Adventure
Willkommen 2010 – Let’s Set Some Goals!
Monday, January 11th, 2010 | Adventure | 0 Comments
Wow we made it through another doozy of a year! And lookie here, it’s a new year, yet again. Last year around this time, I wrote about Resolutions in Single Word Form. Now it’s time to reflect, evaluate, and set some goals for 2010.
Looking back at 2009
My words for 2009 were Execute, Meaning and Fun.
Switzerland
Fun: Despite the many difficulties of 2009, I have to admit I did have a lot of fun this past year. From those warm spring and summer nights dancing with friends to really getting to know BigP and spending time with both him and Val! in Switzerland, I’d say the relationships I’ve enjoyed this year were the main reason it was so enjoyable. Having BigP and Roger come to NYC and then sharing Texas and my family with them was absolutely special. Tubing on the San Marcos River was just like stepping into carefree and comfortable old times.
Christmas 2009
Justin and I were able to share our home state with our friends Alex and Marisa in 2009; the fact that Fiesta was going on made this especially cool, although we were reminded of how unrelenting the heat can be practically year round. In April, we had the opportunity to take a group trip to Puerto Rico with some friends that turned out to be a lot of fun. We also had the chance to host both friends and family for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners plus we were able to spend time with our families in Texas in December – one of the most enjoyable trips back home I’ve had in recent years. We spent the majority of the late summer through fall really delving into nature, whether it was a car trip, camping trip, or hotel overnight. We got out and really experienced the beauty of autumn in the northeast this year – something I’ve wanted to do since moving up to New York. Other awesome, fun-filled events include the birth of my first little cousin, my Mom having an important birthday at which a lot of friends and relatives came out to celebrate, and Justin and I hosting some incredibly cool couch surfers.
Fall
Execute: From writing songs (and finishing one), to working on short stories and really delving into my new job, I think my execution this year was none too shabby. I also wrote some travel articles for the Examiner website (as lame as I think that site is), which are pretty decent, though I could’ve written more and I would prefer it if they were being hosted in a more meaningful place, which brings me to my next word.
Meaning: This is a constant search, a never-ending struggle, and I don’t see that changing any time soon. Some of my entries from last year are good testaments to the fact that I am constantly searching for meaning, self, and fulfillment. This is just part of the human condition. I am not sure if I am any closer to finding meaning now as I was a year ago, though in some ways maybe I am. I frequently find old journals I’ve started and put down again – most of them are from 2004 to present, and they all share the same themes. At times, I’ve glanced through journals as old as 1994 to find that not much has changed.
Your Words
Sheila, Thao, and Mike participated in setting goal words for 2009. I asked them if they felt they successfully executed their words and in what ways. What would they have done differently? Given that there was just over a month left in 2009 at the time I asked the question, I wondered what they would do to send off their 2009 word selections with enthusiasm.
Sheila’s words for 2009 were Create, Excitement, and Enjoy:
so I really thought about this for a moment…Sheila and Brennan
I think that this last year has been an epic journey of the unknown with peaks of flurried wonders and anxiousness. I have enjoyed being pregnant but even more so I have loved every moment my dearest little boy entered my life. I would say the best creation would be him but also of a wonderful love filled house with a complete feeling that I thought would never happen.
When I wrote create I was thinking of all the cute, wonderful little things that I might crochet or sew for Brennan or you or the family but in turn it has been that he is here and now I get to fill his thoughts with wonderment and knowledge. My excitement level sure has jumped ten fold. I have been on the edge of my seat for the unknown things that we go through nowadays with Brennan. When you figure him out he changes. He has 2 bottom teeth now and is about to crawl…I really enjoy this type of excitement too other than just having the single/married type of fun that comes without having a child.
One word that sums up the year 2009 was ‘enjoy’. I have enjoyed all the fantastic visits from you and the rest of the family. I enjoy every night I get to put Brennan to bed and he rests his head against my chest sucking on his thumb and buh buh’ing to get first syllables out and to hear himself. I enjoy my trips to SA to visit with Nanny and others.
So now we come to what I would have changed…hm.
Leading up to 2009 I would have not charged anything on my credit card since I hate paying bills and would like to spoil myself, Justin and Brennan. I would have eaten a little better (I am on the right track now, I promise).
To send the words that I chose off for eternity isn’t something I want to do. What I want is to build on them though. I would like to use them for the building blocks for the years to come. How is that!?
Do you wanna know my words for 2010? How about Relax, Focus and Learn :) LOVE YOU!!
