Hello, 2009.

Everyday, I make a "Goals for the Day" list. I don't call it a "To-Do List," because it's not just tasks; I also list stuff that I just want to shoot for, like "don't eat animal-style fries today." (That's a tough one... have you HAD animal-stle fries?? Oooooooooh man.) That kinda stuff. So here is my list that I am currently working on for 2009, (it's gonna be a big year, folks.)

1. Run a half marathon in October 2009
2. Train consistently for the marathon, following a training schedule.
3. Weight train at least 2 days a week.
4. "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." — Michael Pollan
   --> I LOVE this quote. It's so simple, but it really captures what I want my eating philosophy: real food, not only processed and preservative stuff from wrappers. Not too much: Holy crap do I love to eat and holy crap do I eat a lot. I shouldn't do that anymore. Mostly plants: I want to cut down on my meat intake, and replace it with veggies and fruits.
5. To start this: I need to count the calories and write down everything I eat.
6. I want to get good at sewing. There is SO much I want to sew, and I need to do it.
7. Learn to crochet. Crochet a sushi scarf and a cupcake beanie.
8. Visit my Oma at least once a month.
9. Speak more precise German. I want to improve on my grammar; study at least 3 times a week.
10. Buy a house!
11. Celebrate every holiday. Make an effort to cook and make crafts; make every holiday special.
12. Go to New York and visit my Nikkopotomous. (YES)
13. Learn to make kick-ass sushi.
14. Bake bread on a regular basis.
15. Cook dinner AT LEAST 6 nights out of every week. I'm so super serial.
16. Take at least two ballroom dancing sessions.
17. Volunteer.
18. Give blood every 8 weeks, like clockwork.
19. Blog regularly. If not every day, at least 3 times a week.
20. Revamp the bliz-og. ASAP.

That's enought for now, right?

Happy 2009, everyone. I wish you a happy and fulfilled year.. and good luck.

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man."
~Benjamin Franklin

Goodbye, 2008.

Sacramento Cowtown Marathon. (The half-marathon, specifically.)

I've been looking for something to inspire me. About a year and a half ago, I used to workout. A lot. And I dilligently counted every single calorie I put into my body. It paid off, too: I lost 35 pounds and looked great, possibly even a little too skinny.

However, looking back on it now, I realize that I was at a point in my life when I needed that kind of structure; I was on the lonely-girl diet and hard-up for something to occupy my mind. Regulating what went into my body with German-like efficiency was just what I needed at the time. But life happened, and I stopped needing that strict, hard-line training... and my diet and workouts went the way of the Dodo. I have been trying for a while to get back it the swing of things, but (luckily) I have an amazing boyfriend who thinks I look great no matter how many Volcano tacos I eat, so its tough getting the motivation to go down to the gym. It's "too early" to get up and do it in the morning, "too late" to go do it at night. Excuses excuses excuses.

"Now if you are going to win any battle you have to do one
thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do. The body will always give up. It is always tired in the morning, noon, and night. But the body is never tired if the mind is not tired."
-George S. Patton, U.S. Army General, 1912 Olympian

Amen, General Patton.

Recently, we went though a tough time: The Boyfriend lost his grandfather. He was an incredible man, who at 77 left a legacy of 7 children, 18 grandchildren (I think), and 6 great-grandchildren, (and counting!). It was an honor to be there in his final hours, and I know I'm a better person for knowing him and seeing the result of his life.

One of the things that really impressed me about Grandpa was his running. He used to run marathons, and started to do this in his 50s. There are all these really awesome pictures of him wearing, "Sacramento Marathon" t-shirts, looking super happy and satisfied. So the day after he passed away, I was thinking about his running, and how I wanted to do something like that... and it clicked. I talked to The Boyfriend, and he thought it was a great idea: running a half marathon in honor of Grandpa.

I talked to The Boyfriend's cousin Livy, who really liked the idea. Immediately, we had like 3 more people on board... and I'm happy to report that the idea has spread like wildfire. So far, all of The Boyfriend's three sisters are down, along with multiple cousins, (on both sides of the family, which is incredibly sweet) and the Boyfriend's Dad. I'm getting kinda juiced for this.

I am starting to feel like this blog has a place in my life. So here is what I want to do: I want to be able to talk about how this is going for me, and hold myself e-accountable for all of the big mess I have been talking about this half marathon. It's my goal; nay, my *responsibility* to stay motivated and work my ass of to get this thing goin'. Moreover, I want to get more motivated to do more stuff in general, and feel more like a contributing member of society and less of a shmuck.

Whew! Sweet, I'm feeling a little pumped. I'm going to work on my goals for 2009... thanks for being here with me, loyal reader.

"Slow and steady wins the race."
- Aesop, The Hare and the Tortoise

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Cupcake