Auld Gang Sign: New Year Grab Bag

First I want to apologize for not posting to the blog for over two months, especially after a few of you nice people specifically asked to hear more!  This year, I'm going to shoot for at least one blog update a week.  That will hopefully be more manageable than my original doe-eyed goal of posting daily.

The first week (~ish: from weekend to weekend) of 2010 was a good one.  I've set some goals (in bold), begun working toward a few of them, and have had some fun in the process.  Thanks to my cousin Megan, I decided to list only the goals that are measurable.

Last week I discovered NoTakeout.com.  The extent of my cooking experience is embarrassingly limited, which I have long wanted to change.  Having a website send me daily e-mails with recipes seemed like a good way to get rolling.  Wednesday night I began with a bang (Tilapia Curry), and shared the meal with roommate Trenton and coworker Pete.  The meal and its presentation got very positive reviews, and thus began the goal to cook at least one good meal each week.  Sorry about the lack of pictures; my camera's memory card was absent, so I was unable to capture the sights and smells.

I'm going to drink zero cokes this year (carbonated beverages).  Not to be confused with Coke Zero.


I registered for the races to be held in Louisville this Spring, and will run the 5K, 10K, 10-miler, and the Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon.  Being in good running condition is a great feeling, but it will take some work to get back to that condition.

Yesterday evening Pippin kept barking at me, and after offering her food and letting her out, she didn't relent until I asked "want to go for a walk?".  This always yields the same reaction: she freezes, as if to say, "don't mention that if you're not serious; don't tease me".  Repeating the question makes her freak out, and a few minutes later she's leashed and running on the uncleared roads of our neighborhood, and I had to run to keep up with her.  She's helping me get started on the training.

On Thursday evening, she accompanied me as Pete, Trenton, Ellen and I tried to make the most of the ground cover by sledding.  We went down a big hill near the Louisville Water Company reservoir, using a runner sled and a plastic trash can lid.  Pippin walked around and did great, but when I noticed her limping, she had to spend the rest of the evening staying warm in my coat, including one trip down the hill!

It was good not to get cooped up in the house for too long during the inclement weather, but I will need to spend some time at home to address a few unfinished projects.  Near the top of the list: replacing hall light fixtures and painting (1st quarter), and reflooring the living room (2nd quarter).

Sweaters and Sweets T(h)ree, the annual Christmas show and party that my band (currently Enable Macros, with Jon Durlauf and Matt Gatewood) puts on, was a success.  We had a blast, and pushed ourselves to prepare more music than we thought we had time for.  Our next goal is to make recordings of our original songs.

It's been over ten years since I played on the Bible Bowl team at church, but a lot of what I memorized in those days has stayed with me, and tends to be recalled when it's needed.  This year I am revisiting the discipline, beginning with memorizing Galatians.  This is part of my goal and desire to deepen my relationship with God.

Over the last few months, I've spent a lot of time on things that genuinely aren't that important to me.  That happens when I don't intentionally focus on the things that are.  Here's to a year in which we all live for what is important to us.