Thao’s words for 2009 were Research, Action, and Celebrate:
Hey Ness!Thao and me
Thanks for following up. I had forgotten about this but I’m happy to report that I’ve successfully executed 2 of the 3 items: Research. and Action. Did a ton of research when on my projects, switching jobs, choosing a church, and finding a coop. So many accomplishments but not much celebration (except for baptism)!
Still need to get together for karaoke to celebrate the new job and sing ‘reunited and it feels so good’. Then once the COOP goes through, I can throw a big loud housewarming too!
Thank you so much for reminding me!
Please post a follow-up for yourself on your blog too! I’d love to read it.
Mike’s words for 2009 were Explore, Complete, and Connect.
Mike, Justin and I
Unfortunately, I don’t have a written response from Mike to tell you just how well his goals were achieved, but from conversing with him, I know he did very well. I also know he’s selected his 2010 words already. Mike traveled quite a bit this year, visiting New York, Chicago, Italy and Ireland. He also worked on music and photography. Probably where he put the most effort was in connecting. He met quite a number of new people through the power of the internet and made some serious headway in connected with old friends (myself included, I am happy to say). Hopefully he’ll share his thoughts about his 2009 results and his goals for 2010.
2010 Goal Setting
In deference to the man who gave me the three word idea, I am quoting his 2010 blog where he makes this point: “I set goals around these three words. I build deadlines and projects around these words.” What I am taking from this and doing differently this year is that it’s not just enough to keep the words in mind and lackadaisically let them lead you from activity to activity. I really should be more proactive about my words. I am going to set goals and tackle them like I do with my work – as true projects with deliverables and timelines. Sure, it doesn’t sound quite as heady or fun, but maybe I will get some of the results I want. I am also considering setting up a separate project page on this site to track the status of my goals for the year, although that may be taking it a bit far. ;) I guess creating urgency and accountability is really what I am after with this.
Cheers to 2010
That being said, my 2010 words are Creativity. Sharing. Fun.
Yes, I am including fun yet again because I have to be honest – it doesn’t make sense not to live for fun (to paraphrase Smash Mouth). ;) And I realize my words are pretty lighthearted this year. I figure I may as well spend that last year of my 20s focusing on stuff that’s not so serious. :)
My big initiatives for 2010 are pretty varied. I’d like to execute my 7 deadly sins photography project this year (the one I dreamed up about 10 years ago), create a video miniseries for which I have the first short installment written, write/record a few new songs, and travel. Of course, traveling is was and always shall be on my list of things to do. This year we’re planning a little weekend trip to Ottawa to ski on the Rideau Canal, a group trip to Puerto Rico or somewhere in the Caribbean, and possibly a honeymoon in South Africa or Argentina (although Europe is always a possibility). I’d also like to go to Switzerland and Germany, but I am not sure it will be possible. The biggest event of the year for Justin and I will be our wedding in October. We have 0 details firmed up, but that’s what part of this year is for, after all. Some other things I think would be fun to do this year include learning some Spanish, taking a dance class (and just dancing more in general), and maybe delving into acting/public speaking courses. My biggest fear of the year is turning thirty. oy vey.
Share away
I hope you guys share your words for the year, resolutions if you’ve set them, goals, hopes, and whatever else comes to mind. Chris Brogan, from whom I got this idea, has some good advice on how to help you set your words for the year.
Fall Photos of Beautiful NY State
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009 | Adventure, Fun, Photography, Seasonal | 0 Comments
Ape for Apples
Just a quick post to link to some photos showcasing the outdoorsy fun we’ve been enjoying during this lovely season: Fall!
An Apple Picking We Will Go
Over the weekend, Justin and I went apple picking, wine tasting, stopped by a dairy for some fresh bread and cheese, and even spotted a baby black bear! It was awesome! I also go to sleep in on Saturday, which was brilliant and much needed.
Setting Up Camp
Rugged Campers With Our Air Mattresses
The weekend before last, we went camping with some friends (Olivia, Alex, and Marisa) in Clarence Fahnestock State Park. We also brought along Ruby and Eve. Olivia was accompanied by her pup Winston. Good times – even if our Hyundai was a little weighed down!
We sat around the campfire until the wee hours of the morning. We hiked. We roasted marshmallows. Good times were had. Marisa and I saved the day by jogging two miles down a windy road, mostly uphill, to locate our car. Yah, we’re tough.
Enjoy the photos!
Five days until mine and Justin’s fifth anniversary!
Camping Out in Taconic State Park
Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 | Adventure, Friends, Fun, Positivity, Puppies, Travel | 0 Comments
Camping in Taconic State Park
The Sunday of Labor Day weekend, Justin and I loaded up our two pups and headed north with the intent to camp. Naturally, we made no campsite reservations what with it being one of the busiest camping days of the year and all. We hoped to grab a spot at Taconic State Park. Oddly enough, luck was on our side! Not only did we receive the last available dog-friendly spot, our neighbors never showed up! We ended up having a fairly private campsite at the far end of the park near the singular puppy friendly hiking trail. Yay!
