instruments, writing, etc.

7. Keep in better touch with friends. I've fallen so out of touch with my Morse and Bowdoin friends - even worse, some of my Colorado friends! So I really want to make an effort this year to remember birthdays, send cards and emails, pick up the phone, and generally be a better friend.

Random Thoughts on Books, Snow, Christmas, Music, Etc.

Okay, haven't been blogging much...lots on my mind.

1. I've been reading a lot lately. Just finished Born Again by my Bowdoin classmate Kelly Kerney - a really amazing first novel! It's all about a Born Again teenager who has to read the verboten Darwin's Origin of Species for an honors class, and the book details her evolution (get it? evolution.) into a more critically thinking young adult. Pretty special, and no, not in a stop-eating-the-paste kinda way. I also just finished Moneyball (just google it, I'm too tired to put in the link) and it is incredible as well. It's the kind of book I'D like to write - a nonfiction book written with the style and pace of a novel. I highly recommend both of them, to you, my three loyal readers.

2. It's been snowing a lot in the mountains. I'm getting excited for skiing! Eldora opens on Friday, that's where I've got my pass. Maybe I'll go Saturday, but I'm guessing it might be packed. I was thinking I might go on Thanksgiving morning, when everyone else is cooking! By the way, how the HECK is Thanksgiving next week?!? I swear it was the 4th of July yesterday.

3. Speaking of Thanksgiving, is it Christmas yet? I'm looking forward to Christmas...decorations...cookies...but most of all, the music. Can't wait to pull out my Ray Charles Christmas CD. But I am controlling myself, not until after Thanksgiving!

4. I am OBSESSED with that Put Your Records On song by Corinne Bailey Rae, ever since I saw her on SNL!! It was on the radio when I turned on my car this morning, which is how I knew it was going to be a good day.

Okay, I think that's all. Enjoy my random hodgepodge of thoughts.