Resolution #1: Make Resolutions

Alright, folks, here's the pre-warning:

Two days until 2005 has passed under the bridge, and we will greet the birth of 2006 with some champagne and a smile.

The change in the last digit on the date typically brings New Year's Resolutions (as well as late-night phone calls and drunken renditions of Auld Lang Syne).

Now, I'm not posting any yet. And likely, neither are you. This is the pre-warning (as mentioned), however, that resolutions are incoming.

So, start thinking about how you want to greet and tackle 2006. I'll post mine on 31 December, and maybe we can all chat about them.

Now, the only rule: Real resolutions. Honest-to-gosh goals. And remember three simple guidelines to legimate goal setting:

-Realistic
-Attainable
-Challenging

...and it kind of has to be something you want to accomplish. Self-motivation is a great help, no matter how big or small the dose.

Good luck :)

-R.

Christmas: The Whirlwind Edition

I've had five glorious days off work (including today) to aid me in the celebration of what I beleive is important at Christmas - friends, family, and little traditions.

Day 1 (23 Dec 05):

Morgan worked today. I slept in (woot) and drove up to my work to drop off caramel corn for the food-fest (a condition of me getting the day off). Lydia had made 1000 spring rolls. She got in at 8am. They were gone by 8:02am.

Ducked out, called my dad to see if he wanted to hook-up for lunch. In typical 'that's my father' style, he needed to shop at lunch. Hey, that's a day early for him!

So went to visit my sister. Morgan got off early, and we made plans to meet for lunch. Drove by the old apartment (sigh), ate some cookies, fought some traffic, and got ditched by the sister. Apparently, she was kind of in charge of the whole cookie exchange thing.

On the upside, we went home and watched our new digital cable via ADSL. Pretty slick service, if you ask me.

Watched TV late and fell asleep.

Day 2 (24 Dec 05):

Up not terribly early, but early enough for me and a Saturday. Headed out to the in-laws for a steak and lobster Chritmas feast. Went to the traditional Christmas Eve party. Then to the Chritsmas Eve mass (this was a Catholic year. Since when did Catholics sing everything? I damn' near thought we had gone into a Lutheran church!). Peace be with you, we finally saw our house again at about 1:30am on Christmas Day. Our poor cat was horrified that he hadn't seen us since our departure at about noon that day.

Day 3 (25 Dec 05):

Up early (too early for a Sunday!). Well, rather, Morgan let me sleep and put all of the gifts into bins for transport to our parents' houses. Yes, the joy of having multiple Christmas mornings! Good time had by all, lots to drink. Left house one at about 2pm, left house two at about 10pm. Watched a movie with my dad. Morgan had a debate with him. Fun stuff!

Day 4 (26 Dec 05):

Not up early. Well, Morgan was. She went shopping. Apparently her efforts to beat the crowds were a little extreme, though - seems no one was shopping but her. But that's okay. When she got back at about 8am, she brought me coffee. Sweet. Nourishing. Coffee. This was the first day to relax a bit. Putzed around the house. Cleaned some stuff up. Watched M*A*S*H (season 3 and 4 on DVD! Woot!). Then to Hanukkah chinese food dinner with Chas, Syl, Larry & Tina. And some really good scotch. I think I'm moving away from Highland and into Islay. So good.

Home around 11pm. Cat still horrified, but stoned, so he's okay.

Day 5 (27 Dec 05):

Well, that's today. Slept in until almost 10:30am. Morgan is shopping. I think we'll head to the framing shop later.

House is fairly clean, everything is mostly in order. Need some new batteries for my palm pilot.

And then work tomorrow. But only for three days.

Plans for New Year's? I say movies and scotch and my house. We'll see if we make it until midnight.

I've found the past five days a little exhausting, but man did I finally find the Chritmas spirit I was missing this year. What a great ride it has truly been.

My love to you all.

-R.

I Tip My Hat to You, Sir

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending my very dear friend Jon's convocation from Medicine Hat College. After four years of hard work away from home, he has earned his degree.

One of the addresses during the commencement ceremony was very good. The VP Academic noted that it wasn't always how much quality education you had, but what you do with it.

I know Jon will pursue a passion with his, and that will have a positive impact on all those in his life - and that his life will eventually touch.

Congratulations, Jon. You've really set the bar.

-R.

Later This Week

As promised...

I miss my friends, not because they are far away (though Jon and Ash certainly are exceptions), but because I've been far away. Not physically. Not even emotionally. But I definitely haven't been here. I feel like I've been more than slightly recluse in the past... well, few months, surfacing every so often for a birthday or the party du jour. Beyond that, not calling, not emailing, not making the effort was the mark of my (lack of) presence.

And that was my state of mind, and a lot of it was wrapped around how I was handling things like school. So another reason I'm glad another course is now finished.

With that, though, is the deeper seed I've apparently been nuturing. I did not handle this course as well as I had planned or hoped. Same old nasty habits lead to me wasting time, wrapping up my last assignment the night the course expired, and sacrificing time with my friends (plus responsibilities at the Squadron, around the home, and elsewhere) using the classic 'have to study' excuse.

Normally, when I finish a course, no matter what the circumstances of that completion, I feel relieved. Sometimes, it's because I have another one that I should have been half-way through by then. Mostly, it's because I've avoided another nail in the coffin.

Or had I? Obviously, the trend was actually more along the lines of supplying the nails and the hammer, no matter how much was completed in the educational circle.

This time, when I finished the course, there was relief. More than that though, there was disappointment. Serious anger and disappointment with myself, and in myself. How could I have almost let it slip, again, after every word I had spoken, every promise made? What was I thinking, as I let the hours slip by?

And there it was. Is, even. My shift. My paradigm, even!

The moment I felt anger for how I handled the course was the moment I caught-up with myself and said, 'this isn't okay anymore.'

And then I felt relief. Release from my self-imposed prison of idiocy. The underlying - and heavily over-toned - pressure had lifted.

I was becoming me again. The me I liked. The me others liked, and even respected.

This is the change some had been waiting for. Living better, not just at school - but everything else. A better attitude. A happier person.

Would you believe, even a restless one? Next course hasn't shown up yet. I can't wait to tackle it. The time before it shows up though, will not be wasted. Spent some time writing some emails to friends who I haven't talked to in awhile. Cleaning out my office. Hanging Christmas lights. Catching-up at the Squadron. Most importantly, spending quality time with no guilt whatsoever with Morgan.

I'm back.

-R.