Check out our photos and videos >>
View Justin’s video – The Running of the Pups! YouTube | Vimeo
Should you go, this stuff is definitely worth checking out:
The now abandoned Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center which has been purchased with the intent to transform the property into The Knolls of Dover (I found video and photos inside the Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center).- Rosemary’s Texas Tacos – This woman has bright purple hair and zany makeup! The tacos were okay, the sweet tea was delicious, and the interior decor was other worldly. Check out Rosemary’s Myspace for fun images and general insanity.
Bash Bish Falls State Park – super beautiful falls! This park was a perfect stop for us because we were able to take the puppies on a little hike before driving all the way back to NYC. Check out the park’s website or read an article about it if you’re up for it.- Taconic State Park – of course! It was nice and peaceful, and I expect we’ll head back someday! Check out the park’s Wikipedia entry. :)
Houston, Ho!!!
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 | Adventure | 0 Comments
Sandra and Goeril, our German couchsurfers
Yessiry! I am fixin’ to be saying Howdy to Houston! I am meeting up with my mom and sister who are already there visiting Ma. It will be a nice way to spend a couple of days. Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve really written much.
I just updated the Examiner website with a little blurb on Houston’s Mixers & Elixirs event and linked up Val’s Youtube video. Give it a looksee. :)
In May, we had some great guests from Germany (couchsurfers) stay with us for a few nights (ok, five nights). They even accompanied us to Texas when we went down to celebrate my Mom’s bday (check out the photos)!
Brennan's Baptism
My little cousin Brennan was also baptized last month (photos on Picasa). He’s grown sooo much in just a short period of time, it’s pretty incredible. I just hope Sheila and Justin, the proud parents, can return to a normal sleep routine soon. Having a newborn is certainly taking a little bit of a toll on them.
Swiss Tex Mex and Snow Walking
Tuesday, February 10th, 2009 | Friends, Travel | 0 Comments
Just a quick update pulled from an email I wrote to Justin:
Big P had to work yesterday so Val! and I took a train ride (The train we rode was a Golden Pass train with a panoramic window! ) to Lenk – 20 minutes away, and walked on snow paths back toward Zweisimmen for about 4 miles before getting on a train for the rest of the trip. So pretty!!!
We stopped and got some groceries then came back to Big P’s. I took a nap before we went to dinner at Appaloosa. It’s a TexMex restaurant and was actually better than lots of places in NY. I got a chicken enchilada that was primarily cheese – and you know how well the Swiss do cheese. :) Val! and I also had a margarita each and they were fantastic – but super tiny for $12 (or $18?) Swiss Francs. Once again, Big P and Roger refused to let us help with the bill. It’s really sweet of them. I told them they would live like Kings in America. My enchilada (1!!!), for instance, was somewhere between $20-$30. Crazy town.
We got back to Big P’s and talked about music and listened to different songs/watched videos til nearly 4 AM. It was so much fun! :) We also talked about our family names and how they’ve changed and where his family originally came from (somewhere in the French speaking area of France).
Today we’re going to Interlaken to be tourists, then sledding with Big P and Roger. The wind is too strong for skiing (35 M/hr). More updates to come!
Update: Sledding may be nixed because it is too wet (raining this morning), so we shall see! Tourist time :)
Gruyere, Giger, Gstaad and Gore
Monday, February 9th, 2009 | Family, Friends, Travel | 0 Comments
Our day started out very pleasantly. We woke up around 10 AM and Big P showed us some pix he took in Ireland and Scotland. He is a very good photographer, but on top of that is just a great artist in general. He makes beautiful sketches, cool sculptures, and frames his art in seriously awesome ways. He has one portrait on his office wall that I especially like. I’ll try to remember to link to it, as Val! took a photo of it the other day. We had breakfast – cereal and a variety of cheese – how Swiss (well, the cheese part) and head out. We went on a drive with Big P and his brother, Roger. They took us to this mountain called Jaun which is nearby and really high (1508 meters). Big P said it’s more of a hill. Hmmm…
We stopped at a chocolate factory, but it was closed. Our luck improved quickly, though, as we went to a cheese factory in GRUYERE where they make GRUYERE!!! It was open and Roger bought tours for all of us – super rad! We learned a lot about how cheese is made. For instance, cow’s stomach is added to milk to induce coagulation. I am so going to love sharing that fact with vegetarians. MUAHAHA! We also learned that a wheel of cheese weighs about 77 lbs and spends 29 hours inside a salt bath (20% salt to water) before being stored to age. Once stored, it has to be brushed regularly with a salt water mixture. We actually saw machines automating this process. Very interesting!!! Then Big P and his brother picked out some chocolate to purchase and we got to sample it. Callister (or something similar) is the name of the manufacturer. I believe it’s the same company as Nestle. Tasty stuff! Val! still holds that Lindt is better. This may require a direct taste comparison!
We continued on to a small, touristy village. It was beautiful and set atop a mountain that afforded gorgeous views. Then again, right out Big P’s windows are some amazingly stunning views that we Americans would surely pay millions for. In this village was none other than the H. R. Giger Museum, where Val! and I were headed 5 yrs ago during our Golden Pass debacle. hahaha Big P actually came to the museum a couple of years after we met because he was curious about what we were so interested in. Well, anyone that’s familiar with Giger at all knows he worked on Alien and Species. They also know he was an absolute pervert, including all sorts of orifices, penetration, and profane positions in his artwork. I typically find it annoying, but after room after room of the gigantic pieces, I felt a little turned on myself. Where is a sexy robotic alien when you need one? Sheesh. I bought a couple of postcards of one painting that caught my eye – one I intend Justin and I to keep and the other is for Mike (since he loves Giger).
We hit the Giger cafe/bar next door upon exiting the museum. It is all decked out in Alien/Giger decor. Very cool. And yes, we took lots of pics of everything, even though neither of our cameras seem to want to hold on to a charge. At the cafe, we had coffee and tried one of their local specialties – meringue… they are crunchy. We call them meringue kisses in the states. I know this because I have baked them before, but I think they are rarely made or served. In Switzerland they are served with thick cream that isn’t sweet at all. It definitely doesn’t need to be given the sweetness of the meringue. In short, it is really good together!
On our way back toward Big P’s place, we stopped at this small fondue restaurant on the side of a mountain that is in the French speaking area of Switzerland (as is Gruyere). Roger knows the daughter of the owners’ because they play in a band together. It’s a brass band. Roger plays percussion and is absolutely passionate about it. Both Big P and Roger are such interesting and nice fellows. The fondue was delicious. (They only eat it with bread, for the most part, and that’s how we had it tonight.) We also had a carafe of house white wine to share amongst us. Roger ordered a small bit of Schnapps and said it is customary to sometimes dip your bread in the Schnapps then in the fondue. Val! and I both tried it, but it was overwhelming for us! At some point, Roger snuck off and paid for our dinner, which was SO nice. Switzerland is a pricey country, especially when it comes to fondue! Now they DEFINITELY have to come to America (read: Texas) so we can take them out!
We drove to Gstaad and saw a huge Christmas tree decorated with beautiful white lights and a “Palace” hotel. Apparently Gstaad is really famous for being a place celebrities go (Liz Taylor, Michael Jackson, Paris Hilton, etc.). Switzerland has strict rules about how your houses can look and how you can decorate. Big P told us that houses were only allowed to have white lights that outlined the trip of the house… or something. Roger dropped us off at Big P’s and bid farewell. We already made plans to try a “Tex Mex” restaurant in a nearby town on Monday night. :)
Val! and I showed Big P some San Antonio pix and talked about the different ways you can order food and drinks in Switzerland vs the USA.Big P has to work at 7:30 so he went to bed around midnight. Shortly thereafter, Val! was preparing for bed and I got her some Nyquil pills but couldn’t tear them open. She said she would handle it and went into the kitchen. I didn’t pay much attention, but she evidently tried to cut the packet open with a knife and ended up cutting her finger pretty badly. I heard her gasp and then put her finger under the water start saying, “No. This is bad. This is bad.” It reminded me of when I fell and hurt my leg at Kaaterskill Falls and knew right away it was bad and would require stitches
I had to wake up Big P while Val! ran to the bathroom to try to stop the bleeding. After helping Val! put jeans on, Big P drove us to the hospital where Val! had to get 3 stitches in her finger. The hospital was dark inside so Big P picked up a phone on the wall. A nurse quickly came and let us in, turning on lights as she went. After checking Val!’s blood pressure and other vitals, she looked at the wound and called the doctor. The cut was deep and you could see the yucky fat stuff like i had on my leg. It was scary, but the doctor was a nice young lady that spoke English. She also listened to Val!’s lungs and said her bronchitis is gone!!!! yay!!! She told Val she would try to give her a good deal on the ER visit because Val doesn’t have insurance. She also gave her some pain meds for free.
Now we are back at Big P’s and both he and Val! are in bed. I am on my way to join them! Good night! :)